Generator—Summer 2022

GENERA OR
a publication of Loup Power District SUMMER 2022
An Electric American Adventure
Californian crosses country in converted Volkswagen bus

BOARD OF DIRECTORS
president’s message
around the district
Alan Drozd
Chairman
Steve Heesacker
First Vice Chairman
Robert Cerv
Second Vice Chairman
Loup developing
time-of-use rates
Jim Donoghue
Secretary
Dick Tooley
Treasurer
Rich Aerni
Mike Fleming
Ross Knott
Chris Langemeier
Larry Zach
EXECUTIVE STAFF
Neal Suess
President/CEO
Walt Williams
Vice President,
Accounting & Finance/CFO
In the world of customer service,
there is an old adage that states
“the customer is always right,” or
to change it slightly, “the customer
always knows what he/she wants.”
This is a great statement, but in the
electric industry, we tend to provide
a product that is pretty basic in its
nature. At the District, we provide
electricity with a customer service
charge, an energy charge, and,
with some rates, a demand charge.
Pretty basic.
We have worked closely with our
power supplier, Nebraska Public
Power District (NPPD) to come up
with other products that we can provide for the
end-use customer.
NEAL SUESS
President/CEO
These include such products as our
net metering rate, for installation of
customer-owned generation (such
as solar panels). Loup and NPPD
are also working on other products
regarding interruptible rates for
large industrial customers and
demand response rates that could be
available for a number of different
types of customers and processes.
Additionally, at some point,
Loup will develop residential and
commercial time-of-use rates for
end-use customers, which reflect
the cost of purchasing energy from
NPPD at various time periods. We
would bill customers accordingly.
Loup currently has time-of-use rates for certain
large industrial customers.
Todd Duren
Vice President,
Corporate Services
Korey Hobza
Vice President, Engineering
Dan Hellbusch
Vice President, Operations
The Loup Generator is
published quarterly
as a service for Loup
employees, families,
friends, and associates.
For feedback, story ideas
and submissions, contact:
Stacy Wemhoff
Communications Coordinator
402-562-5711
swemhoff@loup.com
These include the availability of all products under
NPPD’s EnergyWise program:
• Incentives on new electrification products
(electric vehicles, chargers and lawn mowers)
• Energy efficiency programs such as air conditioning
and heating system tune-ups, which
can reduce electric usage
• New appliances with higher efficiency ratings
for the homeowner
In addition, Loup Power District and other
wholesale customers of NPPD are working on raterelated
products that can benefit our companies,
NPPD, and end-use customers.
These rates could even include a demand component
for commercial and residential customers.
Many of these rate concepts are still in the development
stages.
Often times we are asked what products are available
for specific customers. We are happy to work
with our customers to provide information that
may help save the customer money in the long
run. All you need to do is ask or look it up on our
website, loup.com.
Keep watching the District’s website for more information
on products and services that may become
available in the future. These will be important to
all of us and will help go a long way toward maintaining
a great relationship between the District
and its customers.
TIME-OF-USE PRICING
Time-of-Use pricing is an electric rate schedule that
adjusts the price of your electricity based on when
you’re using it.
Time-of-Use pricing is intended to encourage you to use
electricity during off-peak hours when power is cheaper
and demand is lower, helping to alleviate strain on the
electric grid.
VEHICLE DAY
Genoa Local Superintendent Dominic Zoucha (above)
answered questions about Loup’s truck and backyard digger
at the annual Vehicle Day at Ag Park in Columbus. Greg
Badstieber, Customer & Energy Services Coordinator, and
Todd Duren, Vice President of Corporate Services, showed
the kids the District’s all-electric Ford Mustang Mach-E.
The event was hosted by the Columbus Area Chamber of
Commerce.
HOUSE MOVE BY TARNOV
Loup Power District assisted with a home move by Tarnov in
June. Journey Line Technician Jared Hoefelman took this shot
to show us the view from above as they raised the power
lines. Newman Grove Local Superintendent Alvin Meyer is
pictured in the background.
INTERN EDUCATION
Journey Line Technician Andy Wallin
demonstrates the installation of
preformed conductor ties for intern
Mason Hinze.
Hinze is one of several interns
working at Loup this summer. He is
studying Utility Line at Northeast
Community College.
Logan Weineke, Ean Luebbe, Alex
Ritzdorf, and Harrison Weyers
are also working at Loup for the
summer.
Photo by Mike Brabec.
2 | GENERATOR
SUMMER 2022 | 3

Horatio’s Drive
& The Lincoln Highway
an electric American adventure
Jack Smith pushed a skateboard across
America four times.
Then he rode an electric skateboard from
Oregon to Washington, D.C.
That might be enough adventure for most
people. But Smith isn’t like most people.
“I’ve been attracted to crossing the
country in different ways,” he said.
In early June, Loup Power District
employees saw a vintage Volkswagen van
pull up to the electric vehicle charging
station in the parking lot.
They had to investigate. This was indeed
“different.”
And so, we met Smith and his childhood
friend, Larry Newland, and asked them to
share their stories.
HORATIO’S DRIVE
Last year, Smith sat down to watch the
Ken Burns documentary “Horatio’s Drive” at
his home in California.
It tells the story of Dr. Horatio Nelson
Jackson. He was at San Francisco’s University
Club in May 1903 when he made a
$50 bet (equivalent to more than $1,500
today) that he could cross the country in an
automobile.
A few days later, he purchased a
20-horsepower Winton touring car. He was
31 years old with very little driving experience
and no maps to follow. The country had
only 150 miles of paved roads.
Five days after the bet, he took off with
Sewall K. Crocker, who served as travel
companion, mechanic, and backup driver.
A bull terrier named “Bud” joined them
in Idaho. He was outfitted with goggles to
protect his eyes as he helped watch the road.
Most people doubted that the automobile
had a future. But Jackson proved them
wrong when he arrived in New York City 63
days later.
Smith was hooked on the story immediately.
After he watched the video, he bought
a book and delved into the story even more.
Then, he decided it wasn’t enough for
him to simply read about Horatio’s drive. He
wanted to make it.
“I told my wife, ‘I want to retrace this
guy’s route, but I don’t want to do it in a
regular vehicle.”
Left: Horatio Nelson Jackson and Sewall Crocker on their cross-country journey in 1903. They traveled in a 20-hp Winton touring car.
Right: The pair faced mechanical issues, navigational problems, and bad roads. Photos courtesy of Silver Special Collections, University of Vermont.
SKATEBOARDS ACROSS AMERICA
Most Americans have never traveled
across the entire country. Smith has done
it multiple times — but never in a “regular
vehicle.”
Back in 1976, at 19 years old, he and three
friends became the first to skateboard across
America, with sponsorship from a company
called Roller Sports.
They did so in leapfrog fashion, with each
skater going about three miles at a time.
In between, the skaters got a ride in their
support car — a 1969 Firebird.
Each guy skated a total of 35–50 miles
daily, depending on the terrain. As a team,
they could travel 150 miles on a good day.
The trip from Oregon to Virginia took 32 days.
“It was a great way to see the country,”
Smith said. “You’re going so slow, you don’t
miss anything.”
If anything, the trip only expanded
Smith’s love of skateboarding. He competed
in the infamous “Signal Hill Speed Run” in
Signal Hill, Calif., held from 1974–78.
Participants in the race set world records
in skatecars, topping out at almost 60 miles
per hour on the hill with a 30-degree drop.
The annual event ended when sponsors
withdrew because it became too dangerous,
with multiple life-threatening crashes.
By 1984, the “new guys” on the skateboarding
scene were tired of hearing all
Smith’s stories. They wanted stories of their
own, and asked if he would consider another
cross-country trip.
It didn’t take much convincing. The fourman
team took on the task again, raising
money for Multiple Sclerosis awareness
along the way. The journey took 26 days.
In 2003, Smith’s son, Jack, died of complications
from Lowe Syndrome, a rare genetic
disease. His father died of Alzheimer’s
Disease in 2013.
Smith made two more cross-country trips
to raise funds and awareness for those conditions
in the years they died.
That fourth trip in 2003 included his
younger son, Dylan. The 3,618-mile journey
set a world record that was broken by British
skateboarder David Cornthwaite in 2007.
By 2018, Smith was referred to as a
“skateboarding legend” by media outlets
and his fellow peers.
It might have been enough for most
people. But again, Smith isn’t like most
people.
That year, he decided it was time for one
more trip. But this time, he was going to go
solo on an Inboard M1 electric skateboard.
The 2,394-mile journey from Eugene,
Oregon, to the steps of the Smithsonian
Museum took 45 days.
He was 61 years old.
Story by Stacy Wemhoff
Jeff French, Jack Smith, and Mike Filben pushed their
4 | GENERATOR
Jack Smith (left) and Larry Newland charged
the Rust Bus at Loup Power District’s
electric vehicle charging station on June 3.
skateboards across the United States in 1976. Smith also
crossed the country on an electric skateboard in 2018.
Photos courtesy of Jack Smith.
SUMMER 2022 | 5

LARRY & THE LINCOLN HIGHWAY
Smith successfully completed Horatio’s
drive east. After a short break, it was time to
head home.
And this time, he was going to follow the
Lincoln Highway — the first transcontinental
road in the United States.
The highway was dedicated in 1913 and
ran from Times Square in New York City to
Lincoln Park in San Francisco. Cities and
towns along the 3,389-mile route prospered
as travelers took to “America’s Main Street.”
The Lincoln Highway was gradually
replaced with numbered designations in
1926. Much of the route is now U.S. Highway
30.
Smith took a short break in New York
and it was time for Mike Adamski to head
home. But he got a new companion for the
second leg of the journey — his friend Larry
Newland.
Newland was one of the first people
Smith met when his family moved to Morro
Bay, Calif.
Like Smith, he is lured by adventure.
He once walked a portion of the Donner
Party route from Reno, Nev., over the Sierra
Nevada mountains into Placerville, Calif.
He had planned to be a part of Smith’s
1976 skateboard trip, but backed out because
he started a rock band.
“Almost 50 years later, here we are on a
cross-country trip,” Smith said.
There is no fundraising cause for this trip.
“It’s just a fun adventure,” he said.
But their costs were minimal. At night,
the pair typically stayed at campgrounds.
Smith slept in the bus on top of the batteries,
while Newland pitched a tent. They plugged
in the bus to charge overnight so they were
ready to hit the road by morning.
Along the way, they met a lot of interesting
people who were intrigued by the
bus and wandered over to take a look —
young and old, police officers, construction
workers in downtown Manhattan.
“It’s an attention magnet,” Jack said.
“First they come up and they’re excited by
the bus because they think it’s cool,” he said.
“It makes them smile.”
When they found out it was electric, they
wanted to see the motor and batteries.
The pair was always willing to show off
the bus, talk about their adventures, and
answer questions.
The most popular question?
“How far can you go on a charge?”
THE RUST BUS
Smith was only three years out from his
electrified skateboard trip when he watched
“Horatio’s Drive.”
Still, the prospect of another journey was
too exciting to ignore. It wasn’t a question of
if he’d recreate the trip, but how.
He contacted his friend, Michael Bream,
owner of EV West in San Marcos, Calif. Smith
wanted to get some input and ideas for this
trip.
Bream immediately offered the “Rust
Bus,” a 1964 VW van that he converted to run
on all-electric power.
At first, Smith was a little skeptical.
He was hoping for a Tesla, or maybe the
DeLorean that Bream was converting. But it
Jack Smith charged the bus
at Loup Power on May 15
as he journeyed east from
California to New York. He
stopped a second time on
the return journey on June 3.
He took photos of the Rust
Bus all along the way.
They spent most nights at
low-cost campgrounds —
Smith slept in the bus
while his companion
slept in a tent.
They charged the bus at
their campsite overnight.
wasn’t ready.
And so, he decided the two-speed bus
would have to do.
“It’s a very basic vehicle,” Smith said.
“Just as Horatio’s was.”
But basic doesn’t quite describe the
vehicle, with its contrasting vintage frame
and new technology —an electric motor
and charging port, and 800 pounds of Tesla
batteries.
And, Smith realized, that’s just what he
was looking for.
On May 4, he hopped in the rust bus and
headed west from San Francisco with friend
Mike Adamski.
They soon learned they wouldn’t exactly
be traveling in comfort. The bus rattled,
and leaked, and the ride was often bumpy,
despite the upgraded shocks.
They hit cold spring weather and snow on
the early part of the journey. Smith wore long
underwear and gloves. The cold air snuck in,
despite the tape on the windshield and the
added foam insulation.
Still, Smith knew he didn’t have it so bad,
when he compared his experience to that of
Jackson.
“Those guys were in an open-cockpit car
navigating by compass,” he said.
In contrast, he had navigation equipment,
paved roads, modern amenities, and
more.
Twenty-one days after leaving California,
Smith and Adamski reached New York.
1916 Lincoln Highway Official Road Guide
FROM A TRICKLE TO A FIRE HYDRANT
Newland kept a log every day of the
journey. The top speed of the Rust Bus is
about 95 miles per hour. Generally, they took
a leisurely pace of about 40–55 miles an hour
since they traveled mostly on state highways
and some back roads.
He loved that part of the trip.
After all, he asked, are you really seeing
our country if you’re barreling down the
interstate at 70 miles an hour?
They averaged about 20 miles per 10
percent of battery power on their trip west.
That equates to about 200 miles per
charge in ideal conditions. That range
decreased in hilly terrain or windy
conditions.
But a 200-mile range is just fine with
Newland. After a few hours in the car, he
needed a break to stretch his legs and get a
cup of coffee or bite to eat.
He believes that is a business model for
the future. Imagine charging your car while
having coffee with a friend or getting your
groceries. Convenience stores could add
amenities for EV owners who need to take a
break from the road and charge up.
“This trip has helped shape my idea
about the viability of electric vehicles,”
Newland said.
He’s guessing that in 5 to 10 years, most
people will have an electric car that they use
for trips to the store, to school, to work. But
they will also have a gas-powered pickup
or car for their family vacations or home
improvement projects.
He knows not everyone sees electric
vehicles in such a positive light, but he also
witnessed people change their mind after
learning about the bus and their trip.
Some were shocked at the bus’ instant
torque. Others learned that the most they
paid for a charge was about seven bucks— a
lot cheaper than a full tank of gas.
But Newland said the range question is
the main drawback for many.
“When the first question ceases to be,
‘how far can you go on a charge,’ electric
cars are going to take off,” he said.
For true success, he thinks potential EV
owners will need to see charging stations at
every gas station. They will need a range of
300 miles. Five hundred would be better.
And finally, the cost of a new EV needs to
come down.
He knows that will happen. New technology
is always expensive, but eventually
the price comes down.
Smith is also convinced that electric cars
will eventually take off — just like other
inventions throughout history that found
plenty of skeptics. Heck, Horatio may never
have made history if he didn’t bet against
those naysayers more than 100 years ago.
“It’s going to start as this trickle,” he said.
“And then it’s going to be like a fire hydrant.”
The electric motor in the Rust Bus is
powered by Tesla batteries.
6 | GENERATOR SUMMER 2022 | 7

LEADING THE CHARGE
Electric motors give new life to classics
Michael Bream owns
EV West in San Marcos,
Calif. The company
converts vehicles to run
on electric power.
Above: Some “new”
electric vehicles.
Photos courtesy of EV West
Story by Stacy Wemhoff
Back in 1974, the parking brake on a Volkswagen
bus failed and it rolled down a hill.
Right into an elm tree.
The owners pulled it back to their property where
it sat for more than 40 years. Then they asked Michael
Bream if he’d like to have it.
“It looked really bad,” he said. “So of course we
were interested.”
Bream took the 1964 VW bus back to his business,
EV West, in San Marcos, Calif. There, he and his team
fixed the frame as best they could.
They removed the old combustion engine, and
replaced it with an 88-kilowatt AC motor (about 120
horsepower). Then, they added Tesla batteries.
It went into the business’ vehicle pool and
employees put about 40,000 miles on it in a few years.
“Because it came in so messed up and the fact that
it’s now so capable, it’s become very endearing for the
employees and the people around here,” Bream said.
“Everybody just loves the Rust Bus.”
The bus is one of many vehicles Bream has
converted to run on all-electric power. He worked on
Tony Hawk’s Corvette Stingray this summer. Add to the
mix a 1951 Chevy pickup, a few Porche conversions,
and several more VW buses.
But he doesn’t do it for the environment. Or
because gas prices are so high. It’s not a political
statement.
He does it to save the classics.
“We just wanted to highlight the performance,
highlight the fun, highlight the fact that you can save a
classic car like this bus,” Bream said.
HOT ROD CULTURE
Bream’s interest in cars stems from his father.
“My dad grew up in West Hollywood in the ’50s and
’60s and there was a lot of hot rod culture,” he said.
He began racing cars and did that for about 5 years.
While that was a lot of fun, Bream is an engineer, and
decided he wanted to step things up a notch.
“I just wanted something more cerebral,” he said.
“I wanted to push the limits a little bit more.”
He decided to build an electric race car and
compete in the Broadmoor Pikes Peak International
Hill Climb — an annual race to the summit of Pike’s
Peak. The event is the second-oldest motorsports
race in America. It began in 1916 and was halted only
during both world wars.
The 12.42-mile course has 156 turns. It begins at
about 9,300 feet and ends 14,115 feet above sea level.
Bream and his father built their electric car over
a year and a half and were ready to compete in 2012.
They broke a record in their class and beat out cars
that were funded by multi-million dollar companies.
The David-versus-Goliath win led to news stories.
His name began circulating among car enthusiasts.
“I think that was the major impetus for what is now
EV West,” Bream said.
SAVING THE CLASSICS
Bream’s business has continued to grow as more
and more people decide to save their classics by
converting them to electric power.
Again, Bream said he and his customers don’t
have an altruistic motive for doing so. They enjoy the
We’re like a bunch of kids having
fun with classic cars that drive much
“better than they did 50 years ago.
instant power and low maintenance that comes with
an electric motor.
“We’re like a bunch of kids having fun with classic
cars that drive much better than they did 50 years
ago.”
Plus, gas is a finite resource and gas engines have
a lot of moving parts and therefore a lot of potential
problems. The problem is compounded in classics
because of their age.
“But you put this electric drive line in it and
going back and forth across the United States is no
problem,” Bream said.
It wasn’t a problem for his friend, Jack Smith, who
traveled back and forth across America in an electric
vehicle as he recreated “Horatio’s Drive.”
Bream learned about that first trip across America
when Smith gave him a book about the journey.
“I was so fascinated by it,” he said. “It’s a snapshot
in time when something seemed so unobtainable. To
drive across the country seemed impossible.”
And so, when Smith wanted to recreate the journey
in a unique vehicle, Bream offered the Rust Bus.
The vehicle was up to the task. And while Smith’s
adventure is now complete, the bus still has work
to do. It’s headed to Canada this month to join other
vintage VWs on a trip from Canada to Mexico. It will
most likely amaze and delight those who come over for
a closer look. Just like it did on the Smith’s trip.
“It’s fun to have something that was the total peak
of unreliability and then doing the exact opposite with
it — making it something that can drive around the
United States with virtually zero maintenance.”
LEARN MORE:
“Horatio’s Drive” on PBS
to.pbs.org/39zWtqc
Learn more about the Ken Burns documentary on Horatio Jackson Nelson that
features Tom Hanks as the voice of Dr. Jackson. This site includes video clips,
photos, an automobile chronology timeline, and more.
Following Horatio’s Route and the Lincoln Highway
bit.ly/FirstRoadTrip
Jack Smith documented his travels on his Facebook page. Search “An Electric
Tribute to America’s First Road Trip and The Lincoln Highway.” Mike Newland
shared pictures on Instagram under the handle @horatio1903.
Beyond the Sidewalk
bit.ly/1stSkate
“Beyond the Sidewalk” is an eight-minute short film about the first skateboard
push across America in 1976.
Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History
s.si.edu/39K67X3
Several of Smith’s possessions are now part of the permanent collection at the
Smithsonian National Museum of American History: the first skateboard Smith
used in 1976; his gray suede Vans shoes worn on the 2013 trip; and his electric
skateboard, T-shirts, and safety vest from 2018. Pictures of the items are posted
on the museum’s website.
The museum also has items from Horatio Nelson Jackson in its collection.
View the car, Bud’s goggles, and more at s.si.edu/39Ew3n2
The Lincoln Highway
lincolnhighwayassoc.org
The Lincoln Highway Association is dedicated to preserving and celebrating
an important part of American history.
8 | GENERATOR
SUMMER 2022 | 9

UNDERWATER
INSPECTION
The Columbus and Monroe powerhouses
are impressive structures.
But they are more than 80 years old and
need regular tending. The employees who
work there every day spot mechanical and
structural issues on the inside and outside.
But what about under?
That’s where things get a little more
tricky.
There are trash rack supports under the
water on the upstream side of the Monroe
Powerhouse (MPH). These racks prevent
debris from entering the generator turbines
and regulating wicket gates.
Last year, employees noticed
that the wear plates that protect
these supports were deteriorating and
needed maintenance.
Accessing underwater areas of the
canal is no easy task, however. That’s why
the MPH trash racks and supports had not
been inspected in almost 20 years.
In May, Loup employees completed
the task with the assistance of a diver and
crane team.
The project was scheduled for that time
because Loup could lower the upstream
water level without affecting canal irrigators.
After clearing the
debris, the location
was dewatered using
bulkheads (stop logs) to
seal off the canal.
Each of the two generator
intakes is divided into
two sections. Each
requires three stop logs
stacked on top of each
other to provide a safe
barrier between the canal
and the work area.
Once the stop logs were installed and
each section was dewatered (above),
the trash rack sections were removed
(left) with the help of a crane. The racks
were tagged, cleaned, and inspected.
Top: Kenny Ferris with Husker Marine of Burwell prepares to check for debris at the powerhouse.
Above left: Lance Ferris, Canal Lead, and Brad Morton, Hydro Superintendent, monitor the dive
from the powerhouse deck.
Above middle: Lance Ferris (right) helps Kenny Ferris replace his oxygen tank.
Right: A log is removed from the bottom of the canal after being discovered by the diver.
Photos by Brad Morton, Lance Ferris, and Stacy Wemhoff.
After the racks are removed, the support structure
is inspected (right) and repaired as needed (above).
Then the racks are reinstalled, the stop logs are
removed to allow water back into the scroll case,
and the generator is placed back into service.
10 | GENERATOR SUMMER 2022 | 11

Area students earn scholarships
LINKAGES SCHOLARSHIPS
LOUP POWER DISTRICT SCHOLARSHIPS
Linkages Scholarships were awarded to Columbus area high school graduates
Jack Ryan and Tim Sliva.
The Linkages Program is a nationally recognized program that supports high
schools offering a quality program of engineering and technology courses. The
Columbus Economic Council, Loup Power District, and local businesses provide
support for the program.
The students qualified for the Linkages Scholarship by taking engineering and
technical courses. The scholarship can be used at each student’s college of
choice.
The following local sponsors provided important financial support to this year’s
program: ADM Corn Processing, Behlen Mfg. Co., Columbus Bank, Columbus
Community Hospital, Duo Lift Manufacturing, Pinnacle Bank, TORIN Products,
Inc., and Valmont Newmark.
Since its beginning in 2004, the Linkages Program has awarded 205 scholarships
totaling $66,675.
Loup Power District awarded scholarships to six
area students who are attending Central Community
College-Columbus this fall.
Loup Power District scholarships are awarded to high
school seniors living in Boone, Colfax, Nance, and
Platte Counties, and a portion of Madison County.
Selection is based on academic achievement,
employment and school activities, quality of the
personal statement, application completeness and
recommendations.
Scholarships were awarded to: Columbus High School
— Kyson Krepel; Scotus Central Catholic — Noah
Bierman; Lakeview High School — Hunter Schoch;
Clarkson High School — Bryce Jurgesen; Lindsay Holy
Family — Grace Preister; St. Edward High School —
Andrew Breceda.
GAVIN BRABEC
Scotus Central Catholic
—
Plans: Pre-medicine
at University of Nebraska at Omaha
Son of Lori and Mike Brabec, Crew Lead
SYDNEY QUINN
Scotus Central Catholic
—
Plans: Veterinary Technology
at Northeast Community College
Daughter of Crystal and Dan Quinn, Crew Lead
DELANEY MARY OLMER
Humphrey St. Francis
—
Plans: Health Sciences
at University of Nebraska at Kearney
Daughter of Tom and Ann Olmer,
Customer Service Representative
ADAM QUINN
Scotus Central Catholic
—
Plans: Business and Marketing
at Southeast Community College in Lincoln
Son of Crystal and Dan Quinn, Crew Lead
MASON PROSOSKI
Northeast Community College
—
Associate’s Degree in Utility Line
Working for Cornhusker Public Power District
Son of Eric and Amber Prososki and Betsy
and Kenton Zimmer, Equipment Operator;
Grandson of Sena and Randy Prososki,
Headworks Supervisor
SIERRA QUINN
Scotus Central Catholic
—
Plans: Pre-medicine
at University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Daughter of Crystal and Dan Quinn, Crew Lead
$1.5M to
area towns
Loup Power District officials
recently delivered lease payments
totaling more than $1.5 million.
Each of these communities owns
their electric distribution systems.
These payments compensate them
for the use of those systems for the
first quarter of 2022. They use the
funds for a variety of projects.
The payments were:
Columbus — $1,148,464.55
Platte Center — $15,827.44
Monroe — $14,604.30
Tarnov — $2,084.55
Creston — 8,806.06
Humphrey — $30,743.01
Lindsay — $57,390.32
Cornlea — $2,410.37
Newman Grove — $22,366.00
Duncan — $20,617.76
Fullerton — $37,866.12
Genoa — $30,014.32
Belgrade — $4,556.10
Richland — $3,448.33
Howells — $26,795.80
Leigh — $19,081.91
Clarkson — $23,319.13
Albion — $57,242.83
Cedar Rapids — $20,946.99
Primrose — $1,907.98
Petersburg — $11,263.72
St. Edward — $22,054.15
Total — $1,581,811.74
HOW AMERICANS USE ELECTRICITY
The latest data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration shows the
combined use of clothes washers and dryers, dishwashers, small appliances and
other electrical equipment (noted as “all other uses” below) accounts for the largest
percentage of electricity consumption in American homes.
1.7%
TVs & Related Equipment
41.3% 2
All other uses
15.7%
Space Cooling
4.1%
Lighting
11.8%
Water Heating
14.2% 1
Space Heating
Source: Energy Information Administration 2021
1
Includes consumption for heat and operating furnace fans and boiler pumps.
2
Includes miscellaneous appliances, clothes washers and dryers, stoves, dishwashers, heating elements, and motors.
4.1%
Computers &
Related Equipment
7.1%
Refrigerators
& Freezers
12 | GENERATOR SUMMER 2022 | 13

employee notes
JIM HOGE
Drafting Technician
Jim Hoge began
his career at Loup
in 1982 as a parttime
Draftsman in
the Engineering
Department at the
Columbus General
Office. He was promoted
to full-time
as a Drafting Technician
in 1986 and
he continues in that position today.
In this role, Hoge provides drafting
support to all departments. He
maintains District maps, including
substation drawings, transmission
line profile sheets, switching maps,
and standards. Hoge works closely
with Nebraska Public Power District
regarding joint-use drawings that are
shared between the two utilities. He
also works with the City of Columbus
on updating District maps with city limit
changes, subdivision additions and
new address assignments.
A graduate of Columbus High School,
Hoge attended Central Community
College in Columbus. He and his wife,
Sue, have twin girls — Jaime Sack and
Nicole Liss. They also have two granddaughters
and triplet grandsons.
KYLE KEMPER
Line Technician
Kyle Kemper of
Genoa joined Loup
Power District as a
Line Technician in
Fullerton.
He is member of
the crew that is
responsible for construction,
operation,
and maintenance
of electric transmission
and
distribution systems
and substations in the Fullerton
Division.
40 YEARS
WELCOME
Kemper is a graduate of Twin River
High School. He earned a degree in
Utility Line from Northeast Community
College in May.
KURT MOHR
Headworks Operator
Kurt Mohr joined
Loup in 1997 as
a Maintenance
Man at the Genoa
Headworks. He was
promoted to Equipment
Operator at
the Headworks in
2002 and to Headworks
Operator in
2017.
Mohr’s duties include operation and
maintenance of heavy equipment at
the Headworks. He also performs
general canal and hydro-related
maintenance.
Mohr is a graduate of Genoa High
School and he attended Central
Community College in Columbus. He
and his wife, Lisa, live in rural Genoa.
CHASE DAVIS
Journey Line Technician
Chase Davis joined
Loup in 2007 as an
Apprentice Lineman
in Columbus. He
was promoted to
Lineman later that
year.
In 2012, Davis transferred
to Arborist/
Lineman and was
promoted to Journey
Line Technician
in 2014.
25 YEARS
15 YEARS
Davis is member of the crew that
is responsible for the construction,
operation, and maintenance of Loup’s
electrical transmission and distribution
systems and substations in the Columbus
Division.
Davis is a graduate of Columbus
High School and has an Associate of
Applied Science Degree in Utility Line
from Northeast Community College in
Norfolk.
He and his wife, Tiffany, are the
parents of three daughters, Hadley,
Ellowyn, and Cooper.
MATT ROSNO
Headworks Mechanic
Matt Rosno joined
Loup Power District
as a Maintenance
Technician at the
Genoa Headworks
in April 2021 and
was promoted
to Headworks
Mechanic in August
2021.
He is responsible
for maintaining
District vehicles and
equipment at the Genoa Headworks.
He also troubleshoots the mechanical
components of the District’s dredge,
the Pawnee II.
Rosno is a graduate of Twin River High
School. He is certified in ATV Personal
Water Craft Repair and Automotive
Mechanic.
BOB ANDERSON
Dredge Operator
Bob Anderson of
Genoa was recently
recognized for 25
years of service to
Loup Power District.
1 YEAR
Anderson joined
Loup in 1997 as
a Maintenance
Man at the Genoa
Headworks. He was
promoted to Equipment
Operator at
the Headworks
in 2002. In 2016, Anderson was
promoted to his current position of
Dredge Operator.
25 YEARS
As a Dredge Operator, Anderson is a
member of the team that operates and
maintains the District’s dredge at the
Genoa Headworks located six miles
southwest of Genoa.
Anderson is a graduate of Genoa High
School and attended Wayne State
College.
He and his wife, Michelle, are the parents
of two children: Tanner and Halie.
LANCE FERRIS
Canal Lead
Lance Ferris joined
Loup in 1982 as
a Maintenance
Man at the Genoa
Headworks. In 1985,
he was promoted
to Equipment
Operator.
He was promoted
to Dredge Operator
in 1988. In 2015,
Ferris transferred to
Equipment Operator
at the Columbus Service Center.
He was promoted to his current position
of Canal Lead in 2020.
Ferris’ primary responsibility is overseeing
canal-related projects from the
railroad siphon east of Genoa to the
tailrace area southeast of Columbus.
His crew also assists with substation
and construction work throughout the
District.
Ferris and his wife, Teresa, have seven
children and 20 grandchildren. They
live in Monroe.
DAN HELLBUSCH
Equipment Operator
Dan Hellbusch
joined Loup in 1992
as a Maintenance
Man on the Columbus
Canal Crew
based out of the
Columbus Service
Center. He was
promoted to his
current position of
Equipment Operator
in 1996.
40 YEARS
30 YEARS
Hellbusch operates
the District’s heavy equipment
and is part of the crew that performs
maintenance on the canal system from
Genoa to Columbus, works at the two
powerhouses, helps build substations,
and cares for District parks and lakes.
Hellbusch is a graduate of Lakeview
High School. He and his wife, Michelle,
are the parents of two children: Dylan
and Kaden.
DAVE DUNCAN
Chief Mechanic
Dave Duncan was
promoted to Chief
Mechanic at Loup
Power District. He
also marked his fiveyear
anniversary.
Duncan joined Loup
in 2017 as Automotive/Equipment
Mechanic for the
Shop and Transportation
Department.
In his new role,
Duncan is responsible for the scheduling,
maintenance, and repair of all
District vehicles, heavy and light equipment,
hydraulic equipment, and other
tools and equipment used throughout
the District.
Duncan earned his Associates Degree
in Automotive Technology from Metropolitan
Community College in Omaha.
BRYAN TWOREK
Dredge Operator
Bryan Tworek of
Genoa was recently
recognized for 10
years of service to
Loup Power District.
PROMOTION
Tworek joined Loup
Power District in
2012 as Maintenance
Man at the
Genoa Headworks.
He was promoted
to Equipment Operator
in 2014 and was named Dredge
Operator in 2018.
10 YEARS
In his role as Dredge Operator, Tworek
is part of a team that operates and
maintains the District’s dredge at the
Genoa Headworks.
Tworek is a graduate of Genoa High
School. He attended Central Community
College- Columbus where he
earned an Associate of Applied Science
Degree in Ag Business.
Tworek and his wife, Shanna, are the
parents of a son, Nicholas, and twin
daughters, Alyse and Aurora.
JOHN FRITZGES
Dredge Operator
John Fritzges of St.
Edward has been
promoted to Dredge
Operator at Loup
Power District.
In his new role,
Fritzges is part of a
team that operates
and maintains the
District’s dredge
at the Genoa
Headworks.
Fritzges joined Loup as Maintenance
Man at the Genoa Headworks in 2018.
He and his wife, Kaitlin, have five
children: Kohen, Reese, Rhett, Cecelia,
and Ty.
SHEILA FREDERICK
Service Center Coordinator
Sheila Frederick
joined Loup Power
District in 2012 as a
Customer Service
Representative at
the Albion Office.
She was promoted
to Service Center
Coordinator in 2019.
PROMOTION
In this role,
Frederick handles
10 YEARS
communication
among the personnel
at the Service Center including line
technicians, and the meter and maintenance,
shop, and canal crews.
Her duties include taking service calls,
receiving locate requests, sending
irrigation load control messages and
handling dispatches. She also prepares
work tickets, service orders, and
reports.
Frederick is a graduate of Boone
Central High School. She attended the
University of Nebraska-Lincoln and
earned a bachelor’s degree in Communication
Studies.
Frederick and her husband Justin,
live in Columbus with daughters Ellie,
Olivia, and Eden.
14 | GENERATOR SUMMER 2022 | 15

employee notes
ZACH REICKS
Meter, Relay & Equipment Technician
Zach Reicks of Columbus
joined Loup in
2007 as an Apprentice
Lineman in Columbus.
Later that year he was
promoted to Lineman.
In 2011, he was promoted
to Journeyman
Lineman and transferred
to Meter, Relay
and Equipment Technician
in 2019.
In this role, Reicks is part of the team that
is responsible for installation and maintenance
of substation power equipment for
the District. He operates the load control
program, is the Supervisory Control and
Data Acquisition (SCADA) administrator,
and assists with metering.
Reicks is a graduate of Lakeview High
School and has an Associate of Applied
Science Degree in Utility Line from Northeast
Community College in Norfolk.
He and his wife, Ashley, are the parents
of three children: Leyton,
Camden, and Lily.
JARED HOEFELMAN
Journey Line Technician
Jared Hoefelman
joined Loup in 2012
as a Line Technician
at Humphrey.
He was promoted
to Journey Line
Technician in 2015.
Hoefelman is member
of the crew that
is responsible for
the construction,
operation, and
maintenance of electric transmission and
distribution systems and substations in
the Humphrey area.
15 YEARS 10 YEARS
He is a graduate of Lakeview High School
and earned an Associate of Applied
Science Degree in Utility Line from Northeast
Community College.
He also holds an Associate of Applied
Science Degree in Electrical & Electromechanical
Technology from Southeast
Community College.
Jared and his wife, Molly, have two
daughters, Emryn and Calla.
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Retiree Profile
GARY
PEARSON
Gary Pearson doesn’t have time to be
bored.
He’s quick to answer when asked what’s
keeping him so busy.
“About 15 years of neglect on projects,” he
replies with a grin.
The Loup retiree has a long list to catch
up on. He has a small acreage on the north
side of Genoa and a farm he shares with his
sister.
He also has antique shops to visit. Not to
mention trying to keep up with all the activities
of his seven grandchildren.
Even so, Pearson said he misses the
Genoa Headworks — a second home for
almost 36 years.
* * *
Pearson was building houses for the
Genoa Lumberyard when the market tanked
in the early 1980s and he was laid off after 10
years. He went on to Lindsay Manufacturing.
He worked there less than a year when he
decided to apply for an opening at the Genoa
Headworks.
“And I’m so glad I did,” he said.
Pearson got the job as Maintenance Man
in 1983. He was promoted to Equipment
Operator in 1986, and became Dredge Operator
in 1990. He was promoted to Headworks
Supervisor in 1997. He stayed in that position
until his retirement in November 2018.
He had a great team of coworkers and
supervisors in his early years who took the
time to teach him about the Headworks, the
canal, the sand, the ice. They taught him
how to read the river and adjust the gates
accordingly.
“Attention to detail meant everything to
those guys,” he said.
Pearson took those details to heart and it
didn’t take long for him to realize that he did
not want to leave the job.
Working outside was one of the top
job perks. “There could be some wicked
weather, but there’s something about it. It
was the perfect fit for me,” Pearson said. “I
could see that this was going to be the last
place I worked.”
There were definitely challenges on the
job, too, and he enjoyed finding solutions.
“Everyday was a new challenge,” Pearson
said. “But it got to the point where you just
swept the challenges away and kept on
going.”
One of the biggest trials he faced may
Above: Gary Pearson at his home in Genoa. Pearson worked at the Genoa Headworks for
more than 35 years before retiring in 2018.
Bottom left: Pearson works on the Pawnee dredge floating line ball joint in 1996.
Bottom right: Pearson prepares for installation of a new rotating ball joint 90 in 1994.
have been learning to use the computer.
“It was challenging,” he said, but he soon
began to enjoy it.
* * *
Even though he loved his job, Pearson
knew it was time to retire and attack his
to-do list at home.
He and his wife, Betty, quickly realized
how great retirement could be.
“We do a lot together and we can just pick
up and go,” she said.
That freedom was put on hold just over a
year later when the Covid-19 pandemic hit.
But things are slowly getting back to normal.
They can go to their grandchildren’s activities
again. Shops are open. Travel is easier.
One thing that’s not on his list is watching
television — at least not anything from the
last 50 years.
“My TV watching is pretty much limited
to Gunsmoke and I’ve probably seen them all
now,” he joked.
16 | GENERATOR SUMMER 2022 | 17

Summer Safety —
RV frames can become electrically charged
Camping is an outdoor leisure activity
that many people take advantage of during
the summer season. As with all summer fun,
safety needs to be a priority.
Tragically, in the summer of 2014, a
3-year-old boy was electrocuted as a result
of faulty wiring that electrified the family’s
camper. The child was touching a door
handle of the camper while standing on wet
ground when he was electrocuted.
Such a situation in which an RV frame
is electrically charged is often referred to as
“hot skin.” Improper wiring or connection,
no grounding, reversed polarity, and loose
or worn outlets are just some of the potential
causes. If a hot skin hazard exists, simply
opening the door or coming into contact with
the hitch can cause shock or electrocution.
To help prevent hot skin, your RV’s
electrical system needs to be regularly tested
and maintained. A professional electrician
can help you make sure the wiring in your
RV is safe.
Perform a visual inspection of cords,
plugs, and outlets. If there are cracked or
frayed cords or broken or discolored plugs or
outlets, do not use them. Have them replaced
or repaired. Make sure RVs are equipped
with fire extinguishers as well as permanently
installed carbon-monoxide and fire
detectors.
Always use electrical cords rated for
the use they will get. Make sure the power
demand of the appliances that will be used
does not exceed the cord’s rating. To plug
your RV into a campground power pedestal,
use a heavy duty, four-wire cord with a
grounding wire, not an extension cord.
Know the amperage your RV draws and
the amperage available. If you try to draw
more amperage than is available, you can
cause serious damage to the electrical source
and your RV. You could even start a fire. Also
make sure you know where your electrical
panel and major switches are.
Before using a campground hook-up, do
a visual inspection of the area. If a campground
hook-up appears to be damaged, put
safety first and request another spot. Making
the campground aware of the damage will
also help future campers at that site. In addition,
be sure to have the proper cord. Never
plug more than one RV into a single hook-up.
As with a generator, plug your RV in before
turning appliances on.
For more information on electrical safety,
visit SafeElectricity.org.
Loup maintains five public parks
Loup Power District’s five parks and
recreation areas canvas 77 acres of land and
1,100 acres of water.
The parks were originally developed as a
byproduct of the Loup’s canal system. Over
the years, the District continued to develop
and maintain them as a service to the
communities and customers we serve.
The parks are open from May 1 to
November 1, weather permitting.
Headworks Park remains open during
the winter months, but there are no water or
trash services.
There are plenty of recreational opportunities
at all five parks. Visitors can boat,
swim, camp, fish, bike, hike, picnic and
more.
Electrical hookups are free although
visitors are limited to seven days per
month. Reservations are not accepted.
PARKS STATUS NUMBER
Visitors are encouraged to call Loup’s
Park Status number before visiting.
Parks close periodically for maintenance
and District operations.
402-562-5709
POWERHOUSE PARK
3 mi N of US30 & 3rd Ave in Columbus
TAILRACE PARK
3.5 mi E of 8th St & 18th Ave
in Columbus, & 1.5 mi S
HEADWORKS PARK
6 mi W of Genoa on Hwy 22
LOUP PARK
4 mi N of US30 & 18th Ave
in Columbus, then 1.5 mi W
LAKE NORTH
4 mi N of US30 & 18th Ave in Columbus
• • • •
• •
• • • • • • • •
• • • • • • • •
• • • • • • • • • •
Camping Grilling Restrooms Shelter Swimming Trails Play Equip Electricity Fishing Boat Ramp
18 | GENERATOR SUMMER 2022 | 19

2404 15th Street | PO Box 988
Columbus, NE 68602-0988