January / February 2009 - Nebraska Public Power District

16 ENERGY INSIGHT • jaNuaRY / fEbRuaRY 2009
ENERGY INSIGHT • jaNuaRY / fEbRuaRY 2009 17
from around the state
York / Cindy Klein, Customer Services & Delivery Representative /
ceklein@nppd.com
In October, Journey Substation
Technician Jeff Bjorklund
was a big winner at the
Guthrie Shootouts at the Lazy
E Arena in Guthrie, Okla.
There were 4,792 teams
present and the event paid out
$591,235 in cash and prizes.
Jeff Bjorklund Jeff explained that all ropers
have a handicap number, similar
to golf. The numbers range from beginner (#1) to
professional roper (#10). Jeff is a #5 roper. If he wants
to rope in a #10 roping, he needs to have a partner
with no greater handicap than 5. Jeff and his various
partners placed in several events including first place
out of 208 teams in a #9 event, first place out of 366
teams in a #9 event, third place out of 234 teams in
a #10 event, and sixth place out of 188 teams in a #9
event. Jeff went on to the National Finals of Team
Roping in Oklahoma City where he and his partner
earned 8th place in a #9 shootout. Jeff brought home
cash and prizes such as a Trophy Martin saddle, Gist
spurs and Gist belt buckles.
Jeff Bjorklund (right) pictured with his Trophy Martin Saddle.
Jeff placed in several events at the 2008 Guthrie Shootouts
in Oklahoma, bringing home several thousand dollars in
cash and prizes.
Community Relations/Education Specialist Chad
Johnson gave electric power presentations to students
in grades K-5 at St. Joseph Catholic School in York.
Chad showed safety equipment and taught electrical
safety to the K-2nd grade students. The 3rd-5th
graders learned about different forms of energy
through hands-on experiments. Chad’s presentations
were part of a build-up to the upcoming All City
Science Expo in March.
Chad Johnson helps 3rd-5th grade students with
an energy transformation experiment. Pictured
in blue is Brynley Klein, daughter of CS&D
Representative Cindy Klein.
Ogallala / Connie Knapp, Customer Services & Delivery
Representative / csknapp@nppd.com
Customer Services and Delivery personnel
represented NPPD in the annual Christmas Parade
of Lights Dec. 4. “All I want for Christmas” was the
theme for the evening light show. NPPD employees
and family members that handed out treats along the
parade route were CS&D Representative Judie and
John Sauer, Meter Reader Joe Peters, Economic
Development Consultant Brian Vasa and Distribution
Superintendent Brian Buhr. CS&D Representative
Connie Knapp filled buckets with candy.
Sutherland’s first annual Parade of Lights was held on
the evening of Dec. 12. Journey Line Technician Ray
Diaz drove the NPPD truck decorated with Christmas
lights. Handing out candy along the parade route were
Sutherland Local Manager Steve Derr, Apprentice
Line Technician Randy Jakubowski, CS&D
Representative Judie Sauer and son, Drake.
Cooper Nuclear Station / Glenn Troester,
Communications Coordinator / grtroes@nppd.com
Retired Lt. Gen. Roger Lempke, former Nebraska
National Guard Adjutant General, presents Capt. Bob
Beilke with the Admiral in the Nebraska Navy certificate.
A retirement dinner honoring more than 31 years of
United States Navy service was held Dec. 12, 2008,
for Capt. Bob Beilke at the Pasta Amore restaurant
in Omaha. Retired Lt. Gen. Roger Lempke, former
Nebraska National Guard Adjutant General, presented
several awards to Capt. Beilke, including recognition
by Gov. Dave Heineman as an Admiral in the Great
Navy of the State of Nebraska.
Capt. Beilke enlisted in the Navy on Nov. 11, 1977
and started his career in the Nuclear Submarine
Program. During the last 13 years he served in the
Navy’s Defense Support of Civil Authorities Program.
The highlight of his career occurred in 2006 when
he became the first reservist of any military service
branch to serve as a full-time active duty Defense
Coordinating Officer in the continental United States.
During his career, Capt. Beilke was awarded the
State of Nebraska Meritorious Service Medal,
Navy Meritorious Service Medal, three Army
Commendation Medals, Army Achievement Medal,
National Defense Service Medal, Humanitarian
Service Medal, and the Global War on Terrorism
Service Medal.
Bob is the chemistry manager at Cooper Nuclear
Station. He and his wife, Vicki, live in Stella.
McCook / Helen Hinz, Customer Services & Delivery
Representative / hahinz@nppd.com
In late November, employees at the McCook
and Ogallala offices participated in a Safety Day.
Employees from Transmission, Operations and
Customer Services had a full day of valuable
safety information and tips. Customer Services
and Delivery Representative Debra Shields and
Sutherland Local Manager Steve Derr coordinated
the day’s activities. McCook / Ogallala Distribution
Superintendent Brian Buhr welcomed everyone
and read the System Status Report.Transmission
and Distribution Manager Tom Kent updated the
group on issues facing NPPD and other utilities.
Kim Feeling of the Union Pacific Railroad gave
a presentation on hazardous materials. District
Engineering Manager Jay Dring gave a presentation
emphasizing the awareness and importance of fault
currents. The day ended with the group taking part
in a human performance training exercise dealing
with communication led by Safety, Technical
Training and Human Performance Manager Chris
Overman, Safety Lead Al Woolson, CS&D Team
Leader Kip Schuettler, and CS&D Technical
Training Team Leader Pat Budler.
Sheldon Station / Cindy Holsing, Administrative
Assistant / clholsi@nppd.com
Material Handler David
Hanau won two tickets to
the ACDC concert at the
Qwest Center in Omaha
through a promotion at
Lincoln’s classic rock radio
station, The Eagle. Inspired
by ACDC’s popular early-
1980s album, Dirty Deeds
David Hanau
Done Dirt Cheap, the radio
station asked listeners to submit a description of
their dirty job. Scott Kay from the radio station
interviewed David at the plant. During the interview,
David admitted that while he does have a dirty job,
he “wouldn’t want to work any place else.”