COVER STORY

Cooking from the hearth .....................10

Barbara Archer, period interpreter at Lincoln's New Salem Historic Site in Petersburg, demonstrates how hearth cooking is done.

Published by Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives www.aiec.org

John Lowrey........................................................Editor

Nancy R. Nixon Catrina McCulley Young ,
&Michelle McNeal......................Associate Editors

Sandy Wolske ...................Advertising Coordinator

Erin Weller, Kara Henning
& Kathy Feraris..................... Graphic Designers

Derek Squires...... Graphic Technician/Designer

Connie Newenham..... Circulation Coordinator

Illinois Country Living is a monthly publication serving the communications needs of 21 locally owned, not-for-profit Illinois electric cooperatives. More than 160,000 families receive the magazine as part of their electric cooperative membership. Monthly columns and stories provide information about topics and issues that affect the quality of their lives.

Illinois Country Living (ISSN number 1086-8062) is published monthly and is the official publication of the Association of Illinois Electric Cooperatives, 6460 South Sixth Frontage Road, Springfield, IL 62707. The cost is $2.40 plus postage per year for members of subscribing cooperatives and $5 per year for all others. Periodical postage paid at Springfield, Illinois, and additional mailing offices.

POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Illinois Country Living, P.O. Box 3787, Springfield, Illinois 62708.

COOP MEMBERS: When requesting an address change, please include the name of your cooperative. Telephone: (217) 529-5561

Advertising and editorial inquiries should be directed to Illinois Country Living, P.O. Box 3787. Springfield, Illinois 62708. National advertising representative; The Weiss Group, 14826 North 54th Place. Suite 101, Scottsdale, AZ 85254 (602) 482-8844. Acceptance of advertising by ICL does not imply endorsement by the publisher or the electric co-operatives of Illinois of the product or service advertised. Advertisers are screened by the publisher and every effort is made to protect the subscriber, but ICL is not responsible for the performance of the product or service advertised.

EDITORS: Articles appearing in Illinois Country Living may be reprinted upon consent of the editor. For permission phone (217) 529-5561 or write to John Lowrey, editor, Illinois Country Living, P.O. Box 3787, Springfield, IL 62708.

ILLINOIS^™ COUNTRY LIVING

DEPARTMENTS

ILLINOIS COMMENTARY.................................... 4
Norm Thomas, Acting Bureau Chief of the Illinois Department of Agriculture's County Fairs and Horse Racing division, says now is the time to celebrate our agrarian heritage. Visit a county fair near you and have a corn dog while you're there.

ILLINOIS CURRENTS.......................................... 6

Stamp prices are up, tornados tore down power lines, and Illinois is on top of technology.

SAFETY AND HEALTH....................................... 14
Kyle Finley, owner of Live Line Demo, says proper grounding is basic to electrical safety.

YOUR YARD AND GARDEN .................16
David Robson says the garden can provide a life long learning experience.

TODAY'S TECHNOLOGY AND YOU................ 18
Use the sun to beat the heat in your attic with solarpowered vents.

ILLINOIS' FINEST COOKING ..............................22
This summer, invite your friends over for a potluck and serve a Cheese Souffle from the recipe collection of Illinois College of Jacksonville, IL. And for dessert, serve Perky Peaches from the recipe collection of The Barry FFA Alumni of Barry, IL.