More money for sewers, water

The federal government will invest more than $8.3 million in five sanitary sewer projects and one safe-drinking water project in Illinois.

Rural Development, an agency of the U.S. Department of Agriculture, reports the money will be complemented by an additional $51.8 million from other public and private sources.

In announcing the projects, Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman said the projects would improve the health conditions, living environment and economic opportunities of more than 84,000 people living in economically distressed areas of rural America. Inadequate wastewater disposal is still a major source of water pollution in rural areas. Corroded pipes, outdated waste treatment facilities and sub-standard septic systems all take a heavy toll on the quality of our nation's drinking water supplies, aquatic habitat and recreational waters.

The money, in the form of loans and grants, will help pay for sewer projects in Blandinsville in McDonough County, Parkersburg in Richland County, Equality in Gallatin County, New Minden in Washington County and Hidalgo in Jasper County. EJ Water Corp. in Effingham County also will receive some of the money to expand.

The USDA says it has loaned more than $15 billion in the last 58 years. It boasts a loan loss rate of just 1/10 of one percent, or just $1 lost for every $1,000 loaned, making it one of the most successful federal lending programs in any area of federal government.

Deer repellent?

Want a sure-fire strategy to deal with deer supping on your sapling? "Try acceptance," suggests a Southern Illinois University senior scientist.

Jack L. Roseberry has "racked up" more than 20 years of research into the ways of whitetail deer at the Wildlife Research Laboratory at SIU's Carbondale campus. He and two new foresters at SIUC agree that nothing much deters deer for long.

"You'll hear people recommending soap or human hair or mountain lion urine — ask 10 people, and you'll get 10 different opinions on how to keep them away," said Roseberry. "I don't think there's any product that really works, because if there were, everybody would be using it."

Foresters John W. Groninger, a Pennsylvania native, and James J. Zaczek said tree shelters are helpful in some instances, but cost and aesthetics for large-scale planting make them impractical. Even for a single tree planted by a homeowner, shelters tend to over-protect the plant, making them spindly and not very wind-resistant.

Even electric fences pulsing with intermittent current are a short-term solution at best. "After a few years, the deer just fold themselves up and go right through it," said Zaczek. "They don't get shocked every time, and I think they just take the chance."

Instead, it's best to plant an older, taller tree.

"I tell people the magic number is 41/2 feet," said Zaczek. "Anything that tall or taller, deer will have a hard time killing because the growing point will be above their browse line."

A recent inventory indicates the deer population in Illinois to be about 800,000, and Roseberry reports that levels are beginning to level off in most counties.

Now, about those rabbits in the garden ...

8 ILLINOIS COUNTRY LIVING JUNE 1998

Illinois wine study completed

Southern Illinois University has completed a bench-marking study of the state's fledgling wine industry.

The project was co-sponsored by SIU and the Illinois Manufacturing Extension Center, which tries to help small, downstate companies succeed. "The idea wasn't so much to solve problems as to trigger red flags where needed, said Kyle Harfst of SIU.

Harfst said less than 10 percent of all wines produced in Illinois are made with Illinois grapes, and all of the wineries expressed an interest in using grapes for Illinois wines as long as the quality was there. "If growers could supply the varieties they needed, wineries would buy 10,210 more gallons of Illinois grapes this coming season, 16,513 gallons two years from now, and 22,694 gallons three years from now. To meet that third-year demand, we'd need 162 more acres planted to grapes than we have now."

Missouri wineries attract more than 2 million visitors each year, making them the second most popular attraction in that state, right after professional sports in St. Louis and Kansas City, Harfst said. "Increased tourism in Illinois would increase sales, which in turn would build up the industry."

The power of human connections

You may have noticed television commercials now appearing bearing the Touchstone Energy brand in conjunction with the nation's electric cooperatives.

Many of Illinois' 26 electric cooperatives have signed on as partners in the new branding campaign. The Touchstone Energy effort was developed in response to increasing competition in the electric utility industry. Although 1,000 electric co-ops serve 30 million people in 46 states and own and maintain half the nation's power lines, to survive in today's market they must stand out above the rest.

Surveys showed that cooperatives enjoy a unique relationship with their members. Research confirms that co-ops' strongest asset is their ability to be responsive and to provide members a voice in how services are provided. Members also say that co-ops are efficient and contribute enormously to local communities, and that's the message of the Touchstone campaign, with its tagline "The power of human connections."

The idea is similar to other national brands. Like True Value Hardware, you know the local owner, and you recognize the national brand.

New safety program leaves lasting impression

Kyle Finley's display is constructed with real poles, transformers, line hardware - and 7,200 volts of electricity.

A new electric safety program gives live demonstrations to businesses, schools, fire departments, farms, electric companies and cooperatives.

Begun by Kyle Finley, formerly a line man with Eastern Illini Electric Cooperative in Paxton, Live Line Demo Inc. uses live electric power to educate the public about proper safety precautions around electrical equipment. It also explains your electric utility's system and how it operates, and demonstrates ways to prevent accidental contact with live wires. The display is portable and can be demonstrated indoors and outdoors.

Finley can be reached at (217) 759-7916 or call your local electric co-op.

JUNE 1998 ILLINOIS COUNTRY LIVING 9