Illinois Country Living

Adding new plants to your garden each year can take a toll, both on your back and your budget. Perennial herbs offer a practical and rewarding alternative. These versatile plants provide lasting beauty in the landscape while serving a delicious purpose in the kitchen, saving both time and money over the long term. Perennial herbs are easily incorporated into existing flower beds and landscapes, offering a rich blend of fragrance, texture and color.

Four Illinois electric cooperatives, as well as two municipal utilities, are set to receive $12 million in funding through the Illinois Finance Authority’s (IFA) Grid Resilience Grants program, which was announced at the end of May. In its role as the Illinois Climate Bank, the IFA announced transformative investments in six projects across Illinois to reduce the frequency of power outages, speed up restoration times, and lower customers’ bills.

Preheat oven to 350 F. Melt margarine over low heat in a saucepan. Remove from heat. Mix melted margarine and brown sugar well. Mix in other ingredients in order given, stirring after each ingredient. Pat the dough evenly onto an ungreased 9x13-inch cookie sheet. The dough will be stiff. Bake for 11-12 minutes, or until done. Do not overbake. Cool slightly. While baking, mix all icing ingredients until smooth and spread with spatula over warm cookies. Cut into small squares and serve.

The Liberty Bell of the West is on display on Kaskaskia Island. Long before becoming the 21st state, and just two years after the Continental Congress officially adopted the Declaration of Independence, the area that would later become Illinois played a pivotal role in the Revolutionary War. As the U.S. celebrates its 250th anniversary — or semiquincentennial — it’s time to look back on the role Illinois played in the fight for freedom.

Jalapeno Poppers Submitted by Barbara Bretz, Clinton County Electric Cooperative 12 jalapeno peppers 1 8-ounce box cream cheese 12 strips bacon 1 cup brown sugar Preheat oven to 350 F. Make slits in jalapeno peppers and scoop out seeds and ribs. Cut the cream cheese into 12 planks and stuff them into the peppers. Wrap a piece of bacon around the pepper and secure it with a toothpick. Roll the pepper in brown sugar to cover as much of the outside surface as you are able.

Your electric cooperative works hard to ensure safe, reliable power to homes and businesses 24/7. To make sure everyone has the power they need, generation must match consumption and have the capacity to adjust to changing demands for energy. Peak demand is the period in a given range of time — day, month or year — when electricity use is highest. It’s caused by many people using energy-consuming equipment at the same time. It differs based on geography, weather and time of year.

Summer is in full swing, and many are enjoying the sunshine and warmer weather, but it’s also a busy season for Illinois’ electric cooperatives. Irrigation, construction and improvement projects are underway, annual meetings are taking place, and homes and businesses are using more electricity to keep cool. It takes a lot of electricity to meet all this demand, and electric utilities must ensure there is power available around the clock.

Restaurant owner Jenni Ewing Along a busy stretch of highway in the quiet Mississippi River village of Lomax, population 404, is a seasonal ice cream stand that has become more than just a place to grab a cone. For the past 14 years, Jenni’s Ice Cream and Grill has been a gathering place — a repeat stop for travelers, bicyclists and locals since it opened in 2012.

As the weather warms and you spend more time outdoors with your family, it’s essential to prioritize electrical safety. Hidden hazards can pose serious risks. Here are some critical safety tips to keep loved ones safe in your backyard. Overhead power lines can be closer than they appear. Teach children never to climb trees near them; and never to fly kites, drones, remote-controlled toys or balloons in areas where lines are present.

Bob Hunzinger Norris Electric Cooperative (NEC) has announced the retirement of General Manager Tamara Phillips and the appointment of Luke Johnson as her successor. Phillips concludes a 44-year career with NEC, having joined the organization in 1982 as a key punch operator. Over the decades, she advanced through a series of roles, including positions in the billing and accounting departments, before being named office manager in 2003 and general manager in 2016.