When I last wrote to you, I was only three days into my role as the new CEO of Jasper County REMC. Now, having been on the ground with the cooperative for a month, I can say my time here has only deepened my respect for this organization, its history, and the communities we serve…. Continue reading.

WHAT services and products does your business offer? Gene & Grace Creations offers custom designing and printing of custom apparel, and we also offer a wide variety of women’s clothing from regular to plus sizes, along with a wide variety of accessories. This fall/winter of 2026, we will start carrying youth girls’ items. Why did… Continue reading.

I make it a point to get out into our co-op communities. There is one topic that seems to come up everywhere I go. Whether I’m meeting with directors, talking with community leaders, or visiting with our member co-ops, the conversation often turns to growth. New investment. New businesses. New opportunities. And increasingly, questions about… Continue reading.

I’ve mentioned before in this column that I have a degree in accounting. It’s probably no surprise, then, that I’m a bit of a numbers guy. But here’s something you might not expect: the numbers themselves are rarely the most interesting part of my job. The conversations behind them are. One of my favorite conversations… Continue reading.

Summer has a way of drawing our attention to the things right in front of us — the county fair, an evening ballgame, a weekend at the lake, a family reunion. These are memories of my Indiana summers growing up. What we rarely think about are all the things working quietly in the background that… Continue reading.

As your board president, I want to take a moment to share an important update and express my sincere gratitude during this exciting season of transition for our cooperative. First, I would like to extend a heartfelt thank you to Violet Sistovaris for her outstanding leadership and dedication during her tenure as interim CEO. Stepping… Continue reading.

JoAnn McElfresh, At-large JoAnn McElfresh and her husband, Rick, live in rural Rensselaer. They have two children, Luke and Logann, who both graduated from Purdue University. The McElfreshs recently became grandparents. McElfresh graduated from Ball State University in 1991 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. She operated her own graphic design business, Bright Ideas,… Continue reading.

Ballot packet coming in June  The Annual Meeting of the members will be held on July 28 at the Jasper County Fairgrounds beginning promptly at 6 p.m. in the Community Building. Bill credit drawings will be held after the meeting.  You will get your ballot packet in the mail at the end of June with… Continue reading.

SUPPORTING THE JASPER COUNTY SHERIFF’S K-9 PROGRAM At Jasper County REMC, we believe in the power of community. Through Operation Round Up, our members come together to support local programs that make a real difference right here at home. One recent grant recipient, the Jasper County Sheriff’s Department K-9 program, is a strong example of… Continue reading.

Whenever I can get outside, I am there. Just last month, I completed a half-marathon. Most of my training was outside, and I experienced all kinds of weather along the way. Maybe that’s why I enjoy summer so much. But from a professional standpoint, it can put us to the test. As temperatures rise, so… Continue reading.

By Jeff Conrad In Indiana, the month of May brings a familiar rhythm. The Indianapolis 500 captures our attention, and with it comes the language of racing, preparation, precision, teamwork, and strategy. Drivers don’t just show up on race day and hope for the best. Success is built through months of planning, testing, and coordination… Continue reading.

If you opened your January electric bill and thought, “That seems high,” you weren’t alone. When bills jump, it’s natural to ask what changed. One question I’ve heard quite a bit lately is whether data centers and large energy users are driving up electricity costs. Here’s what I can tell you. In February, we announced… Continue reading.