Generator — Fall 2022

GENERA OR 

a publication of Loup Power District FALL 2022 

THIS ISSUE: 

Supply Chain Disruptions 

Reptiles and Amphibians 

in Loup Territory 

Public Power and 

Cybersecurity Month

BOARD OF DIRECTORS 

Alan Drozd 

Chairman 

Steve Heesacker 

First Vice Chairman 

Robert Cerv 

Second Vice Chairman 

Jim Donoghue 

Secretary 

Dick Tooley 

Treasurer 

Rich Aerni 

Mike Fleming 

Ross Knott 

Chris Langemeier 

Larry Zach 

EXECUTIVE STAFF 

Neal Suess 

President/CEO 

Walt Williams 

Vice President, 

Accounting & Finance/CFO 

Todd Duren 

Vice President, 

Corporate Services 

Korey Hobza 

Vice President, Engineering 

Dan Hellbusch 

Vice President, Operations 

The Loup Generator is 

published quarterly 

as a service for Loup 

employees, families, 

friends, and associates. 

For feedback, story ideas 

and submissions, contact: 

Stacy Wemhoff 

Communications Coordinator 

402-562-5711 

swemhoff@loup.com 

Protect yourself from cyber 

criminals with these tips 

In today’s digital world, cyberattacks 

are unfortunately nothing new. Cyber 

criminals can attack on a multitude of 

levels, from large-scale attacks targeting 

corporations to smaller phishing attacks 

aimed at gaining an individual’s personal 

information. 

October is Cybersecurity Awareness 

Month, but good cyber hygiene should be 

practiced year-round. This year’s theme is 

“See Yourself in Cyber” – because we all 

have a part to play in cybersecurity. When 

we hear about massive data breaches, it 

can feel overwhelming and lead us to think 

we’re powerless as individuals to stop 

cyber criminals. 

However, there are several practical steps 

we can take to safeguard our devices and 

data. Here are four easy ways to boost your 

cyber hygiene: 

1. ENABLE MULTI-FACTOR 

AUTHENTICATION. 

Also known as two-step verification, multifactor 

authentication adds a second step 

when logging into an account (to prove 

you’re really you), which greatly increases 

the security of the account. This second 

step could include an extra PIN, answering 

See Yourself 

in Cyber. 

October is Cybersecurity 

Awareness Month 

Improve your cyber 

hygiene by doing 

these four things: 

1. Enable multi-factor 

authentication 

2. Use strong 

passwords and a 

password manager 

3. Update software 

regularly 

4. Recognize and 

report phishing 

attacks 

an extra security question, receiving an email code, or a secure token. Regardless of the type of authentication, 

this additional step makes it twice as hard for cyber criminals to access your account. Not every 

account offers multi-factor authentication, but it’s becoming increasingly popular and should be utilized 

when available. 

2. USE STRONG PASSWORDS AND A PASSWORD MANAGER. 

Remember, passwords are the “keys” to your personal home online. Your passwords should always be 

long, unique and complex. Create passwords using at least 12 characters, never reuse passwords for 

multiple accounts, and use a combination of upper- and lower-case letters, numbers and special characters. 

If you have a lot of accounts, consider using a password manager app to store them easily and 

securely in one place. 

3. UPDATE SOFTWARE. 

It may seem obvious, but regularly updating software is one of the easiest ways to keep your personal 

information secure. Most companies provide automatic updates and will send reminders so you can 

easily install the update. If you’re not receiving automatic software updates, set a reminder to do so 

quarterly. Be aware that some cyber criminals will send fake updates; these typically appear as a pop-up 

window when visiting a website. Use good judgement and always think before you click. 

4.RECOGNIZE AND REPORT PHISHING ATTACKS. 

Don’t take the bait when cyber criminals go phishing. The signs of a phishing attack can be subtle, so take 

the extra time to thoroughly inspect emails. Most phishing emails include offers that are too good to be 

true, an urgent or alarming tone, misspellings and poorly-crafted language, ambiguous greetings, strange 

requests, or an email address that doesn’t match the company it’s coming from. Most platforms like 

Outlook, Gmail, and Mac Mail allow users to report phishing emails. If you suspect a phishing attempt, 

take an extra minute to report it. 

2 | GENERATOR 

Cyber criminals are here to stay, but when we all take a risk-based approach to our cyber behavior, we’re 

creating a safer internet for all. Visit www.staysafeonline.org for additional cybersecurity tips.

president’s message 

Loup continues to learn about 

EVs as they grow in popularity 

There has been a lot of discussion over the past 

months about electrification in the United States and 

the increased use of electric vehicles (EVs) throughout 

the country. There have also been several articles and 

publications discussing this, with arguments on both 

sides regarding the future of electric vehicles. 

Electric vehicles are here to stay. The District is seeing 

more and more electric vehicles on the road, and 

using charging stations throughout Columbus (there 

are several) and in other places throughout the State 

of Nebraska. Many of these new electric vehicles are 

stylish and have a certain flair to them, which makes 

them attractive. 

One of the big concerns with electric vehicles (especially 

those that are all-electric) is the range they can 

cover on a single charge. “Range anxiety” is a real 

fear for many — owners want to make sure there are 

charging stations at intervals needed to recharge the 

EV. This is one way in which the federal government is 

trying to invest money with the states to install a more 

robust EV charging system. 

Most all-electric vehicles have ranges from 250–300 

miles on a full charge. As mentioned previously, 

having charging stations at regular intervals will help 

promote more widespread use of these EVs in the 

future. 

In addition, there are fast charging stations and slow 

charging stations. Fast charging stations can recharge 

a vehicle in approximately 30 minutes, while a slow 

charging vehicle may take four hours or more to fully 

charge an electric vehicle. This is one reason that most 

EV owners/users restrict their use to day trips, or to 

work and back. 

Hybrid vehicles can run on an electrical charge and 

on gasoline. These vehicles relieve the range anxiety 

concerns and are popular for long-distance travelling 

because a person does not have to worry about 

running out of charge while driving and can charge 

the vehicle at night. 

The federal government, as well as many other local 

government officials, believes electric vehicles are the 

wave of the future. They may be correct, and we are 

just at the beginning of the wave. 

The District has both an all-electric vehicle and a 

hybrid electric/gasoline vehicle. Both have provided 

benefit to the District and we are learning more about 

these each day they are in operation. 

District management and the Board of Directors 

continue to track ongoing trends and updates to the 

electric utility industry to provide many opportunities 

to our customers. 

Electric vehicles and charging stations are just one of 

the many trends we are watching. We would also be 

happy to discuss these with you, so feel free to contact 

us, and we will inform you the best we can. 

NEAL SUESS 

President/CEO 

Loup Power District installed a ChargePoint 

charging station at the Columbus General Office 

in 2021.The station is networked and can be 

accessed through the ChargePoint app which 

also helps EV owners locate nearby stations 

and sends notifications when the vehicle 

is done charging. Owners pay for the 

electricity through the app. 

FALL 2022 | 3

Amphibians 

&Reptiles 

in Loup 

Territory 

The Loup Power District project brought 

power and prosperity to our area in the 

1930s. Recreation and irrigation opportunities 

soon followed. 

But there is another benefit that isn’t as 

obvious — the system has created the 

perfect habitat for a wide variety of animals, 

especially reptiles and amphibians. 

The Genoa Headworks, Lake Babcock, the 

canal, and the Tailrace have the diverse 

features of wetlands, large sandy areas, 

and upland sites that are ideal habitats for 

turtles, toads, lizards, and snakes. 

The canal banks with overlying vegetation 

provide optimal feeding, dwelling, 

and escape cover for these species known 

as herpetofauna. This becomes especially 

important during periods of water scarcity 

and drought when many other local waterways 

run low or dry up. 

Frogs, toads, and snakes love sand — and 

Loup definitely has plenty of it! They 

burrow in the sand to keep cool, hide from 

predators, or ambush their prey. 

New Century Environmental, a Columbusbased 

firm, serves as an environmental 

contractor for Loup. Biologists survey plant 

and animal species found within the project 

area that may be threatened, endangered, 

or invasive. They frequently spot a variety of 

amphibians and reptiles. 

Both are components of aquatic ecosystems. 

They serve as both prey and predators, 

making them an important part of the 

food chain. 

The main difference in the two species 

is that reptiles are born with lungs 

while amphibians are born with gills for 

breathing underwater. Reptiles also have 

scales, while amphibians have thin, smooth 

skin. 

Snakes, turtles, and lizards are reptiles. 

Frogs, toads, and salamanders are 

amphibians. 

Within the borders of Nebraska, there are 

two species of salamanders, 11 species of 

frogs and toads, eight species of turtles, 

10 species of lizards, and 29 species of 

snakes. Many of these animals are typical 

inhabitants of the Great Plains and none are 

limited to Nebraska. 

There are 13 species of amphibians and 47 

species of reptiles in Nebraska, including 

one species of lizard recently reported in 

Nebraska for the first time. 

Although Nebraska has no obvious 

geographic barriers within its borders, most 

of these species have range limits within 

the state. 

Fourteen have statewide distributions 

and 12 others occur widely over eastern 

Nebraska. 

So, the next time you’re fishing along the 

canal or visiting one of our parks, take a few 

minutes to see if you can spot one of these 

interesting creatures! u 

Associate Biologists Jordan Kort and Seth Gutzmer sample for aquatic 

species at the Genoa Headworks. Loup’s hydroelectric license requires that 

the District monitor for invasive and endangered species. 

Loup has several wetlands within the project boundary that support many 

species of amphibians and reptiles. Photos by Michael Gutzmer, New 

Century Environmental. 

4 | GENERATOR

BULLFROG 

• Length: 3.5–6 inches 

• Largest true frog in North 

America; weighs up to 1.1 lb 

• Sex can be determined by size 

of tympanum (external ear 

located near eye) — males 

have much larger tympanum; 

in females it is the size of eye or 

smaller 

WOODHOUSE’S TOAD 

• Length: 1.75–5 inches 

• Dry, watery skin that is a mix 

of grays, browns, greens, and 

yellows 

• The males have a dark throat 

while the females have lighter 

throats 

• Light stripe on the middle 

of the back to the snout 

COPE’S TREEFROG 

• Length: 1–2 inches 

• Color depends on 

environment, season and 

humidity 

• Green colors more prominent 

during breeding season and in 

yearling frogs 

• Lightly covered in warts; 

smoother than most toads 

SNAPPING TURTLE 

• Shell length of 8–18 inches; 

tail is as long as the shell 

• Adults can weigh up to 50 lb 

• Prefer water bodies with 

muddy bottoms and abundant 

vegetation 

• Characteristic tubercules 

on neck and legs 

• Powerful beak-like jaws; 

highly mobile head and neck 

PAINTED TURTLE 

• Length: 5–10 inches 

• Live around permanent bodies 

of water 

• Dark green shell with bright red 

and orange markings 

• Yellow and red stripes on legs, 

neck, face and head 

NORTHERN 

LEOPARD FROG 

• Length: 2–4.3 inches 

• Distinct white fold along the 

length of the back extending 

from each eye 

• White, semi-transparent 

belly — intestinal coils visible 

through the skin 

SIX-LINED RACERUNNER 

• Length: 6–10 inches; tail makes up 70% of length 

• Velvety skin with six yellow or green stripes from the 

neck to tail 

• Pellet-like dorsal scales and rectangular ventral 

scales; rough rows of scales on tails 

• Adult males express bright blue coloration on their 

throats during mating season 

Photos by Sam Stukel, United States Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS): bullfrogs, turtles, leopard frog, Woodhouse's toad. 

Photos by Nebraskaland Magazine/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission: Cope’s treefrog, six-lined racerunner. 


BARRED TIGER SALAMANDER 

• Average length: 7.8 inches; can grow to 14 inches 

• One of the longest terrestrial salamanders in North America 

• Found in a variety of habitats, including forests, meadows, and grasslands 

• Use ponds as breeding grounds (sometimes use slow-moving streams) 

• Geographic variation in color and pattern; typically a light gray overlain with 

scattered black or dirty yellow dots or a network of yellow bars and lines 

BULLSNAKE 

• Average length: 40–70 inches 

• America’s largest snake 

• Found in sandy prairies and grasslands; 

also inhabit areas with rocky outcrops 

• Triangular head with a black band extending from 

the corner of the eye to the mouth 

PLAINS GARTER SNAKE 

• Average length: 15–28 inches 

• Mildly venomous, but not to humans 

• Found in prairies, open fields, and weedy vacant 

lots; prefers low-canopy vegetation 

• Feeds mostly on earthworms, minnows, 

salamanders, toads, and frogs 

Bullsnake and salamander photos by Nebraskaland Magazine/Nebraska Game and Parks Commission. Garter snake by Jessica Bolser, USFWS. 

Right: Michael Gutzmer, 

Principal with New Century 

Environmental, and Associate 

Biologist Seth Gutzmer, 

complete surveys for invasive 

and endangered species 

throughout Loup’s territory. 

The company’s scientists 

and engineers also assess 

and manage a variety of 

compliance and natural 

resources issues throughout 

the Great Plains. 

Thanks to Michael Gutzmer 

and Seth Gutzmer for providing 

information about the amphibians 

and reptiles that live in our 

area. 

6 | GENERATOR

AMPHIBIANS 

No scales 

Smooth, moist, soft skin 

Lay eggs in gelatinous masses (no protective shell) 

Metamorphosis — breathe through gills until lungs develop 

Live in and out of water 

Whole tongue 

REPTILES 

Scales 

Hard, dry-looking skin 

Lay eggs with a shell 

No metamorphosis — look like adults when born 

Tend to live on land, but may spend time in water 

Bifurcated tongue 

Top Photos by Sam Stukel, USFWS. 

There are nine species of turtles in Nebraska, but only the painted turtle and snapping turtle 

are found throughout the state. 

Top left: A group of painted turtles sun themselves. Photo by Mike Gutzmer. 

Top right: Seth Gutzmer, an Associate Biologist with New Century Environmental, 

documents a juvenile snapping turtle. Photo by Mike Gutzmer. 

Left: A snapping turtle has a strong, bony beak without teeth. They will eat almost anything 

they can catch. Photo by Grayson Smith, USFWS. 


8 | GENERATOR

Loup among utilities dealing 

with supply chain disruptions 

Dave Rosno never imagined he’d have such 

difficulty purchasing 5/8-inch by 14-inch 

bolts. 

“It’s something that we use everyday,” he 

said. “What normally would be in stock at a 

warehouse is taking up to 12 weeks to get,” 

he said. 

Bolts are just the tip of the iceberg, according 

to Rosno, who serves as Loup’s Chief Storekeeper. 

The biggest problem is not knowing 

what the next problem is going to be. 

“You don’t know there’s going to be a 

problem with the supply until you go to order 

and then it’s almost like a panic,” he said. 

Across the country, the supply of critical 

equipment and materials is decreasing while 

demand continues to grow, widening the 

gap between what is available and what is 

needed. 

Electric utilities are experiencing shortages 

of distribution transformers, meters, 

conductor materials, and bucket trucks due 

to the ongoing economic impacts from the 

COVID-19 pandemic. 

Delayed investments and expanding lead 

times for new equipment caused by a lack 

of materials and labor will continue to 

compound the problem—possibly for years 

to come. 

Korey Hobza, Vice President of Engineering, 

said Loup’s transformer suppliers forecast 

a shortage and alerted Loup which consequently 

ordered extra transformers. 

“We’ve been able to get the transformers we 

need,” Hobza said. “But the lead times and 

prices have increased significantly.” 

Loup is planning a new Columbus substation. 

The timeline for a distribution transformer 

increased from 48 to 110 weeks. 

Residential transformers have an average 

lead time of about 45 months. He said some 

companies are offering bids that are subject 

to change based on the delivery date. 

In a recent survey of public power utilities, 

80 percent reported having either padmounted 

or pole-mounted distribution 

transformer inventories that are lower today 

than they were in 2018. 

Loup Power District’s supply of residential pole-mount transformers at the Columbus 

Service Center. The District has been able to maintain its supply of transformers despite a 

nationwide shortage. 

Utilities are discussing the issue with 

the federal government, working with 

manufacturers, and with the entire sector 

to encourage additional production and 

sharing of transformers. 

Shop and Transportation Superintendent 

Mark Hanel is feeling the same pressures as 

Hobza and Rosno. 

He ordered two dump trucks earlier this year 

with an estimated delivery date of the first 

quarter of 2023. That date has since been 

pushed to the end of next year. 

Some vehicle orders were simply cancelled 

outright. The cost is “uncertain at best” for a 

few trucks still on order. On the bright side, 

Hanel said his team has been able to access 

the parts needed to maintain the District’s 

existing fleet. 

Rosno's strategy to deal with ongoing supply 

chain issues is to shop around and find new 

vendors. He is also asking vendors what 

they are carrying for other utilities to see if 

Loup can adjust and use slightly different 

products — maybe a standard pole instead of 

a custom-drilled pole. 

Hobza said that strategy is working for 

engineering as well — purchasing an “offthe-shelf” 

transformer with specs that 

closely match Loup’s means better price and 

availability. 

On top of simply finding supplies, Rosno has 

to weigh product cost against the delivery 

lead time. 

“It's not always about price at this point," 

Rosno said. “It's if we will get it at all.” 

He has been able to maintain inventory by 

shopping around — often getting lucky and 

stumbling upon vendors with enough inventory 

at the right time. Sometimes he orders 

from one vendor while waiting on another. 

But, more inventory is always better than not 

enough. 

“We want to be prepared,” he said. “We 

don’t want to run ourselves short in case of a 

storm.” 


Retiree Profile 

STEVE 

CZARNIK 

Steve Czarnik has been a hard worker 

his whole life. 

And although he has been retired for 

five years, not much has changed. 

He still raises cattle, harvests for neighbors, 

and tackles projects around his farm. 

But he can now do those projects on 

his own schedule — a schedule that has 

more time for his wife, children, and 

grandchildren. 

“We get to spend more time together,” 

he said. 

* * * 

Back in 1988, Steve heard Loup Power 

District had a Maintenance Man opening 

at the Genoa Headworks. 

He had been working at the same job 

for 15 years and was ready for a change. 

Plus, he’d heard that Loup was a good 

company to work for. 

He got the job and immediately enjoyed 

the variety of tasks. He worked on the 

dredge, steamed ice from the canal intake 

gates, cut trees along the canal banks, and 

hauled dirt and rock. 

Three years later, he was promoted to 

Equipment Operator. In 1997, he was named 

Dredge Operator and became Heavy Equipment 

Operator in 1998, staying in that role 

until retirement in 2017. 

Throughout his career, Steve continued 

to enjoy the variety of working at the 

Headworks. Sometimes inside the shop, 

others outside. He also liked running large 

equipment. 

“Loup always had very nice equipment,” 

he said. “It was a joy to operate.” 

Even so, that part of the job could also be 

stressful at times. He had to be vigilant and 

careful in his work to be sure his coworkers 

remained safe. He had to double check the 

rigging, make sure he set equipment in the 

right place. 

“I was responsible. If something 

happens, it’s my fault,” he said. “You had to 

pay attention and be very careful.” 

But the best part of the job, was definitely 

the people he worked with for all his years. 

And that’s the part he still misses today. 

“It is a family. They’re your brothers,” he 

said. “You laugh with them. And sometimes 

you even cry with them.” 

* * * 

During his years at Loup, Steve also 

farmed and raised cattle. 

There were days when he came home and 

wanted to sit and rest, but there was always 

10 | GENERATOR 

Steve Czarnik retired from Loup Power District in 2017 after 

nearly 30 years of service. Today, he can spend more time 

with his wife and dogs (above), and taking care of his cattle. 

work to do. 

Ten years ago, he decided to step away 

from farming and rent out his cropland. He 

continues to care for 70 head of cattle. 

“I gotta have a reason to get up in the 

morning and that’s a pretty good reason,” 

he said. “They keep me busy from the first of 

April to June calving.” 

He checks on them 10–15 times a day 

during those months. In the winter, he needs 

to haul hay to feed them. 

In the summer, Steve helps his renter 

with irrigation. In the fall, he chops silage 

and harvests corn for neighbors. 

But that’s not all. 

“Then there’s this honey do list,” he said. 

“I can’t seem to get it to shrink.” 

His wife, Sue, counters that if he wasn’t 

getting a little older and slower maybe he’d 

have an easier time keeping up. 

Their banter continues as Steve talks 

about how nice it is to make his own 

schedule most days. And take a break on 

those really hot or cold days. 

“I can take a break at 2 p.m. and go in the 

house to get on my wife’s nerves,” he jokes. 

Sue just retired in December 2021 and 

the couple has really enjoyed having a little 

more freedom to go places and spend time 

together. 

She also really enjoys evening rides 

to check cattle with Steve or just relaxing 

outside. “One thing we both enjoy doing is 

sitting on our deck with the dogs,” she said. 

They have a great view to watch the 

neighbors farming or catch a glimpse of 

wildlife. They also inherited a pair of tame 

turkeys who need regular attention. 

Overall, it is a great new chapter of life, 

Sue said. “We feel more free now.” 

Sue and Steve Czarnik have three children: 

Heather, Ryan, and Eric. They also have four 

granddaughters and one grandson.

Is it safe to eat your food after an outage? 

Severe winds, lightning and even squirrels can temporarily cause 

the power to go out. We understand power outages of any length can 

be frustrating, especially when your fridge is stocked with perishable 

foods. 

Extended power outages are rare, but when they occur, it’s important 

to understand food safety measures to take to avoid illness. 

Here are a few food safety tips to keep in mind before, during and 

after a power outage. 

BEFORE AN OUTAGE 

A good rule of thumb is to keep an emergency supply kit on hand. 

Be sure to include nonperishable food items like bottled water, 

powdered milk, canned goods, cereal and protein bars in your emergency 

kit. 

If you have advance warning that an outage is possible, fill a 

cooler with ice — just in case the outage spans several hours. Having 

a cooler ready to go can buy extra time for your refrigerated, perishable 

items. 

DURING AN OUTAGE 

Do not open the refrigerator or freezer unless absolutely necessary. 

An unopened refrigerator will keep food cold for about four 

hours. A half-full freezer will keep food frozen for about 24 hours and 

a full freezer for about 48 hours. 

If it looks like the power outage will last longer than four hours, 

move your important perishable items to an ice-filled cooler. 

AFTER AN OUTAGE 

If refrigerated foods have been exposed to temperatures higher 

than 40 degrees for more than two hours, the American Red Cross 

recommends discarding the items. If any foods have an unusual 

color, odor or texture, they should be thrown away. 

While most perishable foods should be thrown out after an 

extended outage, there are a few items that are safe to consume after 

a two-hour exposure to 40+ degrees: 

• hard cheeses that are properly wrapped 

• butter or margarine that is properly wrapped 

• taco, barbecue and soy sauces 

• peanut butter, jelly, mustard, ketchup and relish 

The best way to avoid illness from spoiled food during or after 

an outage is to follow the four-hour rule of thumb. After an outage, 

always smell and inspect foods before consuming and remember: 

when in doubt, throw it out. 

To learn more about food safety after an emergency, 

visit ready.gov/food. 


employee notes 

BOB ANDERSON 

Dredge Operator 

Bob Anderson of 

Genoa retired from 

Loup Power District 

after 25 years of 

service. 

Anderson joined 

Loup in 1997 as 

a Maintenance 

Man at the Genoa 

Headworks. He 

was promoted to 

RETIRED 

Equipment Operator 

at the Headworks in 2002. In 2016, 

Anderson was promoted to Dredge 

Operator and he stayed in that position 

until his retirement. 

As a Dredge Operator, Anderson was a 

member of the team that operates and 

maintains the District’s dredge at the 

Genoa Headworks located six miles 

southwest of Genoa. 

Anderson is a graduate of Genoa High 

School and attended Wayne State 

College. He and his wife, Michelle, are 

the parents of two children: Tanner and 

Halie. 

ANDY WALLIN 

Albion Division Crew Leader 

Andy Wallin was 

promoted to Crew 

Leader for the Albion 

Division. In his new 

role, Wallin will lead 

the crew in charge 

of construction 

and maintenance 

of Loup’s electrical 

transmission and distribution 

system in 

the Albion Division. 

PROMOTION 

Wallin joined Loup 

Power District as a Line Technician at 

the Columbus Service Center in 2011. 

He was promoted to Journey Line 

Technician in 2014 and remained in that 

position until this promotion. 

Wallin graduated from Newman Grove 

High School and earned an Associate 

of Applied Science Degree in Utility 

Line from Northeast Community College 

in Norfolk. 

ERIC OLSUFKA 

Maintenance Technician 

Eric Olsufka joined Loup Power District 

as a Maintenance Technician at the 

Genoa Headworks. 

In his new role, 

Olsufka is responsible 

for maintaining 

District parks, facilities, 

and equipment. 

He will also assist 

the Dredge/ 

Maintenance Canal 

Technicians and 

serve on the dredge 

during the dredging 

season. 

Olsufka is a graduate of Columbus 

High School. He and his wife, Kim, live 

in Genoa with their three children — 

Mila, Tate, and Jake. 

GREG BADSTIEBER 

Customer & Energy Services Coordinator 

Greg Badstieber 

joined Loup Power 

District in 2012 as an 

Engineering Technician 

II in the Engineering 

Department. 

He was promoted to 

Engineering Technician 

I in 2015 and 

was named Customer 

and Energy 

Services Coordinator 

in 2019. 

WELCOME 

10 YEARS 

Badstieber promotes heat pumps 

and energy efficiency to customers, 

contractors, engineers, architects, and 

distributors. He oversees the EnergyWise 

program that Loup offers in 

partnership with NPPD. He also works 

with key accounts and assists customers 

with billing concerns. 

Badstieber is a graduate of Columbus 

High School. He earned an Associate 

of Applied Science degree from 

Southeast Community College. He also 

has a Bachelor of Science degree in 

Business Management from Peru State 

College. 

He and his wife, Sandi, are the parents 

of two daughters, Elle and Ayla. 

TIM NOVICKI 

Journey Line Technician 

Tim Novicki of 

Columbus has 

retired from Loup 

Power District after 

33 years of service. 

Novicki joined 

Loup in 1989 as 

an Apprentice 

Line Technician 

in Columbus and 

was promoted to 


RETIRED 

in 1990. He was 

promoted to Journey Line Technician 

at the Columbus Service Center in 1994 

and remained in that position until his 

retirement. 

Novicki was a member of the crew 

responsible for the construction, 

operation, and maintenance of electric 

transmission and distribution systems 

and substations in the Columbus 

Division. 

He is a graduate of Columbus Scotus 

High School and earned an Associate 

of Applied Science Degree in Utility 

Line from Northeast Community College 

in Norfolk. Novicki and his wife, 

Connie, reside in Columbus. 

SCOTT SNYDER 

Headworks Operator 

Snyder joined Loup 

in 1992 as a Maintenance 

Man at the 

Genoa Headworks. 

He was promoted to 

Dredge Operator in 

1998 and was named 

Headworks Operator 

in 2018. 

Snyder is a member 

of the team that 

operates and maintains 

the District’s 

dredge at the Genoa Headworks. 

30 YEARS 

Snyder is a native of Genoa and a 

graduate of Genoa High School. 

He and his late wife, Rose, are the 

parents of a daughter, Tanya, and a 

grandson, Easton. 

12 | GENERATOR

ALVIN MEYER 

Newman Grove Local Superintendent 

Alvin Meyer 

joined Loup 

in 1997 as a 

Lineman at 

Albion. He was 

promoted to 

Journeyman 

Lineman in 

2003 and was 

named Newman 

Grove Local 

Superintendent 

in 2020. 

25 YEARS 

Meyer is responsible for overseeing 

the maintenance and construction of 

Loup’s electric power transmission 

and distribution system in the Newman 

Grove and Lindsay areas. He also 

directs customer service in the area. 

Meyer is a native of Winnetoon, Neb., 

and a graduate of Creighton High 

School. He earned an Associate of 

Applied Science Degree in Utility Line 

from Northeast Community College in 

Norfolk. 

WHEELCHAIR-ACCESSIBLE PIER AT LAKE 

Loup partnered with the Lower Loup Natural Resources District to construct an 

ADA-compliant fishing pier along the north shore of Lake North. It extends 30 

feet into the lake with a 12'×24' platform and railing. The pier was constructed by 

Groundscapes Inc. It is open to the public year-round. 

He and his wife, Jenny, have four 

children and nine grandchildren. 

CONNER LUSCHE 

Journey Line Technician 

Conner Lusche 

joined Loup 

Power District 

as a Journey 


in Columbus. 

In his new 

role, Lusche is 

member of the 

crew that is 

responsible for WELCOME 

the construction, 

operation, 

and maintenance of Loup’s electrical 

transmission and distribution systems 

and substations in the Columbus 

Division. 

Lusche is a graduate of Scotus Central 

Catholic High School and earned an 

associate’s degree from Northeast 

Community College. 

He and his wife, Demi, live in 

Columbus. 

NEW VOLLEYBALL COURT AT HEADWORKS PARK 

The March 2019 storm and flooding caused significant damage to the Genoa 

Headworks. The park reopened to camping in April 2021 following repairs. A new 

60'×30' volleyball court was completed this summer and is open for public use at no 

charge. 


Communities 

receive nearly 

$1.3 million 

Loup Power District officials 

recently delivered lease payments 

totaling nearly $1.3 million to area 

communities. Each of these communities 

owns their electric distribution 

systems. These payments 

compensate them for the use of 

those systems for the second quarter 

of 2022. Communities use the funds 

for a variety of public projects. 

The payments were: 

Columbus — $996,594.85 

Platte Center — $9,830.01 

Monroe — $8,684.75 

Tarnov — $1,336.92 

Creston — $5,544.10 

Humphrey — $21,945.08 

Lindsay — $45,549.05 

Cornlea — $1,631.93 

Newman Grove — $15,462.72 

Duncan — $14,754.02 

Fullerton — $27,420.43 

Genoa — $20,498.23 

Belgrade — $2,971.07 

Richland — $2,265.46 

Howells — $17,477.17 

Leigh — $13,554.86 

Clarkson — $16,463.95 

Albion — $39,350.90 

Cedar Rapids — $12,756.62 

Primrose — $1,297.18 

Petersburg — $8,401.92 

St. Edward — $15,502.97 

Total — $1,299,294.19 

Q: What is an 

energy vampire? 

GHW SETTLING BASIN BANK WORK 

Repair work from a 2019 storm that caused flooding and canal breaches is finally 

nearing completion. 

As flood water spilled over the intake gates, it eroded the north bank of the settling 

basin and destroyed the Headgates Operator’s home (bottom photo). Water has 

continued to erode fill along the bank, dumping it into the canal’s settling basin. 

To fix the problem, a sheet pile wall is being installed. The 30' pilings are driven 20' in 

the ground with tiebacks to secure the wall. 

A wingwall was built in a similar manner to fix the one that was also destroyed in 2019. 

An energy vampire is a device that 

continues to use energy and drain 

power, even when it is turned off. 

They lurk in your home, taking the 

form of phone chargers and cable 

boxes, computer cords and coffee 

pots. These phantom energy suckers 

can account for as much as 20% of 

your monthly electricity bill. 

Q: What is the quickest way 

to slay an energy vampire? 

As simple as it sounds, all 

you need to do is identify the 

culprits and unplug them. 

14 | GENERATOR

LINE RETIREMENT 

Loup retired a 34.5kV line north of Country Club Shores in Columbus at 

the end of August. There were two transmission lines on the poles, 

but one had not been used for a number of years. 

Taking down the extra line reduced load on the poles 

and therefore reduces the chance of them going 

down in a storm. The crossarms and 

distribution lines were raised during 

the process to add extra clearance. 

The area is typically quite wet. However, the lack of rain dried up 

the ground enough that employees could drive trucks to the site. 

The entire Columbus team and three local superintendents worked 

on the project. The large crew was able to finish the project more 

quickly to reduce the outage time for customers in the area. 

Above: Line Technician Michael Lange (left) and Arborist Crew 

Leader Trent Konwinski. 


2404 15th Street | PO Box 988 

Columbus, NE 68602-0988 

PUBLIC POWER MONTH 

DID YOU 

KNOW? 

Nebraska is the only state in the nation served entirely 

by public power electric utilities. 

Community-owned utilities mean that 

NEBRASKANS ARE WORKING FOR NEBRASKANS. 

Nebraska’s electric utilities use a diverse mix of fuel 

resources to generate electricity, such as wind, water, coal, 

nuclear, natural gas, solar and methane. 

Nebraska’s electric utilities 

are governed by locally elected 

or appointed boards and councils. 

This means 

YOU HAVE A VOICE IN THE 

DECISIONS MADE BY YOUR 

LOCAL UTILITY. 

Public power 

electric utilities 

are not-forprofit, 

meaning 

there’s no profit 

motive and no 

shareholder 

pockets to pad — 

simply affordable, 

cost-of-service 

electric rates for 

consumers. 

Each dollar of a public power employee’s 

paycheck circulates through the local 

economy an estimated four to five times. 

KEEPING LOCAL DOLLARS LOCAL. 

Nebraska’s electric utilities pay more than 

$100 million 

to communities they serve each year in lieu of taxes. 

Those dollars stay local, helping 

EMPOWER OUR HOMETOWNS.

Generator — Fall 2022

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