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Cooperatives, Safety and the Great Cowboys Swipe

Some of the stuff we looked into while you were reading last month’s issue

October is when we recognize the tremendous impact electric co-ops have had in Texas. Fire Prevention Week brings valuable reminders for home safety. And remember the lopsided trade Dallas pulled off that essentially led to three Super Bowl victories?

Best Trade Ever?

It’s been 25 years since the Dallas Cowboys made a trade that rocked the sports world, sending running back Herschel Walker to the Minnesota Vikings in exchange for essentially 13 players.

The October 12, 1989, deal allowed the Cowboys to draft running back Emmitt Smith and go on, with Coach Jimmy Johnson and other fruits of that trade, to win three Super Bowls in the 1990s. A promising Vikings team sputtered after the trade, and Walker was gone after two-and-a-half seasons.

In 2013, Sports Illustrated ranked the swap No. 1 in its list of the 15 worst trades in NFL history. ESPN.com ranked it No. 8 on its list of the most-lopsided trades in sports history.

Dallas sent Walker and four future draft picks to Minnesota and picked up five players and eight draft picks in return. In addition to Hall of Famer Smith, the Cowboys also ended up with star safety Darren Woodson, defensive tackle Russell Maryland, and cornerbacks Kevin Smith and Clayton Holmes.

Walker finished his career in Dallas in 1997 and in April, at the age of 52, said he believes he still could play in the NFL.

Smoke Alarms Save Lives

Fire Prevention week is October 5–11, and the theme for this year’s safety campaign is “Smoke Alarms Save Lives: Test Yours Every Month.”

The American Red Cross reports that 65 percent of house fire deaths occur in homes with no working smoke alarms. Working smoke alarms and a fire escape plan that has been practiced regularly can save lives in home fires.

The Red Cross recommends installing smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside bedrooms and outside sleeping areas. Test them every month and replace the batteries at least once a year.

Ionization smoke alarms are quicker to warn about flaming fires. Photoelectric alarms are quicker to warn about smoldering fires. It is best to use of both types of alarms in the home, according to the National Fire Protection Association.

Some fire departments offer smoke alarms at reduced prices or even for free, and some will install battery-operated smoke alarms in your home at no cost, says the NFPA. Contact your local fire department’s non-emergency phone number for more information.

By the Numbers: 19,000,000

October is National Cooperative Month. Some 19 million businesses, homes, schools, churches, farms and other establishments benefit from electric cooperatives’ service and community involvement, according to the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. Co-ops operate in 2,500 of America’s 3,141 counties and in 241 of Texas’ 254 counties.