2023 August NAECI Arkansas Living Center Pages

Knight Loftis elected to NAEC Board

North Arkansas Electric Cooperative (NAEC) members elected Heather Knight Loftis of Mountain Home to a six-year system-at-large position on the NAEC Board of Directors.

Survey & Ballot Systems of Minnesota conducted the election on NAEC’s behalf. They mailed each member a ballot, candidate biography and 2022 Annual Report in May. Ballots received by Survey & Ballot Systems by June 16 were considered valid.

Attorney Roger Morgan announced the election results during the 83rd Annual Meeting at NAEC’s Salem office June 20. Knight Loftis was nominated by the nominating committee. No petitions were received, so she ran unopposed. Survey & Ballot Systems received 2,448 ballots from NAEC members with 2,412 voting for Knight Loftis.

CEO Mel Coleman and co-op senior staff also shared updates on their respective areas. A recording of the meeting is posted at naeci.com/naec-annual-meeting

Mike Dover

NAEC wants to express our appreciation to Mike Dover of Salem for his service on the NAEC Board of Directors since 1997 as well as his work as board president since 2012. When Dover's term ended in June, he had served more than 25 years. He became a member of the co-op in 1974. Dover also served on the board of directors for Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation and Arkansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc.

Jasper "Doc" Freeman

NAEC extends our thanks to Jasper “Doc” Freeman of Poughkeepsie for his service on the NAEC Board of Directors. Freeman resigned in April after serving on the board since 1967. He became an NAEC member in 1950. Freeman also served on the board of directors for Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation and Arkansas Electric Cooperatives, Inc. for many years.

Heather Knight Loftis

NAEC

NAEC

NAEC

Thank you!

Applications available soon for Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program

The federal government’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program provides help for qualifying members with their energy costs during the summer and winter months.

North Arkansas Electric Cooperative wishes to thank the following area legislators as well as the entire 94th General Assembly for their time, leadership and efforts on issues impacting the cooperative’s membership. We appreciate the priority these legislators placed on electric reliability and affordability during the Arkansas 2023 General Session.

LIHEAP is administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and operated by community action agencies. In North Arkansas Electric Cooperative’s service area, those are Ozark Opportunities and Northcentral Arkansas Development Council.

Summer assistance is expected to be available beginning in mid-July. We encourage members needing assistance to reach out to the agency serving their county for more information and to check their eligibility.

Ozark Opportunities serves residents in Baxter and Marion counties. Northcentral Arkansas Development Council serves residents in Fulton, Izard, Sharp and Stone counties. (Please see below for the websites and phone numbers.)

SUPPORTIVE AREA SENATORS

The amount of help available varies based on a member’s income, number of people in the household and other factors. Assistance is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

nadcinc.org

Scott Flippo (District 23)

NAEC tries to work with members who are experiencing hardships. Members needing an extension or with questions or concerns about their account may reach a member service representative by emailing info@naeci.com or calling 870-895-3221 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays.

Fulton County - 870-895-3628

Izard County - 870-368-4329

Sharp County - 870-994-7353

SUPPORTIVE AREA HOUSE MEMBERS

Ozark

ozarkopp.org

Baxter County - 870-425-5118

NAEC requests that members not use staples when mailing their check alongside the coupon included in the bottom portion of the statement. We appreciate you helping us process your payment efficiently. You also might consider automatic bank draft for paying your electric bill. The free service will save you postage and time. Stop by an NAEC office or call 870-895-3221 to enroll.

Please refrain from stapling check 23 MORE CO-OP NEWS ON PAGE 26 HEADQUARTERS 225 S. Main St., Salem DISTRICT OFFICES 824 Hwy 56, Ash Flat 1520 Hwy 62/412 E., Mountain Home CONTACT NAEC 870-895-3221 info@naeci.com PAY/VIEW BILL naeci.com ▶ Account Login REPORT OUTAGE 870-895-3221 844-335-4461 NAEC App naeci.com ▶ Outage Viewer FOLLOW NAEC Twitter.com/NorthARElectric Facebook.com/NorthARElectric Electric Cooperative's offices will be closed July 4 in observance of Independence Day. Personnel will be on call in the event of an outage.

23 More co-op news on page 26 NORTH ARKANSAS ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE

Missy Irvin (District 24)

John Payton (District 22)

Jack Fortner (District 4)

Stetson Painter (District 3)

Trey Steimel (District 2)

Bart Schulz (District 28)

Steven Walker (District 27)

The Baxter County Fair will be in Mountain Home Aug. 22-26.

Future community leaders

Applications available for Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program

The federal government’s Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program provides help for qualifying members with their energy costs during the summer and winter months.

LIHEAP is administered by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and operated by community action agencies. In North Arkansas Electric Cooperative’s service area, those are Ozark Opportunities and Northcentral Arkansas Development Council.

Summer assistance is available. We encourage members needing assistance to reach out to the agency serving their county for more information and to check their eligibility.

Ozark Opportunities serves residents in Baxter and Marion counties. Visit nadcinc.org for more information.

Northcentral Arkansas Development Council serves residents in Fulton, Izard, Sharp and Stone counties. Visit ozarkapp.org for more information.

The amount of help available varies based on a member’s income, number of people in the household and other factors. Assistance is available on a first-come, first-served basis.

NAEC tries to work with members who are experiencing hardships. Members needing an extension or with questions or concerns about their account may reach a member service representative by emailing info@naeci.com or calling 870-895-3221 from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays.

North Arkansas Electric Cooperative Youth Tour delegates, from left, David Williams, Briley Hickman, Jude Everett and Kaden Wendfeldt visit the U.S. Capitol in Washington, D.C. They joined 44 other teenagers from across the state on the all-expenses-paid trip that explored museums, monuments and memorials June 16-22. Everett and Williams attend Izard County Consolidated High School. Hickman attends the Mountain Home High School, and Wendfeldt attends Mountain Home Christian Academy.

NAEC’s Youth Tour delegates, from left, Briley Hickman, David Williams, Jude Everett and Kaden Wendfeldt visit the U.S. Supreme Court Building.

CHRIS HICKMAN

CHRIS HICKMAN