C & L Electric Cooperative edition
C & L Refunds nearly $700,000 of Capital Credits to Members C & L Electric Cooperative’s General Manager/CEO is pleased to announce that the Board of Directors has authorized the refund of thirty percent of the remaining 1996 capital credits. The checks will be mailed after May 15, 2017. Your capital credit is the amount you pay for electricity in excess of the cost to the cooperative in providing your service. The capital accumulates and when the financial condition of the cooperative so permits, refunds are made. Your directors make this determination. Each year the cooperative mails a statement notifying you of the amount of capital furnished by you the previous year. Refunds are made in order of priority according to the year in which the capital was paid—the capital first received being the first refunded. C & L has refunded all capital credited through 1995. When members receive $ 693,164.00 in refunds in May, over 14 million dollars will have been refunded to members, since the cooperative’s beginning. The Board of Directors and Management of C & L Electric Cooperative are proud of the fact that the Cooperative is able to return Capital Credit payments. They make every effort to continue furnishing dependable service at the lowest possible cost. This is another advantage of being a consumer member of C & L Electric Cooperative Corporation. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • •
This May, take the time to plug into safety We all depend on electricity to power our lives, but accidents can happen when electricity is improperly used. Because May is Electrical Safety Month, I’d like to take a moment to reflect on the importance of safety.
Our responsibility to you Our concern for safety extends beyond our employees. We care deeply about the safety of our members, and this month, we encourage you to plug into safety. According to the Electrical Safety Foundation International, thousands of people in the U.S. are critically injured and electrocuted as a result of electrical fires, accidents and electrocution in their own homes. We are committed to safety education in our local communities through such programs as Making Accidents Disappear by Scott Davis, a Hot Springsbased magician, who performs numerous electrical safety “magic” shows for elementary school Magician Scott Davis, performing his electrical safety “magic” show at an children each year. elementary school.
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C & L ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
We frequently provide electrical safety content in Arkansas Living, as well as on our website and through social media. We encourage the public to contact us if they see a downed power line or any other type of dangerous electrical situation. We strive to provide our communities with safe, reliable and affordable electricity and to serve as your trusted energy advisor, now and well into the future.
Our responsibility to employees It is no accident that safety is a top priority at C & L Electric Cooperative Corporation. We are committed to a culture of safety that is integral to our daily operations. In fact, C & L Electric Cooperative is part of the Rural Electric Safety Achievement Program (RESAP) that follows specific guidelines and protocols for electrical safety that are considered leading practices. Our linemen are required to wear personal protective equipment at all times when on the job. This includes special fire-resistant clothing that will self-extinguish, limiting potential injuries from burns and sparks. Insulated and rubber gloves are worn in tandem to protect from electrical shock. Our safety team regularly discusses important safety issues pertaining to work within the building as well as out in the field. We hope this month you will take a moment to plug into safety. Please visit www.esfi.org for tips about how to keep you and your loved ones safe.
Six C & L employees retire with 161 years of combined service Joey Drake, Line Forman for C & L, retired in January after working for C & L for 36 years. Joey is the son of the Late Mickey Drake and Lila Drake. Joey grew up in Star City, Arkansas and graduated from Star City High School in 1980. In 1980, he began working full-time as a R-O-W crewman for C & L Electric. During his years of service, Joey also worked as Apprentice Lineman, Journeyman Lineman and Line Foreman before his retirement. Joey has two children, Steven Drake (Kayla) and Brittney Hall (James). He also has three grandchildren, Charleigh Drake, Emma Drake and Hutton Hall. Joey is looking forward to doing nothing after retirement. He also wants to hunt, fish and enjoy life with the grandbabies.
Robert Johnson retired in March, after working 29 years at C & L. Robert’s parents were Alma and Robert Johnson. He grew up in Star City and graduated from Star City High School in 1973. He worked for Coker/Vail Housing Components in Hammond, LA; Buffington Cooperation in Monroe, LA; and Raywich Manufacturing in Pine Bluff, AR before coming to work at C & L as a Brush Cutter Operator in 1988. He also held the positions of Goundsman, Apprentice Lineman, Journeyman Lineman and when he retired in March, he held the position of Service Lineman. Robert and his wife, Carlene, are members of Star City First Assembly of God Church. They have three children, Brandon (Jennifer) Johnson, Stephanie DeLosReyes and Hunter Johnson. They also have four grandchildren, Kaitlyn Johnson, Carter Johnson, Morgan Reep and Alyssa DeLosReyes. Robert said the main thing he is enjoying about retirement is hunting, fishing and enjoying family.
Elmer Ludlum began working as a R-O-W crewman in February 2003 and retired with 14 years of service in March 2017 as Equipment Operator/RO-W. Elmer, son of Elmer Sr. and Jewel Dean Ludlum, grew up in Star City and attended Star City High School. Before coming to work at C & L, Elmer worked For LD logging. Elmer and his late wife, Sandra, have two children, Monica Hogue (Rodney) and Tonya Hogue (Brian). They also have four grandchildren, Tyfani Hogue, Jamee Hogue, Dakota Hogue, and Haylea Hogue. Elmer’s plans for retirement include fishing, hunting and working around the house. Robert Rupe worked at C & L for 32 years. He has held numerous positions including: R-O-W Crewman, Apprentice Lineman, Journeyman Lineman, Line Foreman, R-OW Foreman, R-O-W Supervisor and Operations Supervisor. Roberts’s parents were Eugene and Gloria Rupe. He graduated from Star City High in 1983. Robert is married to Sandy Rupe. They have three children, Dylan Rupe, Jaye Rupe and Amber Carter (Sammy). They have two grandchildren, Slayde and Sami Carter. He looks forward to hunting, fishing and working on the family farm.
A dinner honoring these six employees along with W.H. Frizzell, who retired in January, was held at Star City Civic Center on March 30th. Approximately 200 employees, directors and spouses attended in order to pay tribute to their service to the cooperative and to wish them the very best in their retirement! C & L ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE
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Ricky Hall came to work as an Assistant Serviceman in 1980 and retired as a Service Lineman in January of this year with 36 years of service. Ricky graduated from Drew Central High School in 1977. Ricky is the son of the late William Hall and Willine Hall. Prior to coming to C & L, he worked for Cablevision. He has a daughter, Misty Hall. He also has one grandchild, R.J. Pharr. Ricky is looking forward to hunting and fishing during retirement.
Don East retired from C & L in April, after working for 14 years as R-O-W crewman. He is the son of Audrey Ender, Eula Gene (Haddox) East and the late Ernest J East. He grew up in Bastrop and Monroe Louisiana and Pine Bluff, Arkansas. Don graduated from Ouachita Parish High School in Monroe, Louisiana in 1967. He then worked at Southern Bag Co. in Pine Bluff for 34 years, before coming to work at C & L in 2002. Don and his wife, Joyce, attend the Central Baptist Church in White Hall. They have a daughter, Mendy Taylor (Dub). They also have two grandchildren, Noah and Erica. Don is looking forward to gardening, cleaning the yard, straightening his shop so he can do wood working and other things. He also wants to do some fishing with his wife, tend to the chickens and enjoy their two little dogs. Don wants to help with the housework and take care of his wife during his retirement.