Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative
JA N UA RY 2016
Cooperative Pays 2015 Taxes Although Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative is a not-for-profit corporation under state law, it still pays its fair share of taxes. GCEC Trustee Betty Moore, left, presents the cooperative’s Washington County property tax payment for 2015 to Washington County Tax Collector Ken Naker. Read more about how the cooperative benefits the economy and strengthens the community on page 8.
Annual Meeting Set for April 30 PAGE 4 Resolve to Protect Your Family PAGE 26 n
Gulf Coast
Saving starts here. Members acknowledge that $3.96, plus actual postage, is the cost to publish 12 issues a year of Florida Currents (USPS8300). Published by Ruralite Services Inc., 5605 NE Elam Young Pkwy., Hillsboro, OR 97124—a not-for-profit Oregon cooperative corporation—the magazine serves the communications needs of consumer-owned electric utilities in Florida. Preferred Periodicals postage paid at Hillsboro, OR 97123 and at additional mailing offices. Postmaster: Please send address corrections to 5605 NE Elam Young Pkwy., Hillsboro, OR 97124. HOW TO CONTACT FLORIDA CURRENTS
Have a problem receiving your edition of Florida Currents? Utility members should contact the local utility office listed on the back cover. Nonmembers should contact Ruralite Services, 5605 NE Elam Young Pkwy., Hillsboro, OR 97124; (503) 718-3717; email info@floridacurrents.com. Subscription services: Nonmember subscriptions $12 (U.S.) per year; $25 (foreign) per year. Prepayment required. Allow 4 to 8 weeks for first issue. Be sure to identify which local edition you want to receive. Order online at www.floridacurrents.com. Extra copies: $2 each, pre-payment required. Supply is limited. Identify edition, month and year. Contact Ruralite Services.
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www.gcec.com
MANUSCRIPTS AND PHOTOGRAPHS
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Inside
January 2016 Vol. 5, No. 3
A Walk of Faith 12
Sarasota-based aerialist Nik Wallenda is firmly grounded by God and family. Also In This Issue Side Roads 10 In the Kitchen 16 Great Picture Hunt 18
Festival Roundup 22 Outdoor Pursuits 24 Parting Shot 30
Your utility pages: 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 25, 26, 28, 29, 32
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68th Annual Meeting Scheduled Member gathering will be Saturday, April 30 Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative’s 68th Annual Members’ Meeting is just around the corner. We are looking forward to seeing all of our members there. The meeting, of course, is yours. The agenda reflects what keeps your electric cooperative in business to serve your community. Your vote, voice and participation all go into making your cooperative a unique entity. You might say the cooperative way of conducting business is truly democracy in action. Bring the family, meet and greet your neighbors and friends, and make your annual meeting a memorable moment on April 30. n
District 1 Trustees Up for Election on April 30 As Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative celebrates its 68th Annual Members’ Meeting, it also is a time to elect your representatives. According to the bylaws, the board must name the Nominating Committee at least 90 days prior to the meeting. The committee must be selected by January 31. The Nominating Committee must meet and nominate candidates for open trustee positions at least 60 days prior to the annual meeting. Those not selected by the Nominating Committee, but interested in serving, have until February 29 to present a nomination by petition to have their names on the ballot. A
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petition needs the signature of 15 cooperative members. Interested persons should have no trouble getting their names on the ballot. District 1 trustees are up for election this year. The incumbents for the three positions are Betty Moore, Group 1; Gary Cox, Group 2; and Kinnith Daniels, Group 3. The 68th Annual Members’ Meeting is Saturday, April 30. Copies of the bylaws and the nominating procedures are available in GCEC’s main office in Wewahitchka or district offices in Southport or Panama City. You also may view the co-op’s bylaws at www.gcec.com.
Emergency Management Agencies Serving GCEC’s Six-County Service Area XX
Bay County Phone: (850) 784-4000 Fax: (850) 784-4010
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Calhoun County Phone: (850) 674-8075 Fax: (850) 674-4667
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Gulf County Phone: (850) 229-9110 Fax: (850) 229-9115
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Jackson County Phone: (850) 482-9678 Fax: (850) 482-9683
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Walton County Phone: (850) 892-6162 Fax: (850) 951-2911
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Washington County Phone: (850) 638-6203 Fax: (850) 638-6316
Notify County Agency of Any Special Needs Registry is used for resource planning during emergencies According to Chapter 252.355 Florida Statutes, “In order to meet the special needs of persons who would need assistance during evacuations and sheltering because of physical, mental or sensory disabilities, each local emergency management agency in the state shall maintain a registry of persons with special needs located within the jurisdiction of the local agency.” This registration helps the local emergency management agency identify those in need of assistance and plan for resource allocation to meet those needs. Persons with special needs may preauthorize emergency response personnel to enter their homes during search-andrescue operations, if necessary, to ensure
their safety and welfare following disasters. This registration must be updated annually. Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative helps local emergency management agencies get the word out about this program. If you or someone you know has a special condition affecting eyesight, hearing, speech, walking, breathing or an emotional condition and would need assistance during evacuations and sheltering, please contact your local emergency management agency. The level of care given in special needs shelters goes above the basic firstaid care available to shelters open to the general population. All information provided is kept strictly confidential. n
Help Reduce Demand for Electricity H2O Plus, a program available to you from Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative, has the potential to dramatically reduce the demand for electricity. We just need your participation. Using energy wisely has never been easier. A device is installed on your electric water heater that allows our power supplier to cycle your unit for short periods. By managing energy use when demand is high—when you and your neighbors are using the most electricity—our supplier can reduce demand when electricity is most expensive, delaying the need to build facilities to generate more power, alleviating or pushing those costs out to the future. An added benefit is reducing the amount of greenhouse gases, thereby helping the environment. You still will have enough hot water for showers and household chores. In fact, you shouldn’t even notice a difference in the amount of hot water available. For more information, please call GCEC Energy Services Representative Manuela Heyn. She will take down your information and, after ensuring the program is a good fit for your household, schedule an installer to visit your home and install the device at no cost to you. In fact, for your participation, we will make a one-time credit of $25 to your electric bill. We look forward to hearing from you soon.
Office numbers: Southport................(850) 265-3631 (800) 568-3667 Wewahitchka...........(850) 639-2216 (800) 333-9392 Panama City.............(850) 481-1188 J A N UA R Y 2 0 1 6
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Outage Map Now Online Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative constantly seeks innovative ways to improve the quality of service to its membership. One of these ways is through an outage map on its website. Visit www.gcec.com and look for the link on the left side of the screen. When clicked, a map of GCEC’s service area will appear. You will be able to look at the map and see where outages are, where outages have been restored and where crews have been dispatched. We hope this will be especially helpful during severe weather.
Tree-Trimming Program Ensures Safety, Reliability In January, crews will work in Ebro, near Wewahitchka Do you live in Ebro and south of Wewahitchka? In January, Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative crews will clear trees and plants from rights of way in those areas that threaten your access and other members’ access to safe, reliable power. GCEC has about 2,600 miles of distribution line. If vegetation comes into contact with power lines, it can interfere with your electric service and cause a dangerous situation. Vegetation must be cleared from power lines to provide reliable electric service and prevent a hazardous condition. When a person signs up to be a member of the cooperative, there is an agreement between the member and GCEC to allow right-of-way maintenance. The 6
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agreement gives GCEC the legal right to remove from the right of way anything that could interfere with safe, reliable electric service for all members. If the cooperative’s right-of-way clearance is not maintained, tree limbs and other growth coming into contact with power lines could increase the number of power outages. The co-op realizes most people regard trees as an asset. GCEC tries to work with each landowner to preserve landscaping when maintaining rights of way. However, federal law requires GCEC to eliminate hazardous conditions. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work to bring you quality, reliable service. n
GCEC Welcomes Line Tech Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative is proud to announce the addition of Taylor Smith to its staff. Taylor joins the cooperative as a line technician apprentice.
Considering Solar? Please Call Us First We know some of our members are considering installing solar applications. Please be aware that all solar applications must be preapproved and inspected to ensure they meet specific engineering codes and criteria. If you are considering solar, please contact Sid Dykes in Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative’s engineering department. Sid will schedule a time to meet with you either on-site or in one of our offices. Sid Dykes (850) 265-3631 ext. 3013 sdykes@gcec.com
Taylor Smith
Meet Your District 1 Trustee Betty Moore represents members residing in Jackson, Walton and Washington counties. Elected to serve on Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative’s Board of Trustees at the 2013 annual meeting, Betty is the first female board member. A graduate of Bay High School who attended Gulf Coast State College, Betty has more than 30 years of banking experience, primarily in lending operations, and has worked in Bay, Franklin, Gulf, Jackson, Okaloosa and Washington counties. In 2014, Betty earned the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Credentialed Cooperative Director certification. The program requires attendance and demonstrated understanding of the basic competencies contained in five core courses: Director Utilities and Liabilities; Understanding the Electric Business; Board Roles and Relationships; Business Planning; and Understanding Financial Planning. Betty also has completed seven of the 10 courses required for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association Board Leadership Certificate. She currently serves on the PowerSouth Energy Cooperative Panhandle committee. n
Betty Moore
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GCEC Strengthens Economy Through Donations, Jobs and Tax Dollars Staying true to its cooperative mission, Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative promotes the general welfare of the communities its serves by acting as an economic stimulator. The cooperative provides quality jobs and makes charitable donations. Although it is a not-for-profit corporation under state law, GCEC still pays its fair share of taxes. These all benefit the economy and strengthen the community. GCEC recently paid property taxes to each of the six counties within its service territory. A total of $815,940.97 in property taxes was paid to Bay ($417,779.83), Calhoun ($82,587.79), Gulf ($200,127.83), Jackson ($1,180.47), Walton ($1,038.11) and Washington ($113,226.94) counties. “By definition, cooperatives are highly involved within the communities they serve,” said GCEC CEO/General Manager Michael White. “Giving back to the communities we serve is an important part of our organization. GCEC strives to make a difference and be a good corporate citizen.” n
Trustee Gary Cox, left, pays GCEC’s property taxes to Bay County Tax Collector Peggy Brannon.
Trustee Kinneth Daniels, left, pays GCEC’s property taxes to Calhoun County Tax Collector Becky Smith.
Trustee Waylon Graham, left, pays GCEC’s property taxes to Gulf County Tax Collector Shirley Jenkins. 8
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Gulf Coast
Trading Post For Rent Horse barn with five stalls, paddock and about 4 acres of pasture in Wewahitchka, one block from the old courthouse. Lease by the stall, with discount for multiple horses. (740) 334-0341. Four-bedroom, one-bath, 1,800-sq.-ft. home in Scotts Ferry. Rents monthly. (850) 265-0872 or (850) 674-6409. Three Bayou George mobile homes: three bedroom, two bath; two bedroom, two bath; one bedroom, one bath. Clean, quiet, large yard. Water, sewer and garbage furnished. No pets. (850) 265-4043.
For Sale Set of four sharp 12” blades for Woodchuck drum chipper, $50. Set of four sharp 12” blades for Asplundh drum chipper, $50. Aluminum prop from 2001 Johnson outboard, 11x¼x21, $50. (850) 722-6004. Fresh, local shiitake mushrooms. Seeking restaurants or stores for weekly 5 lb. or more quantities. Wholesale price is $10/lb. with free delivery within 50 miles of Fountain. (850) 303-1460. Trees: pomegranate, 10 varieties of figs, Japanese snowball, dwarf sweet lady finger banana and lemongrass. (850) 639-9698.
Miniature donkeys. Jacks and Jennys, black, brown, gray and paints. All ages, $300 and up. Make great pets. Also standard donkeys. Betty, (850) 899-7424. 1994 Corvette in good condition. 139,000 miles. $8,900 OBO. (850) 648-8132 or (850) 247-8314. 2001 Coachmen travel trailer. Catalina 366 TBS model. Two bedrooms, one-and-a-half baths, two slides, 36’. Needs a little TLC. $4,500. Willing to trade up to $1,200 of the asking price for minor home repair and yard maintenance (must be licensed/insured in Florida). (850) 647-9227. Pomegranates, figs and lemons. (850) 639-9698. Quarter horses. Ride well on trails, gentle, good for lessons. (850) 773-1957.
Real Estate 1.5-acre lakefront property in Altha with threebedroom, two-bath mobile home. New metal roof, fireplace, front and back decks, shed and greenhouse. $155,000. (850) 896-3188. Three-bedroom, two-bath, 1,650-sq.-ft. brick home in Venetian Villa. Large two-car garage with opener; sprinkler system on well; and 18’x12’ screened-in room. (850) 866-2454. 24’x32’ modular home/camp with new interior. Must be moved. (850) 209-9299.
Two- or three-bedroom cabin. About 1,200 sq. ft. with large screened porch. 150 ft. on West Arm Creek in Meeks subdivision. (850) 271-9040. FSBO. Two adjacent lots, about 2.5 acres on paved road, 10 miles north of Wewahitchka, 45 minutes from beaches. Borders the Chipola River and Cypress Creek. Cleared and ready to build. Quiet and peaceful; no neighbors. Deeded restrictions. Underground utilities, deep well and many fruit trees. $69,900. (850) 648-4214. 1997 Redmond four-bedroom, two-bath doublewide on private, half-acre lot. Nice and move-in ready with new utilities and many upgrades. Convenient location 9 miles from Tyndall Parkway (739 Alpine Way, 32404). $59,900 cash or pre-qualified buyer. Serious inquiries call (850) 814-4492. ½-acre corner lot. (850) 639-2220. Highway 98 frontage business and four apartments in Parker. Apartments are twobedroom, one-bath each; business is currently a barber shop. Apartments and shop can be sold separately. (850) 871-4524. Reduced. Five-bedroom, two-bath mobile home with 30’x50’ metal building and two pole barns. Fenced and good for horses. Located in Fountain with frontage on Highway 274. $105,000. (850) 896-3633.
Trading Post is a FREE service to members of Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative. GCEC reserves the right to edit or reject ads. PLEASE PRINT LEGIBLY OR TYPE. Please circle the category that applies:
For Rent
For Sale
Real Estate
Free
Miscellaneous
Trade
Wanted
Items:
Name: Address: City/State/Zip: Phone: Mail your ad to: The Trading Post; Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative; P.O. Box 8370; Southport, FL 32409; return with your electric payment; or email ad information to tradingpost@gcec.com.
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When making a list of New Year’s resolutions, be sure to include assessing your home for electrical hazards.
Resolve to Protect Your Family Check your plugs, outlets and cords to ensure a safe space
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Protecting your family from electrical shocks, tripping hazards and house fires is easier to do than losing 20 pounds or quitting smoking, so make it New Year’s resolution No. 1. The Energy Education Council offers these 10 simple ways to keep that resolution: • Inspect your outlets. Loose-fitting plugs can surprise someone with a shock or even start a fire. If your wall plate is broken, replace it so wires are not exposed. Insert plastic safety caps into unused outlets if your family includes young children. • Make peace with plugs. If a plug does not comfortably fit into an outlet, do not force it. Never remove the grounding pin (third prong) to fit a threeprong plug into a two-prong outlet. • Be careful with cords. They are not designed to last forever. Discard frayed or cracked cords. Move them out from under carpets or rugs. • Pack up extension cords. They are fine for connecting strands of holiday lights together and helping decorations reach plugs during December. But come January 1, pack them up and store them. Extension cords are designed for temporary use. • Watch your wattage. The light bulbs in your lamps and overhead fixtures should match the
specifications on those fixtures. A bulb whose wattage is too high can overheat. • Upgrade the wiring. Faulty electrical wires start many house fires. If you hear popping or sizzling sounds behind the walls or if light switches feel hot, do not use those fixtures or switches until a licensed electrician has replaced them. • Find no fault. Ground-fault circuit interrupters are a must in every outlet in the kitchen, bathrooms, laundry, basement, garage and outdoors. • Fuss with your fuses. If you do not know whether your fuses are the right size for the circuit they are protecting, call an electrician. • Adjust appliances. If a circuit trips every time you plug in your hair dryer, or if your coffee maker has ever shocked you when you plugged it in, you either have faulty appliances or an overloaded circuit. An electrician can identify and solve your problem. • Get what you need. Unless you live in a new house, you probably are using more electricity than the builder ever dreamed you would. Call an electrician to determine whether your home needs more electrical capacity. n
Gulf Coast
Why Don’t You Like Solar?
Commentary By Gary Smith President and CEO
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It is a question I often am asked: “Why don’t you like solar?” Solar power—electricity generated from sunlight—is all the rage. People want to know why we haven’t joined the party to build solar farms and install solar panels. I have nothing against solar power other than you can only use it when the sun is shining, it costs more than traditional electricity generated from fossil fuels and its cost is subsidized. I am always surprised by the number of people who don’t understand that electricity can only be stored in limited cases and that solar power can only be used when the sun shines. That should be a basic premise. Solar power comes from converting sunlight to electricity through a solar panel. Therefore, you need sunshine to make electricity. Why don’t we use batteries to store the electricity until it is needed? We can to a degree, but the cost of bulk storage is high and would increase your electric bill. Most people don’t want much of that. It is a simple, but too often misunderstood concept: If the sun is not shining, you do not get any electricity. Besides, the sun does not always shine at the times we need electricity most. PowerSouth’s normal annual system peak is between 6 and 7 on a cold winter morning. At that time, the sun is not up yet, so no solar power is available. That means the system peak must be met with fossil fuel generation that runs on demand. It is fine if you like solar, but you should also be willing to pay the fixed costs to maintain fossil fuel generation to keep you warm on cold winter mornings. You may have heard solar is now cheaper than the power you buy from your utility. That is right, as far as it goes. On average, normal retail electric service costs about $130 per 1,000 kilowatt-hours. Ads for solar power frequently publicize electricity around $100 per 1,000 kWh. You can do the math: $100 is cheaper than $130. However, that is only part of the story. The cost you pay for electricity is comprised of many elements. The fixed costs of
generation plants, transmission lines, substations, distribution lines, transformers, meters and the variable costs of fuels to run the generators are all bundled into the single retail rate of $130 per 1,000 kWh. The cost of solar power does not include any of the fixed costs. It is only comparable to the variable cost of fuel to run the generators. PowerSouth’s variable cost of fuel to run its generators averages $36 per 1,000 kWh. The rest of your retail bill is to pay fixed costs to deliver power to you when it is needed. That math is simple, too: The $36 fuel charge is cheaper than the $100 for solar power. Everyone should pay their fair share of the cost of service required to provide them electricity. If you have to be served from a generating plant that runs on demand when the sun is not shining, you should pay the cost for that plant. Unfortunately, payments are due on the plant every month, and you have to pay your share every month—not just the days you need it. If you don’t, someone else must pay your share. The final thing I don’t like about solar power is that it is subsidized by the federal government with our tax dollars. For every $100 of investment you or a solar provider makes on your behalf, the federal government issues an income tax credit of $30. Tax subsidies are big business. Solar providers are making huge profits from installing systems and receiving subsidies from tax dollars you and I pay. We are subsidizing the profits of Solar City for installing uneconomical solar generation, whether we want to or not. Why don’t I like solar? It is not dependable—it cannot be called on when it is needed. It is not as affordable as a comparable element of fossil-generated electricity by a factor of at least two times and often more. It does not pay its own way, and people that install solar systems are subsidized by other retail customers and by taxpayers. Finally, solar companies are taking advantage of tax subsidies to make huge profits on inefficient generating resources from my federal income taxes. Otherwise, I like solar power. n
GCEC Visits Southport Elementary
Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative Foreman Chad Brackin (white hard hat) and Manager of Operations Andy Dick (blue shirt) visited with Southport Elementary School students and showed off safety equipment and tools during Celebration of Learning Day. Top, the pair use a battery-operated crimper. Right, Keelee Burnham, center, models the protective gloves, joined by Lena Mills, left, and Steven “Jaxon” Roth.
Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative joined other community businesses and organizations at Southport Elementary School’s annual Celebration of Learning Day on November 6. Students and teachers who stopped by the GCEC booth listened as Manager of Operations Andy Dick and Foreman Chad Brackin demonstrated safety equipment and tools. Line Technician Brennis Smith took a ride in the bucket truck to demonstrate how the controls on the truck operate. At the end of the presentation, students received GCEC goodies. The cooperative is committed to providing electrical safety information to our communities. n J A N UA R Y 2 0 1 6
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Offices 722 West Highway 22 P. O. Box 220 Wewahitchka, FL 32465 (850) 639-2216 or (800) 333-9392 9434 Highway 77 P. O. Box 8370 Southport, FL 32409 (850) 265-3631 or (800) 568-3667 6243 East Highway 98 Panama City, FL 32404 Phone: (850) 481-1188 www.gcec.com
CEO/General Manager Michael E. White
Trustees President Waylon Graham Vice President Jimmy Black Secretary Eddie Jones Treasurer Rupert Brown Doug Birmingham Robert Byrd Gary Cox Kinneth Daniels Betty Moore Trustees normally meet the third Tuesday of each month at 12:30 p.m. CST. The board meets at the Wewahitchka office in even-numbered months (February, April, June, August, October and December) and the Southport office in odd-numbered months (January, March, May, July, September and November). The mission of GCEC: Fulfilling the changing needs of our membership and communities by providing cost effective, reliable and safe utility services through a dedicated and responsive workforce. 32
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GCEC President’s Message
Our List for the New Year
As we begin 2016, many of us make our New Year’s resolutions. Typically, our list begins with goals such as eat healthy, exercise more and get organized. These worthwhile ambitions will improve our health and help us lead simpler, less stressed lives. We hope they become regular habits in the new year. Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative also has a so-called resolution list—although it is better called a priority list. GCEC’s list of priorities stays the same, year after year. Our list consists of: • Providing our members safe, reliable electric power. • Offering that service as affordably as possible. • Doing those two things in a fiscally and environmentally responsible manner. As a not-for-profit enterprise, GCEC is well-positioned to carry out the requirements to ensure safe, reliable and affordable electricity for our members. Our cooperative employees and board members are local. They live and work in this community, and have the best interest of cooperative members at heart. When electric cooperatives began organizing in the 1930s, neighbors came together to achieve a common goal: to bring electric service to their homes, farms and businesses—and with it, the promise of a better life. The mission of electric cooperatives then, as now, is to empower members to improve the quality of life in their communities. Electricity was just the start. Even though many aspects of our lives have changed through the years, it is nice to know the goals of your electric cooperative have not changed. These priorities served our members well years ago, and they continue to be the mainstay of our organization today. By working together, cooperatives and members achieved the greatest engineering marvel of the 20th century: electrifying rural America. Imagine how much more we will accomplish together in the future. Happy 2016!
Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative offices will be closed Friday, January 1, in observance of New Year’s Day. From all of us at GCEC, have a safe and happy new year!
Waylon Graham