Today in Mississippi August 2018 Local Pages by American MainStreet Publications

News for members of Electric Cooperatives in Mississippi

Community

Cookbooks Periodical postage (ISSN 1052 2433)

as history

USM historian studies cookbooks

Youth leaders converge in D.C.

Outdoors Today: Surviving summer

10 I Today in Mississippi

August 2018

Visit to nation’s capital inspires

Youth Tour students # (Front row) Allyson, Gabby, Alana, Courtney; (Back row) Arrow, Brian and Sarah stopped at the Marine Corps War Memorial to see the massive bronze statue that recaptures the iconic moment when Marine soldiers raised the American flag on the island of Iwo Jima during World War II.

Each year, Central Electric Power Association sponsors high school juniors in its service territory on a tour of the nation’s capital. The Electric Cooperative Youth Tour has brought high school students to Washington, D.C., every June since the late 1950s, and more than 50,000 students from across America have experienced this unique opportunity. The Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi (ECM) has participated in the program for 32 years. The tour gives the students an up close view of the political process on a national level and connects them with like-minded students from across the state and nation. The relationships made on Youth Tour have proven to be beneficial throughout their lives. The Youth Tour is supported locally by Central Electric, organized statewide by ECM and nationally by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). More than 1,800 students from 42 states participate annually. This year, Wallace Bass, Sarah Burns, Gabby Caldwell, Allyson Crocker, Courtney Gill, Brian Pace, Alana

“Experiencing our nation’s capital for the first time has been the trip of a lifetime.” - Sarah Burns

Patterson and Arrow Scott represented Central Electric. They joined 67 of Mississippi’s brightest juniors on the tour. They were chosen through an application and interview process. Wallace is the son of Tracie Bass of Carthage. He will be a senior at Leake County High School. Sarah will be a senior at Leake Central High School and is the daughter of Sheila and Bruce Burns of Carthage. Gabby is the daughter of Dr. David and Kathy Caldwell of Brandon. She will be a senior at Northwest Rankin High School. Allyson will be a senior at Leake Central High School and is the daughter of Leigh Ann and Ray Magee of Carthage. Courtney is the daughter of Stephanie and Robert Gill of Carthage. She will be a senior at Leake Academy. Brian will be a senior at Neshoba Central High School and is the son of Patty and Derek Pace of Collinsville. Alana is the daughter of Jessica and Neil Patterson of Carthage. She will be a senior at Leake Academy. Arrow will be a senior at Choctaw Central High School and is the son of Tina and Rodney Scott of Walnut Grove. On the week-long trip, the students visited historical and cultural sites and a variety of monuments and memorials, such as the World War II Memorial, Korean War Memorial, FDR Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Air Force Memorial, Jefferson Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. “I can genuinely say that this trip has changed my life,” said Allyson. “Being here has opened my eyes to the world of politics, and the possibility of working in federal government. I am extremely grateful for everyone who made this possible.” One of the first stops on the tour was the Marine Corps War Memorial, informally known as the Iwo Jima, followed by visits to other monuments and memorials. The students visited numerous museums, such as the

August 2018

Today in Mississippi

Above: Allyson, Arrow, Courtney, Alana, Wallace and Sarah visited with Rep. Bennie Thompson in his Washington, D.C., office. Right: Gabby and Brian visited with Rep. Gregg Harper in his office during Youth Tour.

Newseum, a seven floor, interactive museum dedicated to the first amendment rights and journalism throughout American history. A new addition to the tour this year, was a visit to the Holocaust Museum. The museum is a somber reflection of those who were lost during the Nazi regime. They also spent a day touring the Smithsonian Museums of Air and Space, American History, Natural History and the National Gallery of Art. Another popular event of the tour was a Major League Baseball game at Nationals Park. The students watched as the Washington Nationals took on the San Francisco Giants. After a drive down Massachusetts Avenue, unofficially known as Embassy Row, the students were taken on a guided tour of the Washington National Cathedral, the second largest cathedral in the U.S. In addition to sightseeing, the students also spent a day on Capitol Hill, which began with a special tour of the U.S. House Floor graciously hosted by Rep. Gregg Harper. While in the Capitol building, the students enjoyed a panoramic view of Washington, D.C., from the speaker’s balcony. Many of the students were able to meet House Speaker Paul Ryan, and Rep. Kevin McCarthy (CA). McCarthy spoke to the group after a news interview in the Capitol Rotunda. After the tour, Wallace, Sarah, Allyson, Courtney, Alana and Arrow joined a smaller group to visit with Rep. Bennie Thompson in his D.C. office, while Gabby and Brian visited with Rep. Gregg Harper in his office. The congressmen spoke to both groups about what it takes to be a leader and the

Central Electric congratulates Wallace Bass for being named 2019 NRECA spokesperson! See page 7 for more information. Wallace Bass, Alana Patterson, Landes Purnell (representing ECM), Brian Pace, Sarah Burns, Courney Gill, Allyson Crocker, Gabby Caldwell and Arrow Scott visit the Air Force Memorial near the Pentagon.

importance of setting goals and striving to achieve them. During the visit to Capitol Hill, students also had the opportunity to meet with Sen. Roger Wicker and Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith. “The 2018 Youth Tour has made a major impact on my life by first building my confidence that I can be a leader. Next, by learning about the different types of government, and learning my about my co-op, as well as other co-ops,” said Brian. “Youth Tour has allowed me to make many new friends, and for that I am eternally grateful.” Central Electric congratulates these students on their accomplishments.

Central Electric and ECM applaud Wallace on this distinguished honor.

The students visited the National Cathedral.

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August 2018

Downed power lines:

Always a risk You teach your children not to mix water and electricity in the bathroom, kitchen and laundry room. But when a late summer rain storm knocks power lines down outdoors, do they know to stay far away from them? HERE’S WHAT YOUR FAMILY NEEDS TO KNOW: • If someone nearby comes into contact with electricity, do not touch that person or anything the person is touching. Instead, call 911. If the source of electricity is an appliance, grab the plug—not the cord—and pull it out of the outlet. If you cannot safely remove the plug, turn off the power at the fuse or circuit breaker. • If an electric wire falls on your car, do not get out of the car. You are safe inside your vehicle because your tires are conductors of electricity. They can keep you safe in your car because electricity seeks the quickest path to the ground--through the outside of the car, through the tires and into the ground. • Not all power lines are insulated, so they are never safe to touch. When a wire falls to the ground, it may still be live, even if you don’t see sparks. Call 911 and your electric cooperative if you see a downed wire. Warn others

to keep their distance. • Wood is a poor conductor of electricity, but it is still a conductor, especially when wet. Do not use a wooden ladder near a power line. If a ladder begins to fall into a power line, don’t grab it. Let it fall and call your electric cooperative. • Only pure rubber is an insulator, and most household products aren’t pure rubber. Don’t try to handle electric emergencies at home, even when you’re wearing rubber gloves or shoes.

COAHOMA Electric Power Association

WILL BE CLOSED Monday, September 3 in observance of

LABOR DAY

August 2018

Don’t let water heater guzzle energy You know how to save water by taking shorter showers. But your electric water heater doesn’t just guzzle water; it guzzles electricity. You can stop wasting electricity by replacing an old water heater with a newer, more energy-efficient model. Also: • Drain a bucket of water out of the bottom of the heater twice a year. The bottom can fill with sediment, which separates water from the heating element. • Invest in an inexpensive water heater blanket or insulation kit, especially for older heaters. Do not insulate over doors or vents. • Before buying a new water heater, estimate your family’s needs. A family of up to four should buy a 30- to 50-gallon tank, while up to seven people might require 50 to 80 gallons. Consider appliances such as hot tubs when calculating how much hot water you use, and consult a plumber for help.

Tip of the

Month • If your house is more than two levels or if the bathrooms, kitchen and laundry room are spaced far apart, it might be more efficient to invest in a smaller water heater for each level. • Set the water heater’s temperature at 120 degrees or lower. This prevents scalding and standby heat loss, and can lower your water heating bill by 10 percent. • Insulate hot water supply pipes to reduce heat loss.

We’re back in school Students will be out and about. Please watch out for school buses and children at crosswalks. And observe school zones when school is in session.

THINK SAFETY!

Today in Mississippi

Look for LED products and fixtures for outdoor use, such as pathway, step and porch lights. Many include features like automatic daylight shut-off and motion sensors. You can also find solar-powered lighting for outdoor spaces. Source: energy.gov

10 Today in Mississippi

August 2018

Communicators: April Lollar and Merilee Sands For Today in Mississippi information, call 877-7MY-CEPA (877-769-2372) www.coastepa.com

Where our members have the power CEO’s message

Program demonstrates commitment to creating community leaders This month, we feature a story about our Youth Leadership representatives’ trip to Washington, D.C., in June. As you may know, Coast Electric’s operations are guided by a set of seven cooperative principles. Two of these principles include showing concern for the communities we serve, and education and information. These principles are demonstrated through our Youth Leadership program. Each year, we see the impact this program has on youth in our area

and it renews our dedication to serving these students. We invite our student representatives to attend our Annual Meeting and Member Appreciation Night each year to tell our members about their experiences with the program. I invite you all to attend the meeting and Member Appreciation Night on Nov. 1, not only to meet these students but to become active participants in your cooperative.

Ron Barnes President and CEO

Coast Electric’s offices will be closed Monday, Sept. 3, for Labor Day. Crews will remain on call and dispatchers will remain on duty throughout the holiday weekend. Call 877-769-2372 or use our free CE on the Go mobile app to report outages.

Watt’s up this month

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Annual Meeting Notice

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2018 Youth Tour

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Offices closed for Labor Day Have a safe and happy weekend!

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This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

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of Washington, D.C. Energy Savings With LEDs

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4TH ANNUAL

GLOW RUN RECAP

Coast Electric is a not-for-profit business that is owned and led by those we serve. As someone who receives service from Coast Electric, you are a member and owner of the cooperative. For the co-op to function effectively, it takes everyone doing their part –

employees, board members and you – to work toward a common goal. Although the tasks in each department may differ, the goal is the same – to provide superior service to the people of south Mississippi. Information Technology employees play an important role in keeping Coast Electric’s systems up and running for employees and members. Besides keeping up with equipment maintenance for 249 employees, their behind-the-scenes work IT Director Scott Verdegan and his team keep company systems functioning makes life easier and more secure for us all. efficiently and safely for employees and members.

August 2018

Your Board Representatives Part of co-op membership is being represented by people in your community on the board of directors. We encourage you to get to know the person who represents you and why they choose to dedicate their time to serving our cooperative. We invite you to attend our Annual Meeting and Member Appreciation Night and meet your representatives.

HANCOCK COUNTY Position 1 – James Baldree Elected to board in 1998; Education Director of Gulf Oaks Hospital; Member of Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints

Position 2 – Gil Arceneaux Elected to board in 2003; Retired Paint Trades Superintendent of Northrop Grumman; Member of Union Baptist Church

HARRISON COUNTY Position 1 – Charles Lopez Elected to board in 2002; Retired fire service battalion chief; Member of Michael Memorial Baptist Church

Position 2 – Teri Eaton Elected to board in 2015 to fill unexpired term of retired board member; State Farm Insurance Agent; Member of Campground Baptist Church

Position 3 – Gordon Redd Elected to board in 2002; Co-owner and president of Redd Pest Solutions; Member of Orange Grove Church of Christ

PEARL RIVER COUNTY Position 1 – Richard Dossett Elected to board in 1980; Cattle Farmer; Member of Nicholson Old Palestine Baptist Church

Position 2 – Frank McClinton Elected to board in 2005; Former owner and manager of M&M Industries; Member of Serenity Baptist Church

Position 3 – Douglas Mooney Elected to board in 1986; Retired partner in Sun Coast Business and Industrial Supplies; Member of Salem Baptist Church

Today in Mississippi

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Annual Meeting Notice The annual meeting of the members of Coast Electric Power Association will be held on Nov.1, 2018. The following information is provided in accordance with association bylaws. Committee on Nominations; Credentials and Elections It shall be the duty of the board to appoint no less than 40 days nor more than 120 days before the date of the meeting of the members at which directors are to be elected, a committee on nominations consisting of not less than five nor more than 11 members who shall be selected from different selections so as to insure equitable geographic representation. The committee shall receive and consider any suggestions as to nominees submit-

ted by members of the association. The committee shall prepare and post at the principle office of the association at least 30 days before the meeting a list of nominations for board members. The secretary must mail with the notice of the meeting or separately a statement of the number of board members to be elected and the names and addresses of the candidates nominated by the Committee of Nominations. Any 25 members acting together may make other nominations by petition and the secretary shall post such nominations at the same place where the list of nominations by the committee is posted provided same is filed with and approved by the Committee on Nominations at least

Position 3 – James Ginn Elected to board in 2002; Retired executive vice-president of Hancock Bank; Member of Central Bible Church, Bay St. Louis

More time and new ways to register for Coast Electric’s Annual Meeting This year, Coast Electric is making changes to its Annual Meeting registration process, giving you more time to register your proxy. In mid-September, we will begin registering members in our offices. You will also receive a proxy registration card, along with your member card, in the mail. Besides in-office and mail-in registration options, members will now be able to register their proxy online at www.coastepa.com. Look for more information in next month’s paper and on Coast Electric’s social media pages at www.facebook.com/coastelectric and www.twitter.com/coastelectric.

30 days prior to the Annual Meeting. Any petition for nominations shall be submitted on a form designated and provided by the association. Each member signing such petition shall place thereon the date of signing, address, account number and service location of the member. No nomination by petition will be accepted by the Committee on Nominations which are not filed with such committee at least 24 hours prior to the meeting date and time, if such a petition is timely filed, such person shall be a write-in candidate. A complete copy of the association bylaws is available upon request at all offices of Coast Electric Power Association.

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Today in Mississippi

August 2018

Visit to nation’s capital inspires

Youth Tour students #

Marion, Gage, Stephen and Conner visited with Rep. Steven Palazzo at his Washington, D.C., office during Youth Tour.

Each year, Coast Electric sponsors high school juniors on a tour of our nation’s capital. The Electric Cooperative Youth Tour has brought high school students to Washington, D.C. every June since the late 1950s, and more than 50,000 students from across America have experienced this unique opportunity. The Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi (ECM) has participated in the program for 32 years. The tour gives the students an up-close view of the political process on a national level and connects them with like-minded students from across the state and nation. The relationships made on Youth Tour have proven to be beneficial throughout their lives. The Youth Tour is supported locally by Coast Electric, organized

statewide by ECM and nationally by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). More than 1,800 students from 42 states participate annually. This year, Stephen Azar, Gage McClinton, Marion Pohl and Conner Thurtell represented Coast Electric. They joined 71 of Mississippi’s brightest juniors on the tour. They were chosen through an application and interview process. Stephen is the son of Rana and Nabil Azar of Biloxi. He will be a senior at St. Patrick High School. Gage will be a senior at Pearl River Central High School and is the son of Shane and Joey McClinton of Carriere. Marion is the daughter of Richard and Katherine Pohl of Bay St. Louis. She will be a senior at Bay High School. Conner will be a senior at Long Beach High School and is the son of Daniel and Penney Thurtell of Long Beach. “This was an amazing On the week-long trip, the students visited historical and cultural sites and a trip. It will have a variety of monuments and memorials, such lasting impact on my as the World War II Memorial, Korean future. I will never War Memorial, FDR Memorial, Lincoln forget the memories I Memorial, Air Force Memorial, Jefferson made.” Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans - Gage McClinton Memorial. “I’ve made friends and memories that I will love and cherish to the end of my days,” said Marion. “Thank you Coast Electric for the opportunity of a lifetime. I wish I could relive this week 100 times.” One of the first stops on the tour was the Marine Corps War Memorial, informally known as the Iwo Jima, followed by visits to other monuments and memorials. The students visited numerous museums, such as the Newseum, a seven floor, interactive museum dedicated to the first amendment rights and journalism

August 2018

Today in Mississippi

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Gage, Conner, Marion and Stephen enjoyed a stop at the Air Force Memorial near the Pentagon.

Ron Barnes The students stopped at the Marine Corps War Memorial to see the massive bronze statue that recaptures the iconic moment when Marine soldiers raised the American flag on the island of Iwo Jima during World War II.

throughout “The bonds I formed American history. A new addition to and the memories I the tour this year, gained are priceless.” was a visit to the - Stephen Azar Holocaust Museum. The museum is a somber reflection of those who were lost during the Nazi regime. They also spent a day touring the Smithsonian Museums of Air and Space, American History, Natural History and the National Gallery of Art. Another popular event of the tour was a Major League Baseball game at Nationals Park. The students watched as the Washington Nationals took on the San Francisco Giants. After a drive down Massachusetts Avenue, unofficially known as Embassy Row, the students were taken on a guided tour of the Washington National Cathedral, the second largest cathedral in the U.S. In addition to sightseeing, the students also spent a day on Capitol Hill, which began with a special tour of the U.S. House Floor graciously hosted by Rep. Gregg Harper. While in the Capitol building, the students enjoyed a panoramic view of Washington, D.C., from the speaker’s balcony. Many of the students were able to meet House Speaker Paul Ryan, and Rep. Kevin McCarthy (CA). McCarthy spoke to the group after a news interview in the Capitol Rotunda. After the tour, Stephen, Gage, Marion and Conner joined a smaller group to visit with Rep. Steven Palazzo in his D.C. office. During the visit to Capitol Hill, students also had the opportunity to meet with Sen. Roger Wicker and Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith. “Youth Tour allowed me to truly experience our nation’s history and learn more about how

Marion, Conner, Gage and Stephen visited the Franklin Delano Roosevelt Memorial. The presidential memorial remembers the life and career of our 32nd president.

President and CEO

“I’ve seen the Youth Leadership program change lives for so many participants. They are challenged to lead and encouraged to develop the skills that will make them leaders in their communities. We are proud of our representatives and are proud to be part of this program.”

The National Cathedral was one of the sites Gage, Marion, Conner and Stephen were able to visit while on the Youth Tour.

our government operates,” said Conner. “Youth Tour was an amazing experience where I made incredible friends and memories that will last a lifetime.”

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Today in Mississippi

August 2018

Shining light on energy savings with LEDs, the future of bulbs is bright By Derrill Holly When it comes to lighting, the potential for energy efficiency is just too great to ignore. Around the home, changing bulbs can change your electric bills, and the monthly savings can add up quickly. “Lighting efficiency upgrades have long been the poster child of energy efficiency,” said Alan Shedd, director of energy solutions for Touchstone Energy Cooperatives. That’s because consumers regularly use dozens of bulbs in fixtures out of necessity and convenience. According to the U.S. Department of Energy’s Energy Information Administration, nearly 130 billion kilowatt hours of electricity are consumed by residential lighting each year, representing about 9 percent of all home energy use. As light emitting diode (LED) design options increase, prices are coming down, and more consumers see LEDs as an alternative to carbon filament incandescent bulbs first popularized by Thomas Edison in the 1880s. “The economics make sense,” said Shedd. “When LED lamp products were $20, it was a tough sell, now for a couple of bucks you can get a lamp that saves energy and lasts 10 times longer.” To get an idea of your potential for energy savings, complete a home inventory. Don’t just count fixtures – count bulbs, checking wattage, and whether they are dimmable, three-way or require special bases. Also note the type of bulb now in use: incandescent, halogen, compact florescent lights or straight or circular florescent tubes. There’s a good chance your total bulb count for the average single-family home will be between 50 and 75, including hallways, garages and storage areas. Savings add up In 2009, 58 percent of U.S. households had at least one energy-efficient bulb indoors. By the spring of 2016, 86 percent of all households used at least one CFL or LED

bulb, and nearly 20 percent of all households had completely abandoned incandescent bulb use. The federal law mandating a 25 percent increase in lighting efficiency led many U.S. manufacturers to phase out incandescent bulbs of 100 watts or more. Halogen varieties available for residential applications can produce excessive heat. That becomes more of a consideration during cooling season, when HVAC systems can get their most use. In recent years, manufacturers have focused more research on lighting efficacy, energy efficiency and cycle longevity. That’s led to major increases in the projected

Energy Efficiency Tip of the Month Look for LED products and fixtures for outdoor use, such as pathway, step and porch lights. Many include features like automatic daylight shut-off and motion sensors. You can also find solar-powered lighting for outdoor spaces. Source: energy.gov

hours of use and lower failure rates. Many consumers don’t like the lighting quality offered by compact florescent light bulbs, which can also be prone to failure due to heat build-up when used in closed lighting fixtures. While LED lighting was initially expensive and limited to warm white or a few color temperatures and designs, market acceptance and continued research have forced prices down, and led to an expanded variety of products. Lumens not watts Cashing in on lighting efficiency can get easier if we rethink the way we buy and use the lighting products. Many consumers resist switching from ounces to grams, miles to kilometers or Fahrenheit to Celsius when discussing measurements and temperatures. But, when it comes to lighting, thinking lumens instead of watts makes sense, because it could save you dollars and cents. Cool white, soft white, dimmable, decorative, three-way, decorative and color are now among the options, with LEDs taking up an increasing share of shelf space in the lighting sections of hardware, discount and home improvement stores. “The wide range of products is the biggest challenge – used to be a lamp was a lamp – you pretty much knew what you were getting,” said Touchstone Energy’s Shedd. “Now, the shelves are packed with a dizzying array of choices.” According to Shedd, education, or re-education is the key. Once a consumer knows that lumens are a measurement of the amount of light given off by a bulb, they understand that the lower the lumens, the dimmer the light. “Sure lumens can be confusing – we didn’t grow up with that,” said Touchstone Energy’s Shedd. But showing that a 1,000 lumen lamp is equivalent to a 60 Watt incandescent bulb is a short term fix.” While replacing compact florescent light bulbs with LEDs saves less energy, consumer preferences have driven a shift away from CFLs, in part because of color and lighting quality. “The energy savings and life expectancy of an LED is incrementally better,” said Shedd. “The early CFLs did not offer good color, they took a long time to reach full brightness, particularly in cold environments, and some failed prematurely – especially if they were used in enclosed fixtures.”

August 2018

Today in Mississippi

4TH ANNUAL

RECAP

More than 160 runners and walkers lit up the night at Coast Electric’s fourth annual Glow Run one-mile fun run and 5K. This year’s event raised $4,500 for the Cancer Society. Those funds will stay in south Mississippi to help raise awareness for the disease and to fund research efforts that will help cancer patients. Coast Electric thanks all sponsors and runners for making this year’s event a success.

Special thanks to our 2018 Coast Electric Glow Run event sponsors!

Ward International Trucks Neco’s Family Market Mayley’s Pest Control, LLC

Wellness Physical Therapy Prestige Fitness Club Granny’s Alliance Cruise in Cafe

And our 2018 Starting Line Sponsors

Waterslides of the Gulf Coast Daiquiri Shaq Moss Towing

SUMMER SAFETY

School may be starting soon but there are plenty of long, warm days left for boating, swimming and summer fun. While you are out having fun, make sure you keep safety in mind. For tips and information about how you can stay safe, visit www.beawareeverywhere.com.

Napa Auto Parts Southern Pro Truck Salsbury Dodge

Did you Know? Coast Electric employees are available for school presentations on energy efficiency and electrical safety. All you have to do is give us a call at 877-769-2372 to make your request and we will work to meet the needs of your students.

Today in Mississippi

August 2018 USE IT ANY TIME

Delta Electric’s new IVR phone number is 662-743-4425.

24/7

GET ACCOUNT INFO MAKE A PAYMENT REPORT AN OUTAGE MAKE AN ARRANGEMENT

Greenwood • Winona • Cleveland • Indianola

the family that

junkstogether Top: Katherine Bowers, left, and her mother, Terry Andrews, built a business on their shared passion for collecting and selling vintage finds. Above: Furniture sells well at their County Line Vendors Mall, located near Greenwood on US 82.

By Debbie Stringer If it’s old, unusual, rustic or nostalgic, it will likely attract the attention of avid junking duo Terry Andrews and her daughter Katherine Bowers. Both share a passion for seeking out, buying, selling and collecting vintage items. As owners of County Line Vendors Mall, a Delta Electric Power Association member in Leflore County, Andrews and Bowers are partners in a business that justifies their junking habit as it provides a livelihood. Andrews’ foray into business start-

ed in 2008. After quitting her job as Vaiden’s chief of police, she opened NTown Thrift on Greenwood’s Claiborne Avenue. The business evolved into a vendor mall after moving to a location east of the city on US 82. Earlier this year, Andrews and Bowers moved their business to a larger, 12,000-square-foot building, also on 82, that has housed a wholesale produce operation and a building materials retailer. About half of the space is devoted to vendor booths. Thirteen vendors occupy one or more of the 10-by-10-

foot booth spaces. Vendors pay only a flat monthly fee for each booth. All the vendors are local people, “junkers at heart,” Andrews says, who have been doing this type of work for a long time. They know how to keep their booths inviting by frequently adding fresh old items. “You never know what you’re going to find in here. We like variety,” Andrews said. Vendors’ wares are likely to include toys, kitchen items, glassware, cast iron, bottles, dinnerware, lamps, furniture, signs, doors and knickknacks.

August 2018

One vendor sells new interior fabrics and sews custom draperies. Another builds wooden outdoor swings, rockers and Adirondack-style chairs. A corner of the store displays items from Andrews and Bowers’ frequent buying trips to estate sales in Memphis and as far away as Ohio. “We look for something different. We like different,” Andrews said. They buy with customers’ requests in mind but also for their own private collections. “I like old doors and hardware, furniture and anything old, really,” Bowers said. “She has about 300 old doors,” her mother quipped. Bowers admits to hoarding the doors and keeping any Pyrex finds to herself. She also enjoys resurrecting discarded furniture with skillfully applied paint and decorative treatments. Mother and daughter both love primitive furniture. Andrews defines primitives as “handmade back in the day when they didn’t have any measuring tape—they just did it by eye.” The partners use Facebook to promote their store and post photos of new merchandise as it arrives. What are the best sellers? “Here, they’re looking for end tables. And we can’t keep dressers and chests of drawers. They go out as fast as they come in. And outdoor furniture. Wrought iron is hot here,” Andrews said. Outside the store, beneath the huge “Antiques” banner, an assortment of outdoor furniture and vin-

Today in Mississippi

tage items tempts “drive-by” shoppers. “People see something from the highway and then call [to buy it]. They either pay for it by phone or send the husband to come get it,” Andrews said. Travelers from as far away as California have stopped this summer at the store in search of one-of-a-kind souvenirs that are easy to pack. Veteran collectors Andrews and Bowers display some of their finds in themed displays, above left. The women want their cusAndrews encourages the travelers to tomers to find new and interesting items each time they visit. Hand-built outdoor swings, rockers, chairs and other furniture, visit other thrift and antique shops above, are featured by a mall vendor. while in the Greenwood area. “We County Line Vendors Mall is located at 10332 US 82, Greenwood. try to help each other out,” she said. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday. Contact the store at 662-451-1144.

NEWite

PayS GREENWOOD OFFICE LOBBY

CLEVELAND OFFICE VESTIBULE

Located at 1700 Highway 82 West

Located at 353 Yale St. Extension

10 I Today in Mississippi I August 2018

We’re listening. We’re responding. Dixie Electric is an equal opportunity employer and provider.

We’re your local electric cooperative.

Members matter. This is the reason that we spend time each summer educating our members on ways to save on their power bills. Temperatures this year have been more like a typical south Mississippi summer, and with August and September approaching, we will likely see higher temperatures continue. As you are aware, the warmer the temperatures are, the more your air conditioner runs, affecting your power bill. On the following pages, we provided a recap of the recent Energy Fairs that we offered in Laurel, Petal and Waynesboro. We offer these free educational events to the public because we want to inform you, our members, on ways to save on your power bill by making wise energy Randy Smith efficient choices. General Manager On another topic, we participated in a couple of recent national and regional surveys that included some of our members. We’re happy to say that, for many of the questions in the surveys, Dixie Electric was ranked very favorably compared to other electric coopera-

tives and investor-owned electric utilities. We also realize there are areas we need to improve in and some of the questions in the surveys reflected that as well. We want you to know that we will work hard to improve in those areas and, in areas where we did well, we will strive to continue to meet the standards that you expect from us. As I mentioned above, membership matters both to you and to us. Dixie Electric is an electric cooperative that exists to serve our members with reliable electric energy. Our board and employees are focused on the local community, which is why we offer Energy Fairs and provide online resources to help you save energy on dixieepa.com. Our electric co-op was built by the community, belongs to the community and continues to be led by the community––that’s the cooperative difference!

The Credentials and Elections Committee verifies candidate qualifications for Dixie Electric’s board of director elections and oversees the voting process. 2018 CREDENTIAL AND ELECTION COMMITTEE MEMBERS • Ben Cole • Authur Moore • Charles A. Dial • Mark Waller • Barbara McLaurin • James Walley • Richard Watkins

August 2018

Dixie Electric sends crew to Alabama

Today in Mississippi

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Be a leader and win a trip to Washington, D.C.! If you're an 11th grader served by Dixie Electric Power Association, make this year memorable by participating in the 2019 Leadership Workshop in Jackson, Miss., and Tour of Washington, D.C.

A strong storm front affected central Alabama on June 28, 2018, bringing with it wind gusts upward of 50 miles per hour and intense lightning. These high-speed wind gusts downed hundreds of trees and broke 20 poles throughout Central Alabama Electric Cooperative’s 10-county service area, resulting in widespread power outages. Dixie Electric sent seven linemen to Central Alabama Cooperative, headquartered in Prattville, Alabama, to

help restore power. These linemen include Wes McDonnieal, Jace Tucker, Kimble Holifield, Mark Ball, Brian Barkley, Adron Presley and Jack Payne. Cooperation among Cooperatives is a principle that Dixie Electric upholds; therefore, employees respond when they are called to assist others. With the help of our line crew, as well as several other cooperatives that aided in assistance, all power was restored within 48 hours.

DIXIE Electric Power Association

WILL BE CLOSED Monday, September 3 in observance of

LABOR DAY

See your guidance counselor. Homeschooled students, call Dixie Electric for more information 601-425-2535.

Maintaining reliable service Right-of-way clearing projects underway

Electric Utility Pole Inspections

Dixie Electric Power Association clears trees, limbs and underbrush from the area around and below the power lines, called the right-of-way. Right-of-way clearing decreases the number of outages and reduces the risk of someone coming in contact with the power lines. Here are the substations and surrounding communities that are either currently being cleared or will be cleared soon: • South Waynesboro substation –

Osmose Utilities Services will be performing inspection and maintenance on some of Dixie Electric Power Association’s poles during the next few months, beginning in August and continuing for approximately four to five months. The general areas to be inspected will be the Whistler, Eucutta, West Waynesboro, Clara, Pleasant Grove, Beat Four and Strengthford communities. This work will generally consist of excavating a hole about 18” deep around the poles to inspect them and applying a preservative and/or remedial treatment to the poles as needed. The purpose of the inspection and treatment is to identify poles that do not meet industry strength standards and to extend the useful life of all others. If you have any questions, please contact the engineering department at (601) 425-2535.

Winchester, Denham-Progress, Sunlight, Big Rock and the Central School area • Glade substation – Glade, Antioch and Powers communities • Indian Springs substation – Sunrise and Petal Clearing the right-of-way protects individuals from the hazards of electricity and makes power restoration quicker and safer for both Dixie Electric’s members and personnel.

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Visit to nation’s capital inspires

Youth Tour students #

Aubrey and Garrett visited with Rep. Steven Palazzo at his Washington, D.C., office during Youth Tour.

Each year, Dixie Electric Power Association sponsors two high school juniors on a tour of the nation’s capital. The Electric Cooperative Youth Tour has brought high school students to Washington, D.C., every June since the late 1950s, and more than 50,000 students from across America have experienced this unique opportunity. The Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi (ECM) has participated in the program for 32 years. The tour gives the students an up close view of the political process on a national level and connects them with like-minded students from across the state and nation. The relationships made on Youth Tour have proven to be beneficial throughout their lives. The Youth Tour is supported locally by Dixie Electric, organized statewide by ECM and nationally by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA).

“This is truly a once in a lifetime trip that taught me about the history of our country and politics.” Garrett Crowder

More than 1,800 students from 42 states participate annually. This year, Garrett Crowder and Aubrey Gaudet represented Dixie Electric. They joined 73 of Mississippi’s brightest juniors on the tour. They were chosen through an application and interview process. Garrett is the son of Judy Crowder of Petal and will be a senior at Sacred Heart High School. Aubrey will also be a senior at Sacred Heart High School and is the daughter of Phet and R. Christian Gaudet of Petal. On the week-long trip, the students visited historical and cultural sites and a variety of monuments and memorials, such as the World War II Memorial, Korean War Memorial, FDR Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Air Force Memorial, Jefferson Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. “This is truly a once in a lifetime trip that taught me about the history of our country and politics,” said Garrett. “I made lifelong friends that I will have forever and will help lead our generation to prosperity.” One of the first stops on the tour was the Marine Corps War Memorial, informally known as the Iwo Jima, followed by visits to other monuments and memorials. The students visited numerous museums, such as the Newseum, a seven floor, interactive museum dedicated to the first amendment rights and journalism throughout American history. A new addition to the tour this year, was a visit to the Holocaust Museum. The museum is a somber reflection of those who were lost during the Nazi regime. They also spent a day touring the Smithsonian Museums of Air and Space, American History, Natural History and the National

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Union Station was a popular lunch and shopping destination while on the Youth Tour. Aubrey and Garrett are pictured in the Colonnade.

Randy Smith General Manager

“Dixie Electric believes in the youth tour program because it is an investment in the future leaders of our local community.”

Aubrey and Garrett Gallery of Art. stop for a photo in front Another popular event of the of the Marine Corps tour was a Major League Baseball War Memorial. game at Nationals Park. The students watched as the Washington Nationals took on the San Francisco Giants. After a drive down Massachusetts Avenue, unofficially known as Embassy “I look forward to Row, the students were taken on a incorporating the guided tour of the Washington leadership skills that National Cathedral, the second largest cathedral in the U.S. I learned on this trip In addition to sightseeing, the stuin everyday life.” Garrett and Aubrey enjoyed a stop at the dents also spent a day on Capitol Hill, Air Force Memorial near the Pentagon. - Aubrey Gaudet which began with a special tour of the U.S. House Floor graciously hosted by Rep. Gregg Harper. While in the where Capitol building, the students enjoyed a the power of our panoramic view of Washington, D.C., from nation resides is the speaker’s balcony. Many of the students inspiring, not only to me were able to meet House Speaker Paul Ryan, as a future leader, but to and Rep. Kevin McCarthy (CA). McCarthy every American,” said spoke to the group after a news interview in the Aubrey. “I will forever Capitol Rotunda. After the tour, Garrett and cherish the memories I Aubrey joined a smaller group to visit with made here in Rep. Steven Palazzo in his D.C. office. The Washington, D.C., and I congressman spoke to the group about what it look forward to incorpotakes to be a leader and the importance of setrating the leadership ting goals and striving to achieve them. During skills that I learned on the visit to Capitol Hill, students also had the this trip in everyday life.” opportunity to meet with Sen. Roger Wicker Dixie Electric conand Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith. gratulates these students “Youth Tour truly embodied an opportunity on their accomplishments. The National Cathedral was one of the sites of a lifetime, and I feel honored to have been Aubrey and Garrett were able to visit while on selected to experience it. Seeing the location of the Youth Tour.

Energy Fairs

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offers tips on inexpensive ways to save energy

Learning a little can save a lot. Annually Dixie Electric hosts Energy Fairs to share ideas on how to save energy and lower one’s power bill. For example, changing five 60-watt incandescent light bulbs to LEDs can save $30 per year in electric energy costs, according to the ENERGY STAR light bulb calculator. Lighting is just one of the booths offered at the Energy Fairs. Other tables at the Energy Fairs included information on water heater blankets, caulk, weather stripping, coil cleaner and energy use by small appliance. Members of Dixie Electric also learned about SmartHub. SmartHub is an app or online tool at dixieepa.com; it offers free online bill pay for members to pay their electric bills, easy power outage reporting from any smart phone, and provides information on a home’s daily energy use. Members also learned about the new Co-op Connections

program that will offer local and national discounts as well as discounts on prescription medications. The fairs were held at Lowe’s in Laurel and Petal and at Gatlins Building Supply in Waynesboro. More than 200 people attended the fairs and received information on easy-todo projects around the home and the online energy savings calculators, which are available at dixieepa.com. Dixie Electric’s employees also presented the Energy Fair information to participants of the Foster Grandparent program in Jones County. Comfort Advantage is Dixie Electric’s new home construction program that offers incentives for energy efficiency building. Comfort Advantage removes the guess work when deciding on insulation, lighting and appliances for a new home. The program was highlighted at the Energy Fair for those individuals who are building a new home.

Safety Manager Joe Donald explains the importance of insulating a home to a member.

For more information on Comfort Advantage or other energy efficiency programs and information, visit dixieepa.com or give Dixie Electric a call at (601) 425-2535.

Above: Staking Technician Timmy Ewing explains how small appliances use electricity and how to clean air conditioner coils to participants of the Foster Grandparent program. Top: LED Lucy helps promotes the benefits of LED light bulbs. Lucy makes appearances at all of the Energy Fairs.

Frequently Asked Questions

August 2018 I Today in Mississippi

from the Energy Fairs Are LED lights really worth the money? Yes! LEDs last longer, use less energy and release less heat than both incandescent and compact fluorescent light (CFL) bulbs.

In a hot south Mississippi summer, what temperature should I set my thermostat on?

Apprentice Lineman Payne Hanberry explains the benefits of LED bulbs.

During the hot summer months, the Department of Energy recommends that your thermostat be set on 78 degrees, especially when you are not at home. If you need to cool your home after being gone, only move your thermostat down a degree or two to allow your unit to work properly. Cooling your home slowly will help save on your energy use.

What is an easy energy tip where I see the biggest bang for my buck? Installing a timer on your hot water heater is an easy way to save money. A timer allows you to only heat water for the few hours a day when you need it.

How often should I change my air filter? You should change your filter in your heating/cooling system once a month. An easy way to remember to do this is to change your filter on the day that your monthly power bill arrives.

How do I know if my home is using the amount of energy that it should? Take advantage of Dixie Electricâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Home Energy Calculators located on dixieepa.com. The calculators are free and provide numerous ways to save energy in your home.

Today in Mississippi

August 2018

East Mississippi Electric Power Association Louisville 662.773.5741

Meridian 601.581.8600

Quitman 601.776.6271

DeKalb 601.743.2641

Teamwork when it counts A MESSAGE FROM YOUR CEO

The recent news coverage of 12 boys and their soccer coach being trapped in a cave filling with rain water captivated many over the last couple of weeks. What the Thai government did when they CEO Randy Carroll discovered the boys were missing provides lessons for all of us when disaster strikes. I, too, followed the news stories and could not help but compare some of their processes to ours when disaster strikes East Mississippi Electric Power Association’s system. One of the first things the Thai government did was throw all the trained resources at their disposal toward the situation in a controlled and planned fashion. They deployed all their highly trained forces, which included a navy seal team, helicopters, trucks, water pumps, military personnel and government leaders. Each worked together as a team to do what they were trained to do. Their goal was straightforward – save the 12 boys and their coach. When disaster strikes EMEPA’s system, we do many of these same things. We deploy our personnel to do each part of the process for which they are trained to do. Some assess the damage, some gather the materials and resources needed to begin the process, some plan the operation and many suit up for the task at hand. Our goal is to get the power back on to our members as safely and quickly as possible. The second component, and probably most critical, was admitting that they needed help. The Thais asked for help from Australia, Britain, China, Laos, Myanmar and the United States. While the Thai seals were primarily the ones that did most of the diving and rescues from the cave, they relied on support from others to ensure their mission was successful. One American company provided the large-scale water pumps and technology needed to lower the water level as much as

possible before and during the rescue attempt. This crucial point is one that we have also learned over the years. You must be willing to admit when you need help, for small outages or large. When major storms hit, we ask our neighboring systems to lend a hand. They, in turn, do the same. We recently sent help to a neighboring system in Alabama following a high wind event. I know without a doubt that our neighbors would do the same for us. Helping each other is one of the things that make teamwork so special. The most impressive thing about the rescue is the recognition of the difference between a team and teamwork. A team of soccer players was trapped in the cave. A team of divers was called to explore the cave. A team of planners was utilized to devise a plan of rescue.

A team of doctors focused on the health concerns. All these teams used their individual resources and training to focus on getting these boys and their coach out of the cave. Teamwork involves collaborating with others, putting aside turf and individual goals and working to support the tasks at hand. This focus of personnel and resources will overcome tremendous barriers and create opportunities that build momentum to accomplish better problem solving, productivity improvements and more efficient use of all resources. Will we face challenges in the future? Surely, but with a well trained, dedicated team committed to teamwork, I am confident we will continue to be successful in reaching our goal of delivering energy to empower lives.

East Mississippi Electric Power Association WILL BE CLOSED Monday, September 3 in observance of

LABOR DAY

$500 electricity credit August 2018 I Today in Mississippi

Be on the lookout for your chance to win a East Mississippi Electric Power Associationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s 80th Annual Meeting notice and proxy cards will be mailed to members the week of August 6. If you are unable to attend the meeting on Saturday, Oct. 6, you may appoint the Board of Directors or any other member of the association as

your proxy. Simply sign and date the proxy card and return it to EMEPA. The postage is paid. You will then be eligible to win a $500 electricity credit. Members attending the meeting will be eligible to win additional credits up to $500 by registering at the meeting.

East Mississippi Electric

80th Annual Meeting

ATTALA COUNTY

Louisville WINSTON COUNTY

NOXUBEE COUNTY

Saturday, Oct. 6, 2018

De Kalb

16 NESHOBA COUNTY

Mark your calendar for Saturday, Oct. 6, and make plans to attend our 80th Annual Meeting. If you have any questions about the Annual Meeting or just want to know more, please contact EMEPA at 601.581.8624 or visit our website at www.emepa.com.

KEMPER COUNTY

LAUDERDALE COUNTY Meridian

I-20 NEWTON COUNTY

JASPER COUNTY

I-59 CLARKE COUNTY Quitman

WAYNE COUNTY

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Visit to nation’s capital inspires

Youth Tour students #

Shon, Maya, Michaiah, Sierah and Lydia stopped at the Marine Corps War Memorial to see the massive bronze statue that recaptures the iconic moment when Marine soldiers raised the American flag on the island of Iwo Jima during World War II.

Each year, East Mississippi Electric Power Association (EMEPA) sponsors high school juniors in its service territory on a tour of the nation’s capital. The Electric Cooperative Youth Tour has brought high school students to Washington, D.C., every June since the late 1950s, and more than 50,000 students from across America have experienced this unique opportunity. The Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi (ECM) has participated in the program for 32 years. The tour gives the students an up close view of the political process on a national level and connects them with like-minded students from across the state and nation. The relationships made on Youth Tour have proven to be beneficial throughout their lives. The Youth Tour is supported locally by EMEPA, organized statewide by ECM and nationally by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). More than 1,800

“I really learned a lot about how our country was formed and it made me appreciate where I live a lot more,” - Shon Willis Jr.

students from 42 states participate annually. This year, Michaiah Bolar, Maya Clay, Lydia Palmer, Sierah Roberts and Shon Willis Jr., represented EMEPA. They joined 70 of Mississippi’s brightest juniors on the tour. They were chosen through an application and interview process. Michaiah is the daughter of Carl and Latricia Bickham of Collinsville and Michael and Veronica Bolar. She will be a senior at West Lauderdale High School. Maya will be a senior at Louisville High School. She is the daughter of Dante Clay-King and Walter King of Louisville. Lydia is the daughter of Jennifer and Stacy Palmer of Louisville and will be a senior at Grace Christian School. Sierah will be a senior at Lamar High School. She is the daughter of Steven and Regina Roberts of Meridian. Shon is the son of Alicia and Shontonia Willis, Sr. He will be a senior at Southeast Lauderdale High School. On the week-long trip, the students visited historical and cultural sites and a variety of monuments and memorials, such as the World War II Memorial, Korean War Memorial, FDR Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Air Force Memorial, Jefferson Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. “Thank you for the experience. I am forever blessed to come through this program. Meeting new people that will forever have an impact on my life had to be my favorite part,” said Maya. “I was blessed with the opportunity to visit our nation’s capitol. This experience makes me proud to be an American.” One of the first stops on the tour was the Marine Corps War Memorial, informally known as the Iwo Jima, followed by visits to other monuments and memorials. The students visited numerous museums, such as the

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Lydia and Maya visited with Rep. Trent Kelly in his Washington, D.C., office.

Sierah, Micaiah and Shon visited with Rep. Gregg Harper at his Washington, D.C., office during Youth Tour.

Randy Carroll Newseum, a seven floor, interactive museum dedicated to the first amendment rights and journalism throughout American history. A new addition to the tour this year, was a visit to the Holocaust Museum. The museum is a somber reflection of those who were lost during the Nazi regime. They also spent a day touring the Smithsonian Museums of Air and Space, American History, Natural History and the National Gallery of Art. Another popular event of the tour was a Major League Baseball game at Nationals Park. The students watched as the Washington Nationals took on the San Francisco Giants. After a drive down Massachusetts Avenue, unofficially known as Embassy Row, the students were taken on a guided tour of the Washington National Cathedral, the second largest cathedral in the U.S. In addition to sightseeing, the students also spent a day on Capitol Hill, which began with a special tour of the U.S. House Floor graciously hosted by Rep. Gregg Harper. While in the Capitol building, the students enjoyed a panoramic view of Washington, D.C., from the speaker’s balcony. Many of the students were able to meet House Speaker Paul Ryan, and Rep. Kevin McCarthy (CA). McCarthy spoke to the group after a news interview in the Capitol Rotunda. After the tour, Maya and Lydia joined a smaller group to visit with Rep. Trent Kelly in his D.C. office, while Michaiah, Sierah and Shon visited with Rep. Gregg Harper in his office. The congressmen spoke to

General Manager

“It is out great pleasure to participate in a program that provides such an exceptional learning environment and experience for these outstanding youth.”

Sierah, Maya, Lydia, Michaiah and Shon visit the Air Force Memorial near the Pentagon.

the groups about what it takes to be a leader and the importance of setting goals and striving to achieve them. During the visit to Capitol Hill, students also had the opportunity to meet with Sen. Roger Wicker and Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith. “I formed so many bonds and met so many amazing leaders that I wouldn’t have met without this program,” said Michaiah. “The staff is absolutely amazing and the experience is one you will never forget. I am forever thankful for my new best friends, advisors, EMEPA, and this Youth Tour.” EMEPA congratulates these students on their accomplishments.

The students stopped to get their photo in front of the National Cathedral.

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of the

THINK SAFETY!

We’re back in school Students will be out and about. Please watch out for school buses and children at crosswalks. And observe school zones when school is in session.

Tip

August 2018

Today in Mississippi

Co-op Connections Business Spotlight EMEPA has been delivering value to our communities for more than 79 years and now we are proud to offer another member benefit – the Co-op Connections Card. Through this free program, you will receive discounts on products and services from participating local and national businesses. The card is a simple membership card that in identifying you as a member, also qualifies you for special discounts and offers at local participating businesses. There are no sign-up or participation fees and we do not

Each month, EMEPA spotlights local businesses that participate in the Co-op Connections Program. This month’s featured businesses are:

Busy Bee Nursery & Gift Shoppe 14534 Hwy 45, Macon 662-726-2222 www.busybeenurseryandgifts.com or visit them on Facebook track your participation or purchases. There is no charge to you for this program. This is just one more way you benefit from being a cooperative member. To receive discounts, simply show your Co-op Connections card to any participating business.

5% OFF purchase

Hampton’s Landscaping & Janitorial, LLC 513 S. Johnson Ave, Louisville. 601-446-2212 www.hamtonslandscapingandjanitoial.com or visit them on Facebook

15% OFF total bill.

Downed power lines:

Craft Sale

to Benefit the Chunky Volunteer Fire Department

Saturday, Aug. 11, 2018 8 am - 5 pm Chunky Ball Diamond

Crafts of all types and seasons are welcome. Booths are $50 each (limit of 100 booths for event). For booth reservation information, please visit Chunky Volunteer Fire Department on Facebook. Deadline for registration is August 6.

Today in Mississippi

August 2018

Board of Directors

www.4county.org • 1-800-431-1544

John E. “Jay” Gilliland Jr., President Johnny Johnson, Vice President Mike Banks, Secretary/Treasurer Bill Bell Kenneth Seitz Ernest H. “Bud” Tumlinson Marty Crowder

YOUR COOPERATIVE

By Joe Cade CEO/General Manager

Finding the Value of Electricity Nowadays, cell phones and personal digital devices are a part of our culture. Everyone, it seems, is connected on the go— whether they’re just making phone calls, text messaging, or checking e-mail. Such communication freedom is a luxury we pay for, generally without grumbling. So why is it that when it comes to electricity—a necessity in our modern world— many of us complain when the electric bill comes every month? We expect electricity to be there at the flip of the switch, and when it’s not, we get angry or frustrated. Hey, we’re no different—we expect the lights to come on every time, too. And as 4-County Electric Power Association employees, we have a special responsibility to make sure your electric service is safe, reliable, and affordable. But we also believe that when compared to other commodities, electricity remains a great value. For example, over the past 10 years, gasoline has shot up 12.66 percent on average annually, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. A loaf of white bread rose 3.73 percent annually, and a dozen eggs jumped 7.39 percent per year. In comparison, electricity has increased just 3.7 percent a year nationally for the past decade. When you consider how reliable electricity is, the value goes up even more. 4-County members experience an average of

1.6 outages lasting just a little over an hour each year―something we’re proud of, considering electricity is a 24-hour-a-day commodity. Of course, we’re working hard to reduce even those brief interruptions, increase our service reliability, and control costs through innovative technology. Those cell phones I mentioned earlier? Nearly a third of all U.S. households have four electronic devices, such as cell phones, plugged in and charging, according to the Residential Energy Consumption Survey by the U.S. Energy Information Administration. In the past 30 years, the amount of residential electricity used by appliances and electronics has increased from 17 percent to 31 percent. More homes than ever use major appliances and central air conditioning. Digital video recorders (DVRs), computers, and multiple televisions have become ubiquitous. Clearly, our appetite for electricity shows no signs of slowing down. So the next time you flip a switch, use your toaster, or run your washing machine, remember the value electricity holds. And know that we at 4-County are looking out for you by working together to keep electric bills affordable, controlling costs through innovation, and putting you, our members, first.

Here’s an Idea

Are you grounded? GFCI outlets can help! Did you know there are different types of electrical outlets? Each are designed for different purposes; however, there is one specific type that stands high above the rest—the ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) outlet. GFCIs have saved thousands of lives and cut the number of electrocutions in half since the 1970s. If your home lacks GFCI outlets, don’t fret—you can learn how to “get grounded.” GFCIs are the most efficient outlet in protecting from electrical shock. If it senses a loss of current, the outlet switches off power to that circuit. These devices can either be installed in your electrical system or built into a power cord. The third hole at the bottom of the outlet is known as the “ground” slot, and it monitors electrical currents that flow through the left “neutral” slot and the right “hot” slot on each outlet. A GFCI can react faster than a blink of an eye to any imbalance of power by immediately shutting off the electrical current. These outlets are now a requirement in all places where water could potentially come into contact with electrical products such as bathrooms, garages, outdoors and kitchens. GFCIs are not exclusive to three-prong outlets. They can be installed into standard outlets, and there are even portable devices available when installation is not practical. GFCIs should be tested at least once a month to ensure they are working effectively. The first step you need to take is to test an item, such as a lamp, that visibly powers on when plugged in. Push the “reset” button to prepare the outlet then push the “test” button. Did your lamp turn off? If it did, the GFCI is working properly. Now, hit the “reset” button once again to power it back on. If your lamp did not power off, then you should contact a certified electrician to correct the problem. Next time you have a free moment, take the time to look around your house. If you’re not “grounded,” consider updating your electrical outlets to GFCIs. Sources: Electrical Safety Foundation International, Consumer Product Safety Commission

Co-op Connections Card saves Since the Co-op Connections Card was unveiled in September 2011, 4-County members have saved over $677,208 on prescription drugs through June.

Look here each month to see the savings total!

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4-County boosts reliability in Clay County 4-County Electric Power Association is enhancing an already sound power infrastructure in Clay County with recent construction efforts towards the completion of three new substations in a five-year span. The cooperative has invested over $9 million in making Clay County the recipient of more efficient and reliable power. The Waverley Substation (energized in July 2014, and serving the Hwy. 50 E. area from West Point to the TennTom River and including Church Hill Road, Barton Ferry Road, County Line Road and Old Waverley Road), the Lone Oak Substation (energized in June 2016, and serving the areas west and north of West Point plus Hwy. 45 Alt. south of West Point), and the Montpelier Substation (set to be energized in September will serve Sparta in Chickasaw County and western Clay County along Highways 46, 389 and 50), are making things a little bigger, better and brighter for residential and commercial members in Clay County. 4-County Manager of Engineering Lynn Timbrook said the projects were planned in 2010. “They were part of a 20-year long-range plan which included retiring three substations (and replacing them with service from the new substations) that were very old, Pheba, Ivy Village and West Point. The emphasis was primarily focused on improving reliability in Clay County,” Timbrook said. Reliability and service are priorities for the cooperative, according to Chief Executive Officer Joe Cade. “For an electric power provider, reliability is job one. But reliability can also be expensive. Replacing miles of old wire and poles, and building substations is not cheap. But we have made a lot of changes to 4-County to help save money in other areas,” Cade said. “By using technology, such as online services and payment options, streamlining our internal processes and cutting down on overhead, we are spending less but getting more bang for our buck. And we continue to offer innovative services to members. In fact, coming up soon our members will be able report an outage by text, and get updates on

restoration progress the same way. We are proud of being one of the leading electric cooperatives in Mississippi and the Tennessee Valley,” he added. The cooperative is also inviting all

The kiosks accept personal check, credit/debit card and cash payments. Kiosks are located throughout 4-County’s service area. • Payment by phone – Pay your bill

members to explore 4-County’s most comprehensive service plan. The 4U plan offers members the latest in convenience, service and quality.” The main component of this member service focus is convenience. Why spend your valuable time and money for gas by driving to a 4-County office, officials say, when members can make payments and inquiries using a variety of much more convenient options. Member convenience options include: • Apply online for membership and electric service – You can get your electric account established from the comfort of your own home. Go to www.4county.org, click on the residential tab, then the “apply for service” tab and follow the cues. • Online bill payment – Pay and manage your account online. • Bank draft – Probably the most popular of all the payment options (15,000 members participate). Your bank takes care of the transaction each month. Download the form from the website, print it and mail it in, or sign up online. • Credit card draft – Works like bank draft. Credit and/or debit cards will be drafted each month for amount due. Sign up online. • Kiosks – Eighteen payment kiosks are located in convenient locations throughout the 4-County service area.

by phone using 4-County’s automated phone system. Call 1-800-431-1544 to make a payment. • Payment by mail – Pay the traditional way through the mail.

• Prepay – One of our newest options. Pay what you want, when you want. No security deposit, late fees or disconnect fees. Call 1-800-431-1544 to get started. • Levelized Billing – Uses a rolling average of your last 12 months of bills to keep your monthly bill at a near-level amount – allowing you to budget better and avoid drastic changes during extreme hot or cold months. • Choose a due date – For fixedincome members. Due dates can be set to coincide with member income fluctuations. Members are required to fill out some paperwork. • Invoice billing – Good for members who have multiple accounts. One invoice can cover it all. “4-County continues to work to bring safe, affordable and reliable power to our members,” Cade said. “Our number one goal is to find ways to bring excellent service to our members while finding ways to save them money. I’m proud of the job we are doing.” For more information on any of these convenient options, call 1-800-431-1544.

Pole inspections to begin this month A 4-County Electric Power Association contract crew will begin working in the co-op’s northwest Lowndes County service area in mid-August. The work involves inspecting and treating wooden poles in the area, primarily around Motley Road, Old West Point Road and the West Bank access area. The work (about 1,370 poles) will take about four weeks. Crews will then move to areas in Webster and Oktibbeha counties (about 8,500 poles), primarily in and around Maben and Mathiston. That work will take approximately five to six months. Then, the Osmose team will move to the New Hope area (3,300 poles). That work will take about two to three months. The inspection and work require digging around poles, which means Osmose employees will sometimes

be working in 4-County members’ yards and/or properties. The workers will be wearing clothing clearly identifying them as Osmose workers, and their trucks will also have 4-County contractor signs. For more information, call 4-County at 1-800-431-1544.

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Visit to nation’s capital inspires

Youth Tour students # Lake Little, Haley Fye and Clay Walters enjoy a busy tour of memorials, monuments and museums surrounding the National Mall in Washington, D.C. Below, they visit the Marine Corps War Memorial.

Each year, 4-County sponsors high school juniors on a tour of our nation’s capital. The Electric Cooperative Youth Tour has brought high school students to Washington, D.C. every June since the late 1950s, and more than 50,000 students from across America have experienced this unique opportunity. The Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi (ECM) has participated in the program for 32 years. The tour gives the students an up-close view of the political process on a national level and connects them with like-minded students from across the state and nation. The relationships made on Youth Tour have proven to be beneficial throughout their lives. The Youth Tour is supported locally by 4-County, organized statewide by ECM and

“My time in D.C. was absolutely unforgettable.”

- Haley Fye

nationally by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). More than 1,800 students from 42 states participate annually. This year, Haley Fye, Lake Little and Clay Walters represented 4-County. Haley, the daughter of Don and Leslie Fye of Starkville, will be a senior at Starkville High School. Lake, the daughter of David and Pattie Little of Starkville, will be a senior at Starkville Academy, and Clay, the son of Mark and Denise Walters of Columbus, will be a senior at Heritage Academy. Haley, Lake and Clay joined 72 of Mississippi’s brightest juniors on the Youth Tour. They were chosen through an application and interview process. “I believe some of these kids are ones I will see on TV one day ... I may be one of them,” Lake said. On the week-long trip, the students visited historical and cultural sites and a variety of monuments and memorials, such as the World War II Memorial, Korean War Memorial, FDR Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Air Force Memorial, Jefferson Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. “My time in D.C. was absolutely unforgettable. The sights from all the memorials to the cathedral were beautiful. I am so thankful for this opportunity, the friendships I made and the memories made,” “I believe Haley said. One of the first stops on the these kids a tour was the Marine Corps War see on TV o Memorial, informally known as may be one the Iwo Jima, followed by visits to other monuments and memorials. The students visited numerous museums, such as the Newseum, a

seven floor, inter“Meeting Speaker active museum dedicated to the first Paul Ryan was so amendment rights amazing.” and journalism throughout American - Clay Walters history. A new addition to the tour this year, was a visit to the Holocaust Museum. The museum is a somber reflection of those who were lost during the Nazi regime. They also spent a day touring the Smithsonian Museums of Air and Space, American History, Natural History and the National Gallery of Art. Another popular event of the tour was a Major League Baseball game at Nationals Park. The students watched as the Washington Nationals took on the San Francisco Giants. After a drive down Massachusetts Avenue, unofficially known as Embassy Row, the students were taken on a guided tour of the Washington National Cathedral, the second largest cathedral in the U.S. In addition to sightseeing, the students also spent a day on Capitol Hill, which began with a special tour of the U.S. House Floor graciously hosted by Rep. Gregg Harper. While in the Capitol building, the students enjoyed a panoramic view of Washington, D.C., from the speaker’s e some of balcony. Many of the students are ones I will were able to meet House Speaker Paul Ryan, and Rep. one day ... I Kevin McCarthy (CA). e of them.” McCarthy spoke to the group - Lake Little after a news interview in the Capitol Rotunda. “Meeting Speaker Paul Ryan was so amazing and a memory I will cherish forever,” Clay said.

August 2018

Today in Mississippi

10c

Clay meets his Congressman, Rep. Trent Kelly, left.

Joe Cade President and CEO

Lake, Clay and Haley stop for a photo in front of the White House on Pennsylvania Avenue, above.

Haley, Clay and Lake tour the Washington National Cathedral.

“Everyone associated with 4-County considers it an honor to take part in the Youth Leadership Program. This program continues to provide students each year with a unique experience to learn more about cooperatives and the ins and outs of government. This is a program that hones leadership skills and helps foster interest in civic duties. These young students will be the leaders of tomorrow, and we’re investing in them today.”

A visit with Rep. Gregg Harper is a highlight of Lake and Haley’s day on Capitol Hill.

After the tour, Lake and Haley joined a smaller group to visit with Rep. Harper, while Clay visited with Rep. Trent Kelly. Students also had the opportunity to meet Sen. Roger Wicker and Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith.

10d

Today in Mississippi

August 2018

Farm workers urged to reap safely It can be an exciting and exhausting time, the culmination of a season of hard work. However, the rush to harvest can also yield tragic outcomes. Each year, dozens of farm workers are killed and hundreds are injured in accidents involving power lines and electrical equipment. “Things people see every day can fade from view and in the busy-ness of harvest time, it’s easy for farm workers to forget about the power lines overhead,” says Richard McCracken of the Safe Electricity Advisory Board. “But failure to notice can be a deadly oversight.” Review with all workers the farm activities that take place around power lines. Inspect the height of farm equipment to determine clearance. Keep equipment at least 10 feet away from power lines—above, below and to the side—a 360-degree rule. “Always lower grain augers before moving them, even if it’s only a few feet,” says Bob Aherin, PhD, CSP and University of Illinois Professor and Agricultural Safety and Health Program

Leader. “Also use extreme caution when raising the bed of a grain truck.” Farm workers should take these steps

is being moved anywhere near power lines. • As with any outdoor work, be careful

to ensure a safer harvest season: • Use care when raising augers or the bed of grain trucks around power lines. • Use a spotter when operating large machinery near power lines. Do not let the spotter touch the machinery while it

not to raise any equipment such as ladders, poles or rods into power lines. Remember, non-metallic materials such as lumber, tree limbs, ropes and hay will conduct electricity depending on dampness, dust and dirt contamination. • Never attempt to raise or move a power line to clear a path. • Don’t use metal poles to break up

Watts Happening This listing of area events is compiled from information provided by area chambers of commerce and visitors bureaus. The events listed are subject to change. Please call to confirm dates, times and additional details. SATURDAY, AUG. 4

H2O for Heroes; Firehouse Subs, 327 Hwy. 12 W. in Starkville; details, (662) 324-1701. Farmers Market; Fire Station Park at the end of Russell Street in Starkville; 7:30 to 10 a.m.; continues each Saturday at that time and each Tuesday from 4 to 6 p.m. in August; details, (662) 323-3322. SATURDAY, AUG. 11

Possum Town Quilters; Rosenzweig Arts Center, 501 Main St. in Columbus; 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.; details, (662) 3282787. THURSDAY, AUG. 16

Starkville Business after Hours; 5:30 to 7 p.m.; details, (662) 3233322.

bridged grain inside bins. Know where and how to shut off the power in an emergency. Use qualified electricians for work on drying equipment and other farm electrical systems. Operators of farm equipment or vehicles must also know what to do if the vehicles comes in contact with a power line: stay on the equipment, warn others to stay away and call 911. Do not get off the equipment until the utility crew says it is safe to do so. “If the power line is energized and you step outside, touching the vehicle and ground, your body becomes the path and electrocution is the result,” Aherin said. “Even if a power line has landed on the ground, the potential for the area nearby to be energized still exists. Stay inside the vehicle unless there’s fire or imminent risk of fire.” If this is the case, jump off the equipment with your feet together, without touching the ground and vehicle at the same time. Then, still keeping your feet together, hop to safety as you leave the area. For more information on farm electrical safety, visit SafeElectricity.org.

4-County/TVA give PACCAR big check

Summer Concert Series Downtown at Sundown; downtown Starkville; 7 to 9 p.m.; details, (662) 324-3080. SATURDAY, AUG. 18

Denim & Diamonds: Annual Fundraiser for the Heritage Museum; Starkville Country Club, 1800 S. Montgomery St.; 6 to 9:50 p.m.; details, (662) 324-3080. MONDAY, AUG. 20

MSU Poster Sale; Colvard Student Union, 198 Lee Blvd. on the campus of Mississippi State University in Starkville; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.; continues through Friday, Aug. 24; details, (662) 323-3322.

4-County Electric Power Association and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) recently presented PACCAR with $87,230 in incentives for energy efficiency measures undertaken by the Columbus-based engine company. PACCAR started a two-phase project in 2018 to replace all interior lighting with LED lights and motion sensors. “Area business and industry are what

keep our communities strong,” said 4-County Marketing and Public Relations Manager Jon Turner. “We proudly support our commercial members with a variety of programs and services.” PACCAR’s Vipul Meghat and Lance Walters accepted the incentive from 4-County CEO Joe Cade, co-op Key Accounts Manager Brent Lochala and TVA’s Brent Kent.

August 2018

Today in Mississippi

4-County hosts 4-H A group of nearly 50 Mississippi 4-H leaders received a lesson in Cooperative 101 this morning at the 4-County Electric Power Association Corporate Center. The cooperative hosted the group, comprised of first place winners in competition at this year’s 4-H Congress, state awareness team members and state 4-H Council officers. Young leaders got a first-hand look at cooperative hospitality as they were treated to breakfast at 4-County’s Corporate Center. The group also viewed a hot line safety demonstration provided by 4-County linemen and learned about the cooperative’s history. Jaykanze Bryant of Noxubee County was visibly impressed. “I’ve seen the hot line demonstration before, and it never ceases to amaze me,” she said of the live, educational demonstration. “And breakfast was delicious.” Haileigh Brooks of Lowndes County agreed. “It was a good example of what we should and shouldn’t do around electricity. It provided a good explanation of how the light restoration process happens,” Brooks added.

Dr. Laura Greenhaw with Mississippi State University (MSU), an assistant professor and also working with the MSU Extension Service, said the 4-H Cooperative Leadership Conference allows the “best of the best” of our youth to experience the real business of cooperatives. “This program is a combination of learning about co-ops and leadership development. We hope the students gain an understanding and appreciation for the co-op business model and the way it serves people,” Greenhaw explained. “We try to stress the importance of good leadership. It helps us emphasize that process by visiting co-ops like 4-County.” Officials at 4-County believe the relationship with 4-H is beneficial for both parties. “What a great way to kick off the day,” said 4-County CEO Joe Cade. “This is an exemplary group of young people. Clearly, they are tomorrow’s leaders,” he added. During the week, the group elected a board of directors and formed their own cooperative, which they operated during the tour. Thanks for visiting us, 4-H young leaders!

Sign up for Bank Draft today Get paid to make your life easier. 4-County Electric Power Association will give you $25 to pay your bill by Automatic Bank Draft. Bank Draft is easy and saves you from having to mail in your payment or driving to a Service Center each month. So do yourself—and your wallet—a favor and sign up for Bank Draft today. Members who sign up for Automatic Bank Draft will receive a $25

NEW CALL CENTER HOURS

credit to their electric bill. To keep the credit, members must remain on the Automatic Bank Draft program for 12 consecutive months. Members who have previously been on the Bank Draft program within the past 12 months are not eligible to receive the $25 credit. For more information, visit www.4county.org or your local 4-County office and get started.

8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.

MONDAY to FRIDAY 1-800-431-1544

Veteran lineman dedicated to work, family Brian Glusenkamp draws the line at the seventh inning stretch. “I don’t sing ‘Take Me Out to the Ball Game,’” Brian said. The 4-County journeyman lineman does, however, perform the rest of the announcing duties for many of his children’s sporting activities. He has worked in other support roles, too: concession stands, operating the scoreboards, and running the sideline chains at football games. “I guess I’ve done a little bit of it all.” Brian lives in West Point with his wife, Jessica, and children, Julianne, 16, and Jake, 14. Most of his time is spent following Julianne and Jake. Softball and cheer for Julianne. Football, basketball and baseball for Jake. “That takes up most of the spare time we have. But I wouldn’t have it any other way,” he said. The veteran lineman began working at the co-op in December 1998, working on Jody Thompson’s right-of-way crew. “It was fun,” Brian said of the initial training, something linemen at that time were required to do before tackling other duties. “Jody’s a good dude. He loves running a chain saw,” he said with a grin. Brian became a journeyman lineman in 2003 while serving on Anthony Miller’s Corporate Center crew. He also worked on Randy Tennyson’s crew. Brian advanced to lead lineman and now serves as heavy construction foreman. His crew consists of Chance Ingram, Derrick Brumfield, Wesley Champion, Dedrick Stevenson, Corey Kilgore and Brandon Smith. Jessica is a third-grade teacher and cheer coordinator. When not at work or at the ball fields, the family does manage to squeeze in a few other activities. Brian is a member of Tru-Love Hunting & Fishing Club, based in Clay County. The Glusenkamps also enjoy riding their quarter horse, G2. “She’s a red roan. We need to rodeo her again, but we don’t have the time right now,” he explained. The family

spent about four years participating in area rodeo circuits, competing in roping and barrel racing events. Brian also maintains a few yards on the side. And the family manages to take a few days for the beach or a visit to Smith Lake in Alabama. Brian’s road to 4-County was a short one. “I knew 4-County was a good place to work,” he said. A conversation between his grandfather and a now retired Dale Parra led to the hire. Brian had previously worked for Mercier Electric and APAC. “I just love working here and serving the members. It was what I was born to do,” Brian said of his 4-County career. “It’s a challenge that I embrace. And, now, I also enjoy teaching the younger linemen.” He also enjoys 4-County’s commitment to quality service. “If we really need some equipment, we get it.” Through the years, he has participated in a number of challenging situations. Storm work is the first thing that comes to mind, Brian said. “Katrina was bad,” he said shaking his head. After 4-County crews repaired 4-County lines, they traveled to the Mississippi Gulf Coast to lend a hand. “We stayed in a tent with 300 to 400 other people. Sometimes, we’d get to a work site and there’d only be slabs left. But it was good to help folks. People were in trouble and really glad to see us.” Most 4-County members appreciate their efforts, too. “When we’re out in the middle of the night, there are always people who give us encouraging comments. It isn’t always just during big storms. It’s anything that takes out their lights. They’re glad to see us,” Brian said. And he’s glad to see his co-workers each week. “I love the family atmosphere,” Brian stressed. “All the guys get along and we have a good time doing what we do.”

Today in Mississippi

August 2018

Visit to nation’s capital inspires

Youth Tour students #

The National Cathedral was one of the sites Cruz and Molly were able to visit while on the Youth Tour.

Each year, Magnolia Electric Power sponsors high school juniors on a tour of the nation’s capital. The Electric Cooperative Youth Tour has brought high school students to Washington, D.C., every June since the late 1950s, and more than 50,000 students from across America have experienced this unique opportunity. The Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi (ECM) has participated in the program for 32 years. The tour gives the students an up close view of the political process on a national level and connects them with like-minded students from across the state and nation. The relationships made on Youth Tour have proven to be beneficial throughout their lives. The Youth Tour is supported locally by Magnolia Electric Power, organized statewide by ECM and nationally by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA).

“This experience has helped define me as a person and I couldn’t be more thankful.” - Molly Lawson

More than 1,800 students from 42 states participate annually. This year, Molly Lawson and Cruz Maxwell represented Magnolia Electric Power in Washington, D.C. They joined 73 of Mississippi’s brightest juniors on the tour. They were chosen through an application and interview process. Molly is the daughter of Melissa and Benjamin Hebert of McComb and will be a senior at South Pike High School. Cruz will be a senior at West Lincoln Attendance Center and is the son of JoAnna and Bo Coward of Brookhaven. On the week-long trip, the students visited historical and cultural sites and a variety of monuments and memorials, such as the World War II Memorial, Korean War Memorial, FDR Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Air Force Memorial, Jefferson Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. “This was the most amazing experience of my life! Before this tour, I thought I was a great student in history. Little did I know how much more I could learn,” said Molly. “This tour inspired me to learn more and go out of my comfort zone in order to obtain knowledge. This experience has helped define me as a person and I couldn’t be more thankful.” One of the first stops on the tour was the Marine Corps War Memorial, informally known as the Iwo Jima, followed by visits to other monuments and memorials. The students visited numerous museums, such as the Newseum, a seven floor, interactive museum dedicated to the first amendment rights and journalism throughout American history. A new addition to the tour this year, was a visit to the Holocaust Museum. The museum is a somber reflection of those

August 2018

Today in Mississippi

Molly and Cruz visited with Rep. Gregg Harper at his Washington, D.C., office during Youth Tour. The congressman also gave the students a private tour of the Capitol building, including this stunning view from the Speaker’s balcony.

Darrell Smith General Manager

Cruz and Molly stop who were lost during the for a photo in front Nazi regime. They also of the Marine Corps spent a day touring the War Memorial. Smithsonian Museums of Air and Space, American History, Natural History and the National Gallery of Art. Another popular event of the tour “Youth Tour has was a Major League Baseball game at Nationals Park. The students watched been an unparalled as the Washington Nationals took on experience that has the San Francisco Giants. allowed us to travel After a drive down Massachusetts Avenue, unofficially known as and experience our Embassy Row, the students were taken nation’s capital, and on a guided tour of the Washington to explore our National Cathedral, the second largest cathedral in the U.S. nation’s leadership In addition to sightseeing, the stufirst hand.” dents also spent a day on Capitol Hill, - Cruz Maxwell which began with a special tour of the U.S. House Floor graciously hosted by Rep. Gregg Harper. While in the Capitol building, the students enjoyed a panoramic view of Washington, D.C., from the speaker’s Smith. balcony. Many of the students were able to an unparalled meet House Speaker Paul Ryan, and Rep. Kevin experience that has McCarthy (CA). McCarthy spoke to the group allowed us to travel and after a news interview in the Capitol Rotunda. experience our nation’s After the tour, Molly and Cruz joined a smaller capital, and to explore group to visit with Rep. Gregg Harper in his our nation’s leadership D.C. office. The congressman spoke to the first hand,” said Cruz. group about what it takes to be a leader and the Magnolia Electric importance of setting goals and striving to Power congratulates achieve them. During the visit to Capitol Hill, these students on their students also had the opportunity to meet with accomplishments. Sen. Roger Wicker and Sen. Cindy Hyde-

Molly and Cruz visited the World War II Memorial.

It’s an honor to visit with your congressman in Washington, D.C., but it’s really cool when he is on your flight home to Mississippi.

“It is with great pleasure that Magnolia Electric Power gets the opportunity to send deserving students on this educational trip. I meet these students each fall when they compete for the chance to be named our MEP Youth Leadership representative and I can tell you each and every student that competes stands out in the crowd just from their accomplishments alone. Our judges face a hard decision every year, but they always pick students that are very worthy of the recognition and trip. Again, I want to congratulate these winners on a job well done and look forward to seeing where their future takes them.”

10 I Today in Mississippi

August 2018

Providing affordable, reliable electricity to our members since 1936.

MONROE COUNTY ELECTRIC POWER ASSOCIATION

Downed power lines:

still be live, even if you don’t see sparks. Call 911 and your electric cooperative if you see a downed wire. Warn others to keep their distance. • Wood is a poor conductor of electricity, but it is still a conductor, especially when wet. Do not use a wooden ladder near a power line. If a ladder begins to fall into a power line, don’t grab it. Let it fall and call your electric cooperative. • Only pure rubber is an insulator, and most household products aren’t pure rubber. Don’t try to handle electric emergencies at home, even when you’re wearing rubber gloves or shoes.

Monroe County Electric Power Association

WILL BE CLOSED Monday, September 3 in observance of

LABOR DAY

August 2018

Tip of the

We’re back in school Students will be out and about. Please watch out for school buses and children at crosswalks. And observe school zones when school is in session.

THINK SAFETY!

Today in Mississippi

August 2018

Visit to nation’s capital inspires

Youth Tour students

Front row left to right: Emily Merz, Marcy Vanderburg, Camille Howell, Cambell Webb, Faith Cox, Meredith Lee, Kyana Conway. Back row left to right: Bryce Smith, Jeffery Rhea, Max Allen, Rep. Trent Kelly, Kelly Rhea, Landon Wardlaw, Daisha Matthews and Erin Lomenick. These students visited with Rep. Trent Kelly in the Longworth House Office Building in Washington, D.C.

Each year, Northcentral Electric Power Association sponsors area high school juniors on a tour of the nation’s capital. The Electric Cooperative Youth Tour has brought high school students to Washington, D.C., every June since the late 1950s, and more than 50,000 students from across America have experienced this unique opportunity. The Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi (ECM) has participated in the program for 32 years. The tour gives the students an up close view of the political process on a national level and connects them with like-minded students from across the state and nation. The relationships made on Youth Tour have proven to be beneficial throughout their lives. The Youth Tour is supported locally by Northcentral Electric, organized

“A life experience that I will always remember, this tour has brought joy and opened my mind to meeting great new friends and exploring our great nation. A truly profound experience.” - Landon Wardlaw

statewide by ECM and nationally by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). More than 1,800 students from 42 states participate annually. This year, the students selected are as follows: Max Allen, son of Amy and Randy Allen of Olive Branch, will be a senior at Lewisburg High School. Kyana Conway of Olive Branch will be a senior at Olive Branch High School and is the daughter of LaKeisha and Kendrick Conway. Faith Cox will be a senior at Lewisburg High School. She is the daughter of Lisa and J.D. Cox of Olive Branch. Camille Howell, daughter of Anna Howell of Olive Branch, will be a senior at Lewisburg High School. Meredith Lee will be a senior at Northpoint Christian School and is the daughter of Melissa and Jeffrey Lee of Southaven. Erin Lomenick, daughter of Penny and Bob Lomenick of Potts Camp, will be a senior at Marshall Academy. Daisha Matthews will be a senior at Byhalia High School. She is the daughter of Deborah Matthews and Robert Matthews of Byhalia. Emily Merz, daughter of Catherine and Christopher Merz of Olive Branch, will be a senior at Center Hill High School. Jeffery and Kelli Rhea will be a seniors at Marshall Academy and are the son and daughter of Kim and Jeff Rhea of Holly Springs. Bryce Smith will be a senior at Olive Branch High School. He is the son of Kim and Robert Smith of Olive Branch. Marcy Vanderburg will be a senior at Lewisburg High School and is the daughter of Misty and Clay Vanderburg of Olive Branch. Landon Wardlaw, son of Tina Wardlaw and Chad Wardlaw of Olive Branch, will be a senior at Olive Branch High School. Cambell Webb will be a senior at Desoto Central High School and is the daughter of Celia and Greg Webb of Nesbit. On the week-long trip, the students visited historical and cultural sites and a variety of monuments and memorials, such as the World War II Memorial, Korean War Memorial, FDR Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Air Force Memorial, Jefferson Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. “This was a wonderful experience and I am beyond blessed to have been given an opportunity to be a part of this amazing program,” said Kyana. “Programs like these urge students to do more within and outside of the community.” One of the first stops on the

August 2018

Today in Mississippi

Kevin Doddridge General Manager

The Air Force Memorial tour was the near the Pentagon is a Marine Corps War popular stop on Memorial, informally Youth Tour. known as the Iwo Jima, followed by visits to other monuments and memorials. The students visited numerous museums, such as the Newseum, a seven floor, interactive museum dedicated to the first amendment rights and journalism throughout American history. A new addition to the tour this year, was a visit to the Holocaust Museum. The museum is a somber reflection of those who were lost during the Nazi regime. They also spent a day touring the Smithsonian Museums of Air and Space, American History, Natural History and the National Gallery of Art. Another popular event of the tour was a Major League Baseball game at Nationals Park. The students watched as the Washington Nationals took on the San Francisco Giants. After a drive down Massachusetts Avenue, unofficially known as Embassy Row, the students were taken on a guided tour of the Washington National Cathedral, the second largest cathedral in the U.S. In addition to sightseeing, the students also spent a day on Capitol Hill, which began with a special tour of the U.S. House Floor graciously hosted by Rep. Gregg Harper. While in the Capitol building, the students enjoyed a panoramic view of Washington, D.C., from the speaker’s balcony. Many of the students were able to meet House Speaker Paul Ryan, and Rep. Kevin McCarthy (CA). McCarthy spoke to the group after a news interview in the Capitol Rotunda. After the tour, the Northcentral Electric representatives joined a smaller group to visit with Rep. Trent Kelly in the Longworth House Office Building. The congressman spoke to the group about what it takes to be a leader and the importance of setting goals and

“The participants that we select for this program are already leaders or show leadership potential. They spend valuable time with other leaders from across the state and nation to build on their leadership skills. These students also learn the importance and significance of our cooperative principles. Many will go on to become co-op leaders, but all of them will have this experience and connection for a lifetime.”

The students stopped to get their photo in front of the Marine Corps War Memorial.

striving to achieve them. During the visit to Capitol Hill, students also had the opportunity to meet with Sen. Roger Wicker and Sen. Cindy HydeSmith. “Youth Tour 2018 truly helped me develop as a person,” said Erin. “It gave me the opportunity to meet people from all across the U.S. and create lifelong memories and friendships,” Northcentral Electric congratulates these students on their accomplishments.

# #

# The National Cathedral was one of the many stops on the Youth Tour of Washington, D.C.

Today in Mississippi

August 2018

PRVEPA Contact Information: Columbia: 601-736-2666 Hattiesburg: 601-264-2458

Purvis: 601-794-8051 Wiggins: 601-928-7277

To pay bills or report outages:

855-2PRVEPA (855-277-8372) Visit us on line at www.PRVEPA.com Member owned. Locally operated. That’s the cooperative difference.

Members to again receive annual refunds Pearl River Valley Electric Power Association members will once again be receiving annual patronage capital refunds in August. Patronage capital, or capital credits, represents members’ investment in their not-for-profit electric cooperative. Each year, rates are set so that the Association has enough funding to operate throughout the year, and any year-end revenue above the cost of providing electric service is assigned to members as margins based on their share of electricity usage. A portion of those margins is then refunded to members each August. This year, Pearl River Valley Electric’s board of directors has authorized $2.2 million be returned to members. In addition, our wholesale power provider Cooperative Energy, which is a cooperative owned by PRVEPA and 10 other electric power associations, also returns capital credits. Those credits, totaling

PAY

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OF Pearl OF $460,614, will be returned to r Riv i er Valll ey Ele l cctrir c Pow er Ass applicable PRVEPA mems oci c attion bers, increasing the total amount returned for 2017 to $2,660,614. rural “This is one of the many benefits of being a mem- electric cooperative in the ber-owner of a not-for-profit electric provider,” said nation, and we’re very proud of it.” Randy Wallace, general manager. “Our members Members receive a share of the patronage refunds share in the cost of doing business as well as any based on their annual electric use. Each qualifying returns. While investor-owned utilities return a poractive member will receive their refund as credit tion of any profits back to their investors, electric applied to their power bill mailed in August. For inaccooperatives assign margins to member-consumers as tive members who qualify, checks will be mailed in capital credits and pay them when the co-op’s finanSeptember. cial condition permits. In addition to annual patronage refunds for mem“Pearl River Valley Electric remains very sound bers, Pearl River Valley Electric also offers discounted financially,” Wallace continued. “This is now the 55th capital credit refunds to the estates of deceased memyear since 1963 that we have returned a portion of our bers and to former members. A total of more than margins back to members, totaling more than $48 $13 million has been distributed overall through these million overall. That’s one of the best records of any programs, including more than $741,000 in 2017.

Considering installing Solar Panels at your home or business? Call us first! Solar energy systems are becoming more popular in our region, but there are numerous safety issues and regulatory compliance requirements to understand before installing a solar generation system, regardless of its size. Private solar generation systems attached to Pearl River Valley Electric’s distribution lines are considered to be the equivalent of any other standard generation facility. Therefore, prior to installing solar generation at your home or business, PRVEPA members must contact the Association concerning installation, operation and safety requirements.

Call us. We can help answer any questions you might have.

General

Manage

Pearl River Valley Electric’s outage reporting system will automatically recognize your account if your phone number is correct. Reporting a power outage can be easy!

Update your phone number.

Update your phone number today by going to www.prvepa.com, then clicking on “Manage My Account.” You can also call us at 855-2PRVEPA, or write it on your next payment stub.

August 2018 Today in Mississippi

Youth Tour students experience Washington, D.C.

Above: Thomas and Katie visit the National Cathedral. Right: At the Marine Corps War Memorial, they see the massive bronze statue depicting the iconic moment when Marines raised the American flag on the island of Iwo Jima during World War II.

The students stopped for a photo in front of the United States Air Force Memorial near the Pentagon.

Thomas and Katie visit Rep. Steven Palazzo in his Washington, D.C., office.

Each year, Pearl River Valley Electric Power Association sponsors two high school juniors on a youth tour of Washington, D.C., in June. They join other students representing hundreds of cooperatives from Mississippi and across the United States. The delegates are all like-minded students who are motivated to succeed and become leaders in their communities. More than 1,800 students from 42 states participate annually. This year, Thomas Hahn and Katie Norris represented Pearl River Valley Electric. They joined 73 of Mississippi’s brightest juniors on the tour and were chosen through an application and interview process. Thomas is the son of Angela and Lawrence Hahn of Columbia and will be a senior at Columbia High School. Katie will be a senior at West Marion High School and is the daughter of Patricia and Kevin Norris of Foxworth. The weeklong trip featured visits to many of the city’s popular monuments and memorials, including the World War II Memorial, FDR Memorial, Martin Luther King Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Jefferson Memorial and Vietnam Veterans Memorial. The students also visited numerous museums, including the Newseum, a seven floor, interactive museum dedicated to the first amendment rights and journalism throughout American history, as well as the Smithsonian Museums of Air and Space, American History, Natural History and the National Gallery of Art. A new addition to

the tour this year was a visit to the Holocaust Museum, which offers a somber, thought-provoking reflection about the victims of the Nazi regime. “This is a life-changing experience that I will never forget! I have made so many new friends,” said Katie. “I never thought that I would ever get to experience a tour as great as this one. There is so much to see in Washington, D.C.” In addition to sightseeing, the students also spent a day on Capitol Hill, which began with a special tour of the U.S. House Floor graciously hosted by Rep. Gregg Harper. While in the Capitol building, many of the students were able to meet House Speaker Paul Ryan and Rep. Kevin McCarthy (CA), another top House leader. McCarthy spoke to the group after a news interview in the Capitol Rotunda. After the Capitol tour, Thomas and Katie joined a smaller group to visit with Rep. Steven Palazzo in his D.C. office. The congressman spoke to the group about what it takes to be a leader and the importance of setting goals and striving to achieve them. During the visit to Capitol Hill, students also had the opportunity to meet with Sen. Roger Wicker and Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith. “The 2018 Youth Tour was a true American adventure and an amazing way to experience our nation’s capital,” said Thomas. “The tour is a great experience for young leaders, possibly the best experience, provided by electric cooperatives. It’s a great way to see democracy in its true form.” “This experience is memorable, not only because these young people are able to visit their nation’s capital, but they also make life-long friendships that benefit them well into their adult years,” General Manager Randy Wallace said. “We are proud to take part in this program, which not only gives students an opportunity to learn about the cooperative business model and our nation’s history, but also helps to instill leadership in the students and impresses upon them the importance of participating in their government.” High school juniors living in PRVEPA’s service area can apply to participate in next year’s program beginning in October. More information can be found at www.PRVEPA.com.

Today in Mississippi

August 2018

“Pioneers In America’s Rural Electrification”

Williamson happiest helping people By Jennifer Johnson Pontotoc Electric Meterman/Service Clerk Jimmy Williamson has always enjoyed helping people. He said he remembers even as a child doing things for his elderly neighbors. “My parents knew so many people, so they knew when someone was struggling. They would ask me if I wanted to help with yard work or whatever it was.” Williamson’s job at Pontotoc Electric gives him the opportunity to help customers by checking their meter readings, assisting with billing issues, and turning meters on and off. He’s been with the coop for almost four years and says he enjoys the job. “I work probably 20-30 meters a day and average traveling probably 150 miles per day. I get to pull readings in some of the more difficult areas and

“I’ve helped people all my life, and that’s what I like to do.” Jimmy Williamson conditions, so that’s always interesting. I have the opportunity every day to get accurate information to help our customers.” Williamson grew up in Mendenhall, Mississippi, where he was active in numerous sports and clubs at Mendenhall High School. After graduating, Williamson attended Copiah-Lincoln Community College in Wesson to study automotive mechanics. Williamson said he was living at home caring for his mother when “a beautiful blonde” two houses down captured his attention. The two later met at a Sunday school party and after eight weeks of dating, he married her. Twenty-four years later, Williamson and wife Lisa share four children: Kristen, Nolon Ray, Lane, and Maggie. They also have a two-year-old grandson named Grayson. They enjoy spending time together

in the pool, on the lake, or at the coast. During the time they lived in south Mississippi, Williamson took a job with Kinetic Concepts, Inc., at their Jackson location where he started out physically placing burn victims and patients with spinal cord injuries on specialty hospital beds. He was even tasked with training hospital personnel on how to do the same. Williamson later moved into a management role with the company and stayed there eight years. After that, the family relocated to Pontotoc to be closer to Lisa’s parents and for Lisa to take a job with the Pontotoc County Schools. Williamson also found work with the county schools for a time but then took a position with Pontotoc Electric in 2014. He said he is proud to be a part of the electric utility. “It’s such a good work environment. There are good people here, and everyone is so welcoming.” Williamson said he keeps pretty busy. For six years, he volunteered as a chaperone and bus driver for youth mission trips at

West Heights Baptist Church. He worked parttime for Cline Tours as a bus driver for about a year, and he’s spent countless hours painting, pressure-washing, and completing other tasks to assist South Pontotoc Schools. He’s known to help many of his elderly neighbors with their yard work when they need him. Williamson said he figures he’ll always have some kind of volunteer work on his plate. “I’ve helped people all my life, and that’s what I like to do.”

Pontotoc

August 2018

Today in Mississippi

County Fair 2018 I Saturday, August 18 Trade Day/Flea Market/Vintage Crafts (inside Agri-Center) Beef Check In/Weigh (Akers/Moorman Pavilion) Domino Tournament (conference room at Agri-Center) Pony Pulling (outside track) Youth Rodeo Registration Rodeo Tractor Pull (outside track)

6:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon 8:00 a.m. – 10:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m. 6:00 p.m. 6:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 11:00 a.m.

Miss Rodeo Horsemanship Competition (new outside arena)

7:00 p.m.

I Monday, August 20

I Tuesday, August 21 Senior Citizens Day (free admission) Buckaroo Rodeo Registration Rodeo Fairest of the Fair (exhibit building)

10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon 5:30 p.m. 6:30 p.m. 6:00 p.m.

Exhibits check in: Adult (textiles, household, home canning – exhibit building) • Check out: Tuesday, August 29 • Check in: Youth 4-H exhibits

12:00 noon – 5:30 p.m. 3:00 p.m. – 5:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.

I Wednesday, August 22

Family Night at the Fair (Admission is canned goods for food pantry)

6:30 p.m.

I Thursday, August 23

Watts Cooking? Strawberry Salad Jeanna Sorto, Plant Accountant 1 can strawberry pie filling 1 can sweetened condensed milk 1 med. can crushed pineapple, drained 1 cup chopped pecans 12 oz. cool whip Combine all ingredients. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Exhibits check in: Youth 4-H all exhibits (exhibit building) • Check out – baked foods, fruit and vegetables • All other exhibits checked out Tuesday, August 28

7:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m. 4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m. - 6:00 p.m.

Battle of the Bands Bow Hunters Archery Contest (Akers/Moorman Pavilion)

6:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m.

Exhibits check in: Adult (baked foods, vegetables, fruits, flowers, and plants) • Check out – baked foods Friday, August 24 • Vegetables, fruits, flowers, and plants Tuesday, August 28 Rodeo

9:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon 4:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m. 8:00 p.m.

I Friday, August 24

Pontotoc Electric was proud to co-sponsor three area students in a recent Skills USA competition in Louisville, Kentucky. After winning the state competition in Engineering Technology Design, these students scored 926 out of a possible 1,000 points at the national competition. Skills USA is a national membership association that serves students in preparation for careers in trade, technical, and skilled service occupations. Pictured left to right: Richard Foster (Calhoun City High School), Cade Ozbun (Bruce High School), and Eliot Morgan (Bruce High School).

Marinated Vegetable Salad Lavonia Lackey, Head Cashier Pontotoc Office

Dairy Check In/Weigh Children’s Celebration (beside petting zoo) Dairy Show (Akers/Moorman Pavilion) Check in 8:00 a.m.

9:00 a.m. 10:00 a.m. – 12:00 noon 10:00 a.m.

2 cups fresh broccoli florets 2 cups fresh cauliflower 1 medium cucumber, halved and thinly sliced 1 cup fresh sliced mushrooms 1 cup cherry tomatoes, halved 1/3 cup finely chopped red onion ½ cup fat-free Italian salad dressing

Lamb Check In/Weigh (Akers/Moorman Pavilion) • Following dairy show Rodeo

9:00 a.m.

In a large bowl, combine broccoli, cauliflower, cucumber, mushrooms, tomatoes, and onion. Add dressing; toss to coat. Cover. Refrigerate for eight hours or overnight.

I Saturday, August 25

8:00 p.m.

10 I Today in Mississippi I August 2018 Pay Bill Report Outages

Brian Hughey, General Manager & CEO Lorri Freeman, APR, Manager of Public Relations Amanda Parker, Public Relations Specialist For more information, call 601-947-4211, 228-497-1313 or visit our website at singingriver.com. SRE is an equal opportunity employer and provider.

Check Energy Use

Round Up Bill

CEO’s Message

Keep the heat out

At our recent Annual Meeting, we celebrated Singing River Electric Cooperative’s 80year heritage of service to our Brian Hughey members. I want to take this General Manager and CEO Singing River Electric opportunity to thank all who participated in person, online, or by proxy. Two new board members were elected to represent the membership’s interests in Districts 2 and 3, along with the re-election of three sitting board members from each of the districts. It is the responsibility of these directors to establish policies and review operational procedures to promote a progressive, financially-sound cooperative. As manager, I appreciate all the time and hard work each of our directors put into steering our cooperative and safeguarding

the best interest of our membership. Each year, we take the opportunity to report on the work and progress achieved by Singing River Electric the previous year. This year, the report included our response to natural disasters at home and away as we brought aid to three other electric cooperatives during the year. Also discussed were our wholesale power provider’s focus on more renewable energy options, our infrastructure improvements, the electric cooperative’s involvement in numerous community projects, and the return of capital credits. As we reflected back on the past year at this Annual Meeting, we were reminded of the cooperative difference and what makes us unique. Singing River Electric is proud to be an electric cooperative built by the communities we serve and led by consumer-members like you.

Built by the communities

we serve.

View Outage Map

Jeff Gray Member Services Representative BPI certified professional gray@singingriver.com

If your home is facing east or west, you may have extra heat coming in through your windows in the summer months. This is because more windows are usually found on the front and back of your home.

Year heritage of serving our members

We are an electric cooperative - led by members like you.

To control this problem, we recommend: • Installing blinds or room darkening curtains. • Closing blinds and curtains in the morning and opening them in the afternoon, if your home is facing east. • Trying window film, if blinds or curtains are not an option. • Choosing low-e windows, if installing new windows. For more information, visit www.singingriver.com, or visit www.energystar.gov/campaign/Ways ToSave.

August 2018

2018 Annual Meeting held June 28 Singing River Electric held the 2018 Annual Membership Meeting on Thursday, June 28. As part of the membership meeting, the electric cooperative also held a free Energy Fair for participants and celebrated its 80-year heritage. During the meeting, General Manager and CEO Brian Hughey reviewed the highlights from 2017 and shared some of the cooperative’s plans for 2018. Five Singing River Electric members were elected to serve on the cooperative’s board. Two new board members were elected to represent the membership’s interests in Districts 2 and 3, along with the re-election of three sitting board members from each of the three geographic districts. • Cary Williams, District 1 – Post 3 (3-year term)

• Travis Baxter, District 2 – Post 3 (3-year term) • Ron Wilson, District 2 – Post 1 (1-year unexpired term) • Edward Thornton – District 3 – Post 3 (3-year term) • Mark LaSalle – District 3 – Post 4 (3-year term) Singing River Electric members Milton Driskell, Marvin Blankinchip, Linda Eckford, Philip Busby, Obie Wells, Richard Fleming and Daniel Seymour served on the Credentials and Election Committee. This committee reviews the election process and applicants. Singing River Electric consumer-members participated in the board elections online, by SmartHub app, by mailed proxy or in-person at the annual meeting.

Top Left: Fleet Coordinator Fred McCann delivers an attendance prize to a member. Top Right: A hot air balloon bearing the Touchstone Energy brand name greeted meeting participants. Left: Members cast their ballots for the board of directors at the Annual Meeting.

2018 Annual Meeting Proxy/Online Ballot Prize Winners Included: Caitlin Catchot, Mary Hawkins, Charles Prevost, Pam Taylor, Thomas Nichols, Regina Dickerson and Kevin Bradley.

Today in Mississippi 10a

2017 highlights discussed at the membership meeting:

Retirement of more than $2.4 million in capital credits to members. This was a return of member investments in the cooperative. The credits were for the year 1986. Retirement of more than $760,000 of additional capital credits for the years 1984-1986. These credits were refunded to Singing River Electric members from Cooperative Energy, our power provider. Increase in the amount of solar energy included in Cooperative Energy’s generation resource mix. Specifically, the 52-megawatt solar facility near Sumrall in Lamar County. This 540-acre site contains over 200,000 photovoltaic solar panels and was energized in late 2017. Planning for the conversion of Cooperative Energy’s R.D. Morrow coal-fired generating plant to become a more efficient natural gas plant. Unusual weather associated with this past year, including many instances where Singing River Electric helped other cooperatives including Dixie Electric and Southern Pine in Mississippi and Clay Electric in Florida. Tropical Storm Cindy, Hurricane Nate and Winter Storms Grayson and Inga affected our area. Electric power was restored to all Singing River Electric members who could receive power within 36 hours following Hurricane Nate. Completed construction of a new Hintonville substation and voltage conversion of the Hintonville substation area, located in Perry County. Construction of a new Helena Industrial Park substation in Jackson County. It was built to provide ample energy for future economic development in the park. It is one of Cooperative Energy’s largest readily-available sites, which will help create local jobs. Community involvement of both the electric cooperative and its employees. Last year, Singing River Electric built an osprey nest in Gautier and sponsored or participated in Pathways2Possibilities 8th-grade Job Fair, Coastal Cleanup, and Hazardous Waste Collection in Jackson County. The cooperative held three Energy Fairs across the areas served, donated nearly $20,000 in Neighbors Helping Neighbors community grants, and presented the safety message to more than 11,000 adults and students locally. $73,900 was awarded in efficiency rebates to Singing River Electric consumer-members.

10b

Today in Mississippi

August 2018

Visit to nation’s capital inspires

Youth Tour students

Micah, Zikeya, Cari and Eli visited with Rep. Steven Palazzo at his Washington, D.C., office during Youth Tour.

Each year, Singing River Electric sponsors high school juniors on a tour of our nation’s capital. The Electric Cooperative Youth Tour has brought high school students to Washington, D.C. every June since the late 1950s, and more than 50,000 students from across America have experienced this unique opportunity. The Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi (ECM) has participated in the program for 32 years. The tour gives the students an up-close view of the political process on a national level and connects them with like-minded students from across the state and nation. The relationships made on Youth Tour have proven to be beneficial throughout their lives. The Youth Tour is supported locally by Singing River Electric, organized statewide by ECM and nationally by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). More than 1,800 students from 42 states participate annually. This year, Zikeya Byrd,

“A new experience can bring a new change, and a new change can bring a new opportunity. I thank this tour for the opportunities it has given me. Seeing this historic place has opened my mind and showed me I can be and do anything.” - Zikeya Byrd

Micah Pickering, Eli Ramirez, and Cari Sims represented Singing River Electric. They joined 71 of Mississippi’s brightest juniors on the tour. They were chosen through an application and interview process. Zikeya is the daughter of Najena Byrd and Zickeyous Byrd of State Line. She will be a senior at Fruitdale High School. Micah will be a senior at Perry Central High School and is the son of Ondria Pickering of Beaumont. Eli is the brother of Jose Ramirez of Pascagoula and will be a senior at Pascagoula High School. Cari will be a senior at Vancleave High School and is the daughter of Angela and Loyd Sims of Vancleave. On the week-long trip, the students visited historical and cultural sites and a variety of monuments and memorials, such as the World War II Memorial, Korean War Memorial, FDR Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Air Force Memorial, Jefferson Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. “The Youth Tour has inspired me to get involved more in my community. Seeing officials from my state working in D.C., inspired me to think outside of my comfort zone – with a sense of – if he can do it, I can do it,” said Eli Ramirez. One of the first stops on the tour was the Marine Corps War Memorial, informally known as the Iwo Jima, followed by visits to other monuments and memorials. The students visited numerous museums, such as the Newseum, a seven floor, interactive museum dedicated to the first amendment rights and journalism throughout American history. A new addition to the tour this year, was a visit to the Holocaust Museum. The museum is a somber reflection of those who were lost during the Nazi regime. They also spent a day touring the Smithsonian Museums of Air and Space, American History, Natural History and the National Gallery of Art. Another popular event of the tour was a Major League Baseball

August 2018

Below: Micah, Zikeya, Cari and Eli stopped for a photo in front of the White House on Pennsylvania Avenue.

game at Nationals “This has been the Park. The experience of a lifetime students watched as the and a true blessing. I Washington have probably the best Nationals took friends I’ll ever have.” on the San - Micah Pickering Francisco Giants. After a drive down Massachusetts Avenue, unofficially known as Embassy Row, the students were taken on a guided tour of the Washington National Cathedral, the second largest cathedral in the U.S. In addition to sightseeing, the students also spent a day on Capitol Hill, which began with a special tour of the U.S. House Floor graciously hosted by Rep. Gregg Harper. While in the Capitol building, the students enjoyed a panoramic view of Washington, D.C., from the speaker’s balcony. Many of the students were able to meet House Speaker Paul Ryan, and Rep. Kevin McCarthy (CA). McCarthy spoke to the group after a news interview in the Capitol Rotunda. After the tour, Keya, Micah, Eli and Cari joined a smaller group to visit with Rep. Steven Palazzo in his D.C. office. During the visit to Capitol Hill, students also had the opportunity to meet with Sen. Roger Wicker and Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith. “How many people are given the opportunity to stand in our nation’s capital and meet our nation’s leaders amongst the the future leaders of America? This program is truly life-changing. This week I was able to be a part of our great nation’s history. I will cherish these memories, and the friendships I gained, forever,” said Cari Sims. “It is an honor for Singing River Electric to annually participate in the Washington, D.C.

Today in Mississippi

Left: Micah, Eli, Cari and Zikeya enjoyed a stop at the Air Force Memorial near the Pentagon.

Above: The National Cathedral was one of the sites Micah, Eli, Cari and Zikeya were able to visit while on the Youth Tour. Left: The students visited the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall where they saw The Three Soldiers bronze statue that represent the soldiers that fought in the Vietnam War.

Youth Tour program,” said General Manager and CEO Brian Hughey. “This educational program provides an opportunity for local students to learn about history and government while building their leadership skills. We are proud to make this investment in these young leaders.”

10c

10d I Today in Mississippi

August 2018

Hurricane Prep What To Do During The Storm Safety is the utmost concern before, during and after a storm. Here are some tips when it comes to generator safety. Generator Safety Tips: • Connect appliances directly to the generator. Never connect a generator directly to your home’s wiring. (This can energize power lines and endanger the lives of SRE linemen as well as visiting crews.) • Ensure the generator you choose has ample capacity for the load. • Consult a licensed electrician to help with installation. • Always read the manufacturer’s instructions carefully before use. • Be careful to use generators outdoors in well-ventilated areas.

Report a power outage WITH THE TOUCH OF A SCREEN Step One: Download SmartHub app.

Also view a live outage map. Step Two:

Step Three:

Step Four:

Step Five:

Select “Report an Outage” icon.

Select “Report an Outage.”

Type in comments and Select “Submit.”

Recheck app later to verify power has been restored.

Keep your contact information updated to increase speed of outage restoration.

solar energy Increasing

as we power south Mississippi

Cooperative Energy's newest solar venture is a 52MW solar energy facility in Lamar County. The site covers 540 acres and is home to approximately 208,000 photovoltaic solar panels. Origis Energy constructed and operates the electric generation site. Cooperative Energy purchases all power produced at the location. This greatly increases the solar energy in the generation mix, which is also made up of nuclear, hydroelectricity, natural gas and coal.

August 2018

Today in Mississippi

10 Today in Mississippi August 2018

Southern Pine’s board is elected by the members to serve and protect the members, the infrastructure and the assets of the cooperative August is a very busy month at Southern Pine. In addition to the day-to-day demands and projects, work on the annual membership meeting to be held on Thursday, Nov. 8, 2018, at 2:00 p.m. is well underway. Along with numerous activities and events that begin at noon, the membership meeting allows us an opportunity to update members on the status of the cooperative, and we hold director elections each year. 2017 and 2018 have been particularly demanding at Southern Pine as we have devoted numerous hours to historical research and interviews in preparation for our 80-year history book, which will be available at the annual meeting. Meetings with members, elected officials and retired employees have solidified the importance of the past Jason S. Siegfried President/CEO eight decades in the lives of thousands of people across Southern Pine’s service territory. Stories have resonated with the determination of employees to take care of themselves, their neighbors and friends as they fought to bring electricity to our part of the state. One story that seems to exemplify the resolve of people some 80 years ago is that of Mr. Tom White, one of Southern Pine’s first board members from Simpson County. Mr. White did not own a car, which was not unusual in the late 1930s and early ‘40s. The fact that he didn’t have a vehicle did not deter his determination to serve the people of South Mississippi. Arising early on board meeting day, he walked from his home down a rural country road to the Village of Magee (now a city), where he caught a ride with someone or caught one of the first buses that ran sporadically over various routes. Arriving in Taylorsville, he had to wait several hours until it was time for the board meeting. After the meeting, he hitched a ride back to Magee and then had to walk home. This type of determination is the very foundation our cooperative was built upon. Today, each of our 13 directors face issues that would be foreign to the first board. Bombarded with calls, emails and director education information, they are required to shuffle

through mountains of paperwork to find the important information they need to make informed decisions while disregarding the rest. Legislative mandates must be monitored, supported or squashed to protect not only the cooperative but its members from unnecessary environmental restrictions that have the potential to cause huge rate increases. Fidicuiary responsibility places a great burden on the shoulders of each director required to understand not only the fundamental business practices of Southern Pine but also that of our generating facility, the statewide cooperative and our national organization. Through the individual and joint efforts of our board members, we’ve been able to adapt to industry changes and make upgrades to our infrastructure. More important, our board members care about people, our communities and state. The issues that face a single mom struggling to pay her power bill or the needs of a local school are the same issues that face our board. Any policy they implement, change or revoke will affect them and their families too. Our mission statement is more than a group of well-meaning words; Top: Board director Fountaine McNair, right, chats with Chad Lewis, vice president of operations for Southern Pine we genuinely care Electric. Above: Billy Berry, left, board director for Simpson County, and Charles Lowe, right, board director for Copiah County, visit with Southern Pine Electric employee Nathan Hudson. about the elderly member who lives on Nov. 8, we encourage all members to attend this alone and depends on us not only for air-conditioning important event to meet your board members and learn and heat but also for security and medical equipment. In addition to the employees, our directors monitor about the many services available to you. For 80 years, our directors and employees have worked hard to serve outages and fully realize the toll that harsh Mississippi weather can take on a family. If the lights are out, they you and are committed to Bringing the Power with even better service for the next 80 years. know about it. As we prepare for the annual membership meeting

August 2018 Today in Mississippi

Visit to nation’s capital inspires

Youth Tour students

Above: R.J. and Mary visit the National Cathedral. Below: At the Marine Corps War Memorial, they see the massive bronze statue depicting the iconic moment when Marines raised the American flag on the island of Iwo Jima during World War II.

Above: The students stop for a photo in front of the Air Force Memorial.

R.J. and Mary visit Rep. Gregg Harper in his Washington, D.C., office.

Each year, Southern Pine Electric sponsors two high school juniors on a tour of the nation’s capital. The Electric Cooperative Youth Tour has brought high school students to Washington, D.C., every June since the late 1950s, and more than 50,000 students from across America have experienced this unique opportunity. The Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi (ECM) has participated in the program for 32 years. The tour gives the students an up-close view of the political process on a national level and connects them with like-minded students from across the state and nation. The relationships made on Youth Tour have proven to be beneficial throughout their lives. The Youth Tour is supported locally by Southern Pine Electric and organized statewide by ECM and nationally by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). More than 1,800 students from 42 states participate annually. This year, Mary Crane and Robert Jonathan (R.J.) represented Southern Pine Electric. They joined 73 of Mississippi’s brightest juniors on the tour. They were chosen through an application and interview process. Mary is the daughter of Amy and John Crane of Pearl and will be a senior at Pearl High School. R.J. will be a senior at Stringer Attendance School and is the son of Robin Holifield of Stringer. On the week-long trip, the students visited historical and cultural sites and a variety of monuments and memorials, such as the World War II Memorial, Korean War Memorial, FDR Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Air Force Memorial, Jefferson Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. “Our day on Capitol Hill was, without a doubt, one of the best days of my life. Simply being in the presence of so many respected people was an extremely humbling experience that I pray I never forget,” Mary said. One of the first stops on the tour was the Marine Corps War Memorial, informally known as the Iwo Jima,

followed by visits to other monuments and memorials. The students visited numerous museums such as the Newseum, a seven-floor, interactive museum dedicated to First Amendment rights and journalism throughout American history. A new addition to the tour this year was a visit to the Holocaust Museum. The museum is a somber reflection of those who were lost during the Nazi regime. They also spent a day touring the Smithsonian Museums of Air and Space, American History, Natural History and the National Gallery of Art. Another popular event of the tour was a Major League Baseball game at Nationals Park. The students watched as the Washington Nationals took on the San Francisco Giants. After a drive down Massachusetts Avenue, unofficially known as Embassy Row, the students enjoyed a guided tour of the Washington National Cathedral, the second-largest cathedral in the U.S. In addition to sightseeing, the students spent a day on Capitol Hill, which began with a special tour of the U.S. House Floor graciously hosted by Rep. Gregg Harper. While in the Capitol building, the students enjoyed a panoramic view of Washington, D.C., from the House Speaker’s balcony. Many of the students were able to meet House Speaker Paul Ryan and Rep. Kevin McCarthy (CA). McCarthy spoke to the group after a news interview in the Capitol Rotunda. After the tour, Mary and R.J. joined a smaller group to visit with Rep. Harper in his Washington office. The congressman spoke to the group about what it takes to be a leader and the importance of setting goals and striving to achieve them. During the visit to Capitol Hill, students also had the opportunity to meet with Sen. Roger Wicker and Sen. Cindy Hyde-Smith. “I loved the trip and any true American should be overwhelmed with a strong sense of patriotism and pride in their county, its history, and the men and women who fought to make it what it is, both in war and in peace.” R.J. said. ”From the World War II memorial to the visit to the House Floor, I was in awe at the sight of what makes America ‘the land of the free and the home of the brave.’” Southern Pine Electric congratulates these students on their accomplishments.

Today in Mississippi

August 2018

Visit to nation’s capital inspires

Youth Tour students #

Noah, Mallory, Damira and Nicholas visited with Rep. Gregg Harper at his Washington, D.C., office during Youth Tour.

Each year, Southwest Electric sponsors high school juniors on a tour of our nation’s capital. The Electric Cooperative Youth Tour has brought high school students to Washington, D.C. every June since the late 1950s, and more than 50,000 students from across America have experienced this unique opportunity. The Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi (ECM) has participated in the program for 32 years. The tour gives the students an up-close view of the political process on a national level and connects them with like-minded students from across the state and nation. The relationships made on Youth Tour have proven to be beneficial throughout their lives. The Youth Tour is supported locally by Southwest Electric, organized

“I was able to learn information important for me to know as an American. I also made many new friends, and made some life-long best friends.” - Damira McGruder

statewide by ECM and nationally by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). More than 1,800 students from 42 states participate annually. This year, Mallory Hinson, Nicholas and Noah Lambert and Damira McGruder represented Soutwest Electric. They joined 71 of Mississippi’s brightest juniors on the tour. They were chosen through an application and interview process. Mallory is the daughter of Chris and Lee Hinson of Natchez. She will be a senior at Cathedral High School. Nicholas and Noah will be seniors at Wisdom From His Word Homeschool and are the sons of James and Amanda Lambert of Wesson. Damira is the daughter of Terri McGruder of Natchez. She will be a senior at Cathedral High School. On the week-long trip, the students visited historical and cultural sites and a variety of monuments and memorials, such as the World War II Memorial, Korean War Memorial, FDR Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Air Force Memorial, Jefferson Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. “I thank everyone who has made this experience possible. My family, my co-op, ECM, and most importantly, the Lord,” said Nicholas. “This program is very beneficial in helping us to grow in leadership skills and develop freindships that will last much longer than just one week. Partaking in this program has been a great honor.” One of the first stops on the tour was the Marine Corps War Memorial, informally known as the Iwo Jima, followed by visits to other monuments and memorials. The students visited numerous museums, such as the Newseum, a seven floor, interactive museum

August 2018

Today in Mississippi

Nicholas, Damira, Mallory and Noah stopped at the Marine Corps War Memorial to see the massive bronze statue that recaptures the iconic moment when Marine soldiers raised the American flag on the island of Iwo Jima during World War II.

Southwest Electric wishes you and your family a safe and happy holiday!

Our offices will be closed Nicholas, Mallory, Damira and Noah visited the National Cathedral.

Monday, September 3 in observance of

# Labor Day

dedicated to the first amendment rights and journalism throughout American history. A new addition to the tour this year, was a visit to the Holocaust Museum. The museum is a somber reflecDispatchers will remain on duty and crews “This trip was an tion of those who were lost durwill be on call throughout the holiday. opportunity of a lifeing the Nazi regime. They also Call 800-287-8564 or use the time. I would like to spent a day touring the SmartHub app to report an outage. Smithsonian Museums of Air thank everyone who Noah, Nicholas, Damira and Mallory visited the Franklin and Space, American History, Delano Roosevelt Memorial. The presidential memorial made this trip possible. remembers the life and career of our 32nd president. Natural History and the Most of all, the Lord. National Gallery of Art. For without him, we Another popular event of the could do nothing.” tour was a Major League Baseball game at Nationals - Noah Lambert Park. The students watched as the Washington Nationals took on the San Francisco Giants. students also had After a drive down Massachusetts the opportunity to Avenue, unofficially known as Embassy meet with Sen. Roger Row, the students were taken on a guided Wicker and Sen. Cindy tour of the Washington National Cathedral, the Hyde-Smith. second largest cathedral in the U.S. “This was a great expeIn addition to sightseeing, the students also rience. I met so many spent a day on Capitol Hill, which began with a amazing, wonderful peospecial tour of the U.S. House Floor graciously Noah, Mallory, Damira and ple,” said Mallory. “I am so thankful hosted by Rep. Gregg Harper. While in the Nicholas visited the Air for this experience to have seen our Capitol building, the students enjoyed a Force Memorial near the nation’s beautiful capital.” panoramic view of Washington, D.C., from the Pentagon. speaker’s balcony. Many of the students were able to meet House Speaker Paul Ryan, and Rep. Kevin McCarthy (CA). McCarthy spoke Kevin Bonds CEO to the group after a news interview in the “We are proud to have these four outstanding young people represent Southwest Electric in the Youth Capitol Rotunda. After the tour, Mallory, Leadership Program. They are part of the community we serve and their parents are Members of our Nicholas, Noah and Damira joined a smaller cooperative. This program is a wonderful opportunity for them to learn about and experience our group to visit with Rep. Gregg Harper in his nation’s history and to expose them to our state and national leaders.” D.C. office. During the visit to Capitol Hill,

10 Today in Mississippi August 2018

Tombigbee Electric Power Asso Tupelo 662-842-7635 • Fulton 662-862-3146 • www.tombigbeeelectric.com

Guided by our membership and core principles

A closer look at your electric coope This second edition features Board Governance.

A LONG AND SUCCESSFUL HISTORY WE ARE PROUD OF On February 26, 1934, a charter was granted to the Lee County Electric Power Association. The association would be tasked with providing electric service to a large unserved area in northeast Mississippi. The founding fathers wasted no time in laying the ground work for a member-owned, notfor profit association that would spur growth and improve quality of life. In 1935, the name was changed to Tombigbee Electric Power Association. We work together with a group of electric cooperatives throughout Mississippi operating under state law, referred to as the Electric Power Associations Act. It is important to note and understand that electric power associations are memberowned, not-for-profit cooperatives and governed by a local board of directors made up of members elected by the membership. Our board is composed entirely of members who are themselves owners, which allows for continued local control of our electric power association. Because our directors are members themselves, they make decisions with the welfare of our local association’s membership foremost in mind. You and other members can participate in the director election process at our annual membership meeting. The board of directors employs a general manager to supervise the association’s daily operations and to carry out the directives and policies established by the board. Because electric power associations are not beholden to investors or profit motives, they remain true to our founders’ vision of a member-focused, service-oriented electric power association, which has been a successful and proven way to do business for more

than 83 years. The following information will be helpful in understanding various aspects of electric power associations and how our association operates.

terms, conditions and rates as may be set f - Provided sufficient documentation necesfrom time to time by the Cooperative sary such that it might be determined to the d - Agreed to accept the responsibilities of satisfaction of the Cooperative that he/she or membership and to participate in and benefit it has an interest in, rights to, or necessary from the cooperative principles upon which permission relating to any real property, the Cooperative is based including without limitation any leasehold or e Agreed to comply with and be bound by other interests therein, for which electric ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MEETING service is being sought; and We invite all members to attend our asso- the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of g - Paid the membership fee hereinafter ciation’s annual meeting. Members will hear the Cooperative and any rules, policies, guidelines and regulations as may be adopted specified. operational reports for the previous fiscal year from time to time by the Board of Directors Tombigbee Electric members may attend and transact certain business defined by the of the Cooperative monthly board meetings. bylaws and properly on the meeting agenda. The meeting is held the first Saturday after 7 COOPERATIVE PRINCIPLES the first Monday in August at our headquarter facilities located at 1346 Auburn Road in Tombigbee Electric operates according to these core principles and values. These principles are a Tupelo. The 2018 annual meeting will be key reason that America’s electric cooperatives operate differently from other electric utilities, held Saturday, August 11, at 10:00 a. m. putting the needs of their members first. In this issue, we focus on Principle 2. The annual meeting starts the director election process. The annual meeting is held for the primary purpose of nominating directors who shall be elected by the members to serve for a three-year term.

WHO IS A MEMBER OF TOMBIGBEE ELECTRIC ? As required by our bylaws, any living person, or existing firm, entity, association, corporation, or body politic or subdivision thereof will become a member of Tombigbee Electric Power Association upon receipt of electric service from the Cooperative, provided that he/she or it has first: a - Reached at least the age of majority and/or otherwise lawfully has the requisite power to enter into binding contracts in the State of Mississippi b - Made a written application for membership in the Cooperative c - Agreed to purchase from the Cooperative electric energy, or any other lawful products or services, as hereinafter specified or otherwise as may be allowed by law, upon the

Co-ops are voluntary organizations, open to all persons able to use our services and accept responsibilty of membership.

We are controlled by our membership — one member, one vote. Members’ voice can be heard by attending our annual meeting.

Co-ops are autonomous, selfhelp organizations controlled by their members. All actions are completed to ensure democratic control by their members.

Co-ops provide education and training for their members, elected representatives, managers and employees so they can contribute effectively.

Members contribute equally to, and democratically control, the capital of their co-op. Members allocate surpluses to benefit the operation of providing safe and reliable electric service, remain financially stable, and supporting other activities approved by the membership

We are strengthen by working together with others co-ops throughout the state and nation.

Focusing on our members’ need, we work for sustainable development of our communities.

August 2018 Today in Mississippi 11

ociation

Follow@TombigbeeEPA

A Mississippi Electric Cooperative

OUR DIRECTORS Years of Service, Community, Occupation

erative

The following directors are up for re-election in 2018. Jim Gray Steve Holland Don Knight Cecil Weeks

DIRECTORS ELECTED BY THE MEMBERSHIP In order to be eligible to become or remain a member of the Board of Directors of Tombigbee Electric Power Association. in general, a person: 1 - Must be of the age of majority, with the capacity to enter into legally binding contracts in the State of Mississippi 2 - Must be a duly qualified member of Tombigbee Electric Power Association 3 - Must be a bona fide resident in the area served or to be served by Tombigbee Electric Power Association 4 - Must neither themselves nor their spouse be presently or have been previously employed by Tombigbee Electric Power Association for a period of at least five (5) years prior to their nomination 5 - Must not be in any way employed by or financially interested in a competing enterprise or business, which shall include any other utility or business selling or distributing any product or energy resource, or business which supplies TEPA with significant electrical energy supplies. Five directors are elected each year, three (3) members who shall reside in Lee, Union, Pontotoc, Chickasaw and that portion of Monroe County that is adjacent to Lee County, and two (2) members residing in Itawamba, Prentiss, Tishomingo, or that portion of Monroe County that is adjacent to Itawamba County. These directors will serve a three-year term.

PRESIDENT

VICE PRESIDENT

SECRETARY/TREASURER

Retiring Pat Spradling

Joseph P. (Pat) Carr, 32, Saltillo, Retired Justice Court Judge

F. G. Wiygul, Jr.,19, Fulton, Retired Superintendent of Education

Don Knight, 18, Saltillo, Restaurant Owner/Operator

Guy T. Harris, 25, Saltillo, Retired Law Enforcement & Salesman

Kelly W. (Chip) Prestage, 7, Fulton, Merchant

Jimmy Gray, 8, Fulton, Appliance Sales & Service

Jim Gray, 6, Fulton, Appliance Sales & Service

Steve Holland, 18, Plantersville, Funeral Director/State Representative

John T. McFerrin, 5, Mantachie, MDWF Conservation Officer

Julius K. (Buddy) Palmer, 14, Tupelo, Retired Merchant

Brenda Shumpert, 10, Richmond, Florist/Merchant

Pat Spradling, 1, Mantachie, Retired ICC Campus Security

Lynn Turner, 1, Eggville, Construction Contractor

Cecil Weeks, 21, Auburn, Retired Superintendent of Education/Education Consultant

Malcolm Wesson, 2, East Tupelo, Retired Insurance Agent

Ballot Production Process Ballots used for voting in Tombigbee Electric elections are printed by an outside vendor. Ballots will be mailed out each year to members to be voted according to instructions provided on the ballot. This year, watch for your ballot to be delivered in the U.S. mail after August 17.

Today in Mississippi

August 2018

Visit to nation’s capital inspires

Youth Tour students #

Jonovan and Anna Claire visit Rep. Bennie Thompson at his Washington, D.C., office during Youth Tour.

Each year, Twin County Electric Power Association sponsors two high school juniors on a tour of the nation’s capital. The Electric Cooperative Youth Tour has brought high school students to Washington, D.C., every June since the late 1950s, and more than 50,000 students from across America have experienced this unique opportunity. The Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi (ECM) has participated in the program for 32 years. The tour gives the students an up-close view of the political process on a national level and connects them with like-minded students from across the state and nation. The relationships made on Youth Tour have proven to be beneficial throughout their lives. The Youth Tour is supported locally by Twin County and organized statewide by ECM and nationally by the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA).

“It was a great experience to see the city of Washington, D.C., and meet people over our nation.” - Jonovan Tyler

More than 1,800 students from 42 states participate annually. This year, Jonovan Tyler and Anna Claire Willard represented Twin County. They joined 73 of Mississippi’s brightest juniors on the tour. They were chosen through an application and interview process. Jonovan is the son of John and Denise Tyler of Glen Allan and will be a senior at Riverside High School. Anna Claire will be a senior at Sharkey Issaquena Academy and is the daughter of Brandon and Ellis Willard of Rolling Fork. On the week-long trip, the students visited historical and cultural sites and a variety of monuments and memorials, such as the World War II Memorial, Korean War Memorial, FDR Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Air Force Memorial, Jefferson Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. “It was a great experience to see the city of Washington, D.C., and meet people over our nation,” said Jonovan. One of the first stops on the tour was the Marine Corps War Memorial, informally known as the Iwo Jima, followed by visits to other monuments and memorials. The students visited numerous museums such as the Newseum, a seven-floor, interactive museum dedicated to First Amendment rights and journalism throughout American history. New to this year’s tour was a visit to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. The museum is a somber reflection of those who were lost during the Nazi regime. They also spent a day touring the Smithsonian Museums of Air and Space, American History, Natural History and the National Gallery of Art. Another popular event of the tour was a Major League Base-

August 2018

Today in Mississippi

At the Marine Corps War Memorial, the students see the massive bronze statue that recaptures the iconic moment when Marines raised the American flag on the island of Iwo Jima during World War II.

Tim Perkins General Manager

Jonovan and Anna Claire ball game at Nationals stop for a photo in front Park. The students watched of the White House as the Washington Nationals on Pennsylvania took on the San Francisco Giants. Avenue. After a drive down Massachusetts Avenue, unofficially known as Embassy Row, the students enjoyed a guided tour of the Washington National Cathedral, the second-largest “Thank you to Twin cathedral in the U.S. In addition to sightseeing, the stuCounty, ECM and dents spent a day on Capitol Hill, NRECA for allowing which began with a special tour of the U.S. House Floor graciously hosted by me this amazing Rep. Gregg Harper. While in the opportunity.” Capitol building, the students enjoyed - Anna Claire Willard a panoramic view of Washington, D.C., from the House Speaker’s balcony. Many of the students were able to meet House Speaker Paul Ryan and Rep. which makes everyKevin McCarthy (CA). McCarthy spoke to the one feel like family. group after a news interview in the Capitol The friendships that are Rotunda. made will last lifetimes. After the tour, Jonovan and Anna Claire Thank you to Twin joined a smaller group to visit Rep. Bennie County, ECM and Thompson in his D.C. office. The congressman NRECA for allowing spoke to the group about what it takes to be a me this amazing leader and the importance of setting goals and opportunity.” striving to achieve them. During the visit to Twin County Capitol Hill, students also had the opportunity congratulates these to meet with Sen. Roger Wicker and Sen. students on their Cindy Hyde-Smith. accomplishments. “Youth Tour 2018 was an amazing opportunity that I will hold dear to my heart forever,” Anna Claire said. “The history that Washington, D.C., holds is truly beautiful. The advisors on the trip treat the students as their own,

“It is an honor for Twin County to participate in the annual Washington, D.C., Youth Tour program. This unique educational program gives local students an incredible opportunity to learn about U.S. history and government while building their leadership skills. We are proud to make this investment in our young leaders.”

Jonovan and Anna Claire enjoy a stop at the Air Force Memorial near the Pentagon.

The National Cathedral was among the sites Jonovan and Anna Claire visited while on the Youth Tour.

Today in Mississippi

August 2018

Yazoo Valley Electric Power Association

Manager of Member Services: Dennis McFee For Today in Mississippi information, call 662-746-4251, or email dmcfee@yazoovalley.com

Sunday, August 5

The Yazoo Ministerial Association presents

Back to School Yazoo By Elissa Fulton Baseball is America’s favorite pastime and for some of us, we have that once-ina-lifetime chance to visit a major league stadium to watch our heroes take on other players on the diamond. One evening in the 1980’s, this was a dream come true for Bro. Ken Lynch, pastor of Parkview Church of God in Yazoo City. He was seated in Candlestick Park in San Francisco, Calif., watching his favorite team, the Giants, play the New York Mets. “I was sitting along the right-field line, and I looked out into the outfield, and there bigger than life stood Darryl Strawberry,” said Lynch. “I had the opportunity to watch his amazing gift – even though he was using it against my favorite team. He has a tremendous bat, he has a great glove, and he’s got legs that when they gallop across that field he just covers the field like it’s a little sandlot. And that’s the picture of Darryl Strawberry that so many people have.” Although Strawberry was a tremendous athlete during his 17-year career, it’s unknown to so many that he struggled with a drug addiction in those playing

days. As an evangelical born-again Christian, he has taken his past experiences and used them to educate many on the dangers of drug addiction. Strawberry is now a full-time ordained minister and author, dedicating his life to leading others to Jesus Christ. Bro. Ken Lynch, along with the Yazoo Ministerial Association, had a vision to have Darryl Strawberry visit the Yazoo community and share his message to a struggling society grappled with a drug epidemic. And the statistics are alarming. Recently Lynch visited Broadmoor Baptist Church in Ridgeland, where speakers from the Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) and the Mississippi Department of Health (MSDH) gave staggering numbers on the overdose crisis across the state and nation.

“The first statistic that put this issue into perspective was from Susan Gibson with the DEA. She told us that in 2016, 42,000 Americans died from a drug overdose event. She said, ‘Think about it this way. What if every day in America, 115 people died in a plane crash? Do you think that would make the news? And do you think that would get on the country’s agenda?’ That sobered me,” said Lynch. “The other statistic was from Meg Pearson with MSDH. She told us that over 340 deaths happened right here in Mississippi in 2016. So I thought about it like this, that’s almost one death per day in Mississippi. So we have got to help people become aware of this problem.” To keep this rampant issue in the foreground, the Ministerial Association has

held events in the past such as Pray Yazoo, in which area leaders came together to acknowledge the problem and to pray to God for help. They have had speakers to come and address the community and followed those events with Talk Yazoo, in which professionals in law enforcement, medicine, education and other arenas addressing drug use, have put on presentations for the community. To keep awareness present in Yazoo County, and knowing they had nothing to lose, Bro. Ken Lynch and Associate and Youth Pastor Tad Duggan decided to reach out to Strawberry in hopes that he would visit the community. When he said yes to their invitation, a community-wide worship event was born. “We give God thanks and credit for this,” said Lynch. “After we were told Darryl would come, we put together a plan and decided this event will be called Back to School Yazoo. On Aug. 5, it will be a day dedicated to two very important priorities: 1. Choose Christ, and 2. Reject drugs.” In addition to Strawberry as the keynote speaker, Steve Hutton, author of Pride Aside: A Father’s Journey Through

August 2018

Today in Mississippi

10a

AGENDA PARENT WORKSHOP 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. Led by Steve Hutton Parkview Fellowship Hall

Darryl Strawberry Keynote Speaker

Steve Hutton Speaker

This workshop is targeted at parents interested in helping safeguard their children against the danger of drug addiction. This goal of this session is to equip parents to be their child’s best ally in today’s drug epidemic.

MORNING WORKSHIP His Son’s Addiction, will also be on hand to address the parents of the community. Live entertainment by Hanover Drive and Twice Born, will also lead the community in worship (see right for agenda). Pastors Lynch and Duggan are also in the process of arranging for counselors to be available to any and all who respond to Strawberry’s message. “We are going to make a concerted effort to give those kids a chance to respond to what they’ve been told and to meet with counselors,” said Lynch. “The hope is that when the kids are through counseling, they will know what it means, and how to receive Christ as their Savior if they choose. But they’ll also be assigned a mentor. A friend who will follow up with them all through the current school year. We don’t want them to just come and have a good experience, but we want them to have a good experience and leave with a decision, and someone to help them follow up on the decision. That’s our hearts prayer, is that these kids leave with that strength, and that encouragement, and that inspiration to say no to the drug issue. This stuff is separating people from their jobs, their families, and later and finally from their own life. It’s separating us from life. So that’s why we are grateful for the opportunity to band as a community and say we are going to do something with

God’s help.” Everyone in the community is invited and encouraged to attend. For more information on Back to School Yazoo, contact Parkview Church of God office 662-746-4298 or email office@parkviewchurchyc.com. An event brochure can be downloaded at www.parkviewchurchyc.com/btsy.

10:45 a.m. to 11:45 a.m. Led by Darryl Strawberry Parkview Sanctuary Join us for worship and hear Darryl Strawberry address the Parkview Church congregation about how Jesus Christ made the difference in his life.

COMMUNITY PARENT WORKSHOP 4:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Parkview Fellowship Hall The entire community is invited to hear from Steve Hutton on drug awareness, addiction and treatment. All parents are encouraged to attend.

FREE FOOD 5:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. All attendees are invited to join us and enjoy complimentary food and drinks (while it lasts).

BACK TO SCHOOL YAZOO Hanover Drive, Christian rock and pop band. Lead singer Anna Lawrence, with guitarist and pianist Landon Lawrence, drummer Nathan Barrett, bass guitarist Jonathon Bourriague, and lead guitarist Jacob Escuriex.

7:00 p.m. Parkview Sanctuary This event features live music by TwiceBorn and Hanover Drive. The keynote address will be made by Darryl Strawberry, former New York Mets superstar and current Christian minister. Christian counselors will be available to all interested students following Darryl’s address.

Parkview Church of God TwiceBorn, Christian rapper will lead worship at the Back to School Yazoo event.

1750 MS-16 • Yazoo City, MS 39194 662-746-4298 office@parkviewchurchyc.com

10b

Today in Mississippi

August 2018

Visit to nation’s capital inspires

Youth Tour students #

Cameron and Colbie visited with Rep. Bennie Thompson at his Washington, D.C., office during Youth Tour.

Each year, Yazoo Valley Electric Power Association sponsors two high school juniors on a tour of the nation’s capital. The Electric Cooperative Youth Tour has brought high school students to Washington, D.C., every June since the late 1950s, and more than 50,000 students from across America have experienced this unique opportunity. The Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi (ECM) has participated in the program for 32 years. The tour gives the students an up close view of the political process on a national level and connects them with like-minded students from across the state and nation. The relationships made on Youth Tour have proven to be beneficial throughout their lives. The Youth Tour is supported locally by Yazoo Valley Electric, organized statewide by ECM and nationally by the National Rural

“I will always be grateful for the people who made this trip possible, and I am honored to be a part of the Youth Tour.” - Colbie Merritt

Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA). More than 1,800 students from 42 states participate annually. This year, Colbie Merritt and Cameron Shaffer represented Yazoo Valley Electric. They joined 73 of Mississippi’s brightest juniors on the tour. They were chosen through an application and interview process. Colbie is the daughter of Ginger and J.L. Moody of Holly Bluff and will be a senior at Sharkey Issaquena Academy. Cameron will be a senior at Yazoo County High School and is the son of Cailton Shaffer II and the late Mrs. Sheila Renee’ Vaughn Shaffer of Bentonia. On the week-long trip, the students visited historical and cultural sites and a variety of monuments and memorials, such as the World War II Memorial, Korean War Memorial, FDR Memorial, Lincoln Memorial, Air Force Memorial, Jefferson Memorial and the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. “This tour has given me the life-changing experience of my life, and I will never forget the memories I have made,” said Colbie. “I will always be grateful for the people who made this trip possible, and I am honored to be a part of the Youth Tour.” One of the first stops on the tour was the Marine Corps War Memorial, informally known as the Iwo Jima, followed by visits to other monuments and memorials. The students visited numerous museums, such as the Newseum, a seven floor, interactive museum dedicated to the first amendment rights and journalism throughout American history. A new addition to the tour this year, was a visit to the Holocaust Museum. The museum is a somber reflection of those who were lost during the Nazi regime. They

August 2018

Today in Mississippi

10c

The National Cathedral was one of the sites Colbie and Cameron were able to visit while on the Youth Tour.

Ron White General Manager

Colbie and Cameron stop also spent a day touring for a photo in front the Smithsonian Museums of the White House of Air and Space, American on Pennsylvania History, Natural History and the Avenue. National Gallery of Art. Another popular event of the tour was a Major League Baseball game at Nationals Park. The students watched as the Washington Nationals took on the San Francisco Giants. “If you want to After a drive down Massachusetts lead a good life, let Avenue, unofficially known as it start by God Embassy Row, the students were taken on a guided tour of the Washington blessing you with National Cathedral, the second largest the opportunity of cathedral in the U.S. attending Youth In addition to sightseeing, the students also spent a day on Capitol Hill, Tour.” which began with a special tour of the - Cameron Shaffer U.S. House Floor graciously hosted by Rep. Gregg Harper. While in the Capitol building, the students enjoyed a panoramic view of Washington, D.C., from the speaker’s balcony. Many of “If you want to the students were able to meet House Speaker lead a good life, let Paul Ryan, and Rep. Kevin McCarthy (CA). it start by God McCarthy spoke to the group after a news blessing you with interview in the Capitol Rotunda. After the the opportunity of tour, Colbie and Cameron joined a smaller attending Youth group to visit with Rep. Bennie Thompson in Tour,” said his D.C. office. The congressman spoke to the Cameron. group about what it takes to be a leader and the Yazoo Valley importance of setting goals and striving to Electric congratuachieve them. During the visit to Capitol Hill, lates these students on students also had the opportunity to meet with their accomplishments. Sen. Roger Wicker and Sen. Cindy HydeSmith.

“It is an honor for Yazoo Valley to be represented by such outstanding students from our community. The youth tour provides an opportunity for these students to visit our nation's capital and learn about our history and government.”

Cameron and Colbie enjoyed a stop at the Air Force Memorial near the Pentagon.

Colbie and Cameron stopped at the Marine Corps War Memorial to see the massive bronze statue that recaptures the iconic moment when Marine soldiers raised the American flag on the island of Iwo Jima during World War II.

10d

Today in Mississippi I August 2018

Featuring

Jack Owens

Blues Marker #51

as a part of our mini-series

“Traveling the Blues Trail”

dedicated to the life and work of

Jack Owens Bud Spires regularly played harmonica alongside Jack Owens.

By Elissa Fulton Jack Owens preferred a more modest life to that of his peers, not wishing to seek notoriety during the blues revival of the 20th century. However, Owens was a distinguished artist in the blues community, earning a marker (#51) on the Mississippi Blues Trail dedicated in 2009. Local blues enthusiast Ronny Eldridge (featured in July’s issue) struck up a special friendship with Owens in his later years while conversing about blues culture, traveling to festivals together, and watching out for him towards the end of his life. “As a fan of the music, I came here in

1974 and I was really just trying to learn where these old guys were, so I’d ask anyone who was interested in that kind of stuff and I’d pick their brains,” said Eldridge. In 1977, Eldridge had been around Yazoo County for three years and he was working with a crew building a house in Bentonia. He met a young brick layer who ran sound for a company in Jackson. Eldridge went to a birthday party in Jackson that weekend and everyone attending was a musician. He started talking with a bass player who told him about an older man in Bentonia who played the Bentonia Blues. Unfortunately he didn’t know his

name but since Eldridge was working there at the time, he went on a mission to find out. “When I went back to work that next week, I saw an article on Jack hanging in the window of the hardware store, so I went in and asked the lady working there about the article,” he said. “She told me that she put the article in the window because everyone in the world stopped to ask her about Jack Owens and Skip James. She told me where he lived and it was lunchtime, so I drove out there and he came out to the gate he had in front of his house. He didn’t trust people very much. I

asked him if I might could come hear him play sometime, but he told me I’d have to pick up his buddy Bud Spires, because he didn’t like to play without him.” After asking Owens where Spires lived, he drove straight to town to Spires’ house. “He lived in a little brick house with his mother, and it had a little front porch on it. So, I walk to the door and his mother comes up to the door. She was a really nice lady. I told her I was looking for Bud Spires and she goes to get him,” said

YAZOO VALLEY Electric Power Association

WILL BE CLOSED Monday, September 3 in observance of

LABOR DAY

August 2018

the family when he was only 5 or 6 years old. He told him about the old guitar that his father had left behind, and how he would drag it out in the fields and strum the chords until he learned to play, and later learning to play Bentonia Blues from Henry Stuckey and playing with Skip James in their earlier years. And he also told him how his grandfather adopted him and officially gave him the Owens name, though he was born a Ronny Eldridge Nelson. Although Owens was completely unedEldridge. “Bud comes to the door and I ucated, Eldridge looked at him as one of didn’t know he was blind. He made his the wisest people he’s ever known. mama go get his harmonica and he played “When Jack died, I think I was for me. I told him that I had to go back to closer to him than my own work, but I was going to come back and father,” said Eldridge. “I lisget him and we were going to go out to tened to a lot of things he Jack’s house.” told me and I’m glad I Little did Eldridge know it would be did.” 10 years before he ever made that trip Owens farmed all of his back out to Jack Owens’ house to hear life, and though he was him play. In 1987, he started visiting married three times, he Owens regularly, hanging around his never had any chilhouse and talking with him. dren. He preferred a “We’d talk about the blues and we’d simple life to that talk about Skip, but I never asked him to of some of the play, until one day Jack asked me, ’You other blues artists know, you never do ask me to play. Don’t of the time. He you want to hear some music?’ I told him and Spires I’d love to hear some music but I didn’t played for many ever want to press him,” said Eldridge. on the front “Jack told me to go in there and get his porch of his ‘ji-jar’ out from under the bed. That’s home, but it washow he said guitar. I thought to myself, n’t until 1988 when he started to travel and play outside of Mississippi. “Jack knew he was “Jack knew he was good,” said Eldridge. “But good, but he was he was always very humalways very humble ble about it.” Owens was the about it.” recipient of a - Ronny Eldridge National Heritage Award this might be good, but it can’t be anyand the W.C. thing like Skip James. Well, he started Handy Award, playing and singing, and I was just mesamong other distinmerized. I just could not believe it. In guished honors. He some ways he was better.” continued collaborating Eldridge learned a lot of things about on music projects until he Owens’ life during their nearly 10-year died in 1997 at the age of friendship. Owens told him about his 93 from complications of childhood and growing up on a farm kidney disease. without his father, who had abandoned

Today in Mississippi

Jack Owens Photo: Ronny Eldridge