Today in Mississippi October 2017 Local Pages by American MainStreet Publications

News for members of Electric Cooperatives in Mississippi

Kids being kids

Periodical postage (ISSN 1052 2433)

pages 14-15

Yazoo carver thinks big

Old-time Thanksgiving

12 â&#x20AC;&#x2DC;Simply Deliciousâ&#x20AC;&#x2122; dishes

10 I Today in Mississippi

October 2017

CENTRAL ELECTRIC POWER ASSOCIATION A tradition of dependable, hometown service since 1937 Carthage 601-267-5671 Rankin 601-829-1201

Philadelphia 601-656-2601 Sebastopol 601-625-7422

www.centralepa.com

energy efficiency projects at the science fair might just be co-op inspired. We see the same challenges and depend on the same services you do. At the fire hall or emergency medical services garage, you’ll see some of our lineworkers, field representatives and member services staffers listed on the roster of volunteers. We work with members to solve the problems in our communities that members see. But none of this is new. In fact, it’s why your electric co-op is not just some company. Since the beginning, the people behind the co-op have regularly gone through their communities looking for ways to meet needs. Reliable, affordable power is still one of those needs, but listening to members still helps us to see and learn about new ones. These days, we do that through conversations member services representatives have with members on the telephone or at our service center counters. Staffers are also listening for your concerns at churches, fast food

restaurants and on the sidelines at the local ballfields. With us, whether you grew up on our lines or just moved into our service territory weeks or months ago, you’ll always have a voice. When we listen to you, we find out how we’re doing and that lets us know when we get it right, or need to make changes to keep from getting it wrong. We care about the things you care about, because we live here too. We get involved early on the big economic development issues. Our engineers, lawyers and accountants work with other community leaders to find solutions creating new jobs and launching new industries. But our commitment to community means we should be there to help with the small things too. At the neighborhood level, it’s the little things that really make a difference. That’s always been the co-op way. Each and every one of us connected to the co-op is every bit as committed to being here and staying involved each and every day.

ELECTRIC CO-OP STATS

I There are 26 electric co-ops in Mississippi and over 900 electric co-ops located in 47 states.

I Electric co-ops serve approximately 1.8 million Mississippians.

I Electric co-ops serve 85 percent of the landmass in Mississippi.

ELECTRIC CO-OPS

COMMIT Co-op Month 2017 #coopmonth

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR CO-OPS DURING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER

October 2017 I Today in Mississippi

Perhaps you are familiar with an undesirable aspect of the electronic and IOT (Internet of Things) revolution: vampire loads. Vampire loads come from devices that use electricity even when they appear to be off. The primary culprits are chargers, set-top television boxes, instant-on televisions and gaming systems. There are others, but these four represent the major offenders. Let’s look at how these vampire loads occur and why they are approaching 10 percent of average household electric use according to the Environmental Protection Agency. Chargers take the 120 VAC (volts alternating current) power at the outlet and reduce it down to the voltage required by the connected device, usually 5 to 12 VDC (volts direct current). Obviously, when your device is charging, the charger is using electricity, but you might be surprised to learn that chargers are still using small amounts of energy even when they’re not connected to a device. Television set-top boxes also consume energy when they appear to be inactive. Anytime the set-top box’s lights are on, it is using power. Like chargers, they use

more when the television is on, but they are always working – even when the TV is off. This is especially true for those devices with a DVR function that records your favorite TV shows. The instant-on television is another culprit. The intention of the “instant-on” feature is instant gratification for the viewer, meaning no waiting for the TV to turn on and warm up. Unfortunately, for that convenience, the TV must be on at nearly full power. So, in this mode, it can be a real energy drain. The typical gaming console can use as much energy as a regular refrigerator even when it’s not being used. Make sure to check the console settings and disable automatic updates, which is where the energy drain comes from. Games on the console are frequently updated, which requires a lot of electricity. So how does the average family combat these dreaded vampire loads? Garlic garlands? Silver bullets? Fortunately, none of the remedies of fable are necessary. You just need to change how you handle these energy-sucking electronics. Here are a few suggestions.

would like to thank our dedicated linemen who traveled to Florida and assisted

Clay Electric Cooperative in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma.

We are proud of our linemen!

Jerrell Scott Beau Chandler James Tull Gaines Measels Andy Wilkinson Chipper Jones Bill Lofton Jeffery Dennis Quinton Pullin Cole Thompson Trace Taylor Leran Ealy Bobby Johnson Bob Adcock Nathan Harvell

• Unplug chargers when not in use. • Invest in smart power strips. These look like normal power strips but have a twist; one of the outlets is the “master” that receives power all the time. The others are off. When the device connected to the master outlet turns on, the rest of the outlets receive power too. Ingenious and perfect for entertainment set ups. Have the television in the master outlet and when you turn it on, the set-top box, speakers, streaming devices, etc. will turn on too. They are also ideal for PC’s and their peripherals. • Turn off the instant-on function on your TV. Turn off set-top boxes that do not contain the DVR functionality or use a smart power strip. • Disable automatic updates in gaming consoles and turn the console completely off when you finish using it. • When replacing any device or appliance, look for an EnergyStar® rated product. Vampire loads are a real problem that will only continue to grow as the digital age advances. But you can fight the vampires with vigilance and application of the recommendations above. Contact Central Electric for additional suggestions and energy-saving advice.

Fall/Winter Energy Tip:

Central Electric

When you are asleep or out of the house, turn your thermostat back 10° to 15° for eight hours and save around 10 percent a year on your heating and cooling bills. A programmable thermostat can make it easy to set back your temperature – set it and forget it! Source: U.S. Department of Energy

TIP of the

Month

Today in Mississippi

October 2017

Providing affordable, reliable electricity to our members since 1936.

Managerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Message

Coahoma Electric to return capital credits The Board of Directors of Coahoma Electric Power Association recently annonced the issuing of $456,444.38 in capital credit retirements. These capital credit retirements are for the members who received a bill in the years of 1986-1987. An application process will be in place for those members from 1986-1987 to receive their capital credit refund. Application forms for capital credit returns are available at our main office or on our website at www.coahomaepa.com. See application process W. Keith Hurt below. All applications must be returned to our General Manager main office. All current member refunds will be processed, and will be issued in November. If you are a current active member, and were also a member during 1986-1987, you do not need to fill out an application for capital credits. If you were a member during 1986-1987, and have already completed paperwork to receive prior capital credits, you do not need to fill out the application again. All other refunds will be verified through the application process in the months of October with the disbursement of funds in November. The deadline for all applications to be processed this year is November 1. Any application received after this date will be held over until next year.

How do I apply for capital credits? You may go to our website at www.coahomaepa.com and click on the Member Services Tab (at the top), then click on Capital Credits. There you will find the instructions and forms to fill out to apply. You must have been a member in 19861987 to be eligible.

Donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t have the Internet?

Please contact us at 662-624-8321 or stop by our office to pick up forms.

October 2017

Today in Mississippi 11

Committed to all things big and small Mississippi’s electric cooperatives believe in neighbors helping neighbors. That’s just another way of saying we’re committed to our communities, and it’s central to everything we do. October is National Co-op Month, which is a perfect time to highlight our commitment to the local communities we serve. Your electric cooperative keeps the power flowing, providing lights, running stoves, heaters, air conditioners and energizing the images we see in the game of the week or our favorite television series. Sure, that’s our main mission, but when you look around your neighborhood, there’s a good chance the folks at your electric co-op have played some small role in helping to make things better. Because we’re your neighbors, our kids attend the same schools. Members of our co-op staffs are right there with you at parent-teacher organization fundraisers. You can bet you’ll hear their voices among the bidders at 4-H/FFA project auctions, and some of those energy efficiency projects at the science fair might just be co-op inspired. We see the same challenges and depend on the same services you do. At the fire hall or emergency medical services garage, you’ll see some of our lineworkers, field representatives and member services staffers listed on the roster of volunteers. We work with members to solve the problems in our communities that members see. But none of this is new.

In fact, it’s why your electric co-op is not just some we find out how we’re doing and that lets us know when company. Since the beginning, the people behind the co- we get it right, or need to make changes to keep from getting it wrong. op have regularly gone through their comWe care about the things you care munities looking for ways to meet about, because we live here too. needs. VOLUNTARY CONCERN FOR AND OPEN Reliable, affordable We get involved early on the COMMUNITY MEMBERSHIP big economic developpower is still one of ment issues. Our engithose needs, but lisneers, lawyers and tening to members accountants work still helps us to see COOPERATION DEMOCRATIC with other comand learn about AMONG MEMBER munity leaders to new ones. COOPERATIVES CONTROL These days, find solutions creating new jobs we do that and launching through connew industries. versations But our member services representatives commitment to MEMBERS’ EDUCATION, community means have with memECONOMIC TRAINING AND PARTICIPATION bers on the telewe should be there INFORMATION to help with the small phone or at our service center counters. things too. At the neighborhood Staffers are also listening AUTONOMY AND level, it’s the little things that for your concerns at churchINDEPENDENCE really make a difference. That’s es, fast food restaurants and on always been the co-op way. Each and the sidelines at the local ballfields. every one of us connected to the co-op is every bit as With us, whether you grew up on our lines or committed to being here and staying involved each and just moved into our service territory weeks or months every day. ago, you’ll always have a voice. When we listen to you,

7 COOPERATIVE PRINCIPLES

ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES

of Mississippi

ELECTRIC CO-OP STATS

There are 26 electric co-ops in Mississippi and over 900 electric co-ops located in 47 states.

Electric co-ops serve approximately 1.8 million Mississippians.

Electric co-ops serve 85 percent of the landmass in Mississippi.

ELECTRIC CO-OPS

COMMIT Co-op Month 2017 #coopmonth

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR CO-OPS DURING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER

10 I Today in Mississippi

October 2017

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

Where our members have the power CEO’s message

Co-ops help each other in crisis Mississippi’s electric cooperatives believe in neighbors helping neighbors. We’re committed to our communities, and it’s central to Ron Barnes President and CEO everything we do. October is National Co-op Month, which is a perfect time to highlight our commitment to the local communities we serve and to co-op members across the nation. As you know, this hurricane season has been active and it isn’t over yet. After Hurricane Irma made landfall in Florida, our crews were called into service and were part of a group of 333 Mississippi electric cooperative employees who came to the aid of Florida co-op members. Coast Electric sent 29 servicemen and linemen as well as vehicle maintenance and safety personnel to Clay Electric in northeast

Florida. After the storm, Clay reported that 152,811 of its 170,000 members were without service. With assistance from other cooperatives and the skill and knowledge of Clay’s workers, service was restored to Clay members in some pretty tough conditions. If you know anything about co-op crews, you know they don’t quit. We exist to serve rural areas so if lines are down in swamps and in thickly wooded areas, crews don’t hesitate to handle the job. I am proud of the grit and determination our employees showed as they helped other co-op members and I am glad Coast Electric is part of the nationwide network of cooperatives that reaches out to help our brothers and sisters in times of need. That’s what being part of a cooperative is all about. We work hard to provide a service and we also work hard to do the right thing for the communities we serve and for those in need.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Watt’s up this month

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I Coast Electric presents Halloween Safety at your local library. I Annual meeting and Membership Appreciation Night notice. I Coast Electric assists with Hurricane Irma relief. I Do you have your Co-op Connections Card? I The Power of Pink: Coast Electric employees support Breast Cancer Awareness.

Mark your calendar and save the date! 17th Annual Gulf Coast

VETERANS DAY PARADE Downtown Biloxi

Saturday, Nov. 11 Celebrating Naval Construction Battalion Center Gulfport’s 75th Anniversary Honoring all past and present day veterans

For more information call 228•669•4997 or visit www.msveteransparade.com

October 2017

Today in Mississippi

As a cooperative, Coast Electric operates using a set of seven principles to guide operations. One of those principles is democratic member control. That means that you get a vote and a voice in your cooperative. This month, we are sending Annual Meeting notices to your homes. Besides having important information about our meeting and containing your Coast Electric membership card, these notices will also give you the opportunity to vote by proxy if you aren’t able to attend the meeting in person. We hope to see you all at our meeting DEMOCRATIC on Nov. 2 but if you MEMBER CONTROL aren’t able to come, you can still particiCOOPERATIVE pate in your cooperaPRINCIPLE 2 tive’s democratic process by sending in your proxy registration card. Either way you vote, we believe it’s important that you take part in your co-op’s voting process to elect those who represent you on the Board of Directors. Voting gives you a voice!

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October 2017

Check your mai lbox for your official Annual Meeting notice . Notices will be mailed O ct. 3.

Today in Mississippi

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Today in Mississippi

October 2017

Hurricane Irma relief Coast Electric assists with

Twenty nine Coast Electric employees assisted Clay Electric Cooperative in Florida in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma. Clay Electric serves 170,000 members in 14 north Florida counties. Just after the storm, Clay reported that 152,811 members had no power. Coast Electric sent construction and service crews as well as vehicle maintenance and safety personnel to assist the cooperative with restoration efforts. As a not-for-profit cooperative, Coast Electric is guided by a set of seven principles that drive company operations. One of those principles is

Cooperation among Cooperatives. This means cooperative employees are ready and willing to assist sister co-ops in times of need. “So many co-op crew members have assisted Coast Electric members after storms here,” said Coast Electric President and CEO Ron Barnes. “It is important for us to be able to return the favor when we are called on to help. I am proud that our employees were part of rebuilding and restoring electric service and communities for the people of Florida.”

Membership has its

perks! Coast Electric members have saved more than $3.24 million on more than 231,647 prescription medications since January 2008. Visit connections.coop to see all the ways you can save on prescription medications and online products and services. Your card is one more advantage of being a member of your local electric cooperative!

The Power of

Pink

October 2017

Today in Mississippi

This October, you may notice a slight change in our company uniform. That’s because those who wear hard hats as part of their personal protective equipment will don pink hats in honor of those we have lost and those who are survivors of breast cancer. Office employees will wear pink shirts each Friday too. According to breastcancer.org, one in eight women will develop breast cancer in her lifetime while 2,470 more cases were expected in men in 2017. Coast Electric employees are standing up this October to show support for breast cancer awareness and research and we hope you will too. Here is why some of our employees are wearing pink this fall.

Rhonda Favre - Breast Cancer Survivor This year makes 10 years for me that I am cancer free. I urge all women that are at that age to please have their mammograms. It is very important to take care of yourselves when it comes to cancer. I still see my oncologist yearly because he has never released me and he is the one that sets up my mammograms for me. Having cancer is nothing to mess around with so let’s try to beat it and not let it win.

Bill McKnight I have a wife and an eightyear-old little girl. Wearing our pink hard hats is a small thing we can do to make a big difference in our communities.

Ashley Mayley The support we give could be the encouragement a person needs to fight instead of giving up. I don’t want anyone giving up on my watch, so I’ll support the cause until I can’t anymore.

Josh Ulrich All of us have people in our lives that have had cancer so for us to gather together and wear pink for the month of October raises awareness. It is important to educate people about routine checkups. The more awareness we raise the more prevention there is.

Ty Smith Breast cancer has affected each of us. My mom and my aunt are survivors so it really means a lot for me to get to wear my pink hard hat and show support for all survivors. It means a lot that our company can come together to show support for a cause like this.

Ada Dodson I want to get the word out to make women and men aware that you have to take preventative measures like mammograms to be able to catch it in time. The friends and family that I have lost are the ones that did not get mammograms every year. The ones who did are still with us today so I want to be able to help get the word out about how important it is.

Tracy Harvey - Breast Cancer Survivor I wear pink as a reminder for women to get their mammograms, for all the survivors, for the ones who are fighting this disease and I am wearing pink for those who have succumbed to the disease. I had breast cancer. It was a difficult time in my life. My belief in Jesus and my faith in God carried me through. I could not have gotten through it without the love and support of my family, my church family, my co-workers and my friends. My granddaughter Anna Grace was born during my harshest treatments. What a blessing she was for me. There were times I said I can’t, I won’t, I don’t and in those times, I got out my Bible and opened it to the book of Psalms and began to read. I found strength and comfort there. I want to encourage those who are going through this battle to be strong in mind and spirit and to FIGHT, FIGHT, FIGHT! February 2018 will make five years that I am cancer free. I wear pink. I am blessed, humbled and thankful to be a survivor.

Sheena Baughman Breast Cancer Awareness is a cause very dear to my heart. I’ve always been a big supporter of breast cancer awareness, and when it happened to my family, I couldn’t be happier that I did support it so much. My Aunt Brandy, my mom’s baby sister, that I’m very close with, was diagnosed with breast cancer about four years ago. Then last year my MawMaw, my dad’s mom, whom I’m also very close with, was diagnosed with breast cancer along with lung cancer. She just finished all her treatments. My aunt has been cancer free for almost three years since she was diagnosed, and as of now, my Maw-Maw is cancer free. It’s very emotional to go through something like this when you are so close with a person who has been affected by it.

Today in Mississippi

October 2017

Greenwood • Winona • Cleveland • Indianola

Delta Electric Power Association crew members who assisted with power restoration for Florida electric cooperative members in the wake of Hurricane Irma are, from left, Coty Cochran, Grant Muncher, Skye Little, Shannon Rainey, Willie Seals, Austin Piltz, Matthew Griffin, Brandon Stokes, Phillip Tate, Bobby Holder, Matt Conner (kneeling), Taylor Mims, Jeremy Boyette, Chad Summers, James Wellborn, Braxton Moore, Mike Hudson, Johnny Serio, John McNamara and Brent Mulvilhill.

Delta Electric helps return light to the Sunshine State Delta Electric Power Association last month sent 20 emergency crew members and equipment to help two Florida electric cooperatives, Madisonbased Tri-County Electric and Wauchula-based Peace River Electric, in restoring an electrical grid shredded by Hurricane Irma. Electric cooperatives in Florida, Georgia and South Carolina took a direct hit from the hurricane. Delta Electric’s workers joined a force of some 5,000 electric cooperative workers from 25 states assisting in the power restoration efforts. The workers were greeted by downed power lines and broken poles, many of them tangled in fallen trees, storm debris and flood water. “We are very proud of our linemen who volunteered to provide assistance to Florida electric cooperatives in the aftermath of Hurricane Irma,” said David O’Bryan, Delta Electric general manager. “This was a sacrifice for each one but especially for our linemen with young families. Their willingness to help their fellow man exemplifies the

integrity and character of our linemen, and it also illustrates one of the cooperative principles that we operate under, which is Cooperation Among Cooperatives,” O’Bryan said. Electric cooperatives throughout the nation help each other rebuild electric service in catastrophic emergency situations. Delta Electric was on the receiving end of this mutual aid during the 1994 ice storm disaster, when more than 10,000 utility poles in its service territory were damaged or destroyed by ice. By working together, electric cooperatives dramatically reduce outage time. “The CEO of Tri-County Electric Cooperative was impressed that we sent such a large contingent to assist his cooperative and was very complimentary of their professionalism,” O’Bryan said. “We will never forget the assistance provided to us in past storms such as the catastrophic 1994 ice storm. Delta Electric will always endeavor to assist other electric cooperatives with storm damage whenever and wherever possible.”

October 2017

Today in Mississippi

ELECTRIC CO-OP STATS

There are 26 electric cooperatives in Mississippi and over 900 electric cooperatives located in 47 states. Electric cooperatives serve approximately 1.8 million Mississippians.

Electric cooperatives serve 85 percent of the landmass in Mississippi.

efficiency projects at the science fair might just be coop inspired. We see the same challenges and depend on the same services you do. At the volunteer fire department or youth ball fields, you’ll see some of our lineworkers, field representatives and member services staffers listed on the roster of volunteers. We work with members to solve the problems in our communities that members perceive. But none of this is new. In fact, it’s why your electric co-op is not just some company. Since the beginning, the people behind Delta Electric have regularly gone through their communities looking for ways to meet needs. Reliable, affordable power is still one of those needs, but listening to our members still helps us to see and learn about new ones. These days, we do that through conversations our member services representatives have with members on the telephone or at our office counters. Staffers are also listening for your concerns at churches, fast food

restaurants and on the sidelines at the local games. With us, whether you grew up on our lines or just moved into our service territory weeks or months ago, you’ll always have a voice. When we listen to you, we find out how we’re doing and that lets us know when we get it right, or need to make changes to keep from getting it wrong. We care about the things you care about, because we live here too. We get involved early on the big economic development issues. Our staff professionals work with other community leaders and organizations to find solutions for creating new jobs and attracting new industries to our area. But our commitment to community means we should be there to help with the small things too. At the neighborhood level, it’s the little things that really make a difference. That’s always been the co-op way. Each and every one of us connected to Delta Electric is every bit as committed to being here and staying involved each and every day.

Delta Electric crew members replace a utility pole serving catfish ponds in Leflore County. The cooperative routinely inspects poles to identify those in need of replacement or repair. The work is an important part of Delta Electric’s outage-prevention efforts.

Today in Mississippi I October 2017

Dixie Electric is an equal opportunity employer and provider.

Living out our cooperative principles October is Cooperative Month, which is a great time to reflect on the seven cooperative principles. These principles drive our business and the decisions we make. I would like to share three principles that you will see over the next few pages. Cooperation among Cooperatives is a principle that is critical to our business in so many ways, especially in restoring power after a major storm. As you will likely remember, linemen from other electric cooperatives came to our aid in January after a destructive tornado hit

Forrest and Perry counties. Our crews were called to go to Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative in Live Oak, Florida to restore electric service to members who were in the path of Hurricane Irma on Sept. 10, 2017. Another principle that we are living out is Concern for Community. Thirtythree youth leaders, representing 13 area high schools, participated in our Youth Leadership Program. This is an annual program that educates high school on the cooperative business model, electrical energy generation, transmission and dis-

tribution, and develops their leadership skills. Lastly, our annual meeting is just around the corner, so the opportunity to elect your representatives to our board is now open. The process of our electing members of the association to serve on the board is the cooperative principle of Democratic Member Control. Our annual meeting is on Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017. If you can’t attend the annual meeting, you can vote by absentee ballot or submit a proxy. Those details and instructions are on pages 10d and 11.

they’re not connected to a device. Television set-top boxes also consume energy when they appear to be inactive. Anytime the set-top box’s lights are on, it is using power. Like chargers, they use more when the television is on, but they are always working – even when the TV is off. This is especially true for those devices with a DVR function that records your favorite TV shows. The instant-on television is another culprit. The intention of the “instant-on” feature is instant gratification for the viewer, meaning no waiting for the TV to turn on and warm up. Unfortunately, for that convenience, the TV must be on at nearly full power. So, in this mode, it can be a real energy drain. The typical gaming console can use as much energy as a regular refrigerator even when it’s not being used. Make sure to check the console settings and disable automatic updates, which is where the energy drain comes from. Games on the console are frequently updated, which requires a lot of electricity. So how does the average family combat these dreaded vampire loads? Garlic garlands? Silver bullets? Fortunately, none of the remedies of fable are necessary. You just need to change how you handle these energy-suck-

Dixie Electric was founded on these cooperative principles nearly 80 years ago. Our principles set a firm Randy Smith foundation for General Manager us. We continue to evolve and may live out these principles differently now, but staying true to our cooperative roots is how we stay strong and vital to our community.

ing electronics. Here are a few suggestions. • Unplug chargers when not in use. • Invest in smart power strips. These look like normal power strips but have a twist; one of the outlets is the “master” that receives power all the time. The others are off. When the device connected to the master outlet turns on, the rest of the outlets receive power too. Ingenious and perfect for entertainment set ups. Have the television in the master outlet and when you turn it on, the set-top box, speakers, streaming devices, etc. will turn on too. They are also ideal for PCs and their peripherals. • Turn off the instant-on function on your TV. Turn off settop boxes that do not contain the DVR functionality or use a smart power strip. • Disable automatic updates in gaming consoles and turn the console completely off when you finish using it. • When replacing any device or appliance, look for an EnergyStar® rated product. Vampire loads are a real problem that will only continue to grow as the digital age advances. But you can fight the vampires with vigilance and application of the recommendations above. Contact Dixie Electric for additional suggestions and energy-saving advice.

October 2017 I Today in Mississippi

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Dixie Electric sends line crew to

Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative Thirteen linemen went to Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative, headquartered in Live Oak, Fla., to help restore electric service to approximately 22,000 members in the path of Hurricane Irma. “As Irma blew through our territory on Monday, Sept. 11, she left 95 percent of our members without power and had broken over 200 poles. Through the efforts of 149 utility workers, we were able to return our system to normal operations within a seven-day time frame. Hurricane Irma presented us with some monumental challenges and our cooperative team met those challenges head-on. I am extremely proud of our cooperative network’s dedication to neighbors helping neighbors,” SVEC

Chief Executive Officer Michael McWaters stated. “Everyone worked as a team. Restoration went real smooth,” Line Foreman Bobby McDonald said. “Damage was pretty bad. Some places looked like a tornado came through, but other areas weren’t that bad.” McDonald also complimented the members of Suwannee Valley Electric because they offered food and water to the linemen and were positive about their situation. Hurricane Irma struck Suwannee Valley Electric’s service territory with heavy rain and wind. The outages were widespread across the electric cooperatives’ four-county service territory. In addition to line crew personnel, Dixie

Electric sent bucket trucks to assist with restoration efforts. “They had a lot of power lines down. Our crew and Tommy’s crew (from Dixie Electric) changed close to 40 poles. We didn’t see much structural damage to homes, but we saw tons of trees down, poles broken and lines down,” Journeyman Lineman Adron Presley said. “This was probably the most wide spread storm I’ve worked since Hurricane Katrina. In eight days, more than 100 men got the power back on because Suwannee Valley’s employees were efficient and organized. I’d go back there if they needed help again.” “We are happy to send our linemen and equipment when cooperative mem-

The following line crew personnel left on Tuesday, Sept. 12 for Florida: Serviceman Floyd Herford, Line Foreman Tommy Ulmer, Journeyman Lineman Adron Presley, Lineman Will Pitts, Lineman Kenny Batte, Serviceman Shawn Garner, Lineman Charles Houpt and Apprentice Lineman Matthew Spiers

Electric utility pole inspections Osmose Utilities Services began performing inspection and maintenance on some of Dixie Electric Power Association’s poles in August and will continue for approximately four to five months. The general areas to be inspected will be the Diamond, Waynesboro, Chapparal, Shubutta, Hiwannee, Matherville, Winchester and Denham 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.

bers need assistance,” General Manager Randy Smith said. “In the past we’ve had to call on other cooperatives for assistance with restoration. This an opportunity for us to give back to them.” Suwannee Valley Electric Cooperative (SVEC) serves more than 25,000 cooperative members with electric energy in the Florida counties of Columbia, Hamilton, Lafayette and Suwannee.

The following linemen left on Thursday, Sept. 14: Journeyman Lineman Chris Pittman, Lineman Eric Bryant, Apprentice Lineman Ethan McLeod, Lineman Michael Paul King and Line Foreman Bobby McDonald

Right-of-way clearing projects underway 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: • Cleo substation – Poole Creek, Highway 84 East to the Jones/Wayne County line, Magnolia Road, Mill Creek Road, Beaver Dam Community, Sandersville-Eucutta Road, Freedom Road and Walters Loop Road • West Richton substation – Runnelstown, Ovett, Goodhope, Buck Creek, McSwain Community, Clay Hill Community, Whitfield, Pumping Station, Corinth Church, New Augusta, Mahnad • Macedonia substation – Macedonia, Runnelstown and Barrontown Clearing the right-of-way protects individuals from the hazards of electricity and makes power restoration quicker and safer for Dixie Electric’s line crew personnel.

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October 2017

Principles, people and a passion for leaders:

Dixie Electric’s Youth Leaders The morning started with a quick flashback to life before electricity and ended with a tour of a modern electric power generating facility that supplies electricity to thousands. Thirty-three students, representing 13 high schools, participated in a day of learning at Dixie Electric’s Cooperative University on Tuesday, Sept. 19, at Life Church in Laurel. Cooperative University is a fun filled day that educates high school juniors on the cooperative form of business, how electricity flows to their homes and leadership development. This annual event is the first step in Youth Leadership Program. From the 33 students who attended, several were selected to be interviewed the following day for an opportunity to attend the Youth Leadership Workshop in Jackson, which is organized and hosted jointly with the other electric cooperatives in

Mississippi. Those students will also win an allexpense paid trip to Washington, D.C. in June 2018 along with other students from the state and nation. One of the highlights of Cooperative University is an interactive discussion with state legislators. Sen. Dennis Debar, Rep. Donnie Scoggin and Rep. Gary Staples answered questions from the students on issues relating to Mississippi or about their professional careers. One student commented on the evaluation that this was the favorite part of the day “because I had the chance to directly communicate with those who represent me.” “It is our pleasure to host Cooperative University each year. We always have outstanding students, making it difficult for the judges to choose the winners each year,” Community

Relations Coordinator Pollyanna Magee said. Right-of-Way Assistant Timmy Sullins and Serviceman Ed Ritchey presented an overview of the daily tasks of a lineman, the equipment he uses and the safety procedures that he must follow. The students toured Plant Dudley in Moselle, which is a natural gas-fired electric energy generating facility owned by Cooperative Energy, Dixie Electric’s wholesale electric energy provider. Former youth leadership winners Jess Cooley and Kameron Flowers gave an overview of their experiences from the past year, specifically highlighting their trip to Washington, D.C. Flowers is from South Jones High School, and Cooley is from West Jones High School. Academic counselors, teachers and school officials from the local high schools joined the students for the classroom portion of the University.

Front row: Dev Patel, Rene Walters, Kayden Waller, Madelyn Broome, Faith Sullins, Zoe Clark, Natalie Brown, Kailee Blackledge, Krista Ogima, Rachel Bryant Second row: Dane Deas, Trevor Chancellor, Karsyn Ulmer, Dani Henderson, Mallory Extine, Caidyn Crowder, John Brady Amacker, Alexandra Castillo, Pheobe Bunch, Isabella Beasley Back row: Lamia Cooley, Aubrey Gaudet, Anna Nobles, Fallon Shows, Rylee Brabham, Lane Chancellor, Slade Hicks, Arsean Stapleton, Garrett Crowder, Cade Culpepper, Jared Allen Bush, Rylan Entrekin, Timothy Loper

October 2017

Today in Mississippi

ship Program

Sen. Dennis Debar, Rep. Donnie Scoggin and Rep. Gary Staples took questions from the students and shared their experiences as a state legislator.

Students learned the process of generating, transmitting and distributing electric power. They built their electrical system, using pipe cleaners and Playdoh.

The students toured Plant Dudley, a natural gas-fired plant, in Moselle. The plant is owned and operated by Cooperative Energy, Dixie Electricâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s wholesale provider.

The morning started with the toilet paper game. The students write facts about themselves on the toilet paper and share the facts.

Towards the end of the day, the students prepared and performed skits based on what they learned at Cooperative University.

Serviceman Ed Ritchey and Right-of-Way Assistant Timmy Sullins explain the challenges of being a lineman.

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Today in Mississippi October 2017

Dixie Electric Power Association

ANNUAL MEETING 11 a.m., Saturday, Oct. 21, 2017, at Journey Church, 130 Northeast Drive, Laurel. These individuals qualified as candidates for the board elections during June and July 2017 as defined by the Association’ s Bylaws. Their eligibility was verified by the Credentials and Elections Committee, consisting of seven members of the Association. District 2 – Allen M. Sledge, Sr. Allen Sledge from Petal is the current director for District 2, which covers portions of Forrest and Jones counties. Sledge retired from BellSouth Corporation after 36 years of service. Sledge and his wife, Patsy, are active members of Petal-Harvey Baptist Church and have three children and seven grandchildren.

s i h t r o f h c t a W brochure, in coming sooln. the mai

District 7 – Jerry Keith Bunch Keith Bunch, from Clara in Wayne County, is the owner of Bunch Logging, Inc. He is a sponsor of the Wayne County Forestry Association. Keith and his wife, Kimberly, have four children and are members of the First Baptist Church of Clara.

District 7 – Dale McKee Dale McKee, of the Whistler community in Wayne County, is employed with the Wayne County School District in public relations. He is a member of the Timber Bowl Football Committee, formerly served on the East Mississippi Railroad Committee and was a summer league baseball coach. Dale, along with his wife Teresa, are members of First Baptist Church of Waynesboro and have two children and three grandchildren.

JASPER

Dixie Electric Power Association Board of Directors Michael H. Shows, Vice-President, 1 Allen M. Sledge, Sr., Alt. Sec.-Treas., 2 Robert M. Smith, Sec.-Treas., 3 Mack J. Mauldin, President, 4 Sears Ward, 5 Faye Bonner, 6 To be elected, 7

COVINGTON

SANDERSVILLE HWY 11

LAUREL

HWY 84

LEAF RIVER

WAYNE

SPURLINE RD.

HWY 588

WAYNESBORO

ELLISVILLE

JONES

RICHTON

PETAL

NEW AUGUSTA

dixieepa.com

October 2017

Today in Mississippi

of the MEMBERS Prizes to be given away! Overall Prize

Seven District Prizes

Vote Online Prize

(one prize awarded)

(one prize awarded per district)

(one prize awarded)

$500 credit on electric bill

$250 credit on electric bill

To be eligible for prizes, sign your proxy, mail in your absentee ballot, vote online or vote in person at the annual meeting. You need not be present to win. Dixie Electric employees and board members are not eligible.

Submit a Proxy

Vote by Ballot

Look for your proxy inside Dixie Electric Power Association’s annual meeting pamphlet, which was mailed on Sept. 21, 2017, or at any Dixie Electric location. See instructions in the pamphlet for complete details on completing your proxy. You may vote by absentee ballot, vote online or execute your proxy, but you can only choose one. Mail or give your proxy to a Dixie Electric employee before the deadline. Don’t delay! All proxies must be in Dixie Electric’s office by 5 p.m., Oct. 16, 2017.

Vote by absentee ballot when your annual meeting pamphet arrives in the mail in late September.

How to complete your proxy. If you want the board of directors to vote your proxy, put an “X” here.

If you want someone who is attending to vote your proxy, put an “X” here, and fill out the person’s name, account number and mailing address.

Date proxy.

Write your name, account number and mailing address just as it appears on your bill stub.

Sign proxy.

PROXY The undersigned, one of the members of Dixie Electric Power Association, hereinafter called the Association, does hereby constitute either ( ) The Board of Directors of the Association, OR ( ) Proxy’s Name ________________________ Proxy’s Account Number __________________ Proxy’s Address ________________________ as my proxy to vote for and in the name of the undersigned at the annual meeting of the Association at Journey Church on Northeast Drive, Laurel, Jones County, Mississippi, beginning at 11 a.m. on the 21st day of October 2017, or at any adjournment thereof; and the undersigned does give and grant unto said proxy full power to act for and on behalf of the undersigned in connection with any and all matters of business properly and lawfully to be voted upon by the members of the Association at said meeting and any adjournment or adjournments thereof to the same extent as the undersigned could do if personally present. This proxy must be received at any office location not less than five (5) days prior to the meeting, otherwise to be null and void. Witness the signature of the undersigned member of the Association on this, the ___ day of ________2017. _______________________________________ Print Member’s Name _______________________________________ Member’s Account Number _______________________________________ Member’s Address __________________ _________________ Home Phone Cell Phone _______________________________________ Member’s Email _______________________________________ Signature

Or Vote Online How to vote online. Option 1: Log in to your SmartHub account through dixieepa.com and click “Vote Now.”

Option 2: Check your email for a direct link to the vote online site. Your account number and member number, which is your unique login information, is included in the email too. Follow the link, login, and vote absentee ballot or proxy. You can use this unique login to vote online through the SmartHub app.

Option 3: If you would like to vote online and don’t have a SmartHub account or email address on file with Dixie Electric, set up an account online at dixieepa.com or call one of our office locations and provide your email address and password to us. For more information on SmartHub, visit dixieepa.com/smarthub/. Contact Dixie Electric at 601-425-2535 or dixieelectric@dixieepa.com for your voting credentials. Please include your name, account number, service address and phone number in the email to help us serve you better.

Today in Mississippi

October 2017

East Mississippi Electric Power Association Louisville 662.773.5741

Meridian 601.581.8600

Quitman 601.776.6271

DeKalb 601.743.2641

A message from your CEO

When the storms in life come Each year about this time, we begin watching the tropics and hoping hurricanes do not form. As I write this article, East CEO Randy Carroll Mississippi Electric Power Association has employees in Florida helping restore power following Irma’s destruction. We were blessed in that Harvey and Irma missed our area. Recently, I read an article by Phil Carson, President of the NRECA Board, in which he related a conversation with a co-op member some 20 years ago. The member believed cooperatives’ days were numbered. He predicted that within 15 years, market forces and innovation would render the cooperative obsolete. I expect the members of the Florida cooperatives would beg to differ with this prediction as our employees work long and difficult hours to restore electric service to their homes. Even today, many would say that solar power and home generation coupled with battery backup will replace the distribution lines serving members. Daily I see Internet ads as well as TV ads that suggest cutting

your tie with the distribution grid. But when the storms come and service is interrupted, cooperative employees rise to the challenge of restoring grid power, even in states like Florida where solar is so prevalent. I guess it could happen if we allow ourselves to become irrelevant. So how do we as a cooperative remain relevant? We remain relevant by continuing to focus on what is important to our members. Our recent satisfaction survey, which had a 90 percent positive response rate, stressed quality employees that provide exceptional service at an affordable cost as the primary driver of our success. EMEPA has always prided itself on maintaining well-trained and service focused employees. How many other organizations outside of the utility business do you see employees wading in hip-deep water through the mud and muck to restore service to people they don’t even know? These same employees will get up in the middle of the night when storms cause power interruptions on our EMEPA system. They work diligently to restore normalcy to life. Our employees who answer the phone, assist mem-

bers in the office, speak to students at the schools, design and build the needed lines and work to bring new industry to our area all have this same dedication. We want to see our communities be the place others want to live, work and raise families. By remaining committed to the cooperative principles, we remain relevant. We also work hard to maintain our cost at an affordable value. Look at your monthly bill sometime and compare the daily price of having electric service at your fingertips to other things in your life. For less than the cost of lunch each day, you have access to hot water, clean clothes, refrigerated food and drink, entertainment on your TV and of course, a charged cell phone. The introduction of solar and home generation will bring about changes in our industry, but we are committed to being a part of any new technology that meets our members’ need for safe, affordable and reliable power. Again, we remain relevant by delivering the energy needed to empower members’ lives 24hours a day, seven days a week.

East Mississippi Electric 79th Annual Meeting

Saturday, Oct. 7, 2017 Mark your calendar for Saturday, Oct. 7, and make plans to attend our 79th 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.

October 2017

Today in Mississippi

EMEPA crews assist in Georgia and Florida following

Hurricane Irma East Mississippi Electric Power Association sent 21 employees including linemen, servicemen, engineers, rightof-way workers and a mechanic to Okefenoke Rural Electric Membership Corporation, headquartered in Nahunta, Ga., to aid in power restoration efforts following Hurricane Irma. Okefenoke REMC’s service territory was in the path of Hurricane Irma’s destruction causing significant damage and widespread power outages. Okefenoke REMC serves approximately 36,000 homes and businesses on the Florida/Georgia state line. Another EMEPA line crew consisting of five additional men and two more from the original group also traveled to south Florida to aid in restoring service to members of Glades Electric Cooperative. “As an electric cooperative, assisting fellow co-ops in need is part of our operating principles,” said EMEPA CEO Randy Carroll. “We are a member of a

national network of electric cooperatives who assist one another with power restoration after major natural disasters.” In addition to EMEPA, other electric cooperatives from Mississippi also sent emergency crews to assist in restoring electric service to areas hit by the storm. More than 300 men from Mississippi electric cooperatives assisted crews in both Georgia and Florida during Hurricane Irma’s aftermath. “Going to help brother and sister cooperatives across the country in time of need is part of our job,” said Matt Sampley, EMEPA system design engineer and one of the team members that assisted in Georgia. “They were genuinely glad to see us coming to help turn the lights on in their area. I wish I could have counted the times someone stopped and said, ‘Thank you for coming so far to work so hard.’” EMEPA crews spent six days assisting Okefenoke REMC in Georgia and seven days in Florida assisting Glades Electric before returning home.

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DELIVERING ENERGY

October 2017

employees and other expenditures. East Mississippi Electric Power Association has been delivering energy to power east The Human Resources department is responsible for all personnel associated with Mississippi for over 79 years. We take pride in providing reliable energy to our members and are committed to go the extra mile to provide great service. EMEPA. They handle the recruiting, hiring, retiring, benefits and initial orientation as well as training for all employees. Continual learning and training The Operations and Engineering departments ensure that the for EMEPA employees is crucial to having a skilled workforce that overall system is well maintained. This team is responsible for planThe electricity we helps keep EMEPA operating at an optimal level. This learning elening ahead for future needs and continually monitoring existing equipment and resources. An equally important area of focus is safeprovide literally powers ment is also one of the Seven Cooperative Principles and extends to our members. ty. Working with electricity is an inherently dangerous task, and our communities, and it helping to foster a culture of safety for all workers is a major prioriThe Marketing and Communication department works to build and foster relationships between EMEPA and our membership. This ty. Members can count on the Operations and Engineering departtakes the whole team department is responsible for EMEPAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s annual meeting and special ments for everything from lighting, heating, cooling and so much to deliver on this outreach to community and civic organizations. The Marketing and more. Communication department is responsible for all communication The Member Services department is responsible for ensuring that promise. you are treated appropriately, and it all starts at the time you sign between EMEPA, the media and the community, including the monthly Today in Mississippi paper. Additionally, this department up for membership. The Member Service Representatives (MSRs) answer calls and questions about billing and energy use. They work with members to coordinates EMEPAâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s sponsorship of youth scholarships and an educational trip to Washington, D.C., as part of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Associationâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s identify high use periods and discuss ways to save on the monthly bill. The Accounting and Finance department is responsible for the financial well being of Youth Tour program each summer. The Information Services department is tasked with keeping EMEPA up-to-date EMEPA. It includes billing, collections and overseeing any loans the cooperative has with deployment of innovative technology to increase work efficiency. Wise investments received. As you know, EMEPA generates an electric bill that we send to you either electronically or through regular mail, often on a date that you have specified. We do so in new technology cut operational costs not only during outages, but also throughout our day-to-day operations. Whether it is 24/7 access to payment kiosk at every branch to ensure we can apply the latest technology, help lower your energy costs and send office, our free smart phone app or new outage map access to members, deploying statetimely, accurate bills to you. of-the art solutions helps control operating costs and improve service reliability and conWhile we are a member-owned cooperative and operate differently than investorvenience to our members. owned utilities, we are still a business. As such, the accounting departMany different people and ment ensures that revenue collected from the membership exceeds our departments work closely together expenses. Typical expenses include the money we pay for electric power, equipment, new technology, upgrades to the infrastructure, to serve our members because they are at the heart of everything we do. The electricity we provide literally powers our communities, and it takes the whole team to deliver on this promise.

EMPOWERING LIVES

October 2017 I Today in Mississippi

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As Americans in 2017, it is nearly impossible to imagine life without electricity. So electric bill. The funds collected by EMEPA are given to the VFDs on a quarterly basis. many of our modern conveniences that improve the quality of our lives are dependent Since the program’s inception in 1998, EMEPA members have donated more than $1 on electricity as the “fuel” to make them work. From the alarm clock that wakes us up, million. All of the money donated goes directly to the VFDs. to the refrigerator that keeps our morning milk cold and fresh. From We also work to empower our members to take control of their the HVAC unit that keeps us cool in the summer and warm in the energy use through our Prepay billing option and eScore energy We are your friends and winter, to the vacuum that lets us clean more efficiently and all those efficiency upgrade program. Through Prepay, members purchase kitchen appliances that save us time and physical energy. Of course, power before they use it avoiding deposits and late fees. You neighbors and are so much of our entertainment, whether it comes from TV, radio or simply pay a certain amount up-front and receive text or email committed to working computer, depends on the kilowatt-hours that East Mississippi alerts when you are running low as well as updates on your daily Electric Power Association provides. Just think, there would be no energy use. Prepay offers the opportunity to better manage energy alongside you, our smartphones if there were no electricity. use saving energy and money. members, to improve Businesses of all kinds rely on electricity to produce and sell the EMEPA has a long history of encouraging members to make products we need. So, it is no wonder at EMEPA we feel that, while smart energy decisions through energy efficiency measures. With quality of life. our primary product is electricity, we are really in the business of our eScore energy efficiency upgrade program, offered in partnerempowering lives. We are committed to investing in the local comship with Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA), members have access munities where we live and work. We sponsor local Relay For Life® events, fund schol- to a simple path to making their home as energy efficient as possible. One of our enerarships, support local charities and work to make life better in the areas we serve. gy advisors will evaluate your home to provide an eScore – from 1 to 10 – and a list of In 2017, we launched a new employee volunteer initiative known as the We Care improvements to raise your home’s eScore. You’ll also receive access to instant savings Commitment. In the few short months since the program began, EMEPA employees upgrades and rebates to help make your home as energy efficient as possible. have donated more than 228 meals to local food pantries, 300 books to the local Girls As a not-for-profit electric cooperative, EMEPA’s board, management and employees and Boys Club, 19 pints of blood to Mississippi Blood Services, needed toiletry items know the communities and areas we serve and its needs. Locally owned and operated, to local nursing home facilities and school supplies to United Way’s annual Stuff the we are your friends and Bus program. Additionally, employees have volunteered their time and effort to various neighbors and are comcommunity charities and events, includmitted to working alonging picking up trash along the Chunky side you, our members, River and raising more than $20,000 to improve quality of life for the American Cancer Society in east Mississippi. through our annual Shoot For a Cure EMEPA provides more event. than electricity: We But we don’t stop there. Our volunstrengthen our commuteer fire department support program nity and empower lives. gives EMEPA members the opportunity to donate to their local volunteer fire department through their monthly

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October 2017

Are you secure? By Alison Kennedy Sony, Target, Home Depot, Yahoo and even the U.S. Office of Personnel Management have all been attacked by cybercriminals. Let’s face it: In today’s world, the cybersecurity threats facing our nation can seem overwhelming – and downright scary. Cybersecurity, specifically the protection and security of consumer-members’ assets and the nation’s complex, interconnected network of power plants, transmission lines and distribution facilities is a top priority for electric cooperatives and other segments of the electric power industry. This October, East Mississippi Electric Power Association is participating in National Cybersecurity Awareness Month (NCSAM). Since its inception under leadership from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the National Cyber Security Alliance, NCSAM has grown exponentially, reaching consumers, small and medium-sized businesses, corporations, educational institutions and young people across the nation. By raising awareness and understanding of basic cybersecurity practices, we can all work together to combat cyber threats. EMEPA invites you to join us in recognizing NCSAM. Cyber security tips and resources will be shared through EMEPA’s social media pages throughout the month of October. We encourage you to take a look

October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month

and share with your network of friends and followers. You have a role to play in ensuring the security of your personal and professional data. Use the tips below to safeguard your computer:

Keep all software on internet-connected devices – including PCs, tablets and smartphones – up to date to reduce risk of infection from malware. Create long passwords that only you will remember, and change them every six months. Remember, a strong password is at least 12 characters long. Avoid the use of thumb drives and other portable memory devices. Don’t click on weblinks or attached files in emails when you’re not certain of who the sender is. Keep pace with new ways to stay safe online. Check trusted websites for the latest information. Share security tips with friends, family and colleagues, and encourage them to be web wise. We hope you will join us in raising cybersecurity awareness. Use and follow #cyberaware on social media to show and share your support. To learn more about NCSAM, visit www.staysafeonline.org. Alison Kennedy writes on business and technology strategies and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association, the Arlington, Va.-based service arm of the nation’s 900-plus consumer-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperatives.

ELECTRIC CO-OP STATS

There are 26 electric co-ops in Mississippi and over 900 electric co-ops located in 47 states.

Electric co-ops serve approximately 1.8 million Mississippians.

Electric co-ops serve 85 percent of the landmass in Mississippi.

ELECTRIC CO-OPS

COMMIT Co-op Month 2017 #coopmonth

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR CO-OPS DURING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER

October 2017

Today in Mississippi

In fact, it’s why your electric co-op is not just some com- know when we get it right, or need to make changes to pany. Since the beginning, the people behind the co-op keep from getting it wrong. We care about the things you care about, have regularly gone through their communibecause we live here too. We get ties looking for ways to meet needs. involved early on the big economReliable, affordable power is VOLUNTARY CONCERN FOR AND OPEN still one of those needs, but ic development issues. Our COMMUNITY MEMBERSHIP engineers, lawyers and listening to members still accountants work with helps us to see and other community learn about new leaders to find soluones. COOPERATION DEMOCRATIC tions creating new These days, we AMONG MEMBER jobs and launchdo that through COOPERATIVES CONTROL conversations ing new industries. member services But our representatives commitment to have with memcommunity means bers on the telephone or at our we should be there MEMBERS’ EDUCATION, to help with the service center ECONOMIC TRAINING AND PARTICIPATION counters. Staffers small things too. INFORMATION At the neighborare also listening for your concerns at hood level, it’s the little things that really make a churches, fast food restauAUTONOMY AND difference. That’s always been rants and on the sidelines at INDEPENDENCE the co-op way. Each and every one the local ballfields. of us connected to the co-op is every bit With us, whether you grew up on our as committed to being here and staying involved each lines or just moved into our service territory weeks or months ago, you’ll always have a voice. When we listen and every day. to you, we find out how we’re doing and that lets us

7 COOPERATIVE PRINCIPLES

ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES

of Mississippi

Co-op Connections Business Spotlight Every month, EMEPA spotlights local businesses that participate in the Co-op Connections Program. We will be giving away a basket of prizes from several participating businesses at our 79th Annual Meeting on Saturday, Oct. 7. You must present your Co-op Connections Card and be present to win. Thank you to the following businesses for donating to the prize basket and for their continued support of the Co-op Connections Discount Program.

Best Bodies Meridian 601-693-6161

Mugshots Grill and Bar 601-639-3244

Budget Printing 601-693-6003

Popeye’s Louisiana Kitchen 601-485-8877 (Highway 19 N) 601-482-2004 (Bonita)

Burton Awards 601-581-1557 Custom Frame and Gift 601-483-5595 J&B Athletics, LLC 601-553-0932 (Meridian) 601-776-7557 (Quitman)

Déjà vu 601-693-0609 The Yudt’que Boutique 601-938-9293

Bring your Co-op Connections Card with you to EMEPA’s 79th Annual Meeting on Saturday, Oct. 7 for a chance to win!

Today in Mississippi

October 2017

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

www.4county.org • 1-800-431-1544

YOUR COOPERATIVE By Joe Cade CEO/General Manager

Growing up co-op I love the feeling of being able to walk into my favorite locallyowned shop, restaurant or store knowing that the profit, product and labor can make positive impacts on my community. The spirit of main street is embodied in these local businesses, just like it is in 4-County Electric Power Association. Electric cooperatives are as local and community centered as they come. Founded as a way to bring electricity to communities that didn’t interest investor-owned utilities (or IOUs), electric cooperatives have been a cornerstone of community and economic development in rural America and beyond for decades. That feeling I get when I frequent local businesses in our community is the same feeling I get when I walk into work at the co-op every day. It is a feeling of pride. I am proud to be a part of an organization that serves the community in which we live, instead of a group of shareholders who may never have set foot in our service territory. Living on co-op lines is more than just knowing there are people out there working to bring you safe, reliable and affordable electric service. Living on co-op lines is an investment in our community and its members. You see, 4-County is a not-for-profit business. This means after all co-op expenses are paid, any additional money goes back into the co-op’s infrastructure, instead of going into a shareholder’s pocket, which is pretty great! And because we are owned by you, our members, we have a vested interest in making sure our community is prosperous. We do this by investing in economic development and community service projects and programs such as the 4-County Foundation, the Co-op Connections Card and the Youth Leadership Program. I hope that you view 4-County not just as your electric utility provider, but as a local business that brings pride and prosperity to our community. If you are interested in learning more about how we keep the lights on and beyond, please stop by the co-op or give us a call. We love being a part of this community, and we hope you feel the same way too!

Here’s An Idea

A natural way to cut costs

With shorter days on the way, it’s time to think about lighting. On Nov. 5, we’ll all set our clocks back an hour as Daylight Saving Time comes to an end. As we begin to lose the sun’s natural light late in the day and in the early evening, it’s a good time to start thinking about ways to use lighting more efficiently in our homes and businesses. These efficient alternatives help make it safer and easier to live, work or play and keep energy costs down. One of the best and easiest ways to tackle this seasonal lighting challenge is called daylighting, and it offers several ways to enhance the current lighting in your home and maximize light from the sun. Here they are: Take advantage of daylight by using light-colored, loose-weave curtains on your windows to allow daylight to penetrate the room while preserving privacy; use light-colored paint inside your house (it reflects daylight much more efficiently than darker colors do); strategically-placed mirrors can also help spread the light coming in from your existing windows; and place furniture near available light (this is an easy way to create a brighter atmosphere without having to turn on extra lights).

Interested in energy efficiency?

Rising energy costs have everyone looking for ways to save money. One of the easiest and most effective ways is energy efficiency. From energy-use calculators to programs designed to save you energy to low-cost, no-hassle tips, 4-County has something for everyone. Check www.4county.org for details.

4-County offers incentives

The New Homes Program, offered through 4-County in conjunction with the Tennessee Valley Authority, could offer members incentives for all-electric homes (and homes with gas appliances in them). 4-County officials are urging its members building a new home to call the cooperative and ask about the program. Incentives are offered for both single-family homes and duplexes. Contact Ronnie Vernon or Junior Eads at 1-800-431-1544 for more information or to sign up for the program.

Co-op Connections Card saves Since the Co-op Connections Card was unveiled in September 2011, 4-County members have saved over $586,852 on prescription drugs through September.

Look here each month to see the savings total!

October 2017

Today in Mississippi

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4-County crews help Floridians in power restoration They braved the floods, the mud, the insects, the treacherous terrain and even a few alligators before making their way back home. Crews from 4-County Electric Power Association assisted a sister cooperative Sept. 1319 in Florida with power restoration in the wake of Hurricane Irma. The two seven-man crews (an all-volunteer group) and one support team member left Columbus early Sept. 13 on their way to Clay Electric Cooperative, based in Keystone Heights (just east of Gainesville). They began their trek back home Sept. 19 and arrived late that night. Clay Electric began their recovery process with about 85 percent of their 170,000 meters without power. Damage there included a large number of downed power lines and other impacts on the Clay Electric power infrastructure. 4-County Heavy Construction Foreman Eric Yarbrough said crews got an early start and worked long hours. “We’re glad we could help. Everything went really good,” Yarbrough said. The 4-County Call Center and the cooperative’s

social media site have received numerous “thank you” notes from storm victims in Florida. Take, for example, this note from a Clay Electric member in the Welaka, Fla., area: “Just wanted to say thank you for getting our power back after seven grueling days of heat after Hurricane Irma took it away,” said David Holt, who describes himself as a fledgling author, a woodworker and a disabled veteran. “Thanks for coming to our aid.” In addition to the crews, 4-County sent several large pieces of equipment to assist in the recovery process, including four bucket trucks, two digger-derrick trucks and two service/pickup trucks. 4-County and other cooperatives around the nation operate under a reciprocal agreement to provide help to each other in times of crisis. Rural electric cooperatives across Mississippi responded to the call for help.

4-County employees who worked in Florida included Yarbrough (heavy construction foreman) of Columbus, Kyle Elam (journeyman lineman) of Starkville, Jason Sellers (journeyman lineman) of Shuqualak, Jimmy Stewart (senior equipment operator) of Starkville, Curtis Collier (apprentice lineman 1) of French Camp, Rowdy Rigdon (apprentice lineman III) of Macon, Justin Marro (journeyman lineman) of Starkville, Brian Glusenkamp (heavy construction foreman) of West Point, Chance Ingram (journeyman lineman) of Steens, Derrick Brumfield (lineman) of Columbus, Wesley Champion (apprentice lineman III) of Pheba, Dedrick Stevenson (apprentice lineman III) of Macon, Justin White (journeyman lineman) of Ethelsville, Ala., and Justin Murphy (journeyman lineman) of West Point. Jonathan Edwards (vehicle mechanic) of Cedar Bluff rounded out the cooperative team. “We’re just glad we could help,” said 4-County Manager of Operations Anthony Miller. “The people in that area have power now and our guys safely made their way back home. We were glad to see them.”

Cooperation among cooperatives on display in storm response Cooperation among cooperatives was on full display in September as 4-County Electric Power Association mechanics responded to a call for help from a Missouri crew on its way to assist power restoration efforts in Florida. Grant Petree, an 18-year veteran of Co-Mo Electric Cooperative based in Tipton, Mo., was traveling to SECO Energy (based in Sumterville, Fla.) with his team of 12 when his truck experienced mechanical difficulties near Crawford. The journeyman lineman sent the rest of his team on their trek to SECO (where that co-op had about 110,000 members without power) while he hoped to find mechanics to repair his vehicle. The Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives and Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi (statewide rural electric associations) entered the picture and alerted Petree that 4-County’s corporate headquarters—and its mechanics—were only a few miles away. Within a few hours, 4-County mechanics were working

on Petree’s truck, hoping to send him on his way soon to help the storm-stricken Floridians. Petree said he was more than a little glad to see a 4-County mechanic. “I told him I’d give him a hug if it didn’t offend him,” he said with a laugh. Cooperatives are truly there to help each other, Petree said. “We’re a tightknit group,” he said. “Any storm I’ve ever responded to, another co-op has always been there for us if we need help. And we’d do the same for them. It’s amazing how good co-ops work together.” Eddie Pennington, 4-County fleet management supervisor, said 4-County is always happy to help a fellow cooperative in need. “This is what it’s all about. Cooperation among cooperatives. We did everything we could to get this vehicle repaired and back on the road. And we know they’d do the same for us,” Pennington said. After a four-hour round trip to pick up a part, 4-County mechanics had Petree on his way, not many hours behind his co-workers.

Co-Mo Electric is located about 30 miles west of Jefferson City and serves about 30,000 members. While 4-County mechanics were getting Petree 4-County’s Eddie Pennington, left, assists Co-Mo Electric’s Grant Petree with vehicle repairs. The on the road, Missouri lineman was on his way to Florida when crews from his truck had mechanical problems. 4-County Electric had left the morning before (see story above) on their way to Florida to assist a sister cooperative in restoring power to residents there hit by high winds, storm surge and other elements associated with Hurricane Irma.

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Today in Mississippi

October 2017

Recipients awarded nearly

$56,000 Thirteen area organizations recently received awards from the 4-County Electric Power Association Foundation. Nearly $56,000 was distributed at the Foundation’s Sept. 18 meeting at 4-County’s Corporate Center. Since the Foundation’s inception in February 2015, more than $500,000 has been dispersed to organizations in 4-County’s service area. Those receiving Foundation awards were: • Noxubee County Emergency Management Agency ($9,300 for radios and assorted equipment) • Brooksville Volunteer Fire Department ($9,277.70 for radios and assorted equipment) • Mississippi State University Foundation Summer Scholars ($5,000 for tuition/funding) • Noxubee County Human Resource Agency ($5,000 for construction of wheelchair accessibility, tables and chairs for facility) • French Camp Observatory ($5,000 for program sponsorship) • American Red Cross of North Mississippi ($4,675 for smoke alarms) • Save Haven Inc. ($3,731 for playground equipment)

Safe Haven Inc. – $3,731

• 4-H of Lowndes County/Mississippi State University Extension Service ($3,150 for purchase of a Polaris 110 and helmet for a safety awareness program) • Girl Scouts Heart of the South ($2,625 for program materials) • Choctaw County High School Alumni Association ($2,500 for book bags and books) • Bread of Life Food Pantry at Columbus Church of Christ ($2,400 for food pantry) • Starkville Friends of the Library ($2,400 for computer equipment and reading materials) • Lowndes County Council on Aging ($2,106 for meals for the elderly). 4-County believes in helping the communities it serves. That’s why the cooperative launched the 4-County Foundation, a community service program. Since February 2015, 4-County members’ utility bills have been rounded up to the nearest dollar; a $125.78 bill, for example, becomes $126. Now, that’s an average of only 49 cents per member, per month. That may not seem like much. But when you multiply those contributions by the thousands of member participants, that’s a lot of pennies! For more information on the 4-County Foundation, call 1-800-431-1544.

4-H of Lowndes County – $3,150

American Red Cross of North Mississippi – $4,675

Bread of Life Food Pantry, Columbus Church of Christ – $2,400

Noxubee County Emergency Management Agency – $9,300

October 2017

Brooksville Volunteer Fire Department – $9,277.70 Noxubee County Human Resource Agency – $5,000

Starkville Friends of the Library – $2,400 Girl Scouts Heart of the South – $2,625

Mississippi State University Foundation Summer Scholars – $5,000

Choctaw County High School Alumni Association – $2,500

French Camp Observatory – $5,000

Lowndes County Council on Aging – $2,106

Today in Mississippi

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Today in Mississippi

October 2017

The cost of living keeps getting higher and higher A gallon of gas? About $2.50 A fast-food meal? About $7

Turning a house into a home?

Priceless

You can’t put a price on living in the comfort of your own home.

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families in the 4-County Electric Power Association service area took advantage of 4-County’s Extreme Energy Makeover program. Their days are brighter and their homes more comfortable—all thanks to:

“The program couldn’t have come at a better time.” – Audie Strain

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.

THURSDAY, OCT. 5 Seventh Avenue Heritage Festival; intersection area of Seventh Avenue and 15th Street North in Columbus; continues through Saturday, Oct. 7; details, (662) 329-1191. Monthly Gallery Opening and Reception; main gallery of the Columbus Arts Council, 501 Main St.; 5:30 to 7 p.m.; details, (662) 328-2787. FRIDAY, OCT. 6 Columbus Writer’s Guild: “Living Mississippi”; 7 to 9 p.m.; details, (662) 328-2787. SATURDAY, OCT. 7 Veterans Memorial Walk/Run; Columbus Soccer Complex; 7 a.m.; details, (662) 889-0180. TUESDAY, OCT. 10 MS 200 Songwriting Contest Performance; James M. Trotter Convention Center, 402 Second Ave. N. in Columbus; 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.; details, (662) 328-2787. FRIDAY, OCT. 13 Pumpkinpalooza; Main Street in Starkville; 6 to 8 p.m.; details, (662) 323-3322. SATURDAY, OCT. 14 SEC Football – Mississippi State University (MSU) versus Brigham Young University; Davis Wade Stadium on the campus of MSU in Starkville; details, (662) 323-3322. SUNDAY, OCT. 15 Art in Fashion Show; 3 p.m.; details, (662) 328-2787. Bulldog Brunch & Browse; Main Street in Starkville; 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.; continues Sunday, Oct. 22; details, (662) 323-3322. THURSDAY, OCT. 19 Eudora Welty Writers’ Symposium; campus of Mississippi Univer-

sity for Women in Columbus; 7:30 p.m.; continues through Saturday, Oct. 21; details, (662) 329-1191. Regional Business After Hours; The Mill, 600 Russell St. in Starkville; 5:30 to 7:30 p.m.; details, (662) 323-3322. SATURDAY, OCT. 21 SEC Football: Mississippi State University (MSU) versus University of Kentucky; Davis Wade Stadium on the campus of MSU in Starkville; details, (662) 323-3322. Possum Town Quilters; Rosenzweig Arts Center, 501 Main St. in Columbus; 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.; details, (662) 328-2787. TUESDAY, OCT. 24 Job Fair for Choctaw and Webster Counties; Choctaw County Community Center, 808 College St. in Ackerman; 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.; details, (662) 285-3778. FRIDAY, OCT. 27 Vienna Boys Choir Concert; Lee Hall, 262 Lee Blvd. on the campus of Mississippi State University in Starkville; 7:30 to 9:30 p.m.; (662) 328-2787. SATURDAY, OCT. 28 “War of the Worlds” Radio Play/Reader’s Theatre; 3 p.m. and 7 p.m.; continues Sunday, Oct. 29 (7:30 p.m.) and Monday, Oct. 30 (7:30 p.m.); details, (662) 3282787. Jack O’Lantern Jam; Choctaw County Courthouse lawn, 22 E. Quinn St. in Ackerman; 5 p.m.; details, (662) 285-3778. Starkville Parks: Hail-Oween Festival; J.L. King Park, 400 N. Long St. in Starkville; 5 to 9 p.m.; details, (662) 323-2294.

October 2017

Today in Mississippi

Wilson joins team Chase Wilson has joined the 4-County Electric Power Association team. Chase lives in east Columbus. Prior to 4-County, he worked two years as an Apprentice Lineman for Southern Electric Corporation, a contractor for Entergy. He is from Red Banks, a small community just north of Holly Springs. Chase is an Apprentice III Lineman, working on the crew of Eric Yarbrough. In his spare time, he enjoys hunting and fishing, camping, billiards and shooting skeet. Welcome to 4-County, Chase!

Chase Wilson

Rate changes this month 4-County members saw a slight change in rates, beginning Oct. 1. That includes changes to some internal rate classes and an increase on purchased power from the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA). The TVA board of directors in August approved a budget that included a rate increase of 1.5 percent. The increase went into effect Oct. 1 for TVA customers. This increase was passed through to 4-County members. Last year, thanks to efficiencies and cost-cutting measures, 4-County was one of the few TVA local power companies to absorb a 1.5 percent rate increase. The average 4-County member will

see this increase as about $2.12 per bill. Every day, 4-County works to bring you safe, reliable power at the lowest feasible cost, according to CFO Brian Clark. The co-op strives to work as efficiently as possible and get the best price on high-quality purchased materials. “Our overall goal is to make sure we do everything we can to mitigate the impact that costs outside our control have on rates,” Clark said. The kilowatt-hour cost when 4-County began providing power in 1939 was 4 cents. Today, the cost is about 11 cents. “We’re proud of the work we do to keep costs as low as we can,” Clark said.

Celebrate Co-op Month 4-County Electric Power Association is joining 30,000 cooperatives nationwide in October to celebrate National Co-op Month, which recognizes the many ways cooperatives are committed to strengthening the local communities they serve. “Co-ops Commit” is the theme for this year’s celebration, spotlighting the countless ways cooperatives meet the needs of their members and communities. “Our cooperative delivers electricity to about 48,000 member-owners in our nine-county service area of north Mississippi,” says Joe Cade, 4-County CEO. “Delivering safe, reliable, affordable power is our top priority, but we are also invested in our communities because we are locally owned and operated.” Rural America is served by a network of about 1,000 electric cooperatives, most of which were formed in the 1930s and 40s to bring electricity to farms and rural communities that large, investor-owned power companies had no interest in serving because of the higher costs involved in serving low-population and low-density areas. Over the years, we have answered the call to provide additional benefits and services because it is extremely important to us that our community thrives and prospers. There is a cooperative difference. You own us, and we are here to serve you!

Stevenson’s recent trip to Florida was no vacation Dedrick Stevenson’s recent trip to Florida wasn’t the usual vacation outing that he and his family enjoy each year. It was, however, a fulfilling trek of service and provided a few interesting encounters. Dedrick was part of a 15-man 4-County team that responded in September to a call for help from a Florida cooperative hit hard by Hurricane Irma. “Those people in that area really needed help,” he said of assisting Clay Electric Co-op members in and around the Gainesville area. “You’re really impacting the lives of people that are really needing their power back on.” Upon their arrival in Florida, Dedrick said the 4-County team witnessed a scene of destruction: downed power lines, standing water and other challenges of the swamp they weren’t used to seeing. “There were a lot of alligators and snakes. We would get closer than you would want to be to them, sometimes.” The 4-County group was greeted warmly during their week-long stay in Florida. “People there really showed us their gratitude,” Dedrick said. The Apprentice Lineman III works on Brian Glusenkamp’s heavy construction crew, based at the 4-County Corporate Center in Mayhew. He began his co-op career May 15. Prior to 4-County, Dedrick worked as a lineman

for the City of Macon. He lives in Macon with his wife, Kimberley, and their two daughters, Aymelia, 13, and Dedrianna, 5. Dedrick is a graduate of Noxubee High School, and studied residential wiring at East Mississippi Community College. He is a member of Millers Chapel Missionary Baptist Church in Macon. The family regularly goes to Florida for family vacations and “wherever the outlets are,” he said, in reference to their desire to find the bargains. When not at work, Dedrick spends a lot of time baling hay for the family cattle operation. “I enjoy spending time with my family. I work a lot in my spare time. Being on the farm has its good and bad qualities. But I enjoy running the heavy equipment and baling hay,” he said. What does he like about his 4-County job, in particular? “I enjoy the construction part of it, the feeling of building new things,” Dedrick explained. “It’s a challenge to build something from the ground up. I really enjoy doing that.” In the short time that Dedrick has worked at 4-County, he has noticed that the co-op puts the “team” in teamwork. “Everybody comes together when it’s time to get the lights back on. We’ve got guys that have worked here for a while and provide a good example. I enjoy working with the guys, and I appreciate the opportunity to be here.”

Today in Mississippi I October 2017

Linemen

assist with Hurricane Irma power restoration Six Magnolia Electric Power linemen traveled to Okefenoke Rural Electric Membership Corporation to help the electric cooperative restore power to their members after Hurricane Irma passed through their area. The co-op covers parts of north Florida and southern Georgia. Making the trip were: Kendall Holmes, Scott Weeks, Tony Martin, Taylor Magee, Austin McRae and Justin Terrell. The men, who went to Hilliard, Fla., were relocated to Kingsland, Ga., which is located just north of the Florida state line. The crews averaged 14-hour days working through high temperatures, rain and scattered love bugs. The crews were setting poles and pulling up downed power line wire. According to their website, Okefenoke REMC has 28,513 members, 36,065 active accounts and 3,520 miles of distribution line.

Okefenoke Rural Electric Membership Corporation outage maps showed widespread outage in their service territory when our linemen arrived. Cooperatives help our neighbors when in need.

From left to right: Kendall Holmes, Scott Weeks, Tony Martin, Taylor Magee, Austin McRae and Justin Terrell.

Power and the Land now showing October 2017

Today in Mississippi

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October is National Cooperative Month. In struggle it took to get electricity to the rural celebration, Magnolia Electric Power will present people,” he said. “If you are a history buff or the documentary “Power and the Land” in the depending on your age, just curious about how headquarters’ auditoriyour parents, grandparum each Tuesday in ents, great-grandparOctober from 10 a.m. ents or possibly your to 12 noon. great-great grandparThe film, which ents lived before and comes from the after electricity, this archives of the Franklin would be very informaDelano Roosevelt tive,” he said. Presidential Library, “While researching tells the story of a rural the Great Depression, couple who wanted the search carried me the benefit of electrical into some of the power at the family presidential archives. From the archives of the FDR Presidential Library, 1940. This is a documentary showing the struggle farm. While in the FDR to bring electricity to rural areas of the United States. The film focuses on an Ohio farm family This documentary, archives, I found many who is thrilled to get the electricity that townsfolk have taken for granted. produced in 1940, references to the shows the struggle to creation of the REA bring electricity to (Rural Electrification rural areas of the Administration) and United States. The film saw this short movie focuses on an Ohio which was used to NOW SHOWING farm family who is promote the rural thrilled to get the electricity that city families electrification of our country,” Smith said. had enjoyed for years. “Walter Cronkite noted this film was “Because I know there are Magnolia Electric instrumental in electrifying the heartland of members who are interested in the history of the our nation,” he said. electric cooperatives, I wanted to give them the “Power and the Land” will be continuously chance to enjoy this film,” said General Manager screened in our auditorium from 10 a.m. to 12 Darrell Smith. “This movie went a long way in noon Tuesday, October 3, 10, 17, 24 and 31. The promoting the rural electric cooperatives back in movie has a 38-minute running time. the 1940s and it depicts the way life was before “I invite anyone interested in the history of the and after electricity.” electric cooperatives to find a time to view this “This film is for anyone who is interested in the film,” Smith concluded.

SMARTHUB WORKSHOP As part of National Cooperative Month, Magnolia Come find out all the perks Electric Power will also be holding a workshop for the of SmartHub. SmartHub app at our headquarters. Come learn how to • Learn how to pay your bill on your phone take advantage of our new technology! If you'd like to know about the advantages of • View billing history SmartHub, bring your Smartphone in on Tuesday, October • Report an outage 3, between 10 a.m. and 12 noon and we will help you get • Check your use, plus much, much more. the SmartHub app downloaded to your phone and answer questions you may have concerning the app. Limited time only: Tuesday, October 3, 10 a.m.-12 noon

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Today in Mississippi

October 2017

* PART TWO OF A THREE MONTH SERIES

Remembering

When

electricity came into their lives

As time quickly passes around us, it has been almost 80 years since a group of men gathered in Magnolia, with one goal in mind and that was to bring electricity to the rural areas of southwest Mississippi. It was the determination, hard work and efforts of these men who wanted to see that electricity was brought to the rural masses that got the movement going. Before long, numerous power poles were placed in the ground and wire strung across the local countryside and now the descendants of those men and others who have moved into our area, reap the benefits of electricity because of their hard work. In an effort to document the stories of the people who lived before electricity was brought in to their homes, we asked for our members to share their stories. Renowned Mississippian Walt Grayson conducted the interviews and documented the information. Later, Grayson will produce a video to put all of their information in a video clip for us to share with the public. Until the video is ready, we would like to continue sharing the photographs and bits of their stories in part two of a three part series for our Today In Mississippi readers. And, we would like to extend a sincere thank you to the ones who came out and shared their information with Magnolia Electric Power.

* Part two of a three part series

John Bond, 84 Bond was around 13 years old when he got electricity. He said, “It didn’t seem so bad at the time, but looking back, it was pretty rough. We weren’t used to anything else.” Reminiscing, he said his family used a kerosene lamp 95 percent of the time for light. He remembered, as a five year old that the family had a well, 50-foot deep, that used a bucket. “It was real modern when we got the long-handle pump,” he said, when he was round 7 years old. “One thing I remember the most was every Saturday being wash day. We had that well bucket and you had to fill up two big wash pots and three big wash tubs. Every Saturday, and that took a lot of buckets. It must have taken us two hours to fill up those things and that was every Saturday. When we got electricity, we got a pump,” he said. “I wouldn’t want to go back to the good ole days, but I think it makes me appreciate things more,” he said. And then he shared a story about how the family communicated: “We had a dinner bell that rang at noon to call us to lunch. It was up on a 30 foot pole. You know, there were no cell phones or walkie talkies. When you rang that bell any other time, it was for an emergency. If it rang any other time than noon, the house was on fire or someone was hurt and the neighbors came. Momma and Daddy promised to whip us if we ever rang the bell. I never heard it ring besides 12 o’clock.” In 2015, the Bond family celebrated 150 years of the same family farming the land. Bond’s son-in-law, a practicing engineer, drew these plans to commemorate where the original farm buildings stood. The plans can be seen in the community farm museum which is free to the public.

October 2017

Marcy Johnson, 85

Hollis Alford, 89

Johnson was one of the fortunate ones to live in an area that had electricity when she was very young. But then, her parents moved her and her siblings to the country and she learned what life was like without electric power. But as a child, she said she did not miss the electricity. “It was not a hardship, it was an absolute delight to us kids,” she said. “We had a ball without electricity. We didn’t have Amos and Andy or Roy Rogers, but we had corn cob fights and hide-n-seek in the hay,” she said. “When we moved to the country, that’s when the fun began, she said and added, “but my Mom struggled seeing by lamplight.” “The home had 14-foot ceilings and a fireplace in every room. We drew water from a dug well. We had to study by lamplight. We roasted potatoes in the fireplace and, of course, used flat irons.” As a conclusion, Johnson said electricity is wonderful. She said she had more fun as a child without electricity before her family moved back to an area with electricity. Johnson finished with “electricity has lighted my way through a lot of years,” and added, “I’m sure my Mom and Dad had hardships we didn’t know of.”

Alford remembers the first time he saw the single bulb, with no fixture, hanging down from the living room ceiling in his parents’ home turn on. He was 10 years old and it was in 1938. He could not have known how that little light illuminating in his old homestead would come to represent a significant part of his life. Why? Because, not only has Alford been a Magnolia Electric Board Member for 40 years, but he can also personally relate to the history of the electric cooperative. “There was at least one leader in each community who would get out and work to find members,” he said. His uncle Howard Alford was one of those leaders. “The rural people had a hard life. Some people didn’t want it. They wouldn’t take it. You had resistance,” he explained. Alford’s uncle would ride around and talk to potential electric cooperative members and ask for the $5 fee to get hooked up to electricity. “He picked up the $5 where he could,” Alford said, explaining that $5 back in that day was a lot of money. He said his aunt would walk around in the area and also ask for members to sign up. That is the way it started here, he said referring to the Progress Community in Pike County. Reminiscing, Alford said, “The women had to work extra hard, but the desire was there for electricity. When they would go to town and see the bright lights, they would put up the $5 to get it.” Before the electricity came to his parents’ home, Alford said, “We would read by the fireplace. I remember it being cold. Standing by the fire and then running and jumping in the bed. And in the summertime, it was hot and muggy, too. But our life was fantastic, we were country folk.” With the advent of electricity, farm life changed. “You could milk more cows,” he said. “You had lights, you could see.” “You could see all kinds of changes. First thing most people bought was the stove. The wood burning stove was a killer. No air conditioning, building a fire. I’ve seen my Momma sweat just standing in the kitchen,” he said. “With electricity, life was more comfortable. It changed things,” he said. “It was a matter of escaping – looking for a better life.”

Sammie Anglin, 82 Electricity was the highlight of everybody’s life back then. Of course, we didn’t realize that we didn’t have electricity until we got it and then we saw what we had been missing. I was in school when we got electricity. I remember doing my school work by the coal oil lamp that was sitting in the middle of the table. We didn’t have indoor plumbing and during the cold winter it sure was cold. And the Sears Roebuck Catalog, when we got through with it, that’s where it went.” Bath time was a little pan of water in front of the fire place. The water was warmed on the wood stove. When asked about the light hanging from the ceiling, Anglin said, “We didn’t have a switch, it was a pull chain.” “People on the side roads did not get electricity right away. The ones on the main road, got electricity first,” she said. “And I do remember us living on the side road, we were always the last one to get our power back on in years to come.” “My Momma and Daddy dairyed. The electric milking machine if you didn’t have power to operate it - my Daddy figured out a way to take a tractor, a belt and a pulley and make the milker work with the tractor. But then you had the matter of cooling your milk. You couldn’t operate the cooler so you had to make arrangements to have the milk picked up each day.” Concerning electricity coming to their home, she said, “It was a big step for us to be more civilized.”

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Today in Mississippi

October 2017

In fact, it’s why your electric co-op is not just some com- know when we get it right, or need to make changes to pany. Since the beginning, the people behind the co-op keep from getting it wrong. We care about the things you care about, have regularly gone through their communibecause we live here too. We get ties looking for ways to meet needs. involved early on the big economReliable, affordable power is VOLUNTARY CONCERN FOR AND OPEN ic development issues. Our still one of those needs, but COMMUNITY MEMBERSHIP listening to members still engineers, lawyers and accountants work with helps us to see and other community learn about new leaders to find soluones. COOPERATION DEMOCRATIC tions creating new These days, we AMONG MEMBER do that through jobs and launchCOOPERATIVES CONTROL ing new indusconversations member services tries. But our representatives commitment to have with memcommunity means bers on the telewe should be there phone or at our MEMBERS’ EDUCATION, service center to help with the ECONOMIC TRAINING AND PARTICIPATION small things too. counters. Staffers INFORMATION are also listening for At the neighborhood level, it’s the little your concerns at things that really make a churches, fast food restauAUTONOMY AND difference. That’s always been rants and on the sidelines at INDEPENDENCE the co-op way. Each and every one the local ballfields. of us connected to the co-op is every bit With us, whether you grew up on our as committed to being here and staying involved each lines or just moved into our service territory weeks or months ago, you’ll always have a voice. When we listen and every day. to you, we find out how we’re doing and that lets us

7 COOPERATIVE PRINCIPLES

ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES

of Mississippi

ELECTRIC CO-OP STATS

There are 26 electric co-ops in Mississippi and over 900 electric co-ops located in 47 states.

Electric co-ops serve approximately 1.8 million Mississippians.

Electric co-ops serve 85 percent of the landmass in Mississippi.

ELECTRIC CO-OPS

COMMIT Co-op Month 2017 #coopmonth

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR CO-OPS DURING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER

October 2017

Magnolia Electric Power observing National Co-op Month in October Magnolia Electric Power is joining 30,000 cooperatives nationwide in October to celebrate National Co-op Month, which recognizes the many ways cooperatives are committed to strengthening the local communities they serve. “Coops Commit” is the theme for this year’s celebration, spotlighting the countless ways cooperatives meet the needs of their members and communities. “Our cooperative delivers electricity to 31,451 member-owners in our six-county service area of south Mississippi,” says Darrell Smith, general manager of Magnolia Electric Power. “Delivering safe, reliable, affordable power is our top priority, but we are also invested in our communities because we are locally owned and operated.” Rural America is served by a network of about 1,000 electric cooperatives, most of which were formed in the 1930s and 40s to bring electricity to farms and rural communities that large, investor-owned power companies had no interest in serving because of the higher costs involved in serving low-population and low-density areas. Over the years, we have answered the call to provide additional benefits and services because it is extremely important to us that our community thrives and prospers. There is a cooperative difference. You own us, and we are here to serve you!

Today in Mississippi

• Unplug chargers when not in use. • Invest in smart power strips. These look like normal power strips but have a twist; one of the outlets is the “master” that receives power all the time. The others are off. When the device connected to the master outlet turns on, the rest of the outlets receive power too. Ingenious and perfect for entertainment set ups. Have the television in the master outlet and when you turn it on, the set-top box, speakers, streaming devices, etc. will turn on too. They are also ideal for PC’s and their peripherals. • Turn off the instant-on function on your TV. Turn off set-top boxes that do not contain the DVR functionality or use a smart power strip. • Disable automatic updates in gaming consoles and turn the console completely off when you finish using it. • When replacing any device or appliance, look for an EnergyStar® rated product. Vampire loads are a real problem that will only continue to grow as the digital age advances. But you can fight the vampires with vigilance and application of the recommendations above. Contact Magnolia Electric Power for additional suggestions and energy-saving advice.

Fall/Winter Energy Tip: When you are asleep or out of the house, turn your thermostat back 10° to 15° for eight hours and save around 10 percent a year on your heating and cooling bills. A programmable thermostat can make it easy to set back your temperature – set it and forget it! Source: U.S. Department of Energy

TIP of the

Month

Today in Mississippi

October 2017

Providing affordable, reliable electricity to our members since 1936.

MONROE COUNTY ELECTRIC POWER ASSOCIATION

efficiency projects at the science fair might just be co-op inspired. We see the same challenges and depend on the same services you do. At the fire hall or emergency medical services garage, you’ll see some of our lineworkers, field representatives and member services staffers listed on the roster of volunteers. We work with members to solve the problems in our communities that members see. But none of this is new. In fact, it’s why your electric co-op is not just some company. Since the beginning, the people behind the co-op have regularly gone through their communities looking for ways to meet needs. Reliable, affordable power is still one of those needs, but listening to members still helps us to see and learn about new ones. These days, we do that through conversations member services representatives have with members on the telephone or at our service center counters. Staffers are also listening for your concerns at churches, fast food restau-

rants and on the sidelines at the local ballfields. With us, whether you grew up on our lines or just moved into our service territory weeks or months ago, you’ll always have a voice. When we listen to you, we find out how we’re doing and that lets us know when we get it right, or need to make changes to keep from getting it wrong. We care about the things you care about, because we live here too. We get involved early on the big economic development issues. Our engineers, lawyers and accountants work with other community leaders to find solutions creating new jobs and launching new industries. But our commitment to community means we should be there to help with the small things too. At the neighborhood level, it’s the little things that really make a difference. That’s always been the co-op way. Each and every one of us connected to the co-op is every bit as committed to being here and staying involved each and every day.

ELECTRIC CO-OP STATS

There are 26 electric co-ops in Mississippi and over 900 electric co-ops located in 47 states.

Electric co-ops serve approximately 1.8 million Mississippians.

Electric co-ops serve 85 percent of the landmass in Mississippi.

ELECTRIC CO-OPS

COMMIT Co-op Month 2017 #coopmonth

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR CO-OPS DURING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER

October 2017

Monroe County Electric observing National Co-op Month in October Monroe County Electric Power Association is joining 30,000 cooperatives nationwide in October to celebrate National Co-op Month, which recognizes the many ways cooperatives are committed to strengthening the local communities they serve. “Co-ops Commit” is the theme for this year’s celebration, spotlighting the countless ways cooperatives meet the needs of their members and communities. “Our cooperative delivers electricity to 12,341 member-owners in our three-county service area of northeast Mississippi,” says Barry Rowland, general manager of Monroe County Electric. “Delivering safe, reliable, affordable power is our top priority, but we are also invested in our communities because we are locally owned and operated.” Rural America is served by a network of about 1,000 electric cooperatives, most of which were formed in the 1930s and 40s to bring electricity to farms and rural communities that large, investor-owned power companies had no interest in serving because of the higher costs involved in serving low-population and low-density areas. Over the years, we have answered the call to provide additional benefits and services because it is extremely important to us that our community thrives and prospers. There is a cooperative difference. You own us, and we are here to serve you!

Today in Mississippi

• Unplug chargers when not in use. • Invest in smart power strips. These look like normal power strips but have a twist; one of the outlets is the “master” that receives power all the time. The others are off. When the device connected to the master outlet turns on, the rest of the outlets receive power too. Ingenious and perfect for entertainment set ups. Have the television in the master outlet and when you turn it on, the set-top box, speakers, streaming devices, etc. will turn on too. They are also ideal for PC’s and their peripherals. • Turn off the instant-on function on your TV. Turn off set-top boxes that do not contain the DVR functionality or use a smart power strip. • Disable automatic updates in gaming consoles and turn the console completely off when you finish using it. • When replacing any device or appliance, look for an EnergyStar® rated product. Vampire loads are a real problem that will only continue to grow as the digital age advances. But you can fight the vampires with vigilance and application of the recommendations above. Contact Monroe County Electric for additional suggestions and energy-saving advice.

TIP of the

Month

Today in Mississippi

October 2017

Inspiration Like us on Facebook by searching for “North East Power”

10 PR 2050 • Oxford, MS 38655 662-234-6331 • Toll Free: 877234-6331 • Fax: 662-234-0046

behind new fashion venture By Elissa Fulton There’s a new fashion game in town, and those behind the new business venture are a few highly motivated military guys and recent college graduates driven for success. Foxtrot Collection originated in 2014 and has grown increasingly over the last three years through the online market. Behind the creative marketing efforts is Jawan Elliott, director of sales and marketing. Elliott’s joining the business came through his cousin Brandon McClellan, a co-owner and CEO of Foxtrot Collection, along with Robert Ross, co-owner and COO. McClellan brought Elliott on board because of his love for people and natural outgoing personality. Everything Elliott does is out of his passion for getting to know the people around him. He has a fascination for the distinctions we all carry as individuals, and he hopes that the fashion being created by Foxtrot Collection can be a beneficial outlet to express the differences in those many personality types. Elliott is from Grenada and graduated from Mississippi State University. Though he’s a very loyal Bulldog fan, he has made his home in Oxford and couldn’t be happier about it. He majored in Information Technology Services and moved to Oxford to work for Verizon. He’s been busy serving as an Ambassador for the Chamber of Commerce and has recently taken a job at a student apartment community, as well as bartending on the Square in the evening. As if he didn’t already have enough responsibilities, he is leading the marketing efforts for Foxtrot Collection, as well as handling their social media and modeling for the photo shoots. “I wouldn’t consider myself a model, but I just like to wear small shirts,” he said laughing. Elliott has an extremely infectious personality and he’s working Oxford as a platform for the business. “I love Oxford and I love being busy. All

Co-Founders left to right: Brandon (Buddy) Brannon, creative director; Brandon McClellan,CEO; Robert Ross,COO; Jawan Elliott, director of sales and marketing.

of these jobs put me in a position to meet people. I think I know way more people here than I did in Starkville. When I first moved here, I had a house with some guys that played football for Ole Miss, so I have to cheer for them too,” said Elliott. “Egg Bowl day – I gotta root for my Dawgs, but that’s the only day. Any other time I’m thinking, it’s all about Mississippi.” In 2014, McClellan and Ross, both career Army, launched Foxtrot Collection with their inspiration emerging from their time in the military. “When you think about someone in a military uniform, when you see them, you don’t know if they’ve been in that suit for two days, or 25 years. However, that uniform demands respect,” said Elliott. “And that’s what we want people to do when they wear our clothing. We want them to demand respect and feel comfortable being who they are and let their clothing speak for them.”

Elliott and his collaborators believe that fashion is what one makes it. Feeling comfortable in the skin you’ you’re in, is important. “We conform to society’s views of bring people the tools to feel ing the limits,” he said. “A twith slacks and a blazer and style.” In addition to the online Foxtrot Fitness has recently o Ross lives in Indianola and i Army in the Mississippi Del people to live a healthy lifest facility and Facebook suppor grown to a sizeable following to open Foxtrot Fitness in O “We have our clothing, b be a household name at som “We want to take this as far with it, but we are definitely throw just anything together make sure that it’s done righ right time for it as well.” Elliott doesn’t believe tha leagues will ever completely with where they are. They se tial and hope they can inspir to chase their dreams, or at t that failing is okay. You just going. “We’ve failed at many this together,” he said. One specific aspect the gu Collection have been struggl right vendor for the product “We’ve been through seve Elliott. “But it must be great put it out. We spend more o clothing. I’m not going to tr

October 2017

Today in Mississippi

“We see a lot of people conform to society’s views of fashion. We want to bring people the tools to feel comfortable in pushing the limits.” - Jawan Elliott

Brandon (Buddy) Brannon (center) is the creative director and has a clear vision for Foxtrot Collection and its future. His creativity is rooted in an admiration for high-end fashion. He is pictured with Jawan Elliott (left) and Brandon McClellan.

thing I wouldn’t wear myself.” The one thing that Elliott is most proud of about Foxtrot Collection is his friends’ commitment to the military. His friends actively serve and his father was recently promoted to a major in the Army. “They are laying their lives on the line every day. I can’t say I would have that in me to do that, but I’m definitely appreciative of it, clothing store, opened in Indianola. and that’s what gives us so much drive to continue to do this,” he said. is a recruiter for the The vision is to get to a position in the busilta. He encourages tyle through his fitness ness where they can donate a percentage of their sales to military veterans in need. rt group that has “There’s so many veterans in need g. Elliott sees a vision and we will be glad when we get to Oxford in the future. the point where we can help with but we would like to me point,” said Elliott. that,” said Elliott. Elliott, along with the rest of the as we can possibly go y patient and we won’t team at Foxtrot Collection, has so many plans for the future, and a very r. We are going to solid vision. ht and that it’s the “We are learning every day but we get really excited when we see people at he and his colbe satisfied or content wearing our clothing. It’s just a really ee huge growth poten- exciting feeling,” he said. “I’m expectre others behind them ing to see everyone in Foxtrot in the future. Wait until you all see what we the very least, know get back up and keep have coming out next.” To see the latest fashion trends y things trying to get available through Foxtrot Collection, visit www.foxtrotcollection.com, like uys at Foxtrot ling with is finding the them on facebook at tion of their clothing. www.facebook.com/FoxTrot CollectionClothing or follow on eral companies,” said Instagram @Foxtrot_Collection. t quality before we The clothing line is also available at on the quality of our ry and sell you some- Trés Belle boutique in Oxford.

re in, or the clothing e see a lot of people f fashion. We want to l comfortable in push-shirt can be worn it becomes your own

Today in Mississippi

October 2017

For more information on Today in Mississippi, contact Janis Greene at 800-325-8925.

Annual Meeting of members Wednesday, 2:00 p.m. October 25, 2017 Pursuant to Article III, Sections 1 and 3 of the association bylaws, notice is hereby given that the Annual Meeting of the members of Northcentral Electric Power Association will be held in the Auditorium of the Administration Building at the Northcentral Mississippi Electric Power Association Complex located at 4600 Northcentral Way in Olive Branch, Mississippi at 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 25, 2017.

DEMOCRATIC MEMBER CONTROL

COOPERATIVE PRINCIPLE 2

In accordance with the laws of Mississippi and the bylaws of the association, three directors will be elected for three-year terms, reports will be given on the operation of the association for the past year, and other matters of business conducted.

-Don Dickerson, Secretary

Fall/Winter Energy Tip: When you are asleep or out of the house, turn your thermostat back 10° to 15° for eight hours and save around 10 percent a year on your heating bills. A programmable thermostat can make it easy to set back your temperature – set it and forget it! Source: U.S. Department of Energy

TIP of the

Month

Northcentral Electric observing National Co-op Month in October Northcentral Electric is joining 30,000 cooperatives nationwide in October to celebrate National Co-op Month, which recognizes the many ways cooperatives are committed to strengthening the local communities they serve. “Co-ops Commit” is the theme for this year’s celebration, spotlighting the countless ways cooperatives meet the needs of their members and communities. “Our cooperative delivers electricity to 30,600 member-owners in our four-county service area of north Mississippi,” says Kevin Doddridge, general manager of Northcentral Electric. “Delivering safe, reliable, affordable power is our top priority, but we are also invested in our communities because we are locally owned and operated.” Rural America is served by a network of about 1,000 electric cooperatives, most of which were formed in the 1930s and 40s to bring electricity to farms and rural communities that large, investor-owned power companies had no interest in serving because of the higher costs involved in serving low-population and low-density areas. Over the years, we have answered the call to provide additional benefits and services because it is extremely important to us that our community thrives and prospers. There is a cooperative difference. You own us, and we are here to serve you!

October 2017 Today in Mississippi

In fact, it’s why your electric co-op is not just some com- to you, we find out how we’re doing and that lets us pany. Since the beginning, the people behind the co-op know when we get it right, or need to make changes to keep from getting it wrong. have regularly gone through their communities We care about the things you care looking for ways to meet needs. about, because we live here too. Reliable, affordable power is VOLUNTARY We get involved early on the still one of those needs, but CONCERN FOR AND OPEN COMMUNITY listening to members still big economic development MEMBERSHIP issues. Our engineers, helps us to see and lawyers and accountlearn about new ants work with ones. other community These days, COOPERATION DEMOCRATIC AMONG we do that leaders to find MEMBER COOPERATIVES CONTROL solutions creating through conversations new jobs and launching new member servicindustries. es representaBut our tives have with commitment to members on the MEMBERS’ EDUCATION, telephone or at community means ECONOMIC TRAINING AND we should be there our service center PARTICIPATION INFORMATION counters. Staffers to help with the small things too. are also listening for At the neighborhood your concerns at level, it’s the little things that churches, fast food restauAUTONOMY AND really make a difference. That’s rants and on the sidelines at INDEPENDENCE always been the co-op way. Each and the local ballfields. every one of us connected to the co-op is With us, whether you grew up on our every bit as committed to being here and staying involved lines or just moved into our service territory weeks or each and every day. months ago, you’ll always have a voice. When we listen

7 COOPERATIVE PRINCIPLES

ELECTRIC COOPERATIVES

of Mississippi

ELECTRIC CO-OP STATS

There are 26 electric co-ops in Mississippi and over 900 electric co-ops located in 47 states.

Electric co-ops serve approximately 1.8 million Mississippians.

Electric co-ops serve 85 percent of the landmass in Mississippi.

ELECTRIC CO-OPS

COMMIT Co-op Month 2017 #coopmonth

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR CO-OPS DURING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER

10 Today in Mississippi

October 2017

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)

Member owned. Locally operated. That’s the cooperative difference.

Visit us on line at www.PRVEPA.com

2017 Round Up for Education scholarships awarded The education careers of 240 students from of what would normally be spare change for an throughout Pearl River Valley Electric Power individual has added up significantly. These funds will Association’s 12-county service area will get a financial help create long-term educational opportunities as well boost this fall. Each will receive a scholarship of $800 as economic benefits, which is good for everyone in to help them attend state community colleges this the communities we serve.” year, thanks to the generous spirit and support of the PRVEPA serves more than 49,000 meters. Since Association’s member-consumers. the Round Up program began in November 2012, This is the fifth year for the Round Up for Education scholar’s program, which is funded by “Members working together to members who round their bills up to the nearest dollar achieve a common goal is a each month. Scholarships are available to members who do the round up, as well as for their spouses or unique hallmark of dependent children who are enrolled as freshmen this cooperative organizations.” fall. - Randy Wallace, general manager “Throughout our history, Pearl River Valley Electric has not only been providing electric service to rural areas, but working to improve the quality of life more than $1 million has been collected and deposited of our members and the communities where they in an account overseen by the Greater Pine Belt live,” said General Manager Randy Wallace. “We Community Foundation. Ten percent of each year’s believe that education is vital to improving the future funds are set aside in an endowed fund for future use. for all of us in south Mississippi, and the Round Up The remaining money is divided equally between the program was designed to encourage more young number of eligible applicants, resulting this year in people to further their education. 240 scholarships worth $800 per student. In the “Members working together to achieve a common goal is a unique hallmark of If you're an 11th grader served by Pearl River Valley Electric Power cooperative Association, make this year memorable by participating in the organizations, 2018 Leadership Workshop in Jackson, Miss., and Tour of Washington, D.C. and I am proud Kori Miles of the positive Columbia High School response we’ve received on this effort. As we are now able to see, the accumulation

Guess where we went last summer !

Washington National Cathedral, Jefferson, FDR, MLK Memorials, Arlington National Cemetery, Iwo Jima, World War II Memorial and the Vietnam Wall.

For more information, see your Guidance Counselor, call Pearl River Valley Electric at 601-736-2666, or visit www.prvepa.com

Essay deadline is November 3.

program’s 5 years, more than 1,000 students have now received scholarships. Scholarship recipients this year include 129 students attending Pearl River Community College, 45 at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College, and 45 at Jones County Junior College. An additional 21 students are attending 8 other state community colleges. Overall, students came from 21 different high schools and home school programs. “The Round Up for Education Scholarship program is the largest scholarship program we manage,” said Theresa Erickson, Executive Director of the Foundation. “We often see how small contributions from large numbers of people can grow into significant amounts that benefit many individuals, and when people continue their education it not only benefits the individual, but it also benefits their family and ultimately their community.” “I hope our members are able to see the effects this program can have—helping more than 1,000 students begin their college careers,” said Wallace. “We are thrilled with the results and know that members’ participation in the program will have positive impacts for years to come.” Round Up for Education funds collected after August 1 Ally Ratliff go toward next Forrest County Agricultural High School year’s scholarships. Applications for 2018 scholarships will be available beginning this month.

October 2017 Today in Mississippi

2017 PRVEPA SCHOLARS PROGRAM

Total amount distributed: $192,000 Pearl River Community College

Each recipient receives $800

Sophia Dilmore, PHS Jack Richard (JR) Dilmore III, PHS Rachel Engle, LCS Rylee Veronica Essary, FCAHS Taylor Blake Evans, FCAHS Kyle L. Farmer, FCAHS Brittany Kaye Farve, Sum Caitlin J. Forbes, WM Bailey Fornea, CHS Jeni Garcia, CHS William Tyler Goolsby, OG Daniel Kaide Griffis, PHS Tamara Gurley, Sum Jacob Lynn Hagan, PHS Christopher Dalton Hartfield, FCAHS Nathan Hartfield, PHS Cameron Vince Havard, CA Kiahya Alese Heard, OG Michael Joshua Hobson, LCS Madisyn A. Howell, CA Brittany Hunt, WM Micah Jenkins, Lum Rylee Johnson, GED Cassady Jones, CA Cameryn Whitney Jones, SHS Summer Kelly, PHS

Jennifer Klages, PHS Presleigh Kleinke, PHS William Everest Kohli, FCAHS Shelbi Elaine Lawrence, SHS Lauren Lee, CA Luke A. Lee, FCAHS Jonathan J. Lee, Sacred Heart D'Artagnan Lee, SHS Rebecca Lewis, FCAHS Selena Lorden, North East, MD Alexica J. Magee, WM Jackson Mapp, FCAHS Taylor Martin, FCAHS Garry B. Martin, WM William Masters, PHS Gillian May, CHS Summer McInnis, FCAHS Garrett Mieras, CHS Bayle Miller, CHS Nikendra Mingo, CHS Michael Montgomery, Sum Alisha R. Moody, SHS Sarah Kay Nations, SHS John David (JD) O'Brian III, PHS Tyas Owens, EM Tysah Rena Owens, EM

Jacob Parchert, OG Michael Edward Pascarella, FCAHS Laken L. Patrick, WM Allison N. Pickett, Sum Jacob Daniel Pierce, CA Dalen Alex Pierce, Sum Kaley Piernas, Sum Zachary Tyler Pittman, WM Joleeza Tatyana Pope, EM Taylor A. Ramsey, OG Alec Brannon Ready, Sum Penelope Anne Richardson, PHS Calley Elizabeth Robbins, CA Ronnie Dawson Robbins, WM Kaitlyn Rogers, CA Haley Rogers, FCAHS William Blake Rogers, Sum Jasmine N. Rosado, WM Christian Hayden Rushing, FCAHS Grace Sanders, OG Colton Taylor Sandifer, CA Kalonie Simon, CHS Tia Sims, CHS Trevor Slocum, WM Luis Smith, CHS Calvin Chase Smith, PHS

Braxton A. Smith, WM Kyle Stringer, Sum Jonathan W. Summers, PHS Cameron Swan, PHS Jessica Swan, PHS Christina Jade Swayze, CHS Jeremiah Taylor, EM Kylie Terrell, FCAHS Ashley Terry, FCAHS Terrie Louise Teston, WM Kistan Alexandra Thackwray, CHS Carly Noelle Thornhill, WM Destini Trahan, FCAHS Danin Drew Traylor, OG Bree Ulmer, Sum Cooper Varnado, PHS Blake Vincent, PHS Ashton Watts, CA Frederick Wegner III, SHS Abby Williamson, WM Malik Willis, EM Julia Wilson, EM Natalie Woo, OG Joshua D. Worbington, PHS Nikeyah Youngblood, OG

Kalep Austin, SHS Ryan Blackburn, OG Neely Jordan Blackmon, SHS Emily Bond, SHS Chaz Breland, SHS Hayden Butler, SHS Sara A. Doty, Riverdale Graham Bailey Evans, SHS Dixie McKayla Fairley, SHS

Christen Audrey Fields, SHS Sara Nicole Gilbert, Gateway Acad Ereon Harris, SHS Kaitlyn Harwell, SHS David Cordell Herrington, SHS Ashton Hickman, SHS Carrington Huff, SHS Mason Hunt, SHS Virginia Claire Jay, OG

Ethan Johnson, SHS R'Tarriun Johnson, SHS Damien Johnson, WM Whittney Jones, SHS Karley Letort, SHS Kaitlyn Olivia Martin, SHS Amy McCarty, SHS Nila Mills, SHS Tavon Moore, SHS

Tavia Moore, SHS Kayla M. Nafziger, SHS Jordan R. Naramore, SHS Brooke Amber Naramore, SHS Amie Kirsten Peacock, home Colton Wayne Polk, PHS Robyn Ramsey, SHS Keri Rayburn, SHS Alex Hunter Redditt, CA

Kyra J. Redeemer, SHS Keelye Reeves, SHS Jonathon Logan Rhodes, GA Ariel (Sophie) Salley, SHS Felicia Renee Shields, SHS Natilee B. Smith, D'Iber Katelyn Stevison, SHS Kenneth Preston Stringer, SHS Jessica Williams, SHS

Julee M. Albert, OG Kaleb Ashmore, Sum Meg Aultman, Sum Lakelyn Bohannon, Sum Blake Broome, OG Anna Broome, Sum Hunter Buckley, CHS Ashley Burnett, OG Alan L. (Cody) Calhoun, Sum

Emily Clement, Sum Lydia Ar'Casia Cooper, CHS Anna Alexandra DiGiovanni, PCS Tiffany Dyal, OG James Parker Floyd, OG Stephen James Grantham, OG Payton Harris, OG Delaney Mikell Havard, CA Kaitlin Elizabeth Jones, Sum

Clayton Thomas Kelly, PHS Steven Bradley Kelly, Jr., PHS Macy Kohnke, PHS LaBarron Dwayne Lee, Jr., OG Hayley Lott, Sum Matthew Brandon Lott, Sum Kate Lowery, CHS Macaleigh Mancuso, OG Oleg Eli Mills, Sum

Layton Scott Monk, CHS Matthew Mordica, FCAHS Madison Newsom, Sum Sierra Layne Parker, Sum Christy Pheal, OG Justin T. Pittman, CHS Yasmine Pope, CHS Michael Noah Post, OG Luke C. Prach, OG

Witsol G. Robinson, OG William Russell, EM Allyson Smith, OG James M. Smith, Jr., OG Spencer Tate Stovall, CA Kassidy Taylor, OG Charles Davis Thompson, CA Chantel Valdez, CHS Trenton Williamson, Sum

Jones County Junior College

Southwest Mississippi Community College Evan M. Anthony, CA Lorenzo Armstrong, EM Stacey Brown, WM David Matthew Caulfield, OG Conner Cook, PHS

Amanda Blake Domine, WM Hayden Reid Havard, CA Charayana Frenchasia Johnson, EM Dylan Martin, CA Richard Hogan Nelson, PHS

Holmes Community College Braden Kyle Strickland, SHS

Copiah Lincoln Community College Breanna JaNaye Armstrong, Law

Lakyn Trott, Law

East Central Community College

Hinds Community College Lindsey Gibson, WM Keirra Ja'Nae Meadious, WM

Matthew T. Voss, PHS

Wilton Ladner, SHS

East Mississippi Community College Adrian Miller, WM

Joshua Miller, WM

Northeast MS CC

Meridian Community College

Jayda Carney, home

Mack Pickering, OG

“Education is vital to improving the future for all of us in south Mississippi, and the Round Up program was designed to encourage more young people to further their education.” - Randy Wallace, general manager

Total recipients: 240

Haley Abney, PHS Chloe K. Anderson, OG Mathis James Armstrong, CA Tyler Austin, FCAHS Garrett Bass, EM Taylor Bass, Sum Kalyn Danielle Beall, FCAHS Aubrey Grace Bilbo, CA Emily Branan, home Victor Matthew Brantly, Sum Austin Breland, FCAHS Hannah Broom, Sum Marc Tyler Bullock, OG Charlie Burge, PHS TaMya Bush, LCS Layken Carney, EM Michael Branson Clark, FCAHS Bryson Clark, WM Wiley Cleland, CA Alex Cooley, PopHS Emma Cooley, PopHS James Corley, FCAHS Max Crawford, OG Nicole Crump, WM Kalyn Davis, Sum Rachel Lynette Davis, WM

Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College

Community Colleges Students Are Attending Pearl River . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 129 Gulf Coast . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Jones . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45 Southwest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Hinds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Co-Lin. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 East Mississippi . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Meridian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 East Central . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Holmes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Northeast MS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1

High Schools 2017 Students Attended Stone (SHS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43 Oak Grove (OG) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Purvis (PHS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 Forrest County AHS (FCAHS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Sumrall (Sum) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27 West Marion (WM) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23 Columbia (CHS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 East Marion (EM) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Columbia Academy (CA) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Lamar Christian (LCS) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3 Lumberton (Lum) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1 Lawrence County (Law) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13

Round Up for Education 5 Year Totals Pearl River CC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 491 Miss. Gulf Coast CC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 227 Jones County JC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 211 Southwest Miss. CC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38 Hinds CC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Co-Lin CC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8 Other . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

2013-2017 Students’ High Schools Stone HS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 210 Purvis HS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 127 Oak Grove HS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 118 West Marion HS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 103 Sumrall HS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 92 Forrest County AHS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 87 Columbia HS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 Columbia Academy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 East Marion HS. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Lamar Christian. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31 Others . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

Yearly Totals 2017 2016 2015 2014 2013

Awards Students 240 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $800 217 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $935 209 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $975 174 . . . . . . . . . . . . . $1,000 171 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . $963

Today in Mississippi I October 2017

“Pioneers In America’s Rural Electrification”

NOTICE OF ANNUAL MEETING The annual meeting of members of Pontotoc Electric Power Association will be held on Wednesday, October 4, 2017, at noon at the Pontotoc County Agri-Center in Pontotoc, Mississippi. The purpose of the meeting is the nomination of candidates for the office of Director of the Association from Areas Three, Seven, and Eight for the next calendar year and the transaction of any other business that may properly come before the meeting. Candidates nominated during the Annual Meeting will also have their names placed on the election ballot, to be mailed out at a later date.

The following candidates have been nominated by committee for the office of director: Area Three ..................... Ernest Wilder (Incumbent) Area Seven ................... Brad Ward (Incumbent) Area Eight ..................... Richard Watkins (Incumbent)

The following candidates have been nominated by petition for the office of director: Area Three ......................Allen Simmons Area Seven .....................Reggie Gillespie Tim Quarles Jeff Washington Area Eight ......................Chad Stewart

Programs offer ways to save Building a new home soon? You may be interested in an exciting offer called the “New Homes Program” from the Tennessee Valley Authority’s energyright solutions group. A wide range of incentives are available through the New Homes Program: • $1,000 – All electric home (no gas) • $800 – Electric heat pump and electric water heater • $700 – Electric heat pump • $600 – Dual fuel heat pump and electric water heater • $500 – Dual fuel heat pump • $400 – mini split (whole home) See www.energyright.com for more information about the New Homes Program, or contact Member Services Representative Johnny Wilder at our Pontotoc office at 662-489-3211. Another great program, the eScore Self Audit, allows homeowners to improve their home’s energy efficiency. By simply filling out the self-audit questionnaire either by hard copy or by going

Mark A. Patterson, Secretary

Where your electric dollar goes 4.5% Maintenance Expense 6.4% Net Income 6.3% Other Operating Costs 11.9% Operation Expense

online, members will learn how to save money and live comfortably in their homes. There is no charge for the eScore self-audit. Customers who complete the eScore will receive recommendations personalized for their home to

Member Services Representative Johnny Wilder. To access the online form, please go to 2escore.com. Customers may also wish to have an in-home evaluation. For a cost of only $75, a certified repre-

help them to be more energy efficient. In addition, they will receive an energy savings kit containing an LED bulb, filter whistle, switchplate and outlet seals, other energy efficiency tools, and a $10 Home Depot gift card. The eScore-self audit form is available from

sentative from TVA will assess your home and offer suggestions to help you save money on your electric bills and increase your home’s energy efficiency. For more information on the in-home evaluation, please visit 2escore.com, or call toll-free 1-855-2escore (1-855237-2673).

70.9 %

Purchased Power from TVA

October 2017

INCOME STATEMENT

FISCAL YEARS ENDING JUNE 2017 & JUNE 2016 ASSETS: YEAR ENDED YEAR ENDED 6/30/17 6/30/16

YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2017 OPERATING REVENUE (What our members paid for services): Electric Sales Revenue: Residential General Power - 50 KW & Under General Power - Over 50 KW Street & Outdoor Lighting Total Electric Revenue

$26,356,051 3,838,127 14,713,909 1,108,435 $46,016,522

Unbilled Electric Sales Other Revenues TOTAL OPERATING REVENUE

-137,232 1,350,648 $47,229,938

EXPENSES (What it costs to operate your system): $33,481,420

(What we paid TVA for power)

Distribution Expense - Operation

1,360,302

(Cost to operate system)

Distribution Expense - Maintenance

2,126,928

(Cost to maintain system)

Customer Accounts Expense

1,771,391

(Cost of billing our members)

Customer Service & Info Expense

108,977

(Residential Energy Services Program & electrical development costs)

Sales and Marketing Expense

Today in Mississippi

CONDENSED BALANCE SHEETS

(UNAUDITED)

Operating & Maintenance Expense: Purchased Power

Utility Plant - Net Other Property & Investments Current Assets Deferred Debits TOTAL ASSETS & OTHER DEBITS LIABILITIES: Memberships & Patronage Capital Conservation Advances (TVA)

$59,043,604

$58,010,652

2,435,325 11,156,403 510,207

1,800,945 10,764,757 725,983

$73,145,539

$71,302,337

$61,370,787

$58,481,009

449,765

678,418

1,092,884 950,000 9,257,712 24,391

1,168,082 1,800,000 9,143,617 31,211

$73,145,539

$71,302,337

Accrued Liability (OPR benefits)

Notes Payable Current Liabilities Deferred Credits TOTAL LIABILITIES & OTHER CREDITS

18,936

(Economic development, promotions, advertising, etc.)

Administration & General Expense

2,353,720

(Gen. admin. expense, insurance, fees, etc.)

TOTAL OPERATING & MAINTENANCE EXPENSE

$41,221,674

OTHER EXPENSES: Depreciation Expense (Use of assets over life) Tax Expense

(Interest paid on security deposits)

Other Deductions TOTAL OTHER EXPENSES

$2,553,470 463,609 39,343 3,250 8,690 $3,068,362 $44,290,036

TOTAL EXPENSES MARGINS FROM OPERATIONS Interest Income

$77,640

(Money earned on short-term investments)

TOTAL MARGINS (Members’ equity for year)

As of June 30, 2017

As a member of Pontotoc Electric Power Association, did you know that:

(Gross receipts, property & payroll taxes)

Interest Expense - Debt Service Interest Expense - Other

Your electric co-op at a glance

$3,017,542

PEPA serves more than 19,111 consumers/members in parts of six counties: Pontotoc, Calhoun, Chickasaw, Lafayette, Lee, and Union. Your association serves about 11 consumers per mile of line. PEPA maintains a network of 1,708 miles of line. The association employs 68 full-time employees. As a consumer cooperative, PEPA is owned by and operated for the benefit of its members. It is a not-for-profit enterprise. PEPA is a distributor of electric power generated by the Tennessee Valley Authority. Association headquarters is located on Main Street in Pontotoc. PEPA’s construction and operations warehouse is located on Highway 41, south of Pontotoc. A district office is located on Newberger Street in Bruce.

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Today in Mississippi

October 2017

14-year breast cancer survivor enjoys ordinary life By Jennifer Johnson Pontotoc Electric Cashier Sandra Fair said she was always a “daddy’s girl.” The only child of James and Mildred Brazil said she was raised on a farm and took every opportunity to spend time with her father as he worked in his fields or hunted on their land. “I followed him quail hunting. I went with him in the late fall or early winter. I would come home from school, hop on my bike, and meet him at the cotton picker to ride with him.” Fair has fond memories of her childhood. “My mama and daddy would sit on our porch, and I would catch lightning bugs. There were no other children around, and I just entertained myself.” She recalled times when her dad would relax on that same porch and enjoy his pipe. He eventually made Fair a corn cob pipe of her own so his blondehaired, overalls-clad daughter could sit in her rocking chair, cross her legs just like Dad, and pretend to be just like him. Fair attended school in Algoma until her junior year, and after Algoma and some other local schools in Pontotoc County were consolidated, she attended South Pontotoc High School and became a member of their second graduating class. It was there she met the man she would eventually marry – Landis Fair. His father was a Methodist minister, and Landis’ parents moved the family to Algoma to serve a church there. The Fairs started dating during their senior year of high school. Landis’ father accepted a church in New Albany and his family moved away from Algoma. Fair went on to attend Itawamba Community College, while Landis enrolled at Northeast Mississippi Community College. At the end of their first year in college, the couple “started talking more” and in the fall of 1974, they were married. Fast forward three years. Fair was expecting a baby. “I was only intending to have one child, but God knew better. I was one of the first people to have a sonogram performed at the hospital in Tupelo. They determined I was having twins. I called Landis that day and told him we were having two babies. He was literally speechless.” The babies, Lori and Cori, were premature. Fair remained in the hospital for a week after their births. Cori stayed in the hospital for two weeks, and Lori was there for three. “It was all a blur. It was hard leaving Lori over there after Cori was discharged. Every afternoon when Landis got off work, we would go back to the hospital to be with Lori. My mom kept Cori so we could go over there. I would have

never made it without my mom. She was right there The diagnosis and grueling treatments also providwith me the whole way.” ed Fair a platform for sharing her experiences. “I’ve Fair said she was a stay-at-home mother until her had opportunities to talk to a lot of ladies about takgirls were potty trained and could “run up the roads ing care of themselves, making sure they get their with my dad.” At that point, she mammograms, and standing their started working for Barclay Furniture ground in the healthcare setting to as an inspector. She remained in the get what they need.” furniture industry for more than 20 Fair said if she could speak to othyears and was grateful for opportuniers currently dealing with a breast ties there. “The industry was very cancer diagnosis, she would encourgood to me. It helped me have an age them. “The numbness will pass. income to raise my kids.” You will be so overwhelmed with Life rocked along nicely for the feelings. That’s when you have to Fairs as they enjoyed their family, give it to God. You will have to work, and church activities. But in fight harder than you ever have in 2003, things took an unexpected turn. your life. You can’t see the goodness “I found a tumor in my breast, but I right now, but there will be good didn’t tell anyone else until I schedthings to come from this. It’s not an uled a mammogram. That’s where easy journey. Keep a smile on your the doctors found it, did an ultraface and stay strong. Trust that the Sandra Fair sound, and confirmed it was breast Lord is right there with you.” cancer.” August 31, 2017, marked 14 years since Fair was Fair said it was a stressful, hectic time in her life. diagnosed, and she’s grateful for every moment she has “After my diagnosis, I met with a surgeon. In a had with those she loves. The family has grown to month’s time I was diagnosed with cancer, had three include Lori’s husband Larry and their children surgeries, and was ready for chemotherapy Cailyn, age 14, and Cayson, age 12. Daughter Cori three weeks later. Life turned upside and her husband Jamie round out the family. down within a few weeks. My The Fairs enjoy watching Cayson’s travel baseball treatments started in October games and junior high football games. They also 2003 and ran through March spend time at granddaughter Cailyn’s softball games 2004. Cancer affected everyand watching her perform as a cheerleader. thing in my life. My family Fair said that in 2007, “The Lord saw fit to move learned to schedule things me out of furniture. I do believe it was his plan for around my treatments and me to work at Pontotoc Electric.” She has celebrated my good weeks.” 10 years of service at Pontotoc Electric and loves her She said she was physicaljob and the people there. “I have made so many ly able to take all her treatfriends here. They’ve all made me feel a part of the ments. “I stayed on schedule. group and offered their friendship. It’s just a warm, I didn’t have the courage to go friendly place to work.” bald, but I wore hats of all colors, Looking back on her life so far, Fair said it’s been a fun hats, even ‘Sunday hats’ for church. good, ordinary one. “My life has been happy. I was It’s a very trying thing for a woman to lose her raised by good parents. Landis and I raised our girls hair.” in church, and as a whole, my life has been pretty norFair said she experienced myriad emotions when mal. I haven’t won the lottery or had my name in the she was diagnosed. “The first thing I remember was papers, but I have won the battles that God helped me fear. I didn’t want to be by myself. I’m not sure if I fight. I don’t think I would change anything.” thought it would be on my mind too much, but then I started to realize I was Pontotoc Electric will no longer furnish meter not alone. I realized I had to turn it over bases for customers applying for service. This to God. After I reached that point, I had a change will be effective no later than October 1, peace. I knew I still had to fight, but I had 2017 (once the current supply is depleted). Meter a real peace.” bases may be purchased at most local hardware Even though it was a very difficult jourand home improvement stores. ney, Fair said she is thankful for it. “I If you have any questions, please call our office at wanted to come out of it with a spirit of Pontotoc at 662-489-3211 gratefulness. I wanted people to know I or Bruce at 662-983-2727. was blessed. I learned so much about myself.”

October 2017

Today in Mississippi I 10c

Local art event to showcase town, country in Bruce By Jennifer Johnson Some local artists are getting ready to showcase their work in Bruce this fall at a “plein air” show called “Town and Country.” Paintings will be on display at the Bruce Forestry Museum on Saturday, October 7, from 9:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m., and there is no admission charge. Susan Patton, a local Bruce artist and organizer of the art show, explained how the event works. “It’s basically a depiction of the town of Bruce. At some point before the show, each artist will paint one scene in the town and another on the countryside in Bruce.” Patton said Bruce residents may notice artists around town and the surrounding areas setting up with brush in hand to capture a scene right on site. Master Oil Painters of America (OPA) artist Marc Hanson of Pontotoc will show his work at the event and demonstrate his painting technique during the show. Some of the other artists taking part in the show will include members of the North Mississippi Plein Air Painters. The event will be come and go, and the paintings will be for sale that day. Patton said all the participants

are full-time artists. “They have all put a lot of study and hard work into their paintings. I would really love for people to come in and look at what these artists have done.” Patton said the show marks an important milestone in Bruce’s history. “As far as I know, this is the first time Bruce has been spotlighted in art from artists all over the Southeast. It will be interesting to see how people who are not from this area perceive the sites of our town and what they found beautiful.” Artists interested in the show still have time to participate. For more information about the Town and Country show, please visit Susan Patton’s blog at https://susanpattonart.wordpress.com.

Bruce artist Susan Patton holds a photograph and pencil drawing she used to create a favorite painting called “Ms. Salley.” Patton’s upcoming plein air art show will feature her work and the work of other artists painting scenes in the town and rural areas of Bruce.

Chittom reminds everyone of ‘Fall Safety Tips’ Fall weather brings thoughts of deer hunting season and opportunities to scoop up a bargain at a local yard sale. As you make plans to enjoy the autumn activities, Pontotoc Electric Safety and Environmental Director Walter Chittom reminds us of some great tips to keep our members safe and provide our linemen with a safe climbing environment.

Mississippi Code prohibits placing any items on power poles or disturbing equipment or wires. Chittom pointed out that he has seen several occurrences of deer stands on power poles. This is dangerous to the hunter as the pole could be rotten and fall. That could lead to energized lines on the ground, which could pose a danger to the public. A downed power line may also mean power

outages for members in our service area. Chittom said a broken insulator on a power pole could be jarred and also cause energized lines to fall to the ground. Chittom said he’s noticed an increase in the number of satellite dishes that have been attached to power poles. But it’s not only those – he’s seen basketball goals and harvest decorations placed on power poles. He pointed out that anyone wishing to place an item on a power pole must have permission to do so. “People should remember they are trespassing when they put something on that pole. Don’t put yourself and others in danger. We encourage safety at all times, and we hope you will too.” Far left: Placing items like deer stands on power poles is prohibited as it may cause a safety hazard. Left: Apprentice Lineman Brandon Jenkins would have a difficult time climbing this pole because of multiple nail holes from yard sale signs and other items.

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Today in Mississippi

October 2017

Committed to all things big and small Mississippi’s electric cooperatives believe in neighbors helping neighbors. That’s just another way of saying we’re committed to our communities, and it’s central to everything we do. October is National Co-op Month, which is a perfect time to highlight our commitment to the local communities we serve. Your electric cooperative keeps the power flowing, providing lights, powering electric stoves, heaters, air conditioners, and energizing the images we see in the game of the week or our favorite television series. Sure, that’s our main mission, but when you look around your neighborhood, there’s a good chance the folks at your electric co-op have played some small role in helping to make things better. Because we’re your neighbors, our kids attend the same schools. Members of our co-op staffs are right there with you at parent-teacher organization fundraisers. You can bet you’ll hear their voices among the bidders at 4-H/FFA project auctions, and some of those energy efficiency projects at the science fair might just be co-op inspired. We see the same challenges and depend on the same services you do. At the fire hall or emergency medical services garage, you’ll see some of our lineworkers, field representatives and member services staffers listed on the roster of volunteers. We work with members to solve the problems in our communities that members see. But none of this is new. In fact, it’s why your electric co-op is not just some company.

Since the beginning, the people behind the co-op have regularly gone through their communities looking for ways to meet needs. Reliable, affordable power is still one of those needs, but listening to members still helps us to see and learn about new ones. These days, we do that through conversations member services representatives have with members on the telephone or at our service center counters. Staffers are also listening for your concerns at churches, fast-food restaurants, and on the sidelines at the local ballfields. With us, whether you grew up on our lines or just moved into our service territory weeks or months ago, you’ll always have a voice. When we listen to you, we find out how we’re doing and that lets us know when we get it right or need to make changes to keep from getting it wrong. We care about the things you care about because we live here too. We get involved early on the big economic development issues. Our engineers, lawyers, and accountants work with other community leaders to find solutions creating new jobs and launching new industries. But our commitment to community means we should be there to help with the small things too. At the neighborhood level, it’s the little things that really make a difference. That’s always been the co-op way. Each and every one of us connected to the co-op is every bit as committed to being here and staying involved each and every day.

We Are Homegrown What does “homegrown” mean to you? Fresh, ripe tomatoes? Soul-stirring gospel music or deep-fried catfish? “Homegrown” describes any number of Mississippi traditions—including rural electric service. If that surprises you, consider this: The state’s 26 electric power associations are rooted in a homegrown initiative that lifted rural residents from the “dark ages” of the early 20th century into a brighter future of social and economic progress. Rural electrification’s impact in Mississippi was as lifechanging as it was innovative. Far more than simply lighting up homes, it empowered rural residents to create unique electric cooperatives based on local needs. It provided economic development projects that produced new job opportunities. This, rural Mississippians understood, was the necessary first step toward improving their dismal quality of life. Today, more than 1.8 million Mississippians enjoy the benefits of their electric power association — an enterprise owned and operated by the people it serves. Electric power associations grew up in Mississippi. We are home owned and homegrown.

ELECTRIC CO-OP STATS

There are 26 electric cooperatives in Mississippi and over 900 electric cooperatives located in 47 states Electric co-ops serve approximately 1.8 million Mississippians

Electric cooperatives serve 85 percent of the landmass in Mississippi

ELECTRIC CO-OPS

COMMIT Co-op Month 2017 #coopmonth

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR CO-OPS DURING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER

October 2017

21st Algoma Cross-Tie Festival Scheduled for October 7 Events include: Raffles (gun and other items) Judge Phil Weeks “Classic” Domino Tournament Jumping House for children Entertainment beginning at 9:30 a.m. (Feature from 3:00 – 4:00 p.m.) Train rides Cake Walk/Toy Walk Algoma School Class Reunion (contact Linda Weeks at 662-509-0252 for information) Horseshoe Throwing Contest Handprint table for children Auction (Begins at 4:00 p.m.) Guests may also enjoy crafts, flea market and yard sale item booths, and food vendors. Festival is located off Highway 15 South, one mile down Algoma Road. Turn left in front of Algoma Grocery, just behind Seafood Junction. In the event of rain, the festival will be moved to Saturday, October 14. Proceeds from this event go toward the upkeep of Algoma Park.

Today in Mississippi

Pontotoc Electric introduces maintenance program by Jennifer Johnson Sometimes the best way to stop trouble is before it starts. That’s the approach Pontotoc Electric is taking in keeping our lines and equipment running efficiently for our members. Pontotoc Electric has put into place a maintenance team at both the Pontotoc and Bruce locations to inspect lines, switches, breakers, and other equipment that could be faulty or cause potential problems down the road. In Pontotoc, Journeyman Lineman James Elzie leads a team of four apprentice linemen: Cody Laster, Cody Martin, Tyler Parker, and Mason Tutor. Elzie rotates an apprentice lineman out weekly, so each one alternates between working on the line crew and making sure an area of the system is in working condition and has what it needs to function properly. Elzie said he sees the benefit of having a maintenance team. “A lot of times if we have a structure that has not been checked in a while, it requires a longer repair time. We’re catching things that could cause an outage, and that makes it better for our customers.” The team recently came across a cracked insulator.

If it had not been found and repaired proactively, a crew member could have operated the switch, and the insulator would have fallen apart. That could cause power to come in contact with the ground, leading to excessive fire on the pole. Elzie said the team also handles some right-ofway issues as they encounter vines that could cause lines to short out, and they clear the area around the poles and equipment. For the four apprentices, being part of the maintenance team affords them learning opportunities as they work on the skills of their job. Elzie said he couldn’t be prouder of the work they’ve done. “They are doing a marvelous job with it. They are learning what they need to work in different situations. They may not have done some types of work yet, so I show them how. They get the opportunity to know what they are doing and why. They are learning to do a great job for us.” Elzie said he puts a strong emphasis on safety. “We are working with energized lines. We have to be aware, so I make sure they stay focused and understand how to safely do the job.” Technology plays a role in keeping records of the work the team has done. Elzie At left: Apprentice Lineman Mason said, “Jenna Kentner, one of our Tutor puts a repaired breaker back on engineers, put together a system line in Union County. Below: that gives us a list of substations, Journeyman Lineman James Elzie circuits, pole numbers, and switch (top left) and Apprentice Lineman numbers, along with a list of any Cody Martin (top right) work from type of repair the team can do. As bucket trucks to install lighting for we complete a job, items are the Pontotoc County Bodock Festival. checked off and documented.” Both are involved with Pontotoc Elzie said this cuts down on paperElectric’s maintenance team to proacwork but the company still has a tively make repairs before damaged record of the work that has been equipment or other issues cause outdone. ages with the system. (Also pictured: The Bruce location has chosen Assistant Foreman Lee Hobson, lower to schedule out their maintenance left, and Apprentice Lineman Byron by tackling a certain number of Steen, lower right.) pieces per month. Bruce Line Crew Foreman Phillip Brackett alternates members of the line crew to include maintenance efforts with their construction projects and other work. Bruce District Manager Ben Hogan said their crew has been fortunate in finding few issues in the system so far. “Even though we haven’t come across a lot, we are able to make some changes as we go. Finding any problems before it knocks power out is a big plus for our customers.”

10 I Today in Mississippi I October 2017

Mike Smith, General Manager & CEO Lorri Freeman, APR, Manager of Public Relations Amanda Parker, Public Relations Specialist

Singing River Electric is an equal opportunity employer and provider.

For more information, call 601-947-4211/228-497-1313 x 2251 or visit our website at www.singingriver.com

CEO’s Message

Remembering, repeating the past can be a good thing An Italian philosopher once stated, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” Some things in history, however, have a real impact on generations and are good to remember and repeat. The formation Mike Smith of cooperatives, including elecGeneral Manager and CEO Singing River Electric tric cooperatives, has been repeated across the nation and is still going strong today. Whether a farm co-op, credit union or electricity, cooperatives are a way for neighbors to come together and achieve something in their community that they cannot do themselves. Today we get up, get dressed, have orange juice or cranberry juice, add cheese to our eggs and stop by the credit union or the hardware store. Just with these actions, we could have done business with at least six cooperatives. Businesses like Singing River Electric, George County Co-op, Ocean Spray,

Land O’Lakes, Cabot Cheese, Florida’s Natural, Ace Hardware and many more are cooperatives. Cooperatives are not just a thing of the past. They are businesses led by members, neighbors and local communities that provide a service while putting local needs first. Times and technology have changed, and co-ops have also changed and evolved with it. One thing that hasn’t changed is our focus on the membership. Singing River Electric is led by a nine-member board of directors made up of local farmers, educators, retired military and businessmen. Members, your neighbors, serve on our credentials and elections committee and attend annual membership meetings. Capital credits are returned annually in the local communities to SRE members as a return on their investment. So this October during Cooperative Month, join our social media conversation, read through your Today in Mississippi, research our heat pump rebates or home energy audits on the website (singingriver.com), or just come by one of our three local offices. Our focus is on you, and we welcome your participation and leadership in your electric cooperative.

Safety On the Job Linemen working to restore power, whether home or out of state, must think of safety first. They are charged with getting power restored safely, efficiently and quickly.

Generators can pose a real risk When users attempt to power the whole house with a generator, it is important that the unit is installed properly. If not, generators can pose a real and extremely dangerous risk to any neighbor or lineman who comes in contact with the downed power lines connected to the house. For this reason, linemen try to listen to hear generators running, and co-ops work to educate members to plug appliances directly into generators.

Rooftop solar panel dangers

WE RELY ON OUR ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE FOR INFORMATION ABOUT ENERGY EFFICIENCY. In our community, power is more than electricity. It’s the expert information we receive to help us use less energy and save money. Learn more at www.singingriver.com.

YOUR SOURCE OF POWER. AND INFORMATION.

A newer threat to linemen is rooftop solar panels. Rooftop solar panels generate electricity. That electric current can back feed onto downed power lines if the systems are not installed properly. The potential for back feed poses the same extremely dangerous risk as generators to linemen, first responders or the public

October 2017 Today in Mississippi 10a

Hurricane Irma

Helping repower Florida

Power in Membership Co-ops helping co-ops

Singing River Electric crews, including two construction crews, two service crews and supervisor, traveled to Clay Electric Cooperative near Gainesville, Fla., on Tuesday, Sept. 12. The 13 employees were part of a convoy of 333 Mississippi electric cooperative linemen, engineers and safety personnel who responded to a call for help following Hurricane Irma.

“Our linemen were quick to respond, and they were ready to get to work.” Singing River Electric General Manager and CEO Mike Smith “Mississippi sent more personnel than any other state,” said Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi Vice President of Safety and Loss Control Micheal Weltzheimer. “We were part of a conference call of 22 states, prior to the storm’s landfall, where it was decided that Mississippi, Louisiana and Alabama would be the first to respond and help.” Singing River Electric crews were assigned to assist Clay Electric Cooperative, headquartered in Keystone Heights, Fla. At the time, Clay Electric served 171,186 meters across 13,128 miles of power lines and 14 counties, and 86 percent of the co-op’s members were without power. “Our linemen were quick to respond, and they were ready to get to work,” stated Singing River Electric General Manager and CEO Mike Smith. “We know what it is like to help, and more importantly, what it is like to receive help as we did following Hurricanes Katrina, (Continued on page 10b)

One of the benefits of cooperative membership is the manpower available to help with power restoration following a storm. Electric cooperatives abide by seven cooperative principles. Principle number six is Cooperation Among Cooperatives and means that an electric cooperative in need can call on crews from within the state, region, or across the country to help restore power. The impact and benefit of membership for this one principle was never more evident than following Hurricane Katrina. Co-op crews from as far away as Delaware came to help restore power in Mississippi. Singing River Electric’s 190 employees grew to more than 1,000 following the storm, and Singing River Electric was able to restore power in our area in just under two weeks. Visiting crews represented Missouri, Delaware, Maryland, Florida, Mississippi, Kentucky, Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, Georgia, Texas, Virginia, North Carolina and South Carolina. Singing River Electric linemen were quick to return the favor and sign up to travel and restore power to Clay Electric in Florida following Hurricane Irma.

10b I Today in Mississippi I October 2017 Continued from page 10a

Flooding was a major impediment to crews working to restore power.

Camille and others.” Singing River Electric and other co-op linemen crews worked 16hour days to safely, effectively and quickly restore power to the area. Clay Electric was able to restore power to those who could receive it by Monday, Sept. 18, and SRE crews returned home the following day. “There is power in cooperative membership. This benefit of cooperative membership, to have access to trained, experienced linemen quickly, can make a real impact on power restoration following a storm,” said Smith. “You are not just a member of Singing River Electric, but a partner with all 838 distribution electric cooperatives across the United States who are ready to serve.”

Load materials and grab lunches to go. Travel 20-25 miles to arrive at job site by 8 a.m.

Average 16-hour day for linemen following a storm

On Oct. 23, 2015, Hurricane Patricia peaked in strength after 24 hours of rapid intensification. The estimated 215 mph wind on that day made Patricia the strongest hurricane on record in the Eastern North Pacific and North Atlantic.

9 a.m. One crew rides the circuit to locate outage issues and check for downed power lines.

The most named storms ever to form in one season in the Atlantic basin was 28 during the 2005 season. The National Hurricane Center ran out of names that year. The last six storms were named Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, Epsilon and Zeta.

The National Hurricane Center began giving official names to storms in 1953. Originally, all the names were female, but male names were added to the hurricane name lists in 1979. Today, the names alternate between male and female.

On average, the Atlantic hurricane season produces 12 named storms, 6 hurricanes and 3 major hurricanes (Category 3 or higher). In the Atlantic Ocean basin, hurricane activity . historically peaks around Sept. 10. .

1 p.m. Work to pick up power lines.

Hurricane Katrina is the costliest hurricane to have ever hit the United States. Katrina caused approximately $125 billon worth of damage in New Orleans and across a large portion of the Gulf Coast.

Hurricane names are determined by the World Meteorological Organization headquartered in Geneva, Switzerland. Names are reused every six years, but names of the most significant storms like Sandy and Katrina are retired.

3 p.m. Crews set new poles and restore service.

10 a.m. Crews separate to tackle different problem areas at once.

10 p.m. Head back to co-op to debrief, eat dinner, refuel trucks and travel to hotel.

The deadliest weather disaster in U.S. history was an unnamed hurricane that struck Galveston, Texas, on Sept. 8, 1900. The powerful Category 4 storm killed an estimated 8,000 people.

Hurricanes, tropical cyclones and typhoons are all the same phenomenon; however, different names are used depending on the ocean basin in which they form. In the Atlantic or Eastern Pacific basins, storms with winds that reach 74 mph are called hurricanes. They are called typhoons in the western North Pacific and cyclones in the South Pacific and Indian Ocean.

6 a.m.

Breakfast

about 10 Facts HURRICANES

Tropical cyclones rotate counterclockwise in the Northern Hemisphere due to the spin of the Earth. This is called the Coriolis force. Tropical cyclones spin clockwise in the Southern Hemisphere.

9 of the top 10 costliest hurricanes in U.S. history have occurred since the year 2000. Only Hurricane Andrew in 1992 makes the list before 2000. Costs have risen in part due to population increase and more structures along U.S. coastlines. Source: NOAA, weather.gov/hurricanesafety

October 2017 I Today in Mississippi I 10c

Not all air filters are created equal Air filters should be changed regularly, but how often and what type of air filter depends on a number of factors. The air inside our homes is full of human hair, pet hair, dust, pollen and many other particles that can end up back in the house, stuck in ductwork or clog HVAC equipment. Air filters work to clean the air that circulates through the heating and cooling system. They trap and hold many types of particulates and contaminants. Filtration occurs when air is brought back into the HVAC equipment to be conditioned and redistributed. The air is forced through the filter, which removes the particulates and contaminants from the air. A dirty or clogged air filter is the primary source of HVAC system malfunctions and can reduce air flow causing the unit to run longer and costing you more money to attempt to achieve the same comfort level. Air filters should be checked every month, or according to manufacturer recommendations. Some filters need to be discarded when dirty, and others can be cleaned based on filter design. But what type of filter should you buy? Filters come in many choices. Most can be broken down into two categories. This makes the selection more manageable. The two categories are:

• Permanent or disposable • Flat or pleated media. Disposable are the most prevalent and affordable. Some in the flat media group have cardboard frames and a thin mesh you can see through. While they are cheap, they also are the least effective in filtration. Pleated filters perform better at filtration, using media you cannot see through. While they look impervious, air can move through under pressure, leaving airborne particles trapped. Permanent filters allow you to clean the filter and reuse. Another factor to consider when purchasing a filter is the MERV rating. MERV stands for Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value, and it is the rating system that tells you how effective a filter is at trapping particles. The scale runs from one to 16 and the higher the number, the more effective the filter is at trapping debris. It is recommended to find filters with a MERV rating of three to five. However, Singing River Electric member service representatives state it is more important that you change your filter often and

Smart thermostats help lower energy bills

Nick DeAngelo, CEM Manager of Member Services and Facilities deangelo@singingriver.com

Advancements in technology have brought mobile phones, smart cars, smart TVs, and now smart or connected thermostats. These thermostats learn your family’s usage behavior for heating and cooling and suggest on the device or app ways to adjust the thermostat to use less energy and save money on your electric bill.

regularly. You can consult your HVAC’s system operating manual when choosing a MERV rating or filter; however, whatever filter choice you can afford is fine. For more information on air filters and other ways to use less energy and save money, visit the Save Energy and Money section of our website located at singingriver.com.

Neighbors Helping Neighbors community grants awarded to local organizations

Singing River Electric Sand Hill District Manager Jeff Catlett, right, presents a $2,500 NHN Community Grant check to, from left to right, First Lady Norma McCluskey, Town Clerk Laura Maples, Deputy Clerk Ashley Williams, Mayor Steve McCluskey and former Mayor Clyde Sylvester. Grant funds will purchase materials to construct two community welcome signs to identify the entrances into town on Highway 98 and on Highway 57.

Pascagoula River Audubon Center Programs Manager Erin Parker, left, accepts a $1,000 NHN Community Grant check from Singing River Electric Manager of Public Relations Lorri Freeman. Grant funds will purchase materials to create a permanent young children’s learning Nature Nook in the center’s main exhibit area.

Central Elementary Assistant Principal Sherry Pilkington, left, and Principal Zach Bost, right, accept a $1,259 NHN Community Grant check from Singing River Electric Public Relations Specialist Amanda Parker. Grant funds will purchase a washer and a dryer to wash clothing for students in need of clean clothes and wash blankets used to cover sick children.

Smart thermostats offer consumers a way of greater savings while maintaining comfort. They work with your scheduled settings and your heat pump or HVAC unit to achieve the desired indoor temperature relative to the outdoor temperature. It can turn itself down while you are away, or can be controlled by a mobile device from anywhere. Heat pump owners will be especially interested in the heat pump balance feature that allows consumers to maximize energy savings by allowing the thermostat to consider local weather forecasts, unit performance and comfort to determine runtime. This assures your family’s comfort with little effort from you. Singing River Electric is your source for power and information. To find out more about energy-efficient, smart technology devices and other ways to lower your electric bill, visit singingriver.com or join our social media conversations on Facebook (Singing River Electric), Twitter (@SRECooperative) and Instagram (Singing River Electric).

10d

Today in Mississippi

October 2017

October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month.

October is National Cybersecurity Awareness Month, a campaign to raise awareness about the importance of online safety. Singing River Electric members and other utility consumers are sometimes targets for online or phone scams. It’s important to stay alert for cyber threats. The Department of Homeland Security has asked Americans to Stop. Think. Connect. Take time to consider where the emails come from, if grammar is correct, if it is from the correct utility that serves you, and if you owe on your electric bill or other service before clicking on any links in emails. Here are some other cyber safety tips: • Consider the length and complexity of your passwords and change your passwords frequently. • Remember strong authentication (2-step verification) provides an extra security layer beyond a username and password. • Lock down your mobile device with a passcode, touch ID features or other biometric measures. • Keep all software and internet-connected devices up to date to reduce risk of infection from malware. • Stop. Think. Connect. 91percent of cyber breaches are attributable to someone clicking an attachment or link. • When in doubt, delete suspicious emails. Be aware of poor grammar use and where the email came from. • Be extremely protective of your personal and banking information. Limit the amount of this type information that you share. • Be aware of privacy settings on social media platforms. Use privacy settings to avoid sharing information widely. For more information, please visit singingriver.com or dhs.gov/stopthinkconnect.

Cybersecurity Tip

Create long passwords that only you will remember. Try utilizing phrases from your favorite song or movie. Consider including numbers and capital letters to strengthen the password.

How long should your password be? The length and complexity of a password has a direct

NUMBER OF CHARACTERS

TIME TO CRACK PASSWORD

.29 milliseconds Five days 200 years

Our Society is Fueled by the Internet Did you know 91 percent of cyber breaches are attributable to someone clicking a link?

October 2017

Today in Mississippi

Please check the box and help a neighbor. Singing River Electric and its members are reaching out to help the community through Neighbors Helping Neighbors (NHN) Energy Assistance. In this program, SRE members check the box on the top of their billing statement to allow their current and future bills to round up to the nearest whole dollar and help their neighbor. (Donations range from 1Â˘ to 99Â˘ each month and average only $6 per year.) Contributions are then given to a local United Way organization to be used as a one-time annual distribution to qualified SRE members who cannot pay their power bill. For more information visit www.singingriver.com.

Download the SmartHub app on your Apple or Android device Report Outages

Pay Bill

Round Up Bill

View Outage Map Check Energy Use

10 Today in Mississippi October 2017

The cooperative difference If you are a member of Southern Pine Electric, you probably have heard us talk about the cooperative difference. Depending on your vantage point, the term most likely carries many different meanings. The cooperative difference may be demonstrated by the way one of our employees serves your church, civic club or youth recreation league. For one of our employees, it may be the sense of pride felt in taking care of anything and everything that comes his or her way whether it is a part of the normal job or not. I want to tell you about a couple recent events that will give you a better idea of what I mean by that. Colby Ezell and Tyler White, both linemen in our Newton District, were returning to the office after a long, hot July day of power line construction. While enjoying a little time in the air-conditioned cab of their truck and looking forward to getting Jason S. Siegfried home, they notice someone off the President/CEO side of the road who seemed to be struggling. It was a situation that could have easily been shrugged off, but they took the time to make sure this person was alright. After pulling their bucket truck over and running to the man’s side, they quickly realized he was indeed struggling and that he was showing signs and symptoms of having a seizure. Their supervisor, Jimmy Arender, soon arrived and joined in the effort to care for this person while they awaited an ambulance. As it turned out, this man is a Southern Pine member. “Had Southern Pine not shown up, I’m afraid he

Youth Leadership Program Application Update Applications for the 2018 Youth Leadership program will be mailed to local high schools in October. High school juniors living in Southern Pine’s service area are eligible for selection by their school counselor. Interested students should contact their counselor for an application. Details at www.southernpine.coop.

Jason Siegfried visited the Newton District wouldn’t be here today,” his mother office to thank Tyler White, left, and Colby Ezell, center, for their service to the said. community. During one of our many July thunderstorms, another life-threatening event occurred where our employees rose to the occasion. As usual, the storm resulted in fallen Jason Siegfried, right, President and CEO of Southern Pine Electric, stands with, from left, Rodney Buckelew, Greg trees and downed power lines in the Meadows, Brett Dew, Trey Serio and Parker Vincent from the Brandon District office. Pelahatchie my office to tell us about the tremendous job our crew community. Greg Meadows, Trey Serio, Brett Dew, did in helping to stabilize the victim, and he requested Parker Vincent and Rodney Buckelew from our Brandon District arrived on the scene to restore power. they be honored for their quick action in what most certainly saved a life. After assessing the damage and planning the needed I want to take this opportunity to thank our linemen repairs, the young linemen began setting up their trucks and getting into position to perform their work. for their quick action and selfless acts of service. I am very proud of our employees and appreciate their desire At the same time, the men heard the scream of a to help people however and whenever needed. Why is nearby member using a chainsaw to cut and remove debris from his property. They immediately ran to help being part of the cooperative family different? Our and found him with severe trauma to his arm from the members mean more to us than just customers or chainsaw. Without fear or hesitation, our guys jumped ratepayers. Our employees mean more to us than just cogs in the wheel of construction and maintenance. to action. Rodney called for help, Brett retrieved first aid supplies and the others applied a tourniquet to slow Our communities mean more too because it’s where both groups of people, members and employees, come the bleeding. Soon thereafter, emergency medical together and invest in one another as a family does. personnel arrived and had the man airlifted to a hospital. An EMT/firefighter made it a point to contact That is what the cooperative difference means to us.

Member Information SPE is updating member information, including phone numbers and email addresses. Update your information and you may win an Apple iPad or Apple Watch. Visit www.southernpine.coop and click on the rotating giveaway banner for instructions and your chance to win!

Photos Needed Submit your old and new photographs of members, homes and businesses within Southern Pine’s service area for a chance to get your name and photos published in our upcoming limited edition book from 1938-2017. To request a photo entry form, please email us at info@southernpine.coop.

October 2017 Today in Mississippi

Member Spotlight:

Ford Farms

It’s that time of the year. The leaves change and the nights become cooler, meaning fall is here. Along with fall arises the celebration better known as Halloween. The centerpiece for generations of families celebrating Halloween is the pumpkin. So, where does the hunt for the perfect pumpkin start? The answer is easy, Ford Farms. Kevin Ford operates the farm along with his wife, Rhonda, and two daughters, Kaiti and Mattie. Five years ago Kevin started the Ford Farms Pumpkin Patch, which allows families and groups to visit during the month of October and enjoy the fun festivities that they offer, including picking the perfect pumpkin for Halloween. Kevin is not The Ford family has been welcoming visitors to the Ford Farms Pumpkin Patch for over five years. Standing by only a member of Southern Pine Electric, their welcome sign, from left, are Rhonda, Mattie, Kaiti and Kevin Ford. he’s also an employee. Recently we sat down with Kevin to find out more about the Ford Farms Pumpkin Patch and why he loves being a part of the Southern Pine family.

What is the story of Ford Farms?

Who can visit the Ford Farms Pumpkin Patch? We welcome everyone. Families can visit on the weekend. We also have plenty of church groups that visit. During the week we have a lot of schools that bring their kids out and we’re always excited to host them. Each child gets to pick a small pumpkin to take with them and there is nothing better than seeing a child’s face when they pick their very own pumpkin.

What can someone expect while visiting?

We have something for everyone. We have plenty of fun rides, slides and activities that the kids love. The entire family can go through our obstacle course that leads into our corn maze. We also take everyone on a ride through the farm, so they get to see the corn, sunflower, cotton and sugar cane fields. There is a petting zoo and a playground area as well. We’re excited for this year and encourage everyone to come out.

In addition to being a My grandfather started farming in the member, you’re also an employee early 1900’s near Taylorsville, Mississippi at Southern Pine Electric. and my father, James Ford, continued the tradition. It was a big part of my life What makes Southern Pine growing up, so it was only natural that I special to you? followed in their footsteps. Over the years Children love the Ford Farms Pumpkin Patch. The Pumpkin Patch has plenty of fun rides and activities for the It’s the people that make Southern entire family to enjoy. we’ve increased our produce Pine special. We have some of the best selection greatly to include things like would come out each fall to purchase pumpkins and they’d people. It’s a family and we care about each other. watermelons and pumpkins. Southern Pine has been a part of my life for a long ask about renting the farm or comment about how great it

How did the Ford Farms Pumpkin Patch start?

It really started with our customers. They’re the real reason we started the Pumpkin Patch. People

was to bring their families out. So, we started the Pumpkin Patch as something small and for the last five years we’ve been amazed by its growth and the support we receive from our customers.

time. I started with the right-of-way crew 33 years ago and am now a Transformer OCB Repairman. I’m proud to be a member and employee at Southern Pine.

Southern Pine Electric adds electronic voting option Southern Pine members now have the option to vote online for the upcoming director election to be held at the annual membership meeting on Thursday, Nov. 9, 2017. Traditional paper notice of annual meeting and proxy ballots will be mailed on Oct. 11, 2017. Follow the simple voting instructions to cast your vote by mail or online by using the Southern Pine

website, www.southernpine.coop. This is an additional option for the convenience of our members but you can still vote by mail if you prefer. Voting is easy and fast. Cast your vote by mail or electronically and be entered for a chance to win several prizes, including a retired pickup truck from the Southern Pine fleet. You do not have to be

present to win! Mark your calendar now to cast your vote and to attend the membership meeting where we will have booths, great door prizes, hot dogs and safety demonstrations beginning at noon, with the business meeting at 2 p.m. Please call 800-231-5240 or email your questions to info@southernpine.coop.

Today in Mississippi

October 2017

Serving our Cooperative Members P.O. Box 5 • 18671 Highway 61 • Lorman, MS 39096 601-437-3611 or toll-free 1-800-287-8564 • Fax: 601-437-8736

Adams • Amite • Claiborne • Copiah • Franklin Hinds • Jefferson • Lincoln • Wilkinson Southwest Electric is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

Southwest crews assist in hurricane relief When Hurricane Irma slammed into Florida causing extensive damage and leaving millions of homes and businesses without power, Southwest Electric, along with many other electric cooperatives in Mississippi, answered the call to help and started preparations on Friday, Sept. 8. After the storm moved on and it was safe to enter the area, 12 men from Southwest Electric were sent in the early morning hours of Tuesday, Sept. 12, to help Clay Electric Cooperative, Inc. in Keystone Heights, Fla. They joined over 1,000 other cooperative employees from several states to restore power to 152,811 of the 170,000 meters served by Clay Electric without power – almost 90 percent of their service area. They worked long hours every day replacing broken poles, repairing broken cross arms and cutting trees off of lines. Clay Electric released our men to come home on the morning of Monday, Sept. 18.

Evan Newell and George Gibson repair a broken cross arm while Riley Carson, Micah Gandy and a Clay Electric employee provide assistance below. The Marsh Master on which the crew is standing was the only way to transport crews through much of the flooded areas that were without power.

Construction Crew: Bruce Butler Micah Gandy Evan Newell George Gibson Riley Carson Jake Knight Servicemen: Ralph Emfinger Jeffery Martin Right-of-Way Crew: James Fairchild Vern Bailey Tony Bell James Bateaste

Riley Carson in a bucket ready to transfer the line from the broken pole to the new pole while Jake Knight, Jeffery Martin and Ralph Emfinger assist below.

Annual Highland Wildlife Expo The 11th Annual Wildlife Expo was held on Thursday, Sept. 14. This highly-anticipated event is organized by the Highland Baptist Church of Natchez. Employees Stephanie Knotts, Deb McGee, Amanda Cranfield, Les Southerland (back row) and Randy Cobb (not pictured) provided Southwest Electric Members with tips about preparing for storms, safely using generators and energy efficiency. They also helped Members download our SmartHub app.

October 2017 Today in Mississippi

Are you a leader in your community? Donavan Leonard Jefferson County High School

Morgan Baskin Natchez Early College Academy

Keâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Shawn Brinkley Jefferson County High School James Fairchild in a bucket truck cutting a large tree from a line. The right-of-way crew was busy clearing trees so the construction crew and servicemen could repair the lines.

If youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re an 11th grader served by Southwest Electric, make this year memorable by participating in the 2018 Leadership Workshop in Jackson, Miss., and Tour of Washington, D.C. While the digger derrick drills a hole for the new pole, the construction crew and servicemen prepare the new pole.

Photos taken by Bruce Butler.

For more information, see your Guidance Counselor or call Southwest Electric at 601-437-3611.

ELECTRIC CO-OP STATS

There are 26 electric co-ops in Mississippi and over 900 electric co-ops located in 47 states.

Electric co-ops serve approximately 1.8 million Mississippians.

Electric co-ops serve 85 percent of the landmass in Mississippi.

ELECTRIC CO-OPS

COMMIT Co-op Month 2017 #coopmonth

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR CO-OPS DURING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER

10 I Today in Mississippi I October 2017

Twin County Electric Power Association

For after-hours outages, call

866-897-7250

The power of working together

Great Delta

Bear

Affair

Rolling Fork set to host its biggest event of the year By Debbie Stringer Rolling Fork’s Great Delta Bear Affair started in 2002 as an observance of the 100th anniversary of President Theodore Roosevelt’s famous (yet unsuccessful) bear hunt in Sharkey County. Roosevelt’s refusal to shoot a bear restrained by local guide Holt Collier inspired the creation of the Teddy bear in the early 1900s. The festival also became an educational and awareness event for Bear Education and Restoration Group (BEaR), which works in support of the restoration of black bears in Mississippi. On Oct. 28, the 16th annual Great Delta Bear Affair will commemorate Mississippi’s 200th anniversary of statehood with the festival theme “A BearCentennial Celebration.” What keeps a local festival going strong for 16 years? For starters, the locals. “The community has really embraced the Great Delta Bear Affair and supports it,” said Meg Cooper, coordinator of the Lower Delta Partnership (LDP), the driving force behind the event. Rolling Fork officials, businesses, volunteers and area schools each play a valuable role in making this fun, educational and eagerly anticipated event happen year after year. Festival volunteers include Beta Club members at Sharkey-Issaquena Academy. Each year, they collect donations in order to provide a Teddy bear for patients at Batson Children’s Hospital. On Wednesday prior to the festival, the bears are delivered to the patients’ rooms with help from Teddy Roosevelt impersonator

Case Hicks. For hundreds of area fourth graders, the festival begins with Youth Education Day on Friday, Oct. 27. Presenters share information on natural resources, agriculture, safety and conservation. The students also learn about the famous Roosevelt bear hunt and meet some live Mississippi snakes. Festival day, Oct. 28, offers something for all ages, starting with a costume 5K run/walk at 9 a.m. Wood carver Dayton Scoggins will crank his

Sam Brookes leads a tour at Carter Mounds during a past Great Delta Bear Affair festival. The Indian mounds tours will continue at this year’s event. Festival photos courtesy of Lower Delta Partnership

chainsaw early to begin transforming a large cypress stump into a towering Bear Affair sculpture. Each year Scoggins creates a new bear (or related) sculpture, which remains on display at public buildings and businesses. “The carved bears have been a huge thing at the festival, and they’ve turned into their own tourist attraction. We’re very proud of them,” Cooper said. Back-to-back musical performances begin at 9:30 a.m. with The Bolton Family Gospel Choir, of Hollandale. Main stage entertainment continues with folk, country, R&B, blues and classic rock music. Most of the performers are new to the festival. Scheduled to appear are Teneia, Elvis (impersonator Tim Johnson, back by popular demand), Keith Johnson & Big Muddy Band, Otis Redding III, Jeff Bates, Jarekus Singleton and The Grayhounds. The music pauses at noon for the Chuckburger-eat-

October 2017

Today in Mississippi

Members elect co-op directors Twin County Electric Power Association members took part in the election of directors at the association’s annual membership meeting in September. Elected to three-year terms on the Twin County board of directors were John B. “Jack” Reed, James R. Carter and Merlin S. Richardson. Twin County’s annual membership meeting offers members the opportunity to participate in the business of their association, elect directors and receive progress reports from management. Twin County is a member-owned electric cooperative serving more than 12,600 electric meters. Established in 1938, the association is headquartered in Hollandale with branch offices in Belzoni, Greenville and Rolling Fork. The annual membership meeting, which serves as a forum for members, management and directors, is a unique feature of the cooperative form of electric utility. At left, Meg Cooper, right, coordinates festival planning with help from Melissa Thomas. Both are employees of Lower Delta Partnership, based in Rolling Fork. One of the 2017 festival’s souvenir Teddy bears is this cuddly cutie, above. Festival vendors, left, will display a range of items, including toys, yard art and games, pottery, jewelry, wooden items, canned goods and more. Food from vendors will be plentiful, and food trucks will offer “fried everything,” according to Cooper.

Statement of nondiscrimination

ing contest, sponsored by Chuck’s Dairy Bar. Percy King will have “fascinating and friendly” small animals for everyone to pet from 9 a.m. until 3 p.m. Driving tours of three area Indian mound sites will be offered at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. Participants will gather at the Rolling Fork Visitors Center and Museum, 352 Walnut St., before departing on the guided tour in their own vehicles. Other highlights include: • children’s activities, 10 a.m. - 5 p.m. • arts, crafts and food vendors, 9 a.m. until • selfie scavenger hunt, 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. • Shriner’s clowns from the Rissah Temple, 11 a.m. • “Mississippi Snakes” with Terry Vandeventer, 1:30 p.m. A professional fireworks display at dark will close the day along with The Grayhounds’ performance. The Great Delta Bear Affair will take place in downtown Rolling Fork around the Sharkey County courthouse and at the Sharkey-Issaquena County Library. Admission is free. Get details at GreatDeltaBearAffair.org or 662873-6261.

Holt Collier impersonator Ollie Morganfield, top, entertains kids at a past festival. Both he and Roosevelt impersonator Case Hicks will mingle with festival goers this year. Chainsaw carver Dayton Scoggins, above, of Artistry in Wood, refines a sculpture of a bear he carved at a past festival. Giant carved bears stand throughout Rolling Fork as a legacy of Great Delta Bear Affair festivals. Anderson Tully, in Vicksburg, each year donates the cypress stump to be carved. Twin County Electric Power Association employees set up the stump at the carving site and then move the finished sculpture to its permanent home at a local business or public space.

Twin County Electric Power Association, an electric power association formed under the laws of the State of Mississippi, does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, religion, national origin, sex or age in connection with its provision of services, employment practices or otherwise. The person responsible for coordinating Twin County Electric Power Association’s nondiscrimination compliance is Tim Perkins, Manager. Any person who has questions regarding Twin County’s nondiscrimination compliance or feels that Twin County Electric Power Association has subjected him or her to discrimination should direct such question or complaint to Tim Perkins, Manager, Post Office Box 158, Hollandale, Mississippi 38748. In response to every complaint, Twin County Electric Power Association will take prompt investigatory actions, and corrective and preventive actions, where appropriate. Confidentiality will be maintained to the extent possible consistent with Twin County Electric Power Association’s obligations to investigate and remedy complaints.

Today in Mississippi

October 2017

Committed to all things big and small

ELECTRIC POWER ASSOCIATION

A quality of life partner

Mississippi’s electric cooperatives believe in neighbors helping neighbors. That’s just another way of saying we’re committed to our communities, and it’s central to everything we do. October is National Co-op Month, which is a perfect time to highlight our commitment to the local communities we serve. Your electric cooperative keeps the power flowing, providing lights, running stoves, heaters, air conditioners and energizing the images we see in the game of the week or our favorite television series. Sure, that’s our main mission, but when you look around your neighborhood, there’s a good chance the folks at your electric co-op have played some small role in helping to make things better. Because we’re your neighbors, our kids attend the same schools. Members of our co-op staffs are right there with you at parent-teacher organization fundraisers. You can bet you’ll hear their voices among the bidders at 4-H/FFA project auctions, and some of those energy efficiency projects at the science fair might just be co-op inspired. We see the same challenges and depend on the same services you do. At the fire hall or emergency medical services garage, you’ll see some of our lineworkers, field representatives and member services staffers listed on the roster of volunteers. We work with members to solve the problems in our communities that members see. But none of this is new. In fact, it’s why your electric co-op is not just

some company. Since the beginning, the people behind the co-op have regularly gone through their communities looking for ways to meet needs. Reliable, affordable power is still one of those needs, but listening to members still helps us to see and learn about new ones. These days, we do that through conversations member services representatives have with members on the telephone or at our service center counters. Staffers are also listening for your concerns at churches, fast food restaurants and on the sidelines at the local ballfields. With us, whether you grew up on our lines or just moved into our service territory weeks or months ago, you’ll always have a voice. When we listen to you, we find out how we’re doing and that lets us know when we get it right, or need to make changes to keep from getting it wrong. We care about the things you care about, because we live here too. We get involved early on the big economic development issues. Our engineers, lawyers and accountants work with other community leaders to find solutions creating new jobs and launching new industries. But our commitment to community means we should be there to help with the small things too. At the neighborhood level, it’s the little things that really make a difference. That’s always been the co-op way. Each and every one of us connected to the co-op is every bit as committed to being here and staying involved each and every day.

ELECTRIC CO-OP STATS

I There are 26 electric co-ops in Mississippi and over 900 electric co-ops located in 47 states.

I Electric co-ops serve approximately 1.8 million Mississippians.

I Electric co-ops serve 85 percent of the landmass in Mississippi.

ELECTRIC CO-OPS

COMMIT Co-op Month 2017 #coopmonth

SHOW YOUR SUPPORT FOR CO-OPS DURING THE MONTH OF OCTOBER

October 2017

Today in Mississippi

Yazoo Valley linemen go pink in support of Breast Cancer Awareness Yazoo Valley Electric Power Association employees gathered last October to show their support for Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Yazoo Valley held an employee raffle and collected over $1505.00 in contributions that was donated to the Susan G. Komen Central Mississippi Steel Magnolias. Headquartered in Jackson, with a satellite office in Gulfport, the Central Mississippi Steel Magnolias affiliate of Susan G. Komen serves 59 counties in the state of Mississippi. It was established in 1999 as an all-volunteer organization and continues to be committed to: • Raising awareness of breast health issues • Educating our community on breast cancer statistics and Susan G. Komen’s breast health recommendations • Raising money to fund local education, screening and treatment grants, as well as research grants at the national level Yazoo Valley employees really supported this effort and we are looking forward to this year’s event.

Garrett McClellan and Alan Bigford head out on a job wearing their pink hard hats in support of Breast Cancer Awareness.

Wade O’Briant and Don McBride supported Breast Cancer Awareness by wearing their pink hard hats last October. They are excited to wear them again.

Henry Lewis knows he looks good in pink. He also knows he’s serving a good cause.

Ron White, general manager and Dennis McFee, manager of member services is pictured with Terry Jackson who won this 12-gauge shotgun in a company raffle to support the Central Mississippi Steel Magnolias.

Yazoo Valley Electric observing National Co-op Month in October Yazoo Valley Electric Power Association is joining 30,000 cooperatives nationwide in October to celebrate National Co-op Month, which recognizes the many ways cooperatives are committed to strengthening the local communities they serve. “Co-ops Commit” is the theme for this year’s celebration, spotlighting the countless ways cooperatives meet the needs of their members and communities. “Our cooperative delivers electricity to 10,425 member-owners in our six-county service area of north Mississippi,” says Ron White, general manager of Yazoo Valley Electric. “Delivering safe, reliable, affordable power is our top priority, but we are also invested in our communities because we are locally owned and operated.” Rural America is served by a network of about 1,000 electric cooperatives, most of which were formed in the 1930s and 40s to bring electricity to farms and rural communities that large, investor-owned power companies had no interest in serving because of the higher costs involved in serving low-population and low-density areas. Over the years, we have answered the call to provide additional benefits and services because it is extremely important to us that our community thrives and prospers. There is a cooperative difference. You own us, and we are here to serve you!

TIP of the

Month