Today in Mississippi October 2022 Local Pages

October is National Co-op Month.

Fall is a busy time, and October is a particularly eventful month with school, community, and sports activities in full swing. It’s also when all cooperatives celebrate National Co-op Month.

When I say 4-County Electric Power Association celebrates Co-op Month, it really means we are celebrating you! After all, our co-op wouldn’t exist without you, our members.

Our core business purpose is to serve as your electricity provider, but the larger mission of the co-op is to help make our corner of the world a better place. “Concern for community” is one of seven guiding principles that all co-ops share.

Similar to how our wires run through our service territory, our concern for community flows through all of our decisions — because being a co-op means being a responsible partner and good neighbor.

4-County works to help our community thrive through initiatives led by our employees and local board that’s comprised of neighbors who live right here in our community. Because we’re local, we understand our community’s unique needs and strive to help meet them.

We’re proud to support local youth through our Youth Tour and scholarship programs. With your help, we offer the 4-County Foundation to provide assistance to our communities’ non-profit organizations, providing more than $1.7 million back into our communites. We partner with and support area schools and other charitable organizations such as Toys for Tots.

The word “cooperative” is close to “cooperation,” meaning people working together towards a common goal — mutually benefitting one another and the larger community. That’s the essence of the cooperative spirit. Our employees and member-elected board members are invested in the community in which live and serve.

Above all, as a co-op we put our members’ priorities first. As your trusted energy partner, we know that saving energy and money is important to you. That’s why we have numerous programs in place to help, including a variety of energy efficient programs and payment options. See www.4county.org or call 1-800-431-1544 for more details.

4-County and FASTnet, the co-op’s broadband subsidary, are continuously examining ways to operate more efficiently while continuing to provide the highest level of friendly, reliable service you expect and deserve. After all, we’re your local co-op. We were built by the members we serve.

CEO/General Manager by Brian Clark

Agriculture is the backbone of our country, and our livelihood greatly depends on the crops provided by American farmers. In addition to being one of the most labor-intensive professions, farming is also considered one of the most dangerous jobs in the U.S.

Every year, we see collisions where tractors and other farming equipment accidentally collide with utility poles and power lines, causing injuries and power outages. These dangerous accidents can be avoided by looking up and around your surroundings when operating large farm machinery.

If you’re preparing for harvest season, please keep the following safety tips in mind:

• Maintain a 10-foot clearance around all utility equipment in all directions.

• If your equipment makes contact with an energized or downed power line, contact 9-1-1 immediately and remain inside the vehicle until the power line is de-energized. In case of smoke or fire, exit the cab by making a solid jump out of the cab (without touching it), and hop away to safety.

• Use a spotter and deployed flags to maintain safe distances from power lines and other electrical equipment when working in the field.

• Consider equipment and cargo extensions of your vehicle. Lumber, hay, tree limbs, irrigation pipes and even bulk materials can conduct electricity, so keep them out of contact with electrical equipment.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Mike Banks, President • Marty Crowder, Vice President Bruff Sanders, Secretary/Treasurer • Bill Bell • John E. “Jay” Gilliland Jr. • Johnny Johnson • Kenneth Seitz

“Improving the quality of life for all those we touch.”

CAN YOU HEAR ME NOW? the new 100-foot bucket truck to attach the antennae.

4-County employees are in the process of attaching radio frequency antennae to communication towers throughout the co-op’s service area.

Why? The antennae will provide communication access points for the system’s new Itron AMI meters. The enhanced technology will make for better communication across the co-op’s networking system.

To date, five antennae have been installed. Co-op workers are using the new 100-foot bucket truck to attach the antennae.

Check out these photos of a recent installation:

NATIONAL CO-OP MONTH

Since 1930, October has been designated as National Cooperative Month. 4-County Electric Power Association joins cooperatives across the country in promoting co-op principles and values this October.

At 4-County Electric Power Association, we celebrate the co-op way of life on a daily basis. 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 coop expenses are paid, any additional money goes back into the co-op’s infrastructure, instead of going into a shareholder’s pocket.

And because we are member owned, 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, FASTnet, and the Youth Leadership Program.

We hope that you view 4-County not just as a power company, but as a local business that brings pride and prosperity to our community.

We have a vested interest in making sure our community is prosperous. We do this by investing in economic development and community service projects.

4

COOPERATIVE PRINCIPLES

1VOLUNTARY AND OPEN MEMBERSHIP

Cooperatives are volutary organizations open to all persons able to use their services and willing to accept the responsibilities of membership, without gender, social, racial, political, or religious discrimination.

2DEMOCRATIC MEMBER CONTROL

Cooperatives are democratic organizations controlled by their members, who actively participate in setting policies and making decisions. The elected representatives are accountable to the membership. In primary cooperatives, members have equal voting rights (one member, one vote) and cooperatives at other levels are organized in a democratic manner.

3MEMBERS ECONOMIC PARTICIPATION

Members contribute equitably to, and democratically control, the capital of their cooperative. At least part of that capital is usually the common property of the cooperative. Members usually receive limited compensation, if any, on capital subscribed as a condition of membership. Members allocate surpluses for any or all of the following purposes: developing the cooperative, possibly by setting up reserves, part of which at least would be indivisible; benefiting members in proportion to their transactions with the cooperative; and supporting other activities approved by the membership.

AUTONOMY AND INDEPENDENCE

Cooperatives are autonomous, self-help organizations controlled by their members. If they enter into agreements with other organizations, including governments, or race capital from external sources, they do so on terms that ensure democratic control by their members and maintain their cooperative autonomy.

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EDUCATION, TRAINING, AND INFORMATION

Cooperative provide education and training for their members, elected representatives, managers, and employees so that they can contribute effectively to the development of their cooperatives. They inform the general public, particularly young people and opinion leaders, about the nature and benefits of cooperation.

6COOPERATION AMONG COOPERATIVES

Cooperatives serve their members most effectively and strengthen the cooperative movement by working together through local, national, regional, and international structures.

CONCERN FOR COMMUNITY

While focusing on member needs, cooperative‘s work for the sustainable development of their communities through policies accepted by their members and enhance efforts to the communites we serve.

FOCUSED ON

Electric cooperatives were created to serve their members.

Because we’re a co-op, we’re able to adapt to our community’s unique needs.

That’s the power of co-op membership.

4-County Electric receives honors

4-County Electric Power Association was recently recognized by the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) for the cooperative’s successful implementation of energy service programs.

The Columbus-based cooperative received honors for its residential and business/industry success stories.

“We strive to bring value to our members, from the largest industrial customer who uses hundreds of thousands of kwh a year to the family that uses 1500 kWh a month. Making sure we have programs that suits the needs of all our members is very important to us. We are proud to be a trusted energy adviser to our members and we’re proud to be a partner with TVA in the public power model, where our goal is providing affordable, reliable and safe electricity every day,” said 4-County CEO Brian Clark.

TVA honored 4-County with the prestigious North Star Award, given to a distribution cooperative that has helped lower the energy burden for underserved communities in its service area through services, programs, products and contributions. The cooperative also received accolades for its residential and commercial energy savings programs, technology initiatives, and sales.

TVA officials John Malone (first from left) David Sparks (first from right) and Donna Qwalls (second from right) present the North Star Award to 4-County’s Jon Turner and Brent Lochala.

4-County serves over 50,000 members in parts of nine counties.

Be aware of what you share

Don’t let applications misappropriate your personal information, 4-County Electric Power Association officials recommend.

David Kilpatrick Manager of IT

“Personal information is invaluable for many reasons,” said 4-County Manager of IT David Kilpatrick. But please remember this, David advises: User Beware. “When you sign up for apps or social media sites, you are asked to provide a lot of information. Although it may seem like fun to see what you have in common with friends, this information often ends up with advertisers and sometimes even cybercriminals,” he said.

By sharing too much information, you:

Make it easier for a cybercriminal to guess your passwords or password-reset questions. Give cybercriminals the information they need to build a profile of you, which allows them to target you in their scams.

Make sure you are security savvy when it comes to installing applications:

Only download apps from official app stores, and make sure they are verified. Be cautious of the amount of information you are sharing. Check app permissions and terms of service before allowing access to your information.

If you don’t actually need an app, or aren’t sure if you should use it at all, don’t install it.

“Keeping your personal information private is important. Make sure you do everything in your power to keep it safe,” David explained.

Light switch flipped for Sellers

Jason Sellers wasn’t born when electricity came to the rural countryside in the late 1930s.

However, he did grow up in the rich farmlands of Noxubee County – far from the bright lights and big crowds of city life. “I can understand how they felt when electricity came. I’ve always appreciated having electricity and lights,” the 4-County journeyman lineman said recently.

That realization and watching 4-County veterans Wesley Lee, Johnny Mitchener, and others led him to a lineman career. “I grew up watching all those guys at the Macon office. I kind of looked up to them. And I felt like a career of bringing the lights to people who really needed them would be a good way to help others,” he said.

Neighbors helping neighbors was, and is, a way of life in Noxubee County, he said. “We’re there for each other.” He also spent a fair amount of time hunting and fishing and playing in frequent backyard baseball games. “We had a good time,” he said.

He joined 4-County Jan. 4, 2010. Prior to 4-County, Jason worked on an offshore oil rig and for Shuqualak Lumber Company.

Today, he is a journeyman lineman, handling maintenance duties in the Noxubee County area. Jason lives in Macon with his wife, Reagan, and their two daughters, Laurelle, 4, and Lainey, 2 months. He is a graduate of the East Mississippi Community College Lineman Training Program. “Line work is a challenge,” he said of his

day-to-day work activities. “Not everyone can do it. That makes it kind of a big deal.”

4-County is dedicated to providing a quality product, supported by quality service, he said. The co-op also has topnotch equipment. “We’re all brothers. Our commitment to the job happens every day, but shows up especially during storm work,” Jason added.

One storm, in particular, stands out. It was 2017’s Hurricane Irma, two weeks in Florida without the fun and sun. “It was an especially challenging type of terrain. The sand was hard to deal with. But the camaraderie we had was special. We sent the A-team down there. The people were so glad to see us,” he said. “One day, we walked into a restaurant, and everyone stood up and clapped. And someone paid for our meals. That was special.”

And 4-County, Jason stressed, is special. “I love our family atmosphere,” he said. “I’ve got lifelong friends because of 4-County.”

Two join 4-County team

Two new employees have recently joined the 4-County Electric Power Association team.

Tucker Fitch, originally from Newton County, has joined the co-op as an Apprentice Lineman 1. He will work on Wyatt Pumphrey’s Corporate Center crew.

Prior to 4-County, Tucker worked as an Apprentice Lineman for Maslonka Power Line Services. He is a graduate of East Central Community College’s Lineman Program.

His hobbies include outdoor activities, watching football, and playing golf.

Shaw Adcock of Macon has also joined the 4-County team.

He is a graduate of the East Mississippi Community College Lineman Training Program. He recently took part in an internship with Mississippi Power.

Shaw is a member of Calvary Baptist Church and enjoys the outdoors and playing golf.

Welcome to the 4-County team, Tucker and Shaw!

Tucker Fitch

Shaw Adcock

CENTRAL

Fall is a busy time, and October is a particularly eventful month with school, community, and sports activities in full swing. It’s also when all cooperatives celebrate National Co-op Month.

When I say Central Electric celebrates Co-op Month, it really means we are celebrating you! After all, our co-op wouldn’t exist without you, our members.

Our core business purpose is to serve as your electricity provider, but the larger mission of the co-op is to help make our corner of the world a better place. “Concern for community” is one of seven guiding principles that all co-ops share.

Similar to how our wires run through our service territory, our concern for community flows through all of our decisions — because being a co-op means being a responsible partner and good neighbor.

Central Elecric works to help our community thrive through initiatives led by our employees and local board that’s comprised of neighbors who live right here in our community. Because we’re local, we understand our community’s unique needs and strive to help meet them.

October is National Co-op Month.

We’re proud to support local youth through scholarship programs at local schools and through the Cooperative Youth Leaders program.

The word “cooperative” is close to “cooperation,” meaning people working together towards a common goal — mutually benefitting one another and the larger community. That’s the essence of the cooperative spirit. Our employees and memberelected board members are invested in the community in which live and serve.

Above all, as a co-op we put our members’ priorities first. As your trusted energy partner, we know that saving energy and money is important to you. That’s why we have numerous programs in place to help. And we’re of course here to help, so give us a call if you have questions about your energy bills.

Central Electric is continuously examining ways to operate more efficiently while continuing to provide the highest level of friendly, reliable service you expect and deserve. After all, we’re your local co-op. We were built by the members we serve.

Focused on YOU

Electric cooperatives were created to serve their members. Because we’re a co-op, we’re able to adapt to our community’s unique needs. That’s the power of co-op membership.

OCTOBER IS NATIONAL CO-OP MONTH

4 ways to boost your cyber hygiene

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month

by Abby Berry

In today’s digital world, cyberattacks are unfortunately nothing new. Cyber criminals can attack on a multitude of levels, from large-scale attacks targeting corporations to smaller phishing attacks aimed to gain an individual’s personal information.

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, but good cyber hygiene should be practiced year-round. This year’s theme is “See Yourself in Cyber” — because we all have a part to play in cybersecurity. When we hear about massive data breaches, it can feel overwhelming and lead us to think we’re powerless as individuals to stop cyber criminals.

Enable multi-factor authentication

Also known as two-step verification, multi-factor authentication adds a second step when logging into an account (to prove you’re really you), which greatly increases the security of the account. This second step could include an extra PIN, answering an extra security question, a code received via email or a secure token. Regardless of the type of authentication, this additional step makes it twice as hard for cyber criminals to access your account. Not every account offers multi-factor authentication, but it’s becoming increasingly popular and should be utilized when available.

Use strong passwords and a password manager

Remember, passwords are the “keys” to your personal home online. Your passwords should always be long, unique and complex. Create passwords using at least 12 characters, never reuse passwords for multiple accounts and use a combination of upper- and lowercase letters, numbers and special characters. If you have a lot of accounts, consider using a password manager to store them easily and securely in one place.

Update software

It may seem obvious, but regularly updating software is one of the easiest ways to keep your personal information secure. Most companies provide automatic updates and will send reminders, so you can easily install the update. If you’re not receiving automatic software updates, set a reminder to do so quarterly. Be aware that some cyber criminals will send fake updates; these typically appear as a pop-up window when visiting a website. Use good judgement and always think before you click.

Recognize and report phishing attacks

Don’t take the bait when cyber criminals go phishing. The signs of a phishing attack can be subtle, so take the extra time to thoroughly inspect emails. Most phishing emails include offers that are too good to be true, an urgent or alarming tone, misspellings and poorly-crafted language, ambiguous greetings, strange requests, or an email address that doesn’t match the company it’s coming from. Most platforms like Outlook, Gmail, and Mac Mail allow users to report phishing emails. If you suspect a phishing attempt, take an extra minute to report it.

Cyber criminals are here to stay, but when we all take a risk-based approach to our cyber behavior, we’re creating a safer internet for all. Visit www.staysafeonline.org for additional cybersecurity tips.

Abby Berry writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

by Qua’Shara Monix

As we celebrate our 85th year in 2022 with friendly faces and exceptional service, Coahoma Electric is proud to call 3355 Rudyard-Jonestown Road our permanent home.

With the uncertainty of events that have taken place in the last year in preparation of the rebirth of Coahoma Electric Power Association, our doors are open; departments are in place, and we are ready for business. As promised, we will continue to serve our members with safe, reliable, and affordable electric power.

For those that are not familiar with the new location, it is approximately 1 mile north of the Coahoma County Airport, which places us in the heart of our service area. Coahoma Electric serves members from the Tennessee state line to Donaldson Point in Bolivar County. The new headquarters includes all administration offices, a larger warehouse, covered truck bays, and an expanded maintenance vehicle shop.

We will continue to offer walk in and drive thru access for our members; however, we realize our new location is inconvenient

to some. With that in mind, we are equipped to offer a variety of payment options. Members can download the Coahoma EPA app via Apple App store or Google Play, use telephone prompted services by dialing 662-624-8321 Option No. 2, or by logging on to our website at www.coahomaepa.com.

Kiosks or payment centers are also available at the following locations:

• 3355 Rudyard-Jonestown Rd. Coahoma, 3970,

• White Oak Road, Tunica, and

• Jeffcoat’s Family Market 862 River Rd. Tunica.

Members can also set up a draft account using a preferred bank account.

If anyone should need further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact one of our knowledgeable customer service representatives.

We look forward to officially welcoming everyone at our upcoming grand opening in the near future.

4 ways to boost your cyber hygiene

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month

by Abby Berry

In today’s digital world, cyberattacks are unfortunately nothing new. Cyber criminals can attack on a multitude of levels, from large-scale attacks targeting corporations to smaller phishing attacks aimed to gain an individual’s personal information.

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, but good cyber hygiene should be practiced year-round. This year’s theme is “See Yourself in Cyber” — because we all have a part to play in cybersecurity. When we hear about massive data breaches, it can feel overwhelming and lead us to think we’re powerless as individuals to stop cyber criminals.

Enable multi-factor authentication

Also known as two-step verification, multi-factor authentication adds a second step when logging into an account (to prove you’re really you), which greatly increases the security of the account. This second step could include an extra PIN, answering an extra security question, a code received via email or a secure token. Regardless of the type of authentication, this additional step makes it twice as hard for cyber criminals to access your account. Not every account offers multi-factor authentication, but it’s becoming increasingly popular and should be utilized when available.

Use strong passwords and a password manager

Remember, passwords are the “keys” to your personal home online. Your passwords should always be long, unique and complex. Create passwords using at least 12 characters, never reuse passwords for multiple accounts and use a combination of upper- and lowercase letters, numbers and special characters. If you have a lot of accounts, consider using a password manager to store them easily and securely in one place.

Update software

It may seem obvious, but regularly updating software is one of the easiest ways to keep your personal information secure. Most companies provide automatic updates and will send reminders, so you can easily install the update. If you’re not receiving automatic software updates, set a reminder to do so quarterly. Be aware that some cyber criminals will send fake updates; these typically appear as a pop-up window when visiting a website. Use good judgement and always think before you click.

Recognize and report phishing attacks

Don’t take the bait when cyber criminals go phishing. The signs of a phishing attack can be subtle, so take the extra time to thoroughly inspect emails. Most phishing emails include offers that are too good to be true, an urgent or alarming tone, misspellings and poorly-crafted language, ambiguous greetings, strange requests, or an email address that doesn’t match the company it’s coming from. Most platforms like Outlook, Gmail, and Mac Mail allow users to report phishing emails. If you suspect a phishing attempt, take an extra minute to report it.

Cyber criminals are here to stay, but when we all take a risk-based approach to our cyber behavior, we’re creating a safer internet for all. Visit www.staysafeonline.org for additional cybersecurity tips.

Abby Berry writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

October is National Co-op Month.

Fall is a busy time, and October is a particularly eventful month with school, community and sports activities in full swing. It’s also when all cooperatives celebrate National Co-op Month.

When I say Coast Electric celebrates Co-op Month, it really means we are celebrating you! After all, our co-op wouldn’t exist without you, our members.

Our core business purpose is to serve as your electricity provider, but the larger mission of the co-op is to help make our corner of the world a better place. “Concern for community” is one of seven guiding principles that all co-ops share.

Similar to how our wires run through our service territory, our concern for community flows through all of our decisions — because being a co-op means being a responsible partner and good neighbor.

Coast Electric works to help our community thrive through initiatives led by our employees and local board that’s comprised of neighbors who live right here in our community. Because we’re local, we understand our community’s unique needs and strive to help meet them.

The word “cooperative” is close to “cooperation,” meaning people working together towards a common goal — mutually benefitting one another and the larger community. That’s the essence of the cooperative spirit. Our employees and member-

elected board members are invested in the community in which they live and serve.

Above all, as a co-op we put our members’ priorities first. As your trusted energy partner, we know that saving energy and money is important to you. That’s why we have numerous programs in place to help.

We want to empower you to manage energy use at home. If you haven’t already, I encourage you to take a moment and download our CE on the Go app. Through the app, you can conveniently monitor and manage your energy use. And we’re of course here to help, so give us a call if you have questions about our programs and services.

Coast Electric is continuously examining ways to operate more efficiently while continuing to provide the highest level of friendly, reliable service you expect and deserve. After all, we’re your local co-op. We were built by the members we serve.

President and CEO by Ron Barnes

Focused on YOU

Electric cooperatives were created to serve their members. Because we’re a co-op, we’re able to adapt to our community’s unique needs. That’s the power of co-op membership. IS NATIONAL CO-OP MONTH

Co-ops are locally governed by members who serve on our board of directors. Board members receive service from Coast Electric, so they know what it’s like to be part of the cooperative. They pay the same rates you do; their power goes out after storms just like yours does, etc., so they are able to lead in a way that reflects your needs. So, what do co-op board members do? What are they responsible for at your co-op?

THEY REPRESENT YOU

Our directors serve you. They are part of our community, and they have practical knowledge of how the co-op works, so this perspective allows them to make decisions that are best for the people we serve. Coast Electric board members also complete continuing education courses and earn certifications, so they are knowledgeable about our industry. There are three board members in each county of Coast Electric’s service area, and one member in each county is elected at the Annual Meeting.

Coast Electric’s management has made sure the company has an open-door policy, so we always welcome your feedback as members and owners of the company, but the board structure gives you another way to reach out and be heard.

THEY ESTABLISH POLICIES

Board members work to establish both long- and short-term policies to ensure the success and financial strength of Coast Electric. They work with the management team to create the co-op’s strategic plan.

THEY HIRE AND SUPERVISE THE CEO

While boards help determine policies and the company’s strategic direction, employees are responsible for the day-to-day operations of the co-op. While the CEO hires members of the management team and management hires employees in their departments, the board is responsible for selecting the best person to lead Coast Electric.

THEY ASSESS THE CO-OP’S PERFORMANCE

Coast Electric directors have a lot of bosses — more than 88,000 members — and they are dedicated to ensuring the co-op is operating at peak performance in ways that best serve our members. Our members expect a high level of technical service, as well as beneficial programs, all delivered by skilled and friendly employees. The board evaluates our operations to ensure our members receive the level of service they expect.

THEY ENSURE WE ARE OPERATING USING COOPERATIVE PRINCIPLES

Cooperative operations are guided by a set of cooperative principles. Our board ensures we are, in fact, remaining true to those principles that include: Voluntary and Open Membership, Democratic Member Control, Members’ Economic Participation, Autonomy and Independence, Education, Training and Information, Cooperation among Cooperatives, and Concern for Community.

CONTEST

Coast Electric’s winter power cost adjustment begins Nov. 1.

• Power costs used to be averaged once each year, however, the price for generating power changes with the seasons. Costs paid to our power supplier are typically higher in the winter and lower in the summer. Even though we may only have a couple of days of freezing temperatures in the winter, the increased demand for electricity on those days affects power costs.

• To ensure that charges are equal to costs, Coast Electric averages power costs twice each year.

• Over a period of 12 months, you won’t see a difference. However, you may notice slightly higher bills in the winter and slightly lower bills in the summer.

• Since Mississippi typically has milder winters and long, hot summers, you need to be more aware of your energy use in the winter but will have more opportunities for comfort in the months when you need it the most.

• This affects all member classes except industrial members.

Coast Electric wants you to reduce your energy use and see savings on your energy costs. Each month, you will have an opportunity to register to win a prize that will help you reduce the energy consumption in your home. All you have to do is visit www.coastepa.com and fill out our entry form. It only takes a few seconds, and you could win a prize that helps you save!

TOU Time Change

Nov. 1 will mark our Time of Use (TOU) rate time change. For those of you who are taking advantage of our TOU rate, please note that our peak times will change from our summer hours (3-6 p.m., Monday-Friday) to winter hours (6-8 a.m., Monday-Friday). That means that only 10 hours of 168 hours in the week are peak hours.

SPECIAL HOLIDAY HOURS

During the holidays, TOU is the gift that keeps giving. Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day are off-peak prices all day long!

IS TOU FOR YOU?

If you aren’t trying our TOU rate, now is the time! This rate allows you to save if you avoid energy use during peak hours. You have the control to save on your monthly energy costs. Just imagine what those savings can do for you this holiday season!

If you are hesitant, don’t worry. With our six-month guarantee, you can see what your bill would have been on our traditional rate. If you would have saved more on that rate or if you decide TOU isn’t for you for any reason, you can switch back and we will refund the savings you would have seen to your account.

Congratulations to Sherri Howard Vu, the winner of our August Reduce Your Use prize!

4 ways to boost your cyber hygiene

by Abby Berry

In today’s digital world, cyberattacks are unfortunately nothing new. Cybercriminals can attack on a multitude of levels, from large-scale attacks targeting corporations to smaller phishing attacks aimed to gain an individual’s personal information.

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, but good cyber hygiene should be practiced year-round. This year’s theme is “See Yourself in Cyber” — because we all have a part to play in cybersecurity. When we hear about massive data breaches, it can feel overwhelming and lead us to think we’re powerless as individuals to stop cyber criminals.

Enable multi-factor authentication

October is Awareness

Also known as two-step verification, multi-factor authentication adds a second step when logging into an account (to prove you’re really you), which greatly increases the security of the account. This second step could include an extra PIN, answering an extra security question, a code received via email or a secure token. Regardless of the type of authentication, this additional step makes it twice as hard for cyber criminals to access your account. Not every account offers multi-factor authentication, but it’s becoming increasingly popular and should be utilized when available.

Use strong passwords and a password manager

Remember, passwords are the “keys” to your personal home online. Your passwords should always be long, unique and complex. Create passwords using at least 12 characters, never reuse passwords for multiple accounts and use a combination of upper- and lowercase letters, numbers and special characters. If you have a lot of accounts, consider using a password manager to store them easily and securely in one place.

Update software

It may seem obvious, but regularly updating software is one of the easiest ways to keep your personal information secure. Most companies provide automatic updates and will send reminders, so you can easily install the update. If you’re not receiving automatic software updates, set a reminder to do so quarterly. Be aware that some cyber criminals will send fake updates; these typically appear as a pop-up window when visiting a website. Use good judgement and always think before you click.

Recognize and report phishing attacks

Don’t take the bait when cyber criminals go phishing. The signs of a phishing attack can be subtle, so take the extra time to thoroughly inspect emails. Most phishing emails include offers that are too good to be true, an urgent or alarming tone, misspellings and poorly-crafted language, ambiguous greetings, strange requests, or an email address that doesn’t match the company it’s coming from. Most platforms like Outlook, Gmail, and Mac Mail allow users to report phishing emails. If you suspect a phishing attempt, take an extra minute to report it.

Abby Berry writes on and affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

Cyber criminals are here to stay, but when we all approach to our cyber behavior, for additional cybersecurity

Delta Electric introduces NEW WEB PORTAL

“A new feature that we are excited about is called Quick Pay as it allows customers to login without a username and password to make payments on the go,” said David O’Bryan, general manager. “Only an account number and a phone number tied to the account is needed to verify the account,” he said. Portal users still have access to the most common features that include the following:

• Access Billing and Payment History

• History

• Update Alerts Text and Email

• View Print Bills

• Pay Electric and/or Fiber Internet Bills

Delta Electric is proud to announce that it launched a new web portal for its customers on Sept. 30. The new web portal utilizes a streamlined design that is easier to navigate. There is greater member information security, and the portal is optimized for use on mobile devices.

We are very excited to make available this enhanced web portal and those that have not yet registered can do so by going to the deltaepa.com home page. Please don’t hesitate to contact one of our local offices if you need assistance with registration or have any questions about using the portal.

General Manager by David O’Bryan

DEPA Online Member Account Portal

Frequently Questions

1. Why is DEPA moving to a new online account portal for its members?

The new online account portal was launched by DEPA’s customer information database provider. This new portal offers a streamlined design, added member account information security, optimization for use on mobile devices, and new features like Quick Pay (where members can log-in using account information instead of username and password).

2. When will the new portal go live?

The new portal will go live on Friday, September 30, 2022.

3. What are the benefits of using DEPA’s online member portal?

Portal users can access billing and payment history, usage history, update account alerts via text and email, and pay their bill.

4. If I am a current portal user, will I need a new username and password?

DEPA members who have an existing online portal account can log in using their same username and password. Simply click on “Bill Pay” from the DEPA homepage and members will be routed to the new portal landing webpage.

5. How do I access the new online portal?

6. I don’t have an existing online portal account. How do I get one?

Members can access the new online portal from the www.deltaepa.com home page. PO Box 9399 Greenwood, MS 38930 662.453.6352 662.743.4425 www.deltaepa.com

Creating an online portal account is easy. Simply click on “Bill Pay” on the DEPA website and select “Create a New User” under the “More” dropdown menu.

Fall is a busy time, and October is a particularly eventful month with school, community, and sports activities in full swing. It’s also when all cooperatives celebrate National Co-op Month.

When I say Dixie Electric celebrates Co-op Month, it really means we are celebrating you. After all, a co-op can’t exist without members, which are you!

We were formed, and our core business purpose is still to serve as your electricity provider, but the larger mission of the co-op is to help make our corner of the world a better place. “Concern for community” is one of seven guiding principles that all co-ops share. Similar to how our power lines run through our service territory, our concern for community flows through all of our decisions — because being a co-op means being a responsible partner and good neighbor.

Dixie Electric works to help our community thrive through initiatives led by our employees and local board that’s comprised of neighbors who live right here in our community. Because we’re local, we have a better understanding of our community’s unique needs and strive to help meet them.

We’re proud to support local youth through our Youth Leadership Program. With your help, we supply backpacks to foster children in our area. We partner with and support area food pantries and other charitable organizations. We also support local small businesses through our Co-op Connections program.

The word “cooperative” is close to “cooperation,” meaning people working together towards a common goal — mutually benefitting one another and the larger community. Our employees and memberelected board members are invested in the community because it’s where they live and serve. That’s the cooperative difference.

“Democratic member control” is another cooperative principle that cooperatives share. By now, you will have received notification through the mail concerning our annual meeting and board elections. As a member, you have a vote and a voice in our annual elections. Voting in our annual elections is an added value to being a co-op member, and I encourage you to use your vote.

As your trusted energy partner, we know that saving energy and money is important to you. That’s why we have numerous programs to help, including Comfort Advantage, prepay billing, and online energy calculators. Above all, as a co-op, we put our members’ priorities first.

We want to empower you to manage energy use at home. If you haven’t already, I encourage you to download our app, SmartHub. Through the app, you can conveniently monitor and manage your energy use. We’re here to help, so contact us if you have questions about your energy bills.

Dixie Electric is continuously examining ways to operate more efficiently while providing the highest level of friendly, reliable service you expect and deserve. After all, we are your local co-op. We were built by the members we serve. is National Co-op Month.

by Randy Smith General Manager

Spread the love

by Amanda Mills

In partnership with Cooperative Energy, Dixie Electric worked with Extra Table in their Everyone Eats program to help feed people across the state of Mississippi, including food pantries in its service area.

“Our mission is to fundraise in order to purchase healthy, shelf-stable foods for our partnering food pantries,” said Extra Table Executive Director Martha Allen. “We are a statewide nonprofit that is currently providing food monthly to 57 food pantries across the state of Mississippi.”

During July, Cooperative Energy provided Extra Table with the resources to purchase the necessary food for all 57 food pantries on behalf of their 12 member systems, including Dixie Electric.

“As the Power of 12, you are providing almost 350,000 meals to those hungry across Mississippi,” continued Allen. “This also means you’re providing quality meals that families are proud to put on the dinner table. Food is a basic human right, and we want to do everything in our power to ensure everyone eats in Mississippi. With your help, we can tell the Extra Table story and make a difference in the fight against hunger.”

As an added initiative during this event, Dixie Electric employees and members also participated in a peanut butter drive during the month of July to help spread the love to local food pantries. “Peanut butter is considered gold to most food pantries,” said Allen.

Peanut butter donations were distributed to three local food pantries, including the Glory House Bread of Life Center in Laurel, Samaritan’s Closet and Pantry in Waynesboro, and Petal Children’s Task Force.

CLEARING TREES AND LIMBS FOR RELIABLE SERVICE

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. Clearing the right-of-way protects individuals from the hazards of electricity and makes power restoration quicker and safer for both Dixie Electric’s members and personnel.

Clearing projects underway

Highway 588: Ellisville, Lowery Creek, Sandhill, Oak Bowery

Lynn Ray Rd: Eastabuchie, Glendale, Union, Morriston, Macedonia

West Laurel: Ellisville, Calhoun, Soso, Moss, Shady Grove

West Moselle: Moselle, Oak Bowery, Pine Grove, Airport

Whistler: Whistler, Strengthford, Pleasant Grove, Beat Four

Spraying notice

Eucutta: Eucutta, Sandersville, Shubuta, Pleasant Grove, Evergreen

Hoy: Laurel, Hoy, Moss, Springhill Road, Shady Grove, Matthews

Petal: Petal, Sunrise, Hillcrest, Macedonia

LUCY COOLEY District 1

Lucy Cooley joined the board of directors in 2019, representing members in southeast Jones County and Perry County. Lucy is married to Tony and is retired from the Jones County School District with more than 30 years of service. She is currently working part time as the counselor for the Jones County Learning Center. Lucy and Tony have one daughter.

SEARS WARD District 5

Sears Ward joined Dixie Electric’s board of directors in 2016, where he currently serves as Alt. Secretary/Treasurer. Sears and his wife, Patricia, own Sears Ward Insurance Agency in Laurel. Sears attends Judah Missionary Baptist Church in Laurel, where he serves as a deacon. He and his wife have three children and reside in the Mt. Olive community.

Serving east Mississippi for 84 years

A MESSAGE FROM YOUR CEO

East Mississippi Electric Power Association has been your trusted energy source for 84 years. Our dedicated employees continually strive to deliver the services that empower your lives, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, no matter the challenges thrown at us by weather, supply chains, and shortages.

This year has been no different. EMEPA employees responded to numerous windstorms, tornados, and the ever-present falling trees in the rain-soaked night. Dedicated employees rolled out of warm beds, braved the elements, repaired the lines, and restored the energy you need to power the conveniences of your homes and businesses.

We continually adapt our work procedures to ensure we respond with the same dedication we have provided the last 84 years. We constantly review and adjust to ensure we can respond appropriately and efficiently to member needs.

The COVID-19 pandemic forced us to look at new ways to do business. We now include both in person and virtual attendance at our annual meetings. While I always enjoy seeing the EMEPA members that attend our Annual Meetings, a virtual option allows even more to participate from the comfort of their homes. Another way to better involve our members was implemented this year. We added an online proxy response option to allow you to participate electronically. These are just a few additional ways we seek to connect with and serve our members.

In 2020, our members approved East Mississippi Connect with a 99 percent approval vote to move forward with a fiber-to-thehome internet service expansion for our members. In 24 months, we have successfully completed more than 2,200 miles of fiber buildout and connected more than 5,500 subscribers that are now able to utilize the high-speed service. We have made great progress and are committed to keep going strong. To those that have subscribed to the new service, we say thank you. Your participation

is vital to our continued success in bringing this service to every member who wants high-speed internet in the EMEPA service area.

Great teams accomplish great things. The team we have assembled continues to build and maintain both the electric and fiber systems with a firm resolve. We as team members are committed to accountability, respect, teamwork, integrity, and community. Our employees have shouldered additional responsibilities to ensure our communities are empowered with opportunities for growth and success.

Trust is strongest when it is built on mutually beneficial relationships. You can see many of the EMEPA employee relationships as you scan the actions of our dedicated team. Our employees volunteer for service projects in our communities and schools, respond to neighboring cooperatives when they call for assistance, all while maintaining our own electric and fiber systems.

Our relationship with the community is equally important. Our strategic planning model ensures we build the systems that serve the needs of our members. We utilize technologies that enhance your service while monitoring financial and rate stability to maximize member value.

Be assured, we know building trust is hard work and maintaining that trust is even harder. The Board of Directors, management, and employees at EMEPA do not take your trust for granted as we continue to serve and build pathways for community success for generations to come.

MEMBER OWNED. LOCALLY OPERATED. THAT’S THE COOPERATIVE DIFFERENCE.

POWERING Community

East Mississippi Electric Power Association’s core job is keeping the lights on, but our passion is serving our members. Because we are an electric cooperative, our purpose is to enrich the lives of our members and serve the long-term interests of our community. This service focus is at the heart of who we are.

We were built and are led by the members we serve. Whether tested by severe weather events or a pandemic, EMEPA puts people first not just during tough times but all the time. Over the years, our charitable efforts, staff volunteer service hours and other locally-focused projects have built gardens and playgrounds, supported local schools and young people, supported local food banks, assisted families in need to keep the lights on, and much, much more.

In fact, during the past year, EMEPA and our members have contributed more than $45,105 in contributions to local volunteer fire departments through our donation program and $26,000 to the American Cancer Society and Anderson Cancer Center through our annual Shoot For A Cure fundraising event.

EMEPA focuses on education and the development of our community’s young leaders through the Golden Apple Teacher of the Month recognition program and the National Rural Electric Cooperatives Association Youth Tour Program. In June 2022, EMEPA sent five local high school students on a weeklong trip to Washington, D.C. to tour our nation’s capital, visit with our Senators and Congressmen, and develop essential leadership skills.

Additionally, we awarded three graduating high school seniors and two university transfer students with scholarships funded by the Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi Foundation. And, one student was awarded a $4,000 college scholarship from EMEPA’s wholesale power provider, the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA).

EMEPA partners with local community and economic development organizations on projects that meet our region’s evolving needs and help it to thrive. We also established East Mississippi Connect as our fiber subsidiary bringing high-speed fiber internet access to rural east Mississippi transforming our members’ ability to access state-of-the-art communication technology, telemedicine, virtual learning and work-fromhome opportunities.

We also offer many energy efficiency resources and rebates that you can access to save money on energy bills. Technology such as the Home Energy Suite and energy calculators found at EMEPA.com/mysavings offer options to track energy use and help manage your energy costs.

EMEPA invests in both the infrastructure of our cooperative and our community to ensure the long-term viability of both. And, our investment stays right here and benefits our local economy. Because when the co-op thrives, our community thrives.

As a local electric cooperative, EMEPA is proud of its role in helping bring good things to our community. While the larger environment in which we operate is constantly changing, one thing remains constant. Working together with you, the members we serve, we’ll continue to power our communities.

MEMBERSHIPers

Whether you have been a member of East Mississippi Electric Power Association for years or just signed up for new service last week, we welcome you as one of more than 37,000 East Mississippi families, businesses and churches in owning and using service from your local electric cooperative. Being part of EMEPA means you are a part owner of EMEPA and share in the benefits of the cooperative.

Here we have provided the details on everything you need to know about communicating with us. And when you have questions about energy efficiency, electrical service or any of our products or services, just ask us; we are ready to listen. When we know just what you want, we are in a better position to deliver successful results — building trust, strengthening relationships, and fostering cooperation.

PAYMENT OPTIONS

• Make payments during business hours in person at your local EMEPA office or by phone at 601-581-8600 for 24/7 credit card or e-check payment.

• Send a check or money order by mail along with your bill payment stub.

• For ultimate convenience, sign up for automated bank draft each month using either a checking or a credit card account.

• Register and make payments 24/7 online at EMEPA. com. See how to log-in below.

• Make a secure payment 24/7 from your smart phone with EMEPA’s free mobile app.

• After setting up a payment profile and opting into text alerts on your account, simply text PAY to 352667.

• Use the convenient payment kiosks located at each of EMEPA’s four offices for 24/7 service or at the Piggly Wiggly of Collinsville during the store’s operating hours.

• Prepay: Eliminate a monthly bill with our new convenient pay-as-you-go power. Talk to a Member Service Representative for details or to sign up.

• Coming soon — Pay your bill where you shop with Pay Go at participating Dollar General stores. More information coming soon.

HOW TO LOG-IN TO MY ACCOUNT

Use EMEPA.com to view your account information, set up notifications and alerts, pay your bill and much more through My Account. Simply click the My Account button at the top right on the homepage and click New User under Login to follow the prompts to set up your account. You will need your account number handy to get setup.

HOW TO REPORT AN OUTAGE

If the power goes out, report your outage by phone at 601-581-8600, online at EMEPA.com or by smartphone app. Make sure to keep your contact number up to date and call from the number associated with your account for the greatest ease in reporting at outage.

HOW TO VIEW OUR OUTAGE MAP

View current outages with just a click of a button through EMEPA’s outage map located under the quick links at EMEPA.com or on your smartphone app.

HOW TO DOWNLOAD SMARTPHONE APP

EMEPA’s smartphone app makes it easier than ever to stay in touch with us and conduct normal transactions on the go. You can access your account, view daily energy use, weather data, receive account notifications, and pay your bill and more, all straight from your smart phone. Download the free app by searching EMEPA in the Apple App store or Google Play store, or click the download link at EMEPA.com under Payment Options.

HOW TO ACCESS YOUR EMEPA MEMBER HANDBOOK

You can access the full EMEPA member handbook online at EMEPA.com/myEMEPA.

HOW TO VIEW RATE SCHEDULE

You can access EMEA’s rate schedule online at EMEPA.com/myEMEPA.

4 ways to boost your cyber hygiene

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month

by Abby Berry

In today’s digital world, cyberattacks are unfortunately nothing new. Cyber criminals can attack on a multitude of levels, from large-scale attacks targeting corporations to smaller phishing attacks aimed to gain an individual’s personal information.

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, but good cyber hygiene should be practiced year-round. This year’s theme is “See Yourself in Cyber” — because we all have a part to play in cybersecurity. When we hear about massive data breaches, it can feel overwhelming and lead us to think we’re powerless as individuals to stop cyber criminals.

Enable multi-factor authentication

Also known as two-step verification, multi-factor authentication adds a second step when logging into an account (to prove you’re really you), which greatly increases the security of the account. This second step could include an extra PIN, answering an extra security question, a code received via email or a secure token. Regardless of the type of authentication, this additional step makes it twice as hard for cyber criminals to access your account. Not every account offers multi-factor authentication, but it’s becoming increasingly popular and should be utilized when available.

Use strong passwords and a password manager

Remember, passwords are the “keys” to your personal home online. Your passwords should always be long, unique and complex. Create passwords using at least 12 characters, never reuse passwords for multiple accounts and use a combination of upper- and lowercase letters, numbers and special characters. If you have a lot of accounts, consider using a password manager to store them easily and securely in one place.

Update software

It may seem obvious, but regularly updating software is one of the easiest ways to keep your personal information secure. Most companies provide automatic updates and will send reminders so you can easily install the update. If you’re not receiving automatic software updates, set a reminder to do so quarterly. Be aware that some cyber criminals will send fake updates; these typically appear as a pop-up window when visiting a website. Use good judgement and always think before you click.

Recognize and report phishing attacks

Don’t take the bait when cyber criminals go phishing. The signs of a phishing attack can be subtle, so take the extra time to thoroughly inspect emails. Most phishing emails include offers that are too good to be true, an urgent or alarming tone, misspellings and poorly-crafted language, ambiguous greetings, strange requests, or an email address that doesn’t match the company it’s coming from. Most platforms like Outlook, Gmail, and Mac Mail allow users to report phishing emails. If you suspect a phishing attempt, take an extra minute to report it.

Cyber criminals are here to stay, but when we all take a risk-based approach to our cyber behavior, we’re creating a safer internet for all. Visit www.staysafeonline.org for additional cybersecurity tips.

Abby Berry writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

Two years of

CONNECTIONS

East Mississippi Connect celebrates its second year of providing lightning-fast internet

Bringing high-speed fiber internet to our communities is a complicated and time-consuming task that’s divided into seven stages. Here’s a breakdown of what it takes to get East Mississippi Connect service to members’ homes and businesses:

Step One

Two years ago, East Mississippi Electric Power Association launched East Mississippi Connect to bring fast and reliable internet service to the area.

Today there are more than 5,000 active East Mississippi Connect subscribers — 75% more than we had at this time last year! But we aren’t stopping here. EMEPA is working diligently to expand this service as quickly as possible.

Make-ready engineering

The process begins with a thorough examination of existing infrastructure and the creation of the designs for the fiber rollout.

Step Two Make-ready construction

Once the design of the project is complete, focus shi s to planning how to connect the new fiber cable to existing infrastructure.

Step Three Construction

“It is exciting to be an integral part of our community’s progress,” says East Mississippi Electric Power Association CEO Randy Carroll. “Lives are changed every day because of access to telehealth programs, educational resources and job opportunities through our high-speed internet.”

To see if East Mississippi Connect is available in your area, visit EastMSConnect.com and enter your address.

If you are already an East Mississippi Connect subscriber, thank you for choosing us as your provider and being a part of this transformation for east Mississippi!

Step Four Splicing

Cables are joined at each end point, and those splices are mounted in enclosures secured to distribution poles.

This is the stage when the project takes to the streets. Fiber cables are buried underground and strung from poles to build the network that connects homes and businesses to our fiber hut. A fiber hut is a small building that serves as the brain of our fiber network. The individual glass fibers enter the hut, and then each one passes through equipment that receives and transmits the necessary signals between your devices and the internet.

Step Five Service drop

Fiber cables are extended from the nearest splice point to the area receiving service.

Step Six

Drop splicing

This final outdoor step in a fiber construction project gets the network ready to be connected to homes and businesses.

Step Seven Installation

Once the fiber network is ready, the team will hook up individual homes and businesses to East Mississippi Connect high-speed internet service. While much progress has been made in the last year, many members don’t yet have access to East Mississippi Connect. Providing reliable fiber-to-the-home internet takes time. Please know that we’re working daily to make sure the fiber infrastructure is safe, reliable and well wo h the wait.

Commitment to CommunityMEP gives back to local communities

Magnolia Electric Power serves six counties in southwest Mississippi: Pike, Walthall, Lincoln, Lawrence, Franklin, and Amite. Within those counties, the cooperative serves 32,765 meters (30,578 residential).

By all definitions, Magnolia Electric is a cooperative by the people, for the people. The cooperative principle “Commitment to Community” is a core value, as the cooperative has given abundantly to the community since its inception in 1938.

“We believe in the seven cooperative principles and want to give back to the local communities we serve,” said Heather Atwood, manager of human resources. Today, some of those efforts include toy drives, food drives, blood drives, and various other fundraisers.

Magnolia Electric’s annual community service activities include:

Cooperative Day of Service

Each January in honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Magnolia Electric employees participate in the Cooperative Day of Service, a day when electric cooperatives across Mississippi join together to benefit the individual communities they serve.

For the past two years, Magnolia Electric has hosted a food drive as part of the event. In 2022, more than 200 pounds of food was collected and donated to the local Salvation Army and the Walthall County Food Pantry.

Atwood, who oversees the food drive, said, “To know we are helping our friends, neighbors, and members provide food for their families is so impactful. Food drives make all the difference to those in need.”

Sweetheart Baby Shower

Two Magnolia Electric employees, Kristy Dunaway and Angie O’Brien, have organized a Sweetheart Baby Shower for the Crisis Pregnancy Center for the past two years. Employees donate baby items and money for expectant moms and their babies. The center, located in Pike County, serves multiple counties within Magnolia’s service area.

American Cancer Society, Relay for Life

Magnolia Electric contributes an annual monetary donation to the American Cancer Society and forms a Relay for Life team that participates in local events.

Employees Anthony Hughes, Dunaway, and O’Brien have shined in their service to the group. Hughes served on the Pike County Relay for Life committee for 20 years in addition to serving as chairman of the local committee for five years.

Dunaway served on the Pike County committee for eight years, serving as the Magnolia Electric team captain since 2002 and as a co-captain with O’Brien since 2012.

Blood drives

Magnolia Electric has/will host four blood drives in 2022 to benefit local patients. In years past, the drives have supported specific local patients to increase their blood reserve.

“We have seen an increase in the critical need for blood donors in the last couple of years,” Atwood said, emphasizing how close to home it has hit to the company. “We’ve had three employees with family needs for blood supply in the last year alone.”

The cooperative received the Mississippi Blood Services Top 20 of 2020 award for the state of Mississippi in blood drives.

Fundraiser for Children’s Advocacy Center

For the past two years, employees Haley Shepherd and Hughes coordinated a fundraiser for the Children’s Advocacy Center. Last year, a “Pie-in-the-Face” contest raised more than $400 for the center. This year, Shepherd, Hughes, and Luis Ybarra organized a raffle with several prizes that raised $1,700 for the center.

Christmas in July for Toys for Tots

In July 2021, Magnolia Electric started hosting a Toys for Tots campaign in addition to the usual December drive. The additional month yielded double the number of toys previously provided for the Marine Corps toy drive.

Leftover luggage gets new life

Magnolia Electric employee Liz Spears led a luggage/backpack drive for foster children who are displaced and transitioning to a foster home. As a result, several suitcases were donated to the Pike County Children Social Services.

Pinktober at MEP

Each October, the cooperative designates a day for employees to wear pink in honor or memory of those with breast cancer.

Dunaway coordinates the day and raises money for the cause all month long. Funds are raised through a silent auction and raffle benefiting the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

Youth leadership

Magnolia Electric has hosted Cooperative University each fall since 2004. Cooperative University is a unique leadership experience for select local high school juniors. Approximately 20-30 students participate each year and learn about electric cooperatives. Following a judging and interview process, two students are selected to represent the cooperative for the following year.

The two students then travel to Jackson for a workshop coordinated by Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi and later join other students from across the nation on a weeklong trip to Washington, D.C. Both trips are once-in-a-lifetime leadership opportunities fully funded by Magnolia Electric. Lucy Shell, manager of member services and communications, oversees this program.

United Givers

Employees make payroll contributions to the United Givers Agency on an annual basis. The money remains in southwest Mississippi to aid 11 local charities and organizations.

Shell said, “As you can see, Magnolia Electric’s contributions to our communities are widespread. Our members who are primarily residential, many times join in and support our fundraisers. We are so thankful for their help, too. You certainly grasp that from all our community service activities — it’s neighbors helping neighbors. And isn’t that what cooperatives are all about?”’

This article was written by Tonya Williams, communications facilitator with Cooperative Energy, a generation and transmission cooperative headquartered in Hattiesburg.

AMORY – P.O. BOX 300 - 50408 GREENBRIAR ROAD – 662-256-2962 • CALEDONIA – 746 MAIN STREET – 662-356-4100

October is National Co-op Month.

Fall is a busy time, and October is a particularly eventful month with school, community, and sports activities in full swing. It’s also when all cooperatives celebrate National Co-op Month.

When I say Monroe County Electric celebrates Co-op Month, it really means we are celebrating you! After all, our co-op wouldn’t exist without you, our members.

Our core business purpose is to serve as your electricity provider, but the larger mission of the co-op is to help make our corner of the world a better place. “Concern for community” is one of seven guiding principles that all co-ops share.

Similar to how our wires run through our service territory, our concern for community flows through all of our decisions — because being a co-op means being a responsible partner and good neighbor.

Monroe County works to help our community thrive through initiatives led by our employees and local board that’s comprised of neighbors who live right here in our community. Because we’re local, we understand our community’s unique needs and strive to help meet them.

We’re proud to support local youth through scholarship programs at our local schools.

The word “cooperative” is close to “cooperation,” meaning people working together towards a common goal — mutually benefitting one another and the larger community. That’s the

essence of the cooperative spirit. Our employees and memberelected board members are invested in the community in which live and serve.

Above all, as a co-op we put our members’ priorities first. As your trusted energy partner, we know that saving energy and money is important to you. That’s why we have numerous programs in place to help.

We want to empower you to manage energy use at home. If you haven’t already, I encourage you take a moment and download our app, MCEPA. Through the app, you can conveniently monitor and manage your energy use. And we’re of course here to help, so give us a call if you have questions about your energy bills.

Monroe County Electric is continuously examining ways to operate more efficiently while continuing to provide the highest level of friendly, reliable service you expect and deserve. After all, we’re your local co-op. We were built by the members we serve.

by Barry Rowland

General Manager

Focused on YOU

Electric cooperatives were created to serve their members. Because we’re a co-op, we’re able to adapt to our community’s unique needs. That’s the power of co-op membership.

OCTOBER IS NATIONAL CO-OP MONTH

4 ways to boost your cyber hygiene

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month

by Abby Berry

In today’s digital world, cyberattacks are unfortunately nothing new. Cyber criminals can attack on a multitude of levels, from large-scale attacks targeting corporations to smaller phishing attacks aimed to gain an individual’s personal information.

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, but good cyber hygiene should be practiced year-round. This year’s theme is “See Yourself in Cyber” — because we all have a part to play in cybersecurity. When we hear about massive data breaches, it can feel overwhelming and lead us to think we’re powerless as individuals to stop cyber criminals.

Enable multi-factor authentication

Also known as two-step verification, multi-factor authentication adds a second step when logging into an account (to prove you’re really you), which greatly increases the security of the account. This second step could include an extra PIN, answering an extra security question, a code received via email or a secure token. Regardless of the type of authentication, this additional step makes it twice as hard for cyber criminals to access your account. Not every account offers multi-factor authentication, but it’s becoming increasingly popular and should be utilized when available.

Use strong passwords and a password manager

Remember, passwords are the “keys” to your personal home online. Your passwords should always be long, unique and complex. Create passwords using at least 12 characters, never reuse passwords for multiple accounts and use a combination of upper- and lowercase letters, numbers and special characters. If you have a lot of accounts, consider using a password manager to store them easily and securely in one place.

Update software

It may seem obvious, but regularly updating software is one of the easiest ways to keep your personal information secure. Most companies provide automatic updates and will send reminders, so you can easily install the update. If you’re not receiving automatic software updates, set a reminder to do so quarterly. Be aware that some cyber criminals will send fake updates; these typically appear as a pop-up window when visiting a website. Use good judgement and always think before you click.

Recognize and report phishing attacks

Don’t take the bait when cyber criminals go phishing. The signs of a phishing attack can be subtle, so take the extra time to thoroughly inspect emails. Most phishing emails include offers that are too good to be true, an urgent or alarming tone, misspellings and poorly-crafted language, ambiguous greetings, strange requests, or an email address that doesn’t match the company it’s coming from. Most platforms like Outlook, Gmail, and Mac Mail allow users to report phishing emails. If you suspect a phishing attempt, take an extra minute to report it.

Cyber criminals are here to stay, but when we all take a risk-based approach to our cyber behavior, we’re creating a safer internet for all. Visit www.staysafeonline.org for additional cybersecurity tips.

Abby Berry writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

Hometown Revitalization:

by Courtney Warren

Built in 1912 and powered by Natchez Trace Electric, Mike Colbert, 67, has transformed what was once a doctor’s office and Houston, Mississippi’s first Post Office into what it is today: Daisy’s on the Square. Nestled in the heart of downtown Houston, Daisy’s on the Square includes a boutique hotel, conference room, coffee shop, diner, steakhouse, and bar, all run by Colbert, his wife Carol, and sister Debbie Teasley.

When Colbert was in college, he knew he wanted to own this building.

“I told the owners I would like to have that building one day,” Colbert said. And in 2012 he got a call — the building was available to purchase.

“The rest of it was up to me, it was just an old building that was a jewelry store at the time, selling clothing in the back. The upstairs wasn’t being used and you couldn’t walk in the downstairs.”

Colbert’s first line of business was to clean it out and decide what he wanted to turn it into. His first idea was to make it into an office building. However, this didn’t work out due to an unreliable internet connection.

“That’s when we decided we would make a boutique hotel. Never had any mind that we would do a restaurant,

that was nowhere in the picture, I promise. But we opened the Dixie Diner, and it was going well.”

Dixie Diner opened in May 2019, followed by Gather Coffee + Brew in February 2020. The hotel portion of Daisy’s on the Square, Bike & Bed Hotel Rooms and Daisy’s Hotel Rooms, has been open for about a year. Just in Thyme, The End of the Alley, and The Gathering Place, Houston’s first legal bar, all opened roughly eight months ago.

With all of this under Daisy’s on the Square, Colbert has no plan of stopping. He is currently working on opening a women’s spa and adding additional rooms to Daisy’s Hotel Rooms.

When speaking about the revitalization of his building, Colbert said “I am very proud of it.” Colbert specifically mentioned the staircase leading to the top floor, “All the ironwork was made here locally. All the iron and rails. Everything is local here. I pride myself that I was able to use people from here to bring this building back.”

In fact, most of the building was brought back to life using materials from the original building.

Mike Colbert with his wife Carol.

“We needed to tie the old and the new together. There’s a lot of old left in this building.”

The windows throughout Daisy’s on the Square are all 100-year-old windows. The wood used on the ceiling was taken from the original building. The floor plan for Daisy’s Hotel Rooms was preserved from the doctor’s office that was originally there, with the addition of restrooms in each room. The mirrors in each room were taken from the original building and framed with 120-year-old wood that also came from the building. He even used some of the wood to make his own furniture for the hotel rooms.

Since beginning his revitalization efforts, Colbert has put a lot of thought into his design decisions. Daisy’s on the Square was inspired by Colbert’s mom, Daisy.

“We named the whole place after my mother. She was 5’ 2”, and a little fireball. What a great mom.”

As you walk through each of the different businesses under Daisy’s on the Square, you will find daisies everywhere. There are daisies on the tables you eat at and tile mosaic daisies in each shower in Daisy’s Hotel Rooms.

In addition to honoring his mother, Colbert named each of the rooms at Daisy’s Hotel Rooms after different Mississippi mayors and friends.

“I named them after former mayors. Well, these mayors were really close friends of mine.”There is the Harry G. Robinson Room, WD Smith Room, WW Brand, Jr. Room, and JM Colbert Suite. Along with the name of the room, each room has a mural that relates to their friendship and the memories that they shared.

One of the things that drive people to stay at Daisy’s Hotel Rooms is the relaxing atmosphere and balcony that they can unwind on. While on the balcony, Colbert spoke about the people that stay at Daisy’s Hotel Rooms.

“We have a lot of people that stay here that just come for the weekend. People come from Oxford, Louisville, Columbus, etc. just to get away. They’ll just sit here on the balcony and enjoy. As they tell me, it’s not too far and they can get back. Most of them have kids. Believe it or not, there are folks around here who do that. They just want to get away for the night.”

Although Colbert’s original plan for the building — office space — did not work out due to unreliable internet, he wanted to shine a light on NT Spark, the fiber-to-the-home service provided by Natchez Trace Electric.

“I couldn’t do what I wanted to do in 2012 when we got this building because we didn’t have broadband. They have changed small town USA for Houston, that’s how big this is. We were just so limited on the possibilities of what could happen here. I’ve always wanted the best for Houston.”

We needed to tie the old and the new together. There’s a lot of old left in this building.

Cooperatives, whether electric, farm, water, or other, were formed for a purpose. That purpose is to provide a service that was either not available or was priced too high to afford with limited reliability. Northcentral, like other cooperatives, still strives to provide those services to a membership that, even today can be underserved. While our core business purpose is to serve as your electricity provider, the larger mission of the co-op is to help make our corner of the world a better place. That’s where the power of being local shines through.

In October, we celebrate National Cooperative Month and Public Power Month. Coincidentally, Northcentral Electric Cooperative members will assemble this month for our 72nd Annual Meeting. Votes will be cast for board representation, reports of the cooperative’s operations will be presented, and members will have the opportunity to make comments and voice concerns.

The second cooperative principle is democratic member control. Your control is represented through your local elected board

members. We need our members’ assistance in the days leading up to this October 26th annual meeting. When you receive your annual meeting notice and proxy in early October, please consider attending our annual meeting or assigning your proxy to another member or our board of directors.

Until then, and always, Northcentral will continue to serve and strive to meet the needs of our communities. After all, we are members of these communities too.

Stay safe.

by Kevin Doddridge General Manager/CEO

4 ways to boost your cyber hygiene

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month

by Abby Berry

In today’s digital world, cyberattacks are unfortunately nothing new. Cyber criminals can attack on a multitude of levels, from large-scale attacks targeting corporations to smaller phishing attacks aimed to gain an individual’s personal information.

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, but good cyber hygiene should be practiced year-round. This year’s theme is “See Yourself in Cyber” — because we all have a part to play in cybersecurity. When we hear about massive data breaches, it can feel overwhelming and lead us to think we’re powerless as individuals to stop cyber criminals.

Enable multi-factor authentication

Also known as two-step verification, multi-factor authentication adds a second step when logging into an account (to prove you’re really you), which greatly increases the security of the account. This second step could include an extra PIN, answering an extra security question, a code received via email or a secure token. Regardless of the type of authentication, this additional step makes it twice as hard for cyber criminals to access your account. Not every account offers multi-factor authentication, but it’s becoming increasingly popular and should be utilized when available.

Use strong passwords and a password manager

Remember, passwords are the “keys” to your personal home online. Your passwords should always be long, unique and complex. Create passwords using at least 12 characters, never reuse passwords for multiple accounts and use a combination of upper- and lowercase letters, numbers and special characters. If you have a lot of accounts, consider using a password manager to store them easily and securely in one place.

Update software

It may seem obvious, but regularly updating software is one of the easiest ways to keep your personal information secure. Most companies provide automatic updates and will send reminders, so you can easily install the update. If you’re not receiving automatic software updates, set a reminder to do so quarterly. Be aware that some cyber criminals will send fake updates; these typically appear as a pop-up window when visiting a website. Use good judgement and always think before you click.

Recognize and report phishing attacks

Don’t take the bait when cyber criminals go phishing. The signs of a phishing attack can be subtle, so take the extra time to thoroughly inspect emails. Most phishing emails include offers that are too good to be true, an urgent or alarming tone, misspellings and poorly-crafted language, ambiguous greetings, strange requests, or an email address that doesn’t match the company it’s coming from. Most platforms like Outlook, Gmail, and Mac Mail allow users to report phishing emails. If you suspect a phishing attempt, take an extra minute to report it.

Cyber criminals are here to stay, but when we all take a risk-based approach to our cyber behavior, we’re creating a safer internet for all. Visit www.staysafeonline.org for additional cybersecurity tips.

Abby Berry writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

TIMEOUT for Safety

by Justin Jaggers

Since 2017, Northcentral has made a tradition of holding an annual all-employee meeting to focus on and celebrate safety. It’s an opportunity for employees and board members to gather for a meal, fellowship, training, and recognition of accomplishments. It’s a reminder that, as Director of Safety and Loss Control JD Cox states, “safety begins with us and extends to our homes and our members.” It is also a celebration of the nationally recognized safety culture at Northcentral Electric Cooperative.

This year’s celebration included breakfast from the Short Stop Café in Byhalia and training presented by C4 Security owner Tyler Hungate. Hungate focused on situation de-escalation of heated personal interactions. All employees received tips on how to recognize, act, and react in dealing with these dangerous situations.

In July of 2022, a disgruntled resident in Marshall County threatened and fired a weapon at the vehicle of one of Northcentral’s contractors. Dangerous occurances like this create opportunities for more training in situational awareness.

This year, one employee reached a milestone with our cooperative. Cory Critcher completed our apprenticeship program and became a Journeyman Lineman. This five-year program includes demonstrating knowledge through

CEO Kevin Doddridge emphasizes Northcentral’s commitment to safety for all employees and members.

Journeyman Lineman Cory Critcher with wife Kelsey and daughters Ramsie and Braelyn.

written tests, completion of exercises in the field, and feedback from supervisors and management. Critcher was joined by his wife and two daughters in recognition of his hard work and dedication to his job. His certificate and plaque were presented by Underground Superintendent Steve Rodgers, Director of Construction Darin Farley, Overhead Superintendent Andy Denman, Safety Coordinator Joel Barret, Director of Safety & Loss Control J.D. Cox, and CEO/General Manager Kevin Doddridge.

That wasn’t the only award that Critcher received. He and eighteen other employees were recognized for their commitment to safety. Each Safety Day includes presentations of safety coins to thank those who identified a potential problem, reported safety hazards, took the initiative to correct a safety issue, or contributed to the safety culture at Northcentral.

This year’s Safety Day included a field trip for our employees. For those who work in the office, visits to the

Northcentral substations, fiber huts, and industrial parks were arranged to get a closer look at how integral their work is to all facets of the cooperative. For our employees who typically work out in the field, tours of Milwaukee Tools and Rockfon plants were arranged to see their operations up close. Both trips helped provide a new perspective and generated ideas to incorporate into an already stellar safety culture

The University of Delaware recently rated linemen the tenth most dangerous job in the United States. Today, Northcentral Electric Cooperative employs 120 men and women working in the office and in the field to deliver reliable, affordable, and safe electricity to over 35,000 meters in our service area. When it comes to the safety of Northcentral employees, CEO/General Manager Kevin Doddridge says it best “every employee has the right to go home in the same condition, or better, as when they came to work.”

Nineteen Northcentral employees were recognized for their efforts in contributing to the safety of their fellow employees and our members.

October is National Co-op Month.

Fall is a busy time, and October is a particularly eventful month with school, community, and sports activities in full swing. It’s also when all cooperatives celebrate National Co-op Month.

When we say Pontotoc Electric Power Association celebrates Co-op Month, it really means we are celebrating you! After all, our co-op wouldn’t exist without you, our members.

Our core business purpose is to serve as your electricity provider, but the larger mission of the co-op is to help make our corner of the world a better place. “Concern for community” is one of seven guiding principles that all co-ops share.

Similar to how our wires run through our service territory, our concern for community flows through all of our decisions — because being a co-op means being a responsible partner and good neighbor.

Pontotoc Electric works to help our community thrive through initiatives led by our employees and local board that’s comprised

of neighbors who live right here in our community. Because we’re local, we understand our community’s unique needs and strive to help meet them.

We’re proud to support local youth through scholarship programs at our local schools.

The word “cooperative” is close to “cooperation,” meaning people working together towards a common goal — mutually benefitting one another and the larger community. That’s the essence of the cooperative spirit. Our employees and memberelected board members are invested in the community in which we live and serve.

Pontotoc Electric is continuously examining ways to operate more efficiently while continuing to provide the highest level of friendly, reliable service you expect and deserve. After all, we’re your local co-op. We were built by the members we serve.

Focused on YOU

Electric cooperatives were created to serve their members. Because we’re a co-op, we’re able to adapt to our community’s unique needs. That’s the power of co-op membership.

OCTOBER IS NATIONAL CO-OP MONTH

quick chili

Lee (PEPA Retiree) and Pat Hobson

INGREDIENTS

4 cans diced or stewed tomatoes with basil, garlic, and oregano

2 cans diced tomatoes with green peppers and onions

3 lbs ground chuck

1 small onion

1 pkg Two Alarm Chili Mix (kit) with option to add red peppers

2 large cans of chili beans in sauce

1 large can of hot chili beans in sauce

1 can of tomatoes and green chilies

2 cups water

Garlic salt, California style to taste

Brown meat and drain. Add garlic salt to taste. Set aside. Sauté chopped onion. Add all other ingredients in large pot. Simmer until hot. Stir occasionally. Add all meat and onion mixture. Simmer about one hour.

9 can vegetable soup

Sandy Sexton, Accounts Payable Clerk

INGREDIENTS

1 lb hamburger meat

1 can whole kernel corn

1 can petite diced tomatoes

1 can Hormel chili, no beans

2 cans Veg-All

1 can Rotel tomatoes

1 can Campbell’s tomato soup

1 can diced new potatoes

Combine all ingredients and cook until heated through. Then add one-fourth cup of sugar and serve.

slow cooker bacon and corn chowder

Mary Williamson, Collection Manager

INGREDIENTS

½ lb bacon cut into 1-inch pieces

2 cups frozen whole kernel corn, thawed

½ cup chopped carrots 1 can cream style corn

1 cup milk

2 cups potatoes, cubed and peeled

1 medium onion, chopped ½ cup red bell pepper, chopped

1 tbsp sugar

1 can Progresso Recipe Starters creamy roasted garlic cooking sauce

Spray slow cooker with cooking spray. In 10-inch skillet, cook bacon until crisp. Drain bacon on paper towels. Discard drippings. Place bacon in slow cooker. Add remaining ingredients, except milk. Stir to combine. Cover. Cook on low for 4 hours or until potatoes are tender. Stir in milk. Cover and cook about 30 more minutes or until hot. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Makes 4–6 servings.

tomato soup

Sue Cook, PEPA Retiree

INGREDIENTS

2 qts tomatoes

5 pods of okra

½ cabbage salt and pepper

Bring tomatoes to a boil. Chop cabbage and okra. Pour cabbage and okra into tomatoes. Add salt and pepper to taste. Cook until tender.

Steve Martin

Sandra Fair

Fall is a busy time, and October is a particularly eventful month with school, community, and sports activities in full swing. It’s also when all cooperatives celebrate National Co-op Month.

When I say Pearl River Valley Electric celebrates Co-op Month, it really means we are celebrating you! After all, our co-op wouldn’t exist without you, our members.

Our core business purpose is to serve as your electricity provider, but the larger mission of the co-op is to help make our corner of the world a better place. “Concern for community” is one of seven guiding principles that all co-ops share.

Similar to how our wires run through our service territory, our concern for community flows through all of our decisions — because being a co-op means being a responsible partner and good neighbor.

Pearl River Valley Electric works to help our community thrive through initiatives led by our employees and local board that’s comprised of neighbors who live right here in our community. Because we’re local, we understand our community’s unique needs and strive to help meet them.

We’re proud to support local youth through our scholarship and Cooperative Youth Leaders programs. With your help, we offer Round Up for Education scholarships to provide assistance to members who want to achieve a better life through higher education. In total, more than 2,000 students have been given scholarships which have helped pay for books and tuition. Through our Cooperative Youth Leaders Program, students in schools throughout our 12-county service area are given the opportunity to learn about the electric power industry while competing for a chance to tour Washington, D.C. We are proud to be a part of this program and look forward to continuing our tradition of encouraging area youth to learn about electric cooperatives.

In July, we teamed up with Cooperative Energy and Extra Table to help stock local food pantries. Our employees collected jars of

peanut butter at each of our offices and then delivered them to local food banks. We are proud to know that we helped feed area families with nutritious meals.

The word “cooperative” is close to “cooperation,” meaning people working together towards a common goal — mutually benefitting one another and the larger community. That’s the essence of the cooperative spirit. Our employees and member-elected board members are invested in the community in which we live and serve.

Above all, as a co-op we put our members’ priorities first. As your trusted energy partner, we know that saving energy and money is important to you. That’s why we have numerous programs in place to help, including our Comfort Advantage program, which encourages the saving of money through the building of energy efficient homes.

We want to empower you to manage energy use at home. If you haven’t already, I encourage you take a moment and download our app, which can be found by searching for “PRVEPA” in your app store. It is free of charge. Through the app, you can conveniently monitor and manage your energy use. And we’re of course here to help, so give us a call if you have questions about your energy bills.

Pearl River Valley Electric is continuously examining ways to operate more efficiently while continuing to provide the highest level of friendly, reliable service you expect and deserve. After all, we’re your local co-op. We were built by the members we serve.

by Matthew Ware

CEO/General Manager

Pearl River Valley Electric: FAST FACTS

• Organized in May 1938

• Governing body is a 10-member Board of Directors elected by members for staggered 3-year terms

• Service area includes all or parts of 12 counties

• Serves more than 52,000 meters consisting of residential, commercial, large power, and industrial loads

• Electric distribution system includes more than 6,200 miles of power lines and 25 substations

• Headquarters is located in Columbia, with district offices in Hattiesburg, Wiggins, and Purvis

• Employs approximately 128 highly skilled, service-oriented professionals

• In 1963, PRVEPA was the first cooperative in Mississippi to begin paying patronage refunds (a return on members’ equity in the Association) … since that time, nearly $67 million has been returned to members over the course of 59 years

• In 1988, PRVEPA began returning patronage credits to the estates of deceased members — more than $17.3 million has been returned through that program

Focused on YOU

Electric cooperatives were created to serve their members. Because we’re a co-op, we’re able to adapt to our community’s unique needs. That’s the power of co-op membership.

OCTOBER IS NATIONAL CO-OP MONTH

Available services to PRVEPA members

EmPowered and the PRVEPA App

EmPowered, our online customer portal at www.prvepa.com, and our PRVEPA App allow you the opportunity to view your billing history, daily kilowatt hour use and past bills. In addition, they make it easy to report outages, make a payment and sign up for paperless billing.

Online Bill Pay

Pearl River Valley Electric members can easily pay their bill online at www.prvepa.com or through the PRVEPA app by credit card, debit card or e-check. There is no service fee to pay online. To make your payment online, simply visit www.prvepa.com and click on the “Pay My Bill” icon located on the homepage. To pay by app, please download the app and click “pay now.”

Outage Viewer

The Pearl River Valley Electric Outage Viewer is available to our members 24-7. When there’s an outage anywhere in PRVEPA territory, members can locate it, find out how many members are affected, and follow the progress of the restoration effort.

Find the outage viewer map by going to www.prvepa.com and clicking on the “Report an Outage” icon on the homepage.

Bank Draft

Pearl River Valley Electric’s Bank Draft program is the most convenient way to pay your power bill. It also gives you the security of knowing your power bill will be paid on time. Eliminate the hassle of mailing a check or driving to the office!

Sign up for Bank Draft from the comfort of your home!

Visit PRVEPA and login to your EmPowered account. Go to the Billing and Payments menu and choose “Draft Payments.” Fill in your banking or credit card information.

You can also choose “bank draft” or auto draft in the app under the “Payments” button.

@MYPRVEPA

Social media gives Pearl River Valley Electric the chance to connect to its members. Through Facebook and Twitter, we post information on energy efficiency, safety, and special information for our members. Additionally, during severe weather, these sites provide instant communications on storm preparation and outages.

4 ways to boost your cyber hygiene

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month

by Abby Berry

In today’s digital world, cyberattacks are unfortunately nothing new. Cyber criminals can attack on a multitude of levels, from large-scale attacks targeting corporations to smaller phishing attacks aimed to gain an individual’s personal information.

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, but good cyber hygiene should be practiced year-round. This year’s theme is “See Yourself in Cyber” — because we all have a part to play in cybersecurity. When we hear about massive data breaches, it can feel overwhelming and lead us to think we’re powerless as individuals to stop cyber criminals.

Enable multi-factor authentication

Also known as two-step verification, multi-factor authentication adds a second step when logging into an account (to prove you’re really you), which greatly increases the security of the account. This second step could include an extra PIN, answering an extra security question, a code received via email or a secure token. Regardless of the type of authentication, this additional step makes it twice as hard for cyber criminals to access your account. Not every account offers multi-factor authentication, but it’s becoming increasingly popular and should be utilized when available.

Use strong passwords and a password manager

Remember, passwords are the “keys” to your personal home online. Your passwords should always be long, unique and complex. Create passwords using at least 12 characters, never reuse passwords for multiple accounts and use a combination of upper- and lowercase letters, numbers and special characters. If you have a lot of accounts, consider using a password manager to store them easily and securely in one place.

Update software

It may seem obvious, but regularly updating software is one of the easiest ways to keep your personal information secure. Most companies provide automatic updates and will send reminders, so you can easily install the update. If you’re not receiving automatic software updates, set a reminder to do so quarterly. Be aware that some cyber criminals will send fake updates; these typically appear as a pop-up window when visiting a website. Use good judgement and always think before you click.

Recognize and report phishing attacks

Don’t take the bait when cyber criminals go phishing. The signs of a phishing attack can be subtle, so take the extra time to thoroughly inspect emails. Most phishing emails include offers that are too good to be true, an urgent or alarming tone, misspellings and poorly-crafted language, ambiguous greetings, strange requests, or an email address that doesn’t match the company it’s coming from. Most platforms like Outlook, Gmail, and Mac Mail allow users to report phishing emails. If you suspect a phishing attempt, take an extra minute to report it.

Cyber criminals are here to stay, but when we all take a risk-based approach to our cyber behavior, we’re creating a safer internet for all. Visit www.staysafeonline.org for additional cybersecurity tips.

Abby Berry writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

Energy Tips

A MESSAGE FROM YOUR CEO

Capital Credits:

One of the greatest benefits of co-op membership

Singing River Electric is owned by its membership this means you and I not only receive power from Singing River Electric but are also part-owners of the cooperative. Singing River Electric abides by seven cooperative principles, including Members’ Economic Participation. This principle states that members will receive the benefit of any margins (revenue minus expenses) made by the cooperative. Annual margins are allocated to members receiving service during any given year. A member’s allocation depends in part on the amount of electricity the member purchased during the year. This allocated amount is called capital credits.

Cooperatives, like Singing River Electric, allocate capital credits to member accounts annually and retire a certain amount of capital credits each year as the financial condition of the cooperative permits. For example, costs for repairing damage to the electrical system caused by a hurricane might prohibit an annual capital credit retirement. Members who are eligible for a particular year’s capital credits receive a bill credit or check. Previous members who had an account with Singing River Electric during the years of capital credit retirement may file a claim for retired credits.

Before being retired, electric cooperatives use capital credits to invest in the operations of the cooperative, like purchasing bucket trucks, poles, transformers, wire, and other items. Utilizing capital credit funds reduces the need for loans and related expenses and helps in keeping power costs as low as possible, which is a benefit to all members.

After evaluating margins and costs associated with the delivery of electricity during the previous 12 months, your board of directors is responsible for the decision as to how to handle the annual retirement. Singing River Electric traditionally announces and returns capital credits in December. Capital credits are one of the many benefits of cooperative membership.

by Brian Hughey

Jeff Gray Energy Services Representative gray@singingriver.com

Keep your refrigerator running efficiently

Refrigerators are important appliances in member homes. Models built after 1997 are more efficient than previous units, and maintenance and testing will ensure efficiency.

The magnetic seal on the doors needs to be cleaned periodically to ensure a tight seal. To check for a good seal, place a one-dollar bill halfway inside the unit and close the door. Then pull the bill out. A good seal will have some resistance. If the bill slides out easily, the seal is not good; you will need to clean or replace the magnetic seal.

There should be a grill on the front of your refrigerator. Remove the grill and clean the coils using a vacuum cleaner. Doing this will ensure good airflow for the cooling system.

When purchasing a new refrigerator, look for the Energy Star symbol. Once your new refrigerator is in place, we do not recommend moving the old unit outside or to an unconditioned space to continue using. An older refrigerator working against the outside heat and humidity will run continuously and increase your energy use and power bill.

General Manager

Join us for COFFEE

Southern Drip Coffee Shop

314 Main Street, Leakesville Tuesday, Oct. 4 • 7:30 – 9 a.m.

•

October is Cooperative Month. Let’s chat over coffee.

We will host five events for SRE members at local coffee houses this month. Our Singing River Electric and SR Connect fiber staff members will be available to chat and answer questions. Come visit and talk to us about your electric service, storm preparations, energy-saving efforts, and fiber questions — all while enjoying a free cup of coffee. We can’t wait to meet you in person!

Upcoming

Georgia’s Corner Market

12655 Hwy. 57, Vancleave Tuesday, Oct. 11 • 8:30 - 10 a.m.

•

Lucedale Coffee House

5161 Main Street, Lucedale Tuesday, Oct. 11 • 7:30 - 9 a.m.

•

The Coffee Shop

21413 Hwy. 613, Ste. G, Hurley Tuesday, Oct. 18 • 7:30 - 9 a.m.

•

Delo’s Heavenly House of Coffee

3880 Gautier-Vancleave Road, Gautier Tuesday, Oct. 25 • 7:30 – 9 a.m.

Singing River Electric clears trees, limbs and underbrush from the area around and below the power lines called the right of way. Right-of-way clearing helps decrease the number of outages and reduces the risk of someone coming in contact with power lines.

Here are the substations and surrounding areas that are either currently being cleared or where clearing will begin soon:

• Tanner Chapel Substation Highway 612, Tanner Williams Road, Tanner Chapel Road, and surrounding areas.

• Wade Substation Highway 63, Highway 614, Hurley-Wade Road, and surrounding areas.

• Hintonville Substation Highway 15, Hintonville Road, Arlington Road, and surrounding areas.

• Frank Snell Substation Highway 613, Highway 614, Frank Snell Road, and surrounding areas.

SR CONNECT is signing up subscribers in PHASE 2!

Singing River Electric’s Hintonville substation is the first to be connected in Phase 2. Sign-ups will begin with the Highway 15 North and Highway 15 South feeders. This includes: Hintonville Road, Highway 15, River Loop Road, Krone Road, Monk Cochran Loop, Dogwood Drive, Anna Bell Hinton Road, and portions of Wingate and Arlington Roads. To see a zoomable map of the area, scan the QR code. Search your address at singingriverconnect.com and if you live in this area, call 877-272-6611 to sign up for blazing-fast fiber internet from people you trust.

We are extending free installation in all SR Connect Phase 1 fiber areas including the Brewer, Agricola, and Aleco (North Vancleave) substation areas. These maps can also be viewed by clicking the QR Code above.

These visibility, for when for blocked lifting a finger. Protection to your Wi-Fi for only $7/month.

These for when for blocked intrusions, without lifting a finger. Protection for your whole family and all devices connected to your Wi-Fi for only $7/month.

• Put your family first and keep children and grandchildren safe while online.

• Block harmful or inappropriate content, apps, and websites.

• Set screen time limits for apps (Minecraft, Snapchat, TikTok).

• View internet use on all devices and prioritize one device over others.

• Automatically block attempted visits to known harmful websites.

• Monitor incoming traffic and keep out hackers.

• Get regular notifications for blocked security threats.

• Protect all devices connected to your W-Fi. This is available for all current SR Connect fiber subscribers. To add the Ultimate Wi-Fi Experience, call 877-272-6611 today!

Blazing-fast fiber internet from people you trust.

We have fiber contract crews working in many different locations.

Wondering if someone you see nearby is one of ours? This quarterly fiber construction schedule may help. Remember this is not a complete list of roads and doesn’t mean these areas will be signing up for fiber in this time frame. Please DO NOT call to inquire about signing up for fiber service if you are in one of these areas. It is for crew identification only. You will receive a mailed postcard, an email and see signs along your road that say, CALL NOW, when it is time for you to sign up for fiber service.

Upcoming MRE fiber projects

Make-ready engineering (MRE) is the FIRST of seven stages of fiber construction, immediately followed by make-ready construction or stage TWO. Here is a list of areas that fiber contract crews may be in for the remainder of the year, in case you see them near your property.

Sawmill substation - Dickerson Sawmill Road, Jake Hill Road, Man Moulds Road, portions of Brushy Creek Road, Old Highway 63 N and some surrounding areas.

Kittrell substation – K Town Road, Riverside Road, Chicora Stateline, Smithtown Chicora, Chicora Greene County, Woulard Bend River Road, portions of Old Avera Road and some surrounding areas.

State Line substation – Martin Luther King Drive, State Line Battles Road, Chason Eret, Beasley Gardner Road, and portions of Highway 45, Highway 42, Highway 57 and some surrounding areas.

McLain substation – Loop Road, Arlington Road, Progress Road, Little Creek Road, Isom Jordan Road, and portions of Old Highway 42, Neely Road, Avera Road, Highway 98, Highway 57 and some surrounding areas.

Upcoming Splicing fiber projects

Splicing is the FOURTH of seven stages of fiber construction. Here is a list of areas that fiber contract crews may be in for the remainder of the year, in case you see them near your property.

Harleston substation – Polk Town Road, Davis Sawmill Road, Cedar Creek Road, portions of Beasley Road and Highway 613 and some surrounding areas.

Upcoming mrc & fiber construction projects

Make-ready construction (MRC) and Fiber construction are the SECOND and THIRD of the seven stages in our fiber build process. Here is a list of areas that fiber contract crews may be in for the remainder of the year, in case you see them near your property.

Lucedale South substation – Portions of Highway 26 West, Sally Parker Road, Highway 613, Mill Street Extension, Central Fire Tower Road, Fig Farm Road, Highway 198 and some surrounding areas.

Basin substation – River Road, Pleasant Hill Church Road, Ellis Hodge Road, and portions of Highway 63 Basin Refuge Road and some surrounding areas.

Tanner Chapel substation – Tanner Williams Road, Howell Tanner Chapel Road, and portions of Highway 612, State Line Road and some surrounding areas.

Fostering the love of music

SRE NHN Grant purchases musical instruments

Concern for Community

Neighbors Helping Neighbors (NHN) Community Grants help Singing River Electric merge efforts with the hard work of those within our communities. Since the program’s inception in 2001, $333,842.12 has been awarded to local non-profits in local communities.

The George County Middle School Music Department’s mission is to foster a love for music in seventh and eighth grade students.

The Neighbors Helping Neighbors Community grant of $2,496 was used to purchase a concert bass drum with a stand, a trombone, and a tenor saxophone. “These instruments will allow students who cannot afford to purchase an instrument the chance to succeed, and ultimately help them in their future musical goals,” explains Amanda Gooch, music teacher and band director.

Fall Farm Safety Check

Electrical safety on the farm is key to preventing injuries and potential death. Look at possible electrical hazards. Scan the horizon for overhead power lines before you climb on any farm equipment. For more tips, visit myelectriccooperative. com/safety or safeelectricity.org.

Trick-or-treating safety

For more information on SRE NHN Community Grants and how to apply, visit singingriver.com/my-community. Grants for up to $2,500 are awarded to nonprofits in SRE’s service area three times a year in January, May, and September.

Make sure your trick-or-treaters are easy to spot on Halloween night. Purchase glow sticks or small flashlights to help them stand out. Don’t forget to clear walkways, porches, and entryways for visiting pumpkins and ghosts.

Pictured left to right are George County Middle School’s Elijah Davis, Principal Julie Miller, Band Director Amanda Gooch, Casen Rose, Sandra Shell, and Brayden Schutz.

by Paul Wesslund

Did you know one of the most cutting-edge places for technology is right up the road at your local electric cooperative?

That’s right! Innovation isn’t happening just in computer labs or on satellites rocketing into space. Electric co-ops lead even the highly-technical electric utility industry in such fast-changing areas as renewable energy and installation of smart meters that allow the more efficient use of electricity.

While it may seem surprising to think of your electric co-op as a high-tech leader, it’s part of a way of doing business that has been finding new approaches to solving modern problems for nearly 100 years.

In fact, electric co-ops were originally created to solve one of the most basic and complex of needs and desires — making light out of darkness.

That legacy still works today, and it’s why time is set aside each October to recognize National Co-op Month. It’s a reminder that business succeeds not just through competition, but also through cooperation.

As a result of the member-owned cooperative form of business, co-ops stand out in many areas of the electric utility industry. They lead the way in community solar — an initiative in which the co-op utility builds a solar array that is supported by interested co-op members buying shares of the project. Electric vehicles are getting a boost from co-ops as well, with many placing charging stations in public parks and other rural locations.

And just as co-ops first brought electricity to unserved rural areas nearly a century ago, today many of them are working to bring high-speed internet service to their local communities.

In the early part of the last century, America’s cities were being transformed by this new thing called electricity. But outside the

municipal boundaries, people could only look with envy at the glow from over the horizon. Setting poles and stringing power lines miles outside of town for one or two customers was deemed too expensive.

Luckily, go-getters in America’s rural communities believed they could solve the problems that kept the power companies from connecting them to modern society.

They called their friends and neighbors together and started forming their own utilities. They were community-based organizations, democratically-run, not-for-profit businesses called cooperatives. Today, there are more than 900 electric co-ops in the U.S.

It wasn’t easy, especially at first. They got a huge boost when, after getting the attention of some key politicians, the federal government created the Rural Electrification Administration (REA). The REA made loans available, helping finance expensive utility construction. It provided technical consulting, developing engineering techniques to carry electricity longer distances. The agency drew up model co-op bylaws and even went on the road with tent shows to demonstrate how to use the latest conveniences like electric ovens and washing machines.

But the biggest innovation is simply the co-op itself, and the notion of a utility with only one mission — to make life better for its members, who are also its customers.

Electric co-ops didn’t spring from a national directive or organization. They are truly homegrown products of what local people wanted for their community. Electric co-ops first started forming as early as 1914, and the formation of the REA in 1935 helped smooth the way forward. But it was local community initiative over the next three decades that finally brought electric service to nearly everyone.

The story of electric co-ops is of a true grassroots movement of unique, homegrown organizations. The one characteristic that applies to all of them is that they care for and listen to the local members they serve.

For electric co-ops, one size does not fit all — it’s the local community that’s in charge. In recognizing that every one of us is different, co-ops make both an electric connection, and a human connection.

And that’s a truly powerful innovation.

Celebrating Membership for National Co-op Month

Fall is a busy time, and October is especially busy with school, community, and sports activities in full swing. It’s also when cooperatives around the country celebrate National Co-op Month. When I say Southern Pine celebrates Co-op Month, it means we are celebrating you. After all, our co-op wouldn’t exist without you, our members.

Our core business purpose is to serve as your electricity provider. Still, the larger mission of the co-op is to help make our corner of the world a better place. “Concern for community” is one of seven guiding principles that all electric co-ops share. As our lines run through the service territory, so does our concern for the community. That concern guides our decisions because being a co-op means being a responsible partner and good neighbor.

Because of our concern for our community of members, we work tirelessly to bring the electric power reliably and affordably. As one of the largest geographical electric cooperatives in the United States, that’s no easy task. We maintain over 10,500 miles of lines that span 11 counties. Our lines run through fields, neighborhoods, swamps, and some extremely rough terrain. In addition to maintaining the lines, we must make sure that the rights-of-way remain hazard free. A lot of work goes into getting the electricity to your home, and our dedicated team never stops working for you.

Southern Pine works to help our community thrive through initiatives led by employees and a local board comprised of neighbors who live right here. Because we’re local, we understand our community’s unique needs and strive to help meet them. With your help, we have been able to support local communities

POWER OUT?

through food drives and pet food drives to help our most vulnerable members. Sometimes it is the simple things that we all take for granted that matter most. The most requested item from nursing homes is socks, and each year we try to fill that need through our Cold Feet Hurt program by collecting and delivering socks to residents and to community shelters.

As your trusted energy partner, we know that saving energy and money is essential for you. That’s why we have several programs to help, including energy audits, Comfort Care Advantage, energy fairs, and conservation information. We want to empower you to manage energy use at home. If you haven’t already, I encourage you to take a moment and sign up for My Power. You can conveniently monitor and manage your energy use, pay your bill, or view your billing history through My Power. And, of course, we are always here to help, so give us a call if you have questions about your energy bills.

Southern Pine is continuously looking at new ways to operate more efficiently while providing the highest level of friendly, reliable service that you expect and deserve. After all, we’re your local co-op, built by members to serve members.

by Chris K. Rhodes

President/CEO Southern Pine Electric

TEXT OUT TO 1-800-231-5240

Texting is the easiest way to let Southern Pine know you have an outage, so make sure your mobile number is current. If you need to update your information, visit southernpine.coop.

Two Easy Options for Online Payment

When we changed payment service providers in 2021, the one-time payment option was not available through the new provider. Although members could still pay through their MyPower accounts, not all members have or want an account. Through diligently working with the current vendor, we are happy to report that MyPower Quick Pay is now available at southernpine.coop.

Making a payment is quick and easy, and all you need is your account number and the last four digits of your phone number that is associated with the account. Once you verify the account is correct based on the address listed, you can proceed with making a payment. If you need to update your phone number with us, please visit southernpine. coop to easily submit any necessary changes.

Give it a try. We think you’ll find it quick, convenient, and easy to use.

If you’d like to do even more to monitor your usage, pay your bill, update information, and more, then sign up for MyPower. You can also store your credit card and bank account information for future payments through MyPower. Signing up is easy. Just visit southernpine.coop, click on the MyPower icon at the top right of the page, and select “Create account.” When you enter your information, you’ll receive a verification code through text or email. If you choose email, please check your spam folder if you don’t receive it. Depending on your personal email settings, sometimes the email is in this folder.

Once you confirm, you are all set to view or pay your bill, review your daily usage to help you decide when you use the most energy to determine how you can reduce your cost, view past bills, and so much more.

Two easy, convenient online payment options are available. All you need to do is select which option works best for you.

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT:

CHARLES WILSON AND “STACY JOE SOUTHERN SKINS”

Soft-spoken, friendly, and humble is the first impression you’ll have of Charles Wilson when you meet him. At 71, he’s not slowing down for one minute. He continues to do what he loves at Stacy Joe Southern Skins, started 12 years ago upon his return to his hometown, Pinola.

Growing up in Pinola, Charles remembers frying pork skins with his grandmother when he was five or six years old. “Back then, she used to fry them outside because she didn’t have a building to do it in. She’d let me do just about everything, and it was a lot of fun. I always look back and think how much fun I had,” he said. It was during those early years with his grandma that he decided he’d give it a try when he got older.

When Charles graduated from high school, one year before it integrated, he immediately signed up and entered the U. S. Army to serve his country in Vietnam. During his 18 months abroad, Charles saw and experienced battles he’ll never forget. “Even today, I still think of that war every single day,” he said. “I came back after my tour and had lost a lot of my hearing in both ears.”

Returning to the U.S., Charles decided he wanted to explore new places. During his travels, he vacationed in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. That vacation turned into 19 years because he landed a job at Super Steel and decided to stay. It was a home away from home until his dad got sick. He returned to Pinola to care for his father and thought about his childhood with his grandma. It was time to start frying skins. He shadowed a friend who had made fried pork skins for years and learned how to make the best product. “Now I’m pretty sure I’m the only one in Simpson County who does it,” Charles said.

Stacy Joe’s most significant order so far is about 400, which is a lot of skins. Frying skins about three days a week, he and his helper and brother-in-law, Joshua Poindexter, don’t start frying until the order arrives so they’ll be fresh. On the other days, you can catch him cutting grass or boiling peanuts to sell.

Charles said he loves high school football, his wife, family, and people. “I always try to be kind to people and treat them well because I love meeting new people,” he said. It’s easy to see how kind he is when he talks excitedly about being one of the member spotlights at our annual meeting. “I am looking forward to the meeting and seeing all the people, letting them try my skins, and making new friends,” Charles said.

The southern skins are outstanding, but Charles Wilson’s kindness is what really shines.

Join Charles at our annual meeting November 10, 2022, where you can sample some of the Stacy Joe Southern Skins. Doors open at noon.

ONE SURVIVOR’S STORY Keep Pushing, Praying, and Believing

By Ramona Anderson, Human Resources and Training Specialist

I want everyone to heed these words — listen to your body because it tells you so much. Usually, I am very faithful with my annual checkups, but I was scheduled for it when Hurricane Katrina hit, so it got pushed back. A few days after Katrina while still dealing with the aftermath, I had a horrible fall resulting in a concussion and a broken nose requiring surgery. Then, my husband of 21 years, Scott, tragically passed away, pushing it back even further. In the meantime, I noticed a spot I didn’t think was cancer, but I mentioned it to my doctor when I finally had my appointment.

It was cancer. My first thought was, “how can this be? I just lost my husband.” My journey with breast cancer began on May 4, 2006. Significant dates are important to me, so I will never forget this one. May 4 is not only my breast cancer anniversary; it is six months to the day I lost my husband. Strangely enough, I never thought about my mortality until after my treatments when my oncologist told me that I had done really well and that it was a tough treatment plan.

At first, I tried to bargain with God just as I had done after Scott’s death. I promised God I would encourage other widows and widowers beginning their new paths without their soulmates. Just like I’d done after Scott’s death, I was once again trying to bargain with God. I promised God that I would reach out to other cancer patients and help in any way possible. Whether offering a listening ear, a ride to appointments, cooking dinner, or whatever He wanted me to do, I promised to be a helper if He would see me through this.

When you hear “you have cancer,” you immediately want to get it out. The day after my diagnosis, I scheduled the surgery and first chemo treatment. But later the next week, when my heart and brain had time to catch up, I elected to get a second opinion and plan. I ended up at Kirklin Clinic in Birmingham with the most incredible team of medical professionals.

My treatment plan included a lumpectomy, nine chemotherapy treatments, 35 radiation treatments, a year of taking Herceptin, and 11 years of hormone inhibitors. That’s a lot to handle, and it takes a toll on your body. Treatments occurred every two weeks, and I

felt I could conquer the world the day after treatment. The next day, though, I was down for the count with bone and joint pain, flu-like symptoms, and jitters. These ailments lasted about four days; then, I would have a week of feeling fairly good. I lost my hair and experienced a terrible case of chemo brain, which is a genuine condition causing memory loss. I couldn’t remember anything. That is when I started to write everything down, and I still do today.

Anyone with a significant illness like cancer knows that life does not stop with a diagnosis. My two sons, Cole, who was 16, and Seth, who was nine, needed me. I was in the process of building a new house. Things still had to happen, but I had support from my mother, who was exceptional at stepping in with the children when I was away for treatment.

I kept pushing forward, praying, and believing, and thankfully I made it through. My faith in God and my love for my children, family, and friends were all instrumental in me getting to the end. After treatment, I’ve had yearly appointments and no signs of cancer. Thanks to God, my doctors, and treatments, I have experienced tremendous blessings and joys in my life in the years after cancer.

Thanks to my treatments and God, and fulfilling my bargain with God, I met my husband, Glenn, who had lost his wife to breast cancer. I gained a bonus son, daughter, son-in-law, daughter-in-law, and four of the sweetest and cutest grandchildren. Since cancer, I graduated from college, saw both my boys play ball and watched as they graduated high school, then college. I was able to attend their weddings and gained two wonderful and talented daughters-in-law that I love. I met the love of my life and grew my family and I continue to experience the wonders of life with Glenn. I am beyond grateful.

To pay it forward, I work with The Pink Ribbon Fund, a non-profit agency that blesses breast cancer patients by helping with their needs. Through our fundraising efforts, breast cancer patients receive grants to help with various needs.

I thank God for my life, family, and blessings, and I hope to continue to pay it forward for years to come.

ANNUAL MEETING:

Southern Pine’s Annual Membership Meeting will be held on Thursday, November 10, 2022, with doors opening at noon and the business meeting beginning at 2:00 p.m. The meeting will be held at the headquarters office at 13491 Highway 28 in Taylorsville. We encourage all members to attend the meeting and take an active part in the cooperative’s business.

By attending the meeting, members will gain a better understanding of the electric utility industry and the business affairs of Southern Pine. Attending the meeting to discover the many benefits of membership is the best way to show your support for Southern Pine and the work we do in the communities we serve.

The membership meeting exemplifies our commitment to our members. It is just one way we can communicate what is going on at the co-op as we work to provide reliable, affordable electricity. Members enable us to complete our mission by supporting our efforts to give back to all the communities we serve. Without our members, we would not exist, and numerous programs that directly benefit members, and their families, would not be possible.

Member opinions are critical for Southern Pine to succeed, and we thank you for your support over the last 84 years. As a Southern Pine member, you have the full support of the co-op while we work together to bring in better jobs, keep electricity costs affordable, and participate in programs and initiatives that will help all of us.

We look forward to seeing you at the annual meeting and enjoying a time of good food and fellowship. Please join us to discover the many positive ways your co-op is moving forward as we continue bringing the power!

Parish has over 40 years of banking and analytical financial experience. As a director at Southern Pine, he has continued his education through credentialed programs with the National Rural Electrification Administration [NRECA] and other industry-related courses. A life-long, rural member of Southern Pine, he is committed to helping advance all economic opportunities and finding ways to bring good jobs to the region. He focuses on services and activities that support Southern Pine members and has strong core values that exemplify the cooperative principles.

He is active in his community and has constructive working relationships with leaders and officials across his county. He has served as past president and treasurer for the Prentiss Rotary Club and the Jefferson Davis County Chamber of Commerce as well as the Jefferson Davis Forestry Association. Parish and his wife, Sally, have three children and 10 grandchildren.

A successful business owner, Berry has also served on the board of a regional bank and has accounting experience. As a secondgeneration business owner, he aggressively searched for innovative methods to improve business using technology and applications that streamlined order and sale processes and inventory control. With a commitment to exceptional service and straightforward practices, Berry supports Southern Pine members and employees through numerous co-op projects. As an NRECA credentialed director, he promotes transparency and sets exacting standards for the co-op.

He is active in the Chamber of Commerce and various community development projects. He is also involved in the cattle industry and works with the 4-H Advisory Board and the Mississippi Polled Hereford Association. Berry and his wife, Susan, have four children and seven grandchildren.

Eaton served as Mississippi State Representative for District 79 for 20 years, having served on the Public Utilities Committee for 16 years. A strong advocate for the advancement of agriculture in our state, he served on numerous committees that promoted farmers and small business owners, including many Southern Pine members. His experience in drafting policy and procedure, and genuine concern for landowners across the state, led to the successful enactment of numerous legislative bills that benefitted rural land and timber owners. As a farmer and businessman, he understands the challenges and concerns of rearing a family in a rural area and the vital importance of economic development.

Active in his community, he is a member of the Taylorsville Lions Club and the American Farm Bureau Federation. He, and his wife, Suzanne, have three children.

Kirby has been a Mississippi State Senator, representing District 30, for the past 30 years. In addition to serving as President Pro Tempore, the secondhighest ranking leadership position in the Senate, he serves on numerous committees that benefit Southern Pine members and all Mississippians. A political advocate for economic and workforce development, he has years of experience in policymaking, budgeting and finance, and infrastructure design.

Active in his community, Kirby is a member of numerous organizations and works to promote Southern Pine, its members, and employees.

BILLY PARISH JEFFERSON DAVIS COUNTY MIMS BERRY LAWRENCE COUNTY

BLAINE EATON SMITH COUNTY

DEAN KIRBY RANKIN COUNTY

Celebrating Membership

Fall is a busy time, and October is a particularly eventful month with school, community, and sports activities in full swing. It’s also when all cooperatives celebrate National Cooperative Month. When we say Southwest Electric celebrates Cooperative Month, it really means we are celebrating you! After all, our cooperative wouldn’t exist without you, our Members.

Our core business purpose is to serve as your electricity provider, but the larger mission of the cooperative is to help make our corner of the world a better place. Concern for Community is one of seven guiding principles that all cooperatives share.

Similar to how our wires run through our service area, our Concern for Community flows through all of our decisions — because being a cooperative means being a responsible partner and good neighbor.

Southwest Electric works to help our community thrive through initiatives led by our employees and local board that’s comprised of neighbors who live right here in our community. Because we’re local, we understand our community’s unique needs and strive to help meet them.

We’re proud to support the community with safety programs, career fairs and our Youth Leadership program through our local schools.

October is National Cooperative Month

The word “cooperative” is close to “cooperation,” meaning people working together towards a common goal — mutually benefitting one another and the larger community. That’s the essence of the cooperative spirit. Our employees and Member-elected directors on the board are invested in the community in which they live and serve.

Above all, as a cooperative, we put our Members’ priorities first. As your trusted energy partner, we know that saving energy and money is important to you. That’s why we have numerous programs like Members Paying It Forward, Comfort Advantage incentives, free home audits, and discounts on whole-home generators.

We want to empower you to manage energy use at home. If you haven’t already, we encourage you to download our SmartHub app. Through the app, you can conveniently monitor and manage your energy use. We’re here to help you, so give us a call at 800-287-8564 if you have questions about your energy bills.

Southwest Electric is continuously examining ways to operate more efficiently while providing the highest level of friendly, reliable service you expect and deserve. After all, we are your local cooperative. We were built by the Members we serve.

Focused on YOU

Electric cooperatives were created to serve their Members. Because we’re a cooperative, we’re able to adapt to our community’s unique needs. That’s the power of cooperative membership.

OCTOBER IS NATIONAL COOPERATIVE MONTH

southwestelectric.coop

SWElectricCoop

cooperative YOUTH LEADERS

Les Southerland, Member Services Supervisor

Les became an employee of Southwest Electric in February 2003. He was hired to work as a clerk in the Accounting Department and was promoted to Member Services Supervisor in 2016. Les oversees the Member Services Representatives who answer all calls from Members. His department handles requests for new service, new security lights or replacements and questions about billing, payments and energy use. Les and his wife, Quinn, live in Vidalia and have three children.

Elliott Stebbins, Staking Coordinator

Elliott joined the Southwest Electric family in May 2009 as a Staking Technician. In March 2015, he was promoted to Staking Coordinator. Staking is part of the Engineering Department. They meet with Members and map out new services and security lights. Elliott works with contractors and government agencies when we have big projects. He and his wife, Sarah, live in Roxie and have two children.

Wash outdoor coils whenever they appear dirty. shrubs

Fall is a busy time, and October is a particularly eventful month with school, community, and sports activities in full swing. It’s also when all cooperatives celebrate National Co-op Month.

When I say Twin County Electric celebrates Co-op Month, it really means we are celebrating you! After all, our co-op wouldn’t exist without you, our members.

Our core business purpose is to serve as your electricity provider, but the larger mission of the co-op is to help make our corner of the world a better place. “Concern for community” is one of seven guiding principles that all co-ops share.

Similar to how our wires run through our service territory, our concern for community flows through all of our decisions — because being a co-op means being a responsible partner and good neighbor.

Twin County works to help our community thrive through initiatives led by our employees and local board that’s comprised of neighbors who live right here in our community. Because we’re local, we understand our community’s unique needs and strive to help meet them.

We’re proud to support local youth through our Youth Tour and scholarship programs. We also partner with and support area charitable organizations.

The word “cooperative” is close to “cooperation,” meaning people working together towards a common goal — mutually

benefitting one another and the larger community. That’s the essence of the cooperative spirit. Our employees and memberelected board members are invested in the community in which live and serve.

Above all, as a co-op we put our members’ priorities first. As your trusted energy partner, we know that saving energy and money is important to you. That’s why we have numerous programs in place to help.

We want to empower you to manage energy use at home. If you haven’t already, I encourage you take a moment and download our app, Twin Co EPA. Through the app, you can conveniently monitor and manage your energy use. And we’re of course here to help, so give us a call if you have questions about your energy bills.

Twin County Electric is continuously examining ways to operate more efficiently while continuing to provide the highest level of friendly, reliable service you expect and deserve. After all, we’re your local co-op. We were built by the members we serve.

by Tim Perkins

General Manager

Electric cooperatives were created to serve their members. Because we’re a co-op, we’re able to adapt to our community’s unique needs. That’s the power of co-op membership. IS NATIONAL CO-OP MONTH

4 ways to boost your cyber hygiene

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month

by Abby Berry

In today’s digital world, cyberattacks are unfortunately nothing new. Cyber criminals can attack on a multitude of levels, from large-scale attacks targeting corporations to smaller phishing attacks aimed to gain an individual’s personal information.

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, but good cyber hygiene should be practiced year-round. This year’s theme is “See Yourself in Cyber” — because we all have a part to play in cybersecurity. When we hear about massive data breaches, it can feel overwhelming and lead us to think we’re powerless as individuals to stop cyber criminals.

Enable multi-factor authentication

Also known as two-step verification, multi-factor authentication adds a second step when logging into an account (to prove you’re really you), which greatly increases the security of the account. This second step could include an extra PIN, answering an extra security question, a code received via email or a secure token. Regardless of the type of authentication, this additional step makes it twice as hard for cyber criminals to access your account. Not every account offers multi-factor authentication, but it’s becoming increasingly popular and should be utilized when available.

Use strong passwords and a password manager

Remember, passwords are the “keys” to your personal home online. Your passwords should always be long, unique and complex. Create passwords using at least 12 characters, never reuse passwords for multiple accounts and use a combination of upper- and lowercase letters, numbers and special characters. If you have a lot of accounts, consider using a password manager to store them easily and securely in one place.

Update software

It may seem obvious, but regularly updating software is one of the easiest ways to keep your personal information secure. Most companies provide automatic updates and will send reminders, so you can easily install the update. If you’re not receiving automatic software updates, set a reminder to do so quarterly. Be aware that some cyber criminals will send fake updates; these typically appear as a pop-up window when visiting a website. Use good judgement and always think before you click.

Recognize and report phishing attacks

Don’t take the bait when cyber criminals go phishing. The signs of a phishing attack can be subtle, so take the extra time to thoroughly inspect emails. Most phishing emails include offers that are too good to be true, an urgent or alarming tone, misspellings and poorly-crafted language, ambiguous greetings, strange requests, or an email address that doesn’t match the company it’s coming from. Most platforms like Outlook, Gmail, and Mac Mail allow users to report phishing emails. If you suspect a phishing attempt, take an extra minute to report it.

Cyber criminals are here to stay, but when we all take a risk-based approach to our cyber behavior, we’re creating a safer internet for all. Visit www.staysafeonline.org for additional cybersecurity tips.

Abby Berry writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

YAZOO VALLEY HELPS RELOCATE ELECTRICAL LINEMAN PROGRAM

Yazoo Valley Electric has been assisting Holmes Community College in moving its electrical lineman program to its new site at the Bulldog Ranch off I-55 in Goodman.

A partner of the program since its inception, YVEPA continues to help Holmes become a force in educating the future lineman of the southeast. Yazoo Valley has been instrumental in moving the program from its old site on Highway 14 to the Bulldog Ranch.

Yazoo Valley, incorporated in 1937, has 2,182 miles of electrical line and serves 10,375 customers including 9,398 residential and 977 commercial customers.

“At that time, it was hard to get lineman and hard to get schools to start a lineman program,” Yazoo Valley’s Josh Reeves said. “The only other program at that time was in Lucedale. It [Holmes] has turned out to be, in my opinion, the best one in the state of Mississippi. It’s of extreme importance for the young men and women getting into this field of work because not everyone wants to do this. It puts them one step ahead of everybody else and lets them get an idea of what lineman work is all about.

“A lot of people do not understand what it takes and what it involves to be a lineman,” Reeves said. “In my opinion, in my 22 years of working at Yazoo Valley, it [the Holmes lineman program] has been a benefit to us. The Holmes lineman program has brought us qualified young men who know the basics and know what they are getting into.”

Yazoo Valley employees, many of whom are alumni of the Holmes lineman school, facilitated the move to the new location.

“We are taking all the poles down at the old school, moving the poles and equipment to the new location, and setting up the poles so the first class going through the program at the new place can

start climbing ASAP,” Reeves said. “We are trying to build a few other things up there to make the school better for anybody that wants to go through it.”

Yazoo Valley’s part of the moving process was completed in a few weeks.

“A lot of hard work went into moving to our new location,” said Workforce Development Coordinator Mandy Burrell. “We are especially appreciative to Yazoo Valley for helping us with the move. The partnership between Yazoo Valley and Holmes has been an integral part of the program’s success. They continue to support us in a variety of ways.

“We are excited about the new lineman location,” she added. “It will allow us to continue to produce quality lineman that not only changes their lives, but also helps our great state.”

For more information about the program, contact Burrell at mburrell@holmescc.edu, call 662-290-0808, or visit our website at holmescc.edu/workforce-offerings/electrical-lineman-program/.

Paul Buxton, safety coordinator at Yazoo Valley Electric, speaks to a lineman class with HCC instructor Lamar Dumas.

Pictured with Holmes Community College lineman instructor Lamar Dumas are Yazoo Valley Electric’s (from left) Wade O’Briant, Justin Develle, Johnathan Demita, Josh Reeves, Tanner Evilsizor, A.J. Hollins and Chase Ouzts.

4 ways to boost your cyber hygiene

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month

by Abby Berry

In today’s digital world, cyberattacks are unfortunately nothing new. Cyber criminals can attack on a multitude of levels, from large-scale attacks targeting corporations to smaller phishing attacks aimed to gain an individual’s personal information.

October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, but good cyber hygiene should be practiced year-round. This year’s theme is “See Yourself in Cyber” — because we all have a part to play in cybersecurity. When we hear about massive data breaches, it can feel overwhelming and lead us to think we’re powerless as individuals to stop cyber criminals.

Enable multi-factor authentication

Also known as two-step verification, multi-factor authentication adds a second step when logging into an account (to prove you’re really you), which greatly increases the security of the account. This second step could include an extra PIN, answering an extra security question, a code received via email or a secure token. Regardless of the type of authentication, this additional step makes it twice as hard for cyber criminals to access your account. Not every account offers multi-factor authentication, but it’s becoming increasingly popular and should be utilized when available.

Use strong passwords and a password manager

Remember, passwords are the “keys” to your personal home online. Your passwords should always be long, unique and complex. Create passwords using at least 12 characters, never reuse passwords for multiple accounts and use a combination of upper- and lowercase letters, numbers and special characters. If you have a lot of accounts, consider using a password manager to store them easily and securely in one place.

Update software

It may seem obvious, but regularly updating software is one of the easiest ways to keep your personal information secure. Most companies provide automatic updates and will send reminders, so you can easily install the update. If you’re not receiving automatic software updates, set a reminder to do so quarterly. Be aware that some cyber criminals will send fake updates; these typically appear as a pop-up window when visiting a website. Use good judgement and always think before you click.

Recognize and report phishing attacks

Don’t take the bait when cyber criminals go phishing. The signs of a phishing attack can be subtle, so take the extra time to thoroughly inspect emails. Most phishing emails include offers that are too good to be true, an urgent or alarming tone, misspellings and poorly-crafted language, ambiguous greetings, strange requests, or an email address that doesn’t match the company it’s coming from. Most platforms like Outlook, Gmail, and Mac Mail allow users to report phishing emails. If you suspect a phishing attempt, take an extra minute to report it.

Cyber criminals are here to stay, but when we all take a risk-based approach to our cyber behavior, we’re creating a safer internet for all. Visit www.staysafeonline.org for additional cybersecurity tips.

Abby Berry writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

by Susan Collins-Smith

The rollout of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline offers more hope to individuals dealing with mental-health-related distress. That population includes farmers and farm workers, who are among those most at risk for suicide and mental health distress.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, male agricultural workers have the fourth highest suicide rate among men in all industries.

Buys said. “The new number makes it easier to remember how to get in touch with someone if you or someone you know or love is in crisis.”

The 988 lifeline is a nationwide network of 200 crisis call centers operated and funded locally. It functions through the hotline formerly known as the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline and aims to strengthen and transform crisis services across the nation.

“Ideally, 988 will become as recognizable a resource for behavioral health and substance abuse crises as 911 is for medical crises,” said Wendy Bailey, executive director of the Mississippi Department of Mental Health.

“With time, we are hopeful 988 will reimagine the way crisis services are provided in the U.S. and in Mississippi, but we know this system transformation will not happen overnight,” she said. “We are grateful for everyone who is working to make the launch of 988 a success and look forward to the continuing work that we know is ahead of us.”

“Being at risk of losing the family farm or thinking you could lose it is a tremendous amount of stress,” said David Buys, health specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service. “There are legitimate reasons why people in agriculture are struggling: economics, weather, equipment issues, long hours and difficult work, among other challenges.”

A national poll by the American Farm Bureau Federation in 2019 confirmed that about two in five farmers and farm workers reported experiencing increased stress levels and more mental health challenges since 2014.

Buys said the new 988 number is an important resource for all Mississippians, including farmers and farm workers who live and work in rural areas of the state. Many of those areas have limited access to mental health resources.

“Mississippi leaders and advocates for public health and mental health have rallied around the new 988 suicide crisis line resource,”

Rural adults identified medical issues as one of the top influences on farmers’ mental health in a recent national poll by the American Farm Bureau Federation. The rollout of the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline offers hope to farmers, who have the fourth highest suicide rate among males in all industries. (Photo by MSU Television Center/James Parker)

Mississippi leaders and advocates for public health and mental health have rallied around the new 988 suicide crisis line resource,” Buys said. “The new number makes it easier to remember how to get in touch with someone if you or someone you know or love is in crisis.

How 988 Works

Each call center is staffed by trained crisis counselors 24 hours a day, every day of the year. Anyone who is experiencing suicidal thoughts, substance use, a mental health crisis, or other type of emotional distress can call, text, or chat with a counselor. Individuals who are concerned about a loved one or friend can also call the lifeline. Text and chat are also available.

Mississippi has two Lifeline call centers, which have one of the top 10 highest answer rates in the nation. When a call is placed, the caller will hear a greeting message while the call is routed to their nearest state call center based on area code. Once he or she answers, a counselor will listen to the caller to identify the problem, provide support, and share resources if needed.

If the nearest call center is unable to take the call, it will be routed to a national backup call center. Crisis call centers provide services in English and Spanish and translation services for over 250 other languages. Currently, text and chat are available in English only.

What 988 Means for Mississippi

Bailey said she is excited for what the launch of 988 means to Mississippi.

“Each life lost to suicide impacts families, friends, and entire communities,” she said. “988 is now another way to help us prevent these losses. Since the Lifeline began in 2005, it has served as an invaluable resource, providing free and confidential support to those in suicidal crisis or emotional distress.”

The Mississippi Department of Mental Health worked diligently in the last several years to increase the state’s Lifeline call center answer rate. Additionally, they have focused on improving access to the state’s two crisis service programs: the Mobile Crisis Response Teams and Crisis Stabilization Units.

“This includes having statewide mobile crisis response teams provided by the Community Mental Health Centers and enhancing the funding and training for those teams over the last year,” Bailey said. “We also are working to develop formal protocols for dispatching these teams when calls come to 988 and a face-to-face response is necessary.”

If you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis, help is available. Call or text 988 chat 988lifeline.org.

by Paul Wesslund

Did you know one of the most cutting-edge places for technology is right up the road at your local electric cooperative?

That’s right! Innovation isn’t happening just in computer labs or on satellites rocketing into space. Electric co-ops lead even the highlytechnical electric utility industry in such fast-changing areas as renewable energy and installation of smart meters that allow the more efficient use of electricity.

While it may seem surprising to think of your electric co-op as a high-tech leader, it’s part of a way of doing business that has been finding new approaches to solving modern problems for nearly 100 years.

In fact, electric co-ops were originally created to solve one of the most basic and complex of needs and desires — making light out of darkness.

That legacy still works today, and it’s why time is set aside each October to recognize National Co-op Month. It’s a reminder that business succeeds not just through competition, but also through cooperation.

And just as co-ops first brought electricity to unserved rural areas nearly a century ago, today many of them are working to bring high-speed internet service to their local communities.

In the early part of the last century, America’s cities were being transformed by this new thing called electricity. But outside the municipal boundaries, people could only look with envy at the glow from over the horizon. Setting poles and stringing power lines miles outside of town for one or two customers was deemed too expensive.

Luckily, go-getters in America’s rural communities believed they could solve the problems that kept the power companies from connecting them to modern society.

Electric co-ops stand out in many areas of the electric utility industry. They lead the way in community solar—an initiative in which the co-op builds a solar array that is supported by interested members buying shares of the project.

As a result of the member-owned cooperative form of business, co-ops stand out in many areas of the electric utility industry. They lead the way in community solar — an initiative in which the co-op utility builds a solar array that is supported by interested co-op members buying shares of the project. Electric vehicles are getting a boost from co-ops as well, with many placing charging stations in public parks and other rural locations.

They called their friends and neighbors together and started forming their own utilities. They were community-based organizations, democratically-run, not-for-profit businesses called cooperatives. Today, there are more than 900 electric co-ops in the U.S.

It wasn’t easy, especially at first. They got a huge boost when, after getting the attention of some key politicians, the federal government created the Rural Electrification Administration (REA). The REA made loans available, helping finance expensive utility construction. It provided technical consulting, developing engineering techniques to carry electricity longer distances. The agency drew up model co-op bylaws and even went on the road with tent shows to demonstrate how to use the latest conveniences like electric ovens and washing machines.

But the biggest innovation is simply the co-op itself, and the notion of a utility with only one mission — to make life better for its members, who are also its customers.

Electric co-ops didn’t spring from a national directive or organization. They are truly homegrown products of what local people wanted for their community. Electric co-ops first started forming as early as 1914, and the formation of the REA in 1935 helped smooth the way forward. But it was local community initiative over the next three decades that finally brought electric service to nearly everyone.

The story of electric co-ops is of a true grassroots movement of unique, homegrown organizations. The one characteristic that applies to all of them is that they care for and listen to the local members they serve.

For electric co-ops, one size does not fit all — it’s the local community that’s in charge. In recognizing that every one of us is different, co-ops make both an electric connection, and a human connection.

And that’s a truly powerful innovation.

Electric co-ops were originally created to solve one of the most basic and complex of needs and desires — making light out of darkness.