July/August 2012 Connection Magazine

The WK&T

connection July/August 2012

P u b l i s h e d f o r t h e m e m b e r s o f We s t Ke n t u c k y & Te n n e s s e e Te l e c o m m u n i c a t i o n s C o o p e r a t i ve

Connection to Class Broadband gives new options to students of all ages

WK&T announces dates for

Football Broadcasts

Local blogger shares

Crews complete

Summer Salads 900 Miles of Fiber

Connection | WK&T Telecommunications Cooperative Vol. 4, No. 4 • july/August 2012

connection The WK&T

is published by West Kentucky and Tennessee Telecommunications Cooperative, © 2012. It is distributed without charge to all members of the Cooperative.

is your cooperative serving West Kentucky and Northwest Tennessee across more than 15,000 access lines.

The company is dedicated to using technology to keep its members connected through local and long distance calling, high-speed Internet, digital television and beyond.

Board of TRUSTEES Joe Thompson President Jerry Holloway Vice President Beverly Taylor Secretary/Treasurer Bob Barnett Jeff Davis Algene Goatley Tony Goodman Delbert Newsome Jerry Stephenson Ricky Littleton Send correspondence and address corrections to: WK&T Telecommunications Cooperative P.O. Box 649 237 North 8th Street Mayfield, Kentucky 42066 Telephone: 877-954-8748 www.wktelecom.coop On the Cover: Jenny Edwards of Murray and David Mathis of Hardin research topics online at the Hardin Branch of the Marshall County Library.

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Focused on education

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s summer winds down and we move into August, teachers, students, parents and others around our region turn their attention back to school.

This issue of Connection puts a heavy emphasis on education in our region and the ways WK&T’s network helps educators reach students of all ages. Our expanding broadband network makes it possible to access an incredible amount of research material, lessons, how-to videos and more ­— in the classroom, in public libraries and at home.

I’m proud of our local educators for how they are using our network to shape young minds.

Education is really the main reason we send you this magazine. We want to inform you about what your cooperative is doing, and to educate you about our services. We send you this magazine to show real-world examples of our services at work — because we can all gain new insight into how technology can benefit our families when we see how other members are using WK&T’s services.

This is becoming more important as our rural communities move rapidly toward a broadband-centric future. Where the Internet was once a curious pastime, it is now a gateway to economic and educational opportunities. A broadband Internet connection is the great equalizer, allowing a business in a rural area such as Cunningham to compete with a business in a major city such as Nashville, or a student in Yorkville to learn from professors across the nation and in foreign countries.

Network connectivity is no longer a marginal part of our lives — it encompasses our lives. For example, many people in our service area depend on the Internet for their news in the mornings. They check the weather, and they visit the school website to see what their child is having for lunch that day. They go to work and use a high-speed Internet connection — or maybe they work

from home and connect to distant servers using broadband. At night, they search for recipes for dinner, watch their favorite TV shows on network websites and connect with friends through email and social media.

Because broadband truly is the infrastructure of the future, your WK&T is committed to making continual progress on the fiber construction project currently underway. In this issue, we inform you about our fiber-tothe-home project, along with some additions to our local cable channel. We update you on our annual meeting, and we recognize two retiring employees. On Page 6, we will also educate you about the differences between wide-screen and full-screen television.

Take a look at the back cover for something we’re looking forward to this fall. Local high school football teams are already tuning up for Friday night showdowns, and once again WK&T will be showcasing some of the great games from around our area. We had a great response to our broadcasts last fall and we’re excited to bring them back this year.

In closing, thanks to everyone who attended our annual meeting on July 21. This meeting is an important part of the cooperative business model. It helps keep you educated about your cooperative, but it’s also our way of saying thank you for being a member. We appreciate your continued participation.

Trevor Bonnstetter is CEO of WK&T Telecommunications Cooperative

WK&T Telecommunications Cooperative | Connection

Announce a birthday on TV! WK&T wants to help you celebrate!

Local Channel 1 has begun airing birthday announcements from our members as a great way to let others know about their special day.

Email your announcements to Chris Adams (cadams.wk@ wk.net) or Andy Dew (adew.wk@wk.net). Birthdays can be submitted up to a month before the date, but please allow at least three to four business days for the announcement to appear on Channel 1. 

Annual Meeting 2012 Some 1,200 members chowed down on fish, listened to good music and learned a little about their cooperative last month at WK&T’s Annual Meeting.

Members packed the Graves County High School gym on July 21 for the meeting, which also featured inflatables, picture booths, door prizes, caricature artists and balloon animals.

Every year, WK&T is required to update members on the cooperative’s business but the management team has decided to make the business meeting into a fun event to say thank you and celebrate the people that make this cooperative possible.

This year’s event opened with a brief video on the status of the Fiber-to-the-Home project, which was followed by the fish dinner. WK&T employees opened several information booths for members to visit, covering topics such as local channels, security systems and technology stores.

During the business portion of the evening, CEO Trevor Bonnstetter spoke to members about WK&T’s current Fiber-tothe-Home project.

Members in attendance received a WK&T cast iron skillet as a gift and children received free WK&T lunchboxes.

Thank you to all of the members who participated. We hope that everyone will make plans to attend next year’s meeting! 

900 miles of fiber Main fiber line completion percentages (as of July 13): Fancy Farm............................................................................100% Farmington........................................................................... 100% Puryear................................................................................... 100% Yorkville................................................................................. 100% Trimble..................................................................................... 97% Cunningham........................................................................... 93% Sedalia...................................................................................... 85% Wingo....................................................................................... 81% Mason Hall.............................................................................. 74% Cottage Grove........................................................................ 23% Folsomdale.............................................................................. 19% Lynnville..................................................................................... 7% Brazil............................................................................................ 3% After some 13 months of constructing our new fiber optic network, we have installed nearly 900 miles of fiber — roughly 40 percent of the main fiber lines.

The work is happening fast. Individual crews are laying as much as 10 miles of fiber in a single week. Currently, crews are working to complete main line construction in Sedalia and Cunningham.

Installation is also in full swing for both businesses and residences. As of July 13, fiber had been installed at 475 homes and businesses with about 60 being added each week.

Although we have until 2015 to finish the work, our goal is to have all of the main line construction completed in two years. Once the main lines are built, crews will begin building the smaller drops that go directly to homes. This should also be completed well ahead of deadline. 

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Connection | WK&T Telecommunications Cooperative

The power of Broadband:

Putting the “E” in Education

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t used to be that if a fifth-grader at Fancy Farm Elementary was struggling with a subject such as math or social studies, a few weeks could pass before her parents saw the impact on her report card. Now parents can know if there is a problem almost immediately — while there is still time to help their child study and bring up the grade. “The days of parents not knowing your grades until the report card goes home are over,” says Janet Throgmorton, principal at Fancy Farm. “Parents can access a lot of their child’s records on their iPods or iPads.”

That’s just one of the ways educators around West Kentucky and Tennessee are using WK&T’s broadband to connect with students of all ages.

At Fancy Farm, Throgmorton says students are on computers four days a week.

In addition to educational videos, students take virtual field trips to places like the St. Louis Science Center, the Capitol in Frankfort and the monuments in Washington, D.C. “It’s endless what we can do,” Throgmorton says.

Digital Libraries

WK&T also provides broadband access to the Hardin Branch of the Marshall County Library, where patrons use it to work on homework, research genealogy and apply for jobs. “We get everyone from kids after school to job seekers,” says Wes Smith, technology coordinator for the library.

And their statistics show their number of computer users continues to increase.

From 2010 to 2011, the number of Internet sessions at the branch climbed by 85 percent. In the first four months of 2012, there were 30 percent more sessions than in the same time period in 2011. “It seems 4

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Janet Throgmorton says her students use computers four days each week.

Hardin Library patrons David Mathis and Jenny Edwards browse the Web. like every time I’m in here there are two or three people on it,” branch manager Kim Darnall says. “They just come in and look up all kinds of stuff.”

The library provides access to several online services free of charge, including ancestry.com, foreign language help and even Chilton’s automotive repair manuals. Through the Kentucky Libraries Unbound program, the branch also offers downloadable ebooks, audiobooks, music and videos. The Kentucky Virtual Library allows patrons to research state history by accessing historical statistics, newspaper clippings and government documents. “We provide quite a few services,”

Smith says. “They’re very, very useful in research.”

Darnall says the staff is in the process of converting microfilm documents to PDF documents that can be posted and shared with researchers at other libraries around the world. The Hardin Branch even provides Wi-Fi for patrons who want to bring their own computers.

All of these searches and downloads would be nearly impossible without WK&T’s high-speed Internet service.

“They probably wouldn’t use our service if it was slow,” Smith says. “The need for a broadband connection is definitely there.”

WK&T Telecommunications Cooperative | Connection

Elementary e-Learning

WKCTC students study in computer labs on campus. From front left: Matthew Peterson, Kayla Delapp, Kathy Wilson, Shawna Hicks, Rebecca Jones and Connie Heflin.

Flexible Studies

Several of the library’s patrons use the network to take online courses and work toward degrees. Even after the library closes, patrons are often seen working outside, in range of the Wi-Fi. “There are a few college students who come to the parking lot to work on papers late,” Smith says.

Some of those students are likely from West Kentucky Community and Technical College, where online classes are becoming more and more popular. “There are several degrees that can be done completely online,” says Sandy Tucker, the Director of Online Student Services.

WKCTC offers everything from writing to chemistry labs online. The labs come equipped with virtual chemicals students can manipulate. “The chemicals will react to what they’re mixing so they can see

what happens,” says Rebecca Jones, a distance learning specialist. Other classes are a mix of lecture videos, reading, writing and online quizzes.

One of the more popular formats are the “Learn On Demand” classes. Students can start the classes whenever they like, but the work must be completed within 15 weeks. The format was designed for WKCTC’s marine technology degree, because it gives students who work on tow boats the flexibility they need to complete their degree and keep their job on the rivers. Students can schedule around trips, or align their coursework so they can complete assignments or study while in port.

But no matter what the format, these online offerings would be impossible without broadband. “You just cannot function in class without high-speed Internet,” says Connie Heflin, director of online learning.

The lessons may be different, but Throgmorton’s teachers in Fancy Farm use some of the same tools to teach their students.

For example, teachers take broadband into the classroom by showing educational videos. In the past, Throgmorton explains, teachers had to download videos to their computers if they wanted to play them for the class. Now they can stream them instantly. “Those tools are so much more usable because you just click it and get it,” she says. “You don’t have to wait on it for eternity. It allows them to access what they need when they need it.”

Broadband also empowers parents to connect with teachers and get updates on grades, test scores, tardiness and absences.

“It allows the capability for parents to see in real time most of what their child does at school,” Throgmorton says. “Those are things that three years ago we couldn’t do.”

But parents aren’t the only ones who use broadband to keep up to date. Throgmorton, a former school technology coordinator, says teachers participate in webinars with experts all over the country. “You can save the money of going anywhere,” she says. “Without high-speed Internet you can’t do that.”

Most importantly, broadband is the equalizer that helps put rural schools on even footing with schools in Nashville or St. Louis. “There’s nothing they have that we don’t,” Throgmorton says. “We’ve leveled the playing field.”

That’s a key reason why WK&T has put such an emphasis on broadband and the new fiber network, according to CEO Trevor Bonnstetter. “As parents, we want our children to have every opportunity to succeed,” he says. “We are committed to making sure our children have the same access to the resources that are available to students in metropolitan areas. The new fiber network WK&T is building will open so many doors, allowing our students to pursue whatever goals they choose.”  July/August 2012 |

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Connection | WK&T Telecommunications Cooperative

Wide-screen vs. Full-screen:

What’s the difference? wide-screen

full-screen

Retiree Focus: Jim Stokes During his 35 years of hard work at WK&T, Jim Stokes climbed from a cashier all the way to controllers office. Now he’s decided to retire. “Anytime you’ve been somewhere 35 years, coworkers are like family,” he says.

“I couldn’t find a better place to work or a better group of people to work with.” Soft spoken and easygoing, Stokes is known around the office for his ham, chili, spaghetti and coconut pie recipes.

Stokes has seen the accounting department go from handwritten ledgers to a computerized system, and has seen the business office go from handling 100 vendor checks each month to nearly 150 per week. “It has changed quite a bit,” he says.

In retirement, Stokes plans to spend time working around the house and cheering for his grandchild at soccer games. He also hopes the time away from work will improve his golf game. “It better!” he said. “I’m not a good golfer, but I have fun.”

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Most TV viewers have probably noticed that more and more channels and movies are moving to wide-screen formats. HBO is the most recent channel to hop on the widescreen wagon.

The reason for this shift started in Hollywood. Think of a movie screen. Almost all are wider than they are tall and more closely resemble the shape of wide-screen TVs than the older, more square sets. Since movies are filmed for those screens, they fit better on the wide-screen televisions. To format a wide-screen movie for a full-screen television, editors must crop off some of the image to make it fit. The other option is to add letterboxing, the black bars at the top and bottom of the screen that compensate for the differing screen dimensions.

As more and more viewers use wide-screen sets, television channels and programs have followed the moviemakers’ lead. Many channels are now formatted with a 16:9 aspect ratio, which simply means the picture is 16 units wide for every nine units tall. Some channels still use the old 4:3 ratio, which means four units high for every three units wide. This makes for a mostly square image. Many TVs have settings that allow viewers to chose which display best fits their programs and viewing habits best.

This formatting comes from the networks themselves and WK&T is unable to manipulate these settings. 

Retiree Focus: Saundra Blythe After 10 years of being “the voice on the phone” when WK&T members call, Saundra Blythe has retired to spend time working with her church and playing with her grandchildren.

“They are just a joy,” she said of her six grandkids. “Grandparents get to enjoy them and they go home at night.”

Blythe has been the receptionist at the WK&T Mayfield office since she began in December of 2001. “I took a lot of pride in answering that phone,” she says.

While she is looking forward to spending more time with her actual family members, she says she will miss the coworkers and members she interacted with on a daily basis.

“I look at West Kentucky as my extended family,” she says. “It has been an absolute blessing. This company really embraced me when I came in.”

WK&T Telecommunications Cooperative | Connection

Super Summer Salads

Ronda Hays, local blogger from allthingshomerelated.com, shares recipes Seven Cup Salad

1 cup shredded coconut 1 cup pecans, chopped 1 cup miniature marshmallows 1 cup cottage cheese 1 cup sour cream 1 cup crushed pineapple, well drained 1 cup fruit cocktail, well drained Combine all ingredients and refrigerate overnight. Serve.

Creamy Potato Salad

2-3 pounds red potatoes 1/2 cup mayonnaise 1/4 cup plain non-fat Greek yogurt 3 tablespoons prepared mustard 1/3 cup celery, chopped 6 tablespoons green onions, chopped 1 teaspoon kosher salt 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper Place potatoes in a large saucepan and cover with water; cover and boil until potatoes are tender. Drain. As soon as the potatoes are cool enough to handle, cut potatoes into 1-inch pieces (I leave the skin on). Combine remaining ingre-

dients in a medium bowl; add potatoes.

Stir until potatoes are coated. Yield: 8 to 10 servings.

Parmesan Chicken Salad

4 skinned and boned chicken breasts 1 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon black pepper 2 tablespoons vegetable oil 3/4 cup freshly grated Parmesan cheese 1/2 cup pecans, chopped and toasted 1/2 cup celery, chopped 1/2 cup green onions, chopped 3/4 cup mayonnaise 2 tablespoons spicy brown mustard 1 garlic clove, minced Sprinkle chicken with salt and black pepper. Cook chicken in hot oil in a large skillet over medium-high heat 7 to 8 minutes on each side or until done; cool.

Chop chicken. Stir together chopped chicken, cheese, pecans, celery and green onions. Stir together mayonnaise, mustard and garlic. Add to chicken salad; stir well. Cover and chill, if desired.

Yield: 4-1/2 cups

Want to be a featured cook?

Corn & Black Bean Salad 1 can (15-1/4 ounces) whole kernel corn, drained 1 can (15 ounces) black beans, rinsed and drained 1 medium sweet red pepper, chopped 1 medium tomato, seeded and chopped 6 green onions, chopped 1/2 cup onion, chopped 1 garlic clove, minced 1 tablespoon fresh parsley, chopped 1/4 teaspoon fresh lemon thyme, remove leaves from stems and chop (optional) 3/4 cup Italian salad dressing 1 tablespoon lime juice 3/4 teaspoon hot pepper sauce 1/2 teaspoon chili powder I n a large bowl, combine the first seven ingredients. In a small bowl, combine the salad dressing, parsley, lemon thyme, lime juice, hot pepper sauce, and chili powder. Pour over corn mixture and toss to coat. Cover and refrigerate for at least 6 hours or overnight. Serve with a slotted spoon.

Yield: 6-8 servings.

with three to four recipes, Send your name, address and phone number, along free to tie recipes to a specific and you could be chosen as a featured cook. Feel to: holiday, event or theme. Send your information

WK&T Attn: Michael Lee P.O. Box 649 Mayfield, Kentucky 42066 or email to: mlee@wk.net

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West Kentucky & Tennessee Telecommunications Cooperative 237 N. 8th Street Mayfield, KY 42066

WK&T Sports

kicks off high school football Join the WK&T Sports team for another season of broadcasting the area’s best Friday night showdowns!

August 25: Alliance Bowl at Mayfield – Channel 68 (2 games — Graves Co./Mayfield both play) August 31: Murray High @ Graves Co. – Channel 68 September 14: Mayfield @ Graves Co. – Channel 68 September 21: Apollo @ Graves Co. – Channel 51 September 21: Marshall County @ Mayfield – Channel 68 October 5: Ohio County @ Graves Co. – Channel 68 October 12: Fulton County @ Mayfield – Channel 68 October 26: Marshall County @ Graves Co. – Channel 68 November: Playoffs – TBA *Schedule subject to change

www.wktsports.com 877-954-8748