LINEMEN VISIT ELLINGTON ELEMENTARY
That’s my dad
out there!
Lake Region linemen, Levi and Cale, recently had a great time visiting Mrs. Simpson’s class at Ellington Elementary! Levi’s son, Beau, was especially excited to have his dad and Cale come meet all his friends at school. The crew shared a look into their day-to-day work, talking with students about their truck, tools, and equipment. The highlight came when Cale extended the “long stick” high into the air and demonstrated the bucket truck, rising up above the students. Their excitement and curiosity filled the room.
During the visit, students learned what it takes to keep the lights on and how crews safely restore power during outages. They enjoyed an up-close look at the equipment used in the field and were especially fascinated by the bucket truck. Many students even had the opportunity to sit inside the truck for photos, making the experience both educational and memorable.
Moments like these are a great reminder that when the power goes out, it is often someone’s parent, family member, friend, or neighbor working to restore service. Lineworkers regularly leave their own families, at all hours and in all kinds of weather, to ensure others can remain safe and comfortable at home.
Thank you to Mrs. Simpson and her pre-K class for the warm welcome. We always enjoy connecting with our future co-op members and sharing a little about what we do each day.
Pictured left to right: Beau Carson and his dad, Levi Carson, Lake Region Lineman.
Pictured left to right: Levi Carson and Cale Orman, Lake Region Linemen; Mrs. Simpson’s Pre-K class; Ms. Angie; and Mrs. Simpson.
LINEWORKERS! Thank you
Every April, we proudly recognize our linemen in honor of National Lineman Appreciation Day. Lake Region observed this day on April 17, 2026. Our 30 linemen, along with six right-of-way tree trimmers, work year-round to keep the lights on and the internet running.
Whether they are restoring power after storms or working with high-voltage electricity and advanced fiber systems, their jobs require skill, focus, and ongoing safety training. We are grateful for
their hard work, dedication, and commitment to the cooperative. These crews often work long hours in challenging conditions, including extreme weather, to ensure reliable service for our members. Their dedication does not go unnoticed. Their hard work helps keep our communities connected, safe, and powered every day. When outages occur, it is our local crews, your friends and neighbors, who respond at all hours to restore service as quickly and safely as possible. We are proud of the men who serve as the backbone of Lake Region.
CLEARING THE WAY
Trees provide many benefits. They offer shade, create habitat for wildlife, and enhance the beauty of our communities. However, when trees grow too close to LREC’s power and fiber lines, they can pose serious safety risks and lead to service interruptions.
LREC’s in-house right-of-way crews and contractors are responsible for trimming and removing trees along all Lake Region distribution lines. This work is essential for three key reasons:
Safety - Electricity can travel through trees and injure or kill anyone working or playing on the tree. In addition, trees growing too close to power lines increase the risk of power arcing and can cause fires.
Reliability - Maintaining proper clearance around lines significantly reduces the chance that adverse weather or wind will send trees or limbs into our lines and equipment.
Affordability - Preventing the need to repair and replace our power or fiber lines, poles, and equipment because of tree damage helps deliver affordable services.
Top row left to right: Trevor Bailey, Cody Adair, Jason Youngblood, Brent Lamons, Gavin Henson, Cale Orman, Tyler Chaffin, Justin Fort, Nate Logue, Kregg Talbert, Aiden Longan, Slaten Ford, Landon Cockrell, Levi Carson, Randall Scott, Markie Carman, Ty Dale, Frank Teague, Brendan Smith, Kelton Whitekiller, Kyle Kimberlin, Dan Hakes, Trent Elliott, and Jason Steeley.
Bottom row left to right: Don Johnson, Clay Wilson, Daniel Nichols, Ethan Chuculate, Landon Unger, Matthew Graves, Austin Fletcher, Cooper Whitlock, Tony Davis and Tyler Rowland.
Not Pictured: Cory Bloxsom, David Collins, Jordan Lechner and Ron Daniels.
Pictured: Jordan Lechner, Right-of-Way Foreman
CONCERN FOR COMMUNITY
COOPERATIVE PRINCIPLE #7
Small Donation, Big Impact for Student Artists
LREC is proud to celebrate and support the incredible creativity on display at the Cherokee County Student Art Show. Thanks to members who round up their bills each month, LREC donated $1,500 to this year’s event.
This annual show highlights the importance of arts education in our schools. Through an LREC Operation Round-Up grant, funding helped the Tahlequah Public Schools Gifted and Talented Education Program provide art supply prizes for contest winners. The show, hosted by Tahlequah Public Schools, featured student artists from pre-K through 12th grade and showcased a wide range of talent from across the community.
Thank you to our generous members who choose to round up their electric or internet bills
Lake Region Blood Drive: Powering Lives Beyond the Grid
each month. These small contributions add up to big opportunities like this art show for students across our service area. Congratulations to all the young artists who participated. Your creativity inspires us all.
How you can help?
Call us today at 918-772-2526 and make sure you are rounding up your monthly electric or fiber internet bill to the nearest dollar through Operation Round-Up. Those extra cents may not seem like much, but together, they add up to thousands of dollars that go directly to local organizations who apply for grants.
Lake Region employees rolled up their sleeves on March 31 to help save lives by donating blood in partnership with Our Blood Institute. The drive brought employees together with a shared purpose of supporting patients in our local communities who rely on lifesaving donations every day.
A total of 24 donors stepped up to give, including 23 employees and one community member. The need for blood is constant. Every two seconds, someone in the United States requires blood, and a single donation can save up to three lives. To meet the needs of local hospitals, more than 1,200 donations are required each day.
Lake Region is proud of the employees who stepped up to give back in such a meaningful way. Their generosity helps ensure critical care is available when it matters most. Events like this reflect the cooperative spirit and ongoing commitment to the communities we serve.
Pictured left to right: Tommi Mattes, Honorable Mention and Kodi Mattes, artist.
Pictured left to right: Joshua Buechele and Glen Clark donate blood.
Lifeline FOR ALL INTERNET
DISCOUNT
Affordable, reliable internet is essential in today’s world, but some families struggle to afford this modern necessity. At Lake Region, we are committed to providing every citizen in our rural communities with high-speed internet, so we created the Lake Region Lifeline discount to ensure every household stays connected and thrives in our increasingly digital society. 4600400
DISCOUNT DETAILS
Eligible residential customers can get a monthly discount of either $34.25 for internet or $30.25 for phone service. The discount can only be applied to one service—not both. If you choose to have both internet and phone, the discount must be applied to the phone service
HOW TO QUALIFY
Apply for Lifeline at www.lifelinesupport.org and provide official application ID number. Once approved by the FCC, please call Lake Region as we have additional paperwork to apply the benefits to your account. Participants will be required to renew annually.
Your Board of Trustees
Scott Manes.......................................President
Lynn Lamons..............................Vice-President
Randall Shankle ..... ............Secretary -Treasurer
Jack Teague..............Asst. Secretary-Treasurer
James Walls ........................................ Trustee
Gary Cooper ..........................................Trustee
Dianna Mayfield.....................................Trustee
Tina Glory-Jordan ............................Attorney Staff
Glen Clark .....................CEO/ General Manager
Leisa Walker.........Director of Finance & Admin
Jerry Latty.....................Director of Operations
Jarrod Welch.....................Director of Fiber & IT
Larry Mattes ..................Director of Marketing
800-364-LREC or 918-772-2526
www.lrecok.coop www.lakeregionfiber.com Locations Hulbert, Wagoner & Tahlequah, OK. Main Office Address 516 S Lake Region Road (P.O. Box 127) Hulbert, OK 74441
Look for your account number hidden in this issue of the Powerline Press. If you find your number, Lake Region Electric will credit your next bill. To claim your credit, notify LREC’s Hulbert office by phone during the month of publication.
The amount increases by $10 with each issue your prize goes unclaimed to a maximum of $50.
Cooperative bylaws are available upon request at Lake Region Electric Cooperative’s office in Hulbert or at lrecok.coop