ANNUAL MEETING DRIVE-THRU COMING NEAR YOU Central Rural Electric Cooperative’s 87th annual meeting is returning to a community near you in the drive-thru format! Mark your calendars for Tuesday, October 6, at one of these convenient locations: • Lincoln County Fairgrounds 15th & Rozell Ave., Chandler • Logan County Fairgrounds 215 Fairgrounds Rd., Guthrie • Noble County Fairgrounds 1 Ivanhoe St., Perry • Payne County Expo Center 4518 Expo Circle E, Stillwater You will have the opportunity to drive-thru the annual meeting, visit with Central employees and board members and be entered for prize drawings. There are five bylaw
amendments to vote on this year. Voting will be done on iPads instead of on paper ballots. Drivethru anytime between 3 and 7 p.m. at one of the four locations. Attendees will receive a $10 bill credit on their December bill and a $20 restaurant gift card to be used by Oct. 31. This year’s attendance gift will be a Central and Centranet-branded 2-gallon bucket! Prize winners and bylaw results will be announced on Central’s website and social media on Wednesday, October 7. Learn more at mycentral.coop/ annualmeeting or by scanning the QR code.
ANNUAL MEETING FAQS I have two meters, do I get to register twice? No. It’s one registration per membership. What if I have a membership for myself and my business has a membership? One person cannot register for two memberships. You will need a separate registered delegate and a completed Business Delegate Form. Do I need to bring anything? Your official notice will make registration quicker! Make sure the person who registers is included on the account.
DRIVE-THRU CENTRAL’S ANNUAL MEETING JOIN US AT ONE OF THE 4 LOCATIONS LINCOLN COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS LOGAN COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS NOBLE COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS PAYNE COUNTY FAIRGROUNDS
YOUTH TOUR APPLICATIONS NOW OPEN Calling high school juniors for a once-in-a-lifetime trip
SEPTEMBER 2026 Central Board of Trustees: Sid Sperry, President (District 4) Greg Tytenicz, Vice President (District 2) Ken Starks, Secretary/Treasurer (District 5) Randy Wedel (District 1) Melanie McGuire (District 3) James Wells (District 6) Randy Ethridge (District 7) Executive Team: Shane Burgess - Chief Executive Officer Sondra White - Chief Financial Officer Mark Prather - President of Fiber and Technology Jillianne Tebow - Vice President of Brand Strategy and Engagement Empowered Editors: Larry Mattox - Director of Marketing and Communications Kory Bowman - Marketing and Communications Specialist Ivy Swan - Marketing and Communications Specialist
Contact Us: editor@mycentral.coop 405-372-2884 | 800-375-2884 3305 S. Boomer Rd. | P.O. Box 1809 Stillwater, OK 74076 mycentral.coop facebook.com/MyCentralCoop instagram.com/MyCentralCoop
Notice: Central’s office will be closed Monday, September 7 to observe Labor Day.
Central Rural Electric Cooperative is an equal opportunity provider and employer.
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If you’re a high school junior who attends school in Central’s service area, has big dreams of seeing our nation’s capitol and is excited to meet new people from across Oklahoma, then Youth Tour is right for you! Candidates will compete for a chance to visit Washington, D.C., for a week-long, all-expense-paid trip sponsored by Central. Open to high school juniors, Youth Tour is a two-part competition where students develop a résumé and submit an application. The top contestants are then invited for an interview. Two winners will be selected from the applicants to participate in the
week-long, all-expense-paid trip. Each winner will also receive a $1,000 scholarship! Youth Tour winners from across the Nation will flood the capitol in June. During the trip, winners can expect to meet members of Congress, visit monuments, historical sights and Smithsonian museums. Applications are due by Friday, December 18. Applicants do not have to be members to apply. Applicants must attend school within Central’s service area. Want to know more or interested in applying? Scan the QR code.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
NEVER SHOOT AT POWERLINES September marks the start of dove season across Oklahoma, bringing hunters outdoors to enjoy one of the state’s favorite traditions. As you head to the field, remember that a safe hunt starts with knowing your surroundings, especially when power lines, fiber lines and electrical equipment are nearby. Power and fiber lines often cross fields, fence lines and rural roads, making them a common sight in popular hunting areas. While it may seem harmless to take a shot at birds flying near a power line or sitting on a power line, doing so can have serious consequences. Doves are especially attracted to power and fiber lines because they like to have a good view of corn, wheat and other crops in fields below. Birdshot can damage power and fiber lines, insulators and other electrical equipment. Even minor damage can lead to power outages for homes, farms and businesses, requiring crews to locate the problem and make repairs. Damaged equipment can also create dangerous conditions for anyone nearby. Before taking a shot, always identify what’s beyond your target. If birds
are flying near or perched on power lines, fiber lines, utility poles or other electrical equipment, let them pass and wait for a safer opportunity. Keep these hunting safety tips in mind: • Never shoot at birds sitting on or flying near power or fiber lines. • Be aware of your surroundings before every shot. • Avoid climbing utility poles or entering electrical substations to retrieve birds or equipment. • If a bird, decoy or other item becomes tangled in a power line or fiber line, never attempt to retrieve it yourself. Call Central at 405-372-2884. • If you see a downed power line while hunting, stay far away and assume it is energized. Report it to Central immediately. By making safe decisions around electrical equipment, hunters can help protect themselves, their fellow outdoorsmen and the reliable electric service their communities depend on.
COOK UP ENERGY SAVINGS IN THE KITCHEN Your cooking habits, along with energy-efficient appliances, impact energy use in the kitchen. Use these tips to cook up energy savings. ⚠ Put a lid on it. Cover pans while cooking to prevent heat loss. ⚠ Don’t peek! Opening the oven door can lower the internal temperature as much as 25 percent. ⚠ Turn the stove burners off a few minutes before the food is ready. They will remain hot enough to finish cooking the food. ⚠ Run your dishwasher with a full load of dishes to conserve water and energy. Also consider letting dishes air dry. ⚠ Keep your refrigerator well stocked. The more items in your fridge, the less energy it takes to keep them cold. ⚠ Speaking of refrigerators, they top the list of home appliances that use the most energy.
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LOCAL HAPPENINGS THIS MONTH Check out these fun local events happening within Central’s service area this September
CINEMA 34 - “WILLY WONKA” Sept. 4 Block 34, Stillwater Enjoy this free outdoor movie showing at the Kicker Soundstage at Block 34 showing “Willie Wonka.” Guests are encouraged to bring lawn chairs or blankets.
FALL CRAFT SHOW Saturday, Sept. 12 Payne County Expo Center, Stillwater Check out this free entry craft show featuring 100 booths of handmade goods and unique finds from across the state.
PAWNEE COUNTY FREE FAIR Sept. 8-12 Pawnee County Fairgrounds, Pawnee Apple pie baking contest and pedal tractor pull are some fun to be had!
CHEROKEE STRIP CELEBRATION Sept. 13-19 Perry Community Downtown, Perry Enjoy the county fair, rodeo, carnival, 5K/10K race, community parade, vendors, food trucks, entertainment and more! The parade will happen at 10 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 19.
NOBLE COUNTY FREE FAIR Sept. 12-18 Noble County Fairgrounds, Perry Enjoy the 4-H and FFA exhibits and the Farmhand Olympics! GUTHRIE ROAD CELEBRATION Saturday, Sept. 12 Mineral Wells Park, Guthrie Cruise historic Guthrie and visit this classic and vintage automobile celebration! Stay to see which classic vehicle is awarded Best of Show!
OKLAHOMA STATE FAIR Sept. 17-27 OKC Fairgrounds, Oklahoma City ROUTE 66 BALLOON AND KITE FESTIVAL Sept. 23-27 Parkhurst Ranch, Arcadia Enjoy this event featuring hot air balloons, live music and food trucks.
Whether you're streaming by the pool, working from the porch, or keeping the kids entertained on the patio, our fully managed outdoor Wi-Fi solution delivers the connectivityy you y need. Learn more at CentranetFiber.com/Outdoor
FESTIVAL IN THE PARK Saturday, Sept. 26 Memorial Park, Cushing Hosted by the Cushing Chamber of Commerce, this fun event is held from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and features airplane rides, a chili cook-off and more! The event kicks off at 7 a.m. with Grappler’s Gallop Run, a 5K and walk. AGRA TRADE DAYS Saturday, Sept. 26 Agra High School, Agra Combined with the annual Founders Day Celebration, this event begins at 10 a.m. and welcomes unique and local vendors! TULSA STATE FAIR Oct. 1-11 Tulsa Expo Center, Tulsa