News for members of Dixie Electric Power Association
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It’s finally here!
The Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Experience opens in Meridian p. 4
6 History comes alive at Shaifer House 10 Mississippi Cooks: Southern comfort cookin’ 17 Cooperatives sponsor Youth Leadership Workshop
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April 2018
The
MAX
Taking Mississippi arts to
“It’s really
exciting and
different.
There’s not anything By Debbie Stringer experts. This year’s One more reason to vacation in inductees will be else ” Mississippi opens this month in announced in May. (The Meridian. public can help nominate – Paula Chance The Mississippi Arts and Entertainment artists by voting at Experience, known as The MAX, is a $50 milwww.MSArts.org.) lion facility that celebrates the state’s incredible arts The MAX started out in 2001 as the Mislegacy: namely, the world-famous performing, visual sissippi Arts and Entertainment Center, as established and literary artists whose creativity stems from their by the state legislature. Funding to build and operate Mississippi roots. the center would come from private donations, grants Multi-media exhibits give MAX visitors insight into and state government. the lives of the artists, as well as the unique geographic, But construction of the complex, originally slated to community and cultural influences that shaped their begin in fall 2004 at Meridian’s Bonita Lakes Park, was development. postponed as the state struggled to recover from Hurri“This is a non-traditional museum. There are intercane Katrina and the Great Recession. It would be actives throughout, and that’s how the name Experianother 11 years before The MAX would break ground ence came along,” said Paula Chance, MAX spokesper- at its new location on Front Street in downtown son. “It’s about seeing some artifacts but also experienc- Meridian. ing some of the things that influenced the artists.” In a way, the delay turned out to be a good thing. The MAX also houses the state-sanctioned Mississip- New technologies emerged during those years that pi Arts and Entertainment Hall of Fame. The 18 artists would elevate the museum into a unique arts “experience” for visitors. MAX visitors can create virtual paintand performers selected for the 2017 inaugural inducings, for example, in the style of Walter Anderson and tion—from Elvis to Oprah—are depicted in multimedia displays lining a two-story rotunda gallery. Each other Mississippi artists represented in the museum, and throw virtual pottery in the style of three different year new inductees will be selected by a panel of
like this.
Mississippi potters, such as George Ohr. Serving as an arts education resource for individuals and educators has been a goal of the museum since its inception. Workshops, seminars, changing art exhibits, artist demonstrations and programs for all ages will be offered throughout the year. “Statistics show the importance of arts in education, and that is absolutely one of our goals, to educate people about the importance of art,” Chance said. Some of the programs in development at the museum will target aspiring artists and performers. “I think one of the programs that is especially good is the mentoring program. Our plans are to have students selected that are interested in, for example, putting together an art portfolio or a recording for college. We would assign a mentor to learn not just about their art but how to be an artist [and] all the things you need to promote yourself.” For its first year of operation, The MAX has set an attendance goal of 150,000 visitors—including travelers on Interstate 20, which slices through Meridian a few blocks from the museum. “We see this museum as a gateway to other museums in the state,” Chance said. “For example, probably of those first 18 [artists] in the Hall of Fame, 10 or 12
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The Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Experience, far left, known as The MAX, opens this month in downtown Meridian. The 59,000-squarefoot facility includes an amphitheater for concerts and other outdoor events. Visitors to the museum’s Juke Joint gallery, above, will be immersed in the sights and sounds of a Mississippi music club, where many Mississippi music legends got their start.
MISSISSIPPI Visitors learn how the land inspired Mississippi artists’ works. Creative approaches to exhibit design are evident throughout The MAX.
have museums in Mississippi, like Faulkner’s Rowan Oak and the B.B. King Museum.” The MAX is expected to help spur business development in downtown Meridian as it joins a list of attractions that includes the Mississippi Industrial Heritage Museum and the MSU Riley Center, a performing arts venue. The MAX opens to the public April 29 with a slate of special events and presentations, following a grand opening black-tie gala April 27 and member preview day April 28. The full schedule and future event listings are posted on the museum’s website. “It’s really exciting and different. There’s not anything else like this,” Chance said. The Mississippi Arts and Entertainment Experience is located at 2155 Front St. in downtown Meridian. Hours are 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday. Closed Monday. Tickets may be purchased at the museum or online. Contact the museum at 601-581-1550 or MSArts.org.
ON DISPLAY Meridian, Mississippi
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Dixie Electric is an equal opportunity employer and provider.
Understanding the decision to join a regional transmission organization Last month we talked about Dixie Electric’s relationship with Cooperative Energy, our wholesale energy provider. This month we’re continuing that conversation by discussing Cooperative Energy’s relationship with Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO), the regional transmission organization (RTO) and reliability coordinator (RC).
Energy operated independently. Cooperative Energy serves 11 member distribution cooperatives statewide. Of those 11 cooperatives, seven of them are in or next to Entergy’s service area. Since Cooperative Energy didn’t Randy Smith have generation or transmisGeneral Manager sion facilities in the western part of the state, a relationship with Entergy was formed to provide better service for those members in the Entergy area. Here is a little history. In 2012, when Entergy began investigating joining an RTO, Cooperative Energy did the same
Cooperative Energy made the decision to join MISO, beginning in 2013. It was a difficult decision, but ultimately the one that made the most sense. Joining MISO has been favorable, particularly from an economic perspective. Like most things that have advantages, there have also been challenges. Being able to share in using the lowest available cost of power throughout the MISO region also means being responsible for sharing the reliability for the other members in the region. This may mean occasionally being faced with the decision to ask our members to reduce their electric energy use as we saw in midJanuary. Cooperative Energy has always had reliability levels it was responsible for meeting. Before joining MISO, it only included the 11-member distribution cooperatives that it serves. If Cooperative Energy lost a generation unit for some reason and was unable to purchase power on the market to replace it, the members were Midcontinent Independent System responsible for reducing enough load to match Operator (MISO) Service Territory the generation available. Depending on the size MISO North of the unit that was lost, the reduction could MISO South have been substantial for each system. In MISO, because of the amount of reserves that are typically because of the interconnection between the two available, the levels of reduction for each member companies. cooperative are much less than if Cooperative During the evaluation process, here were some
considerations: Operationally, it meant giving up a significant amount of control over when generation units would be called to generate electricity. MISO would always call on the most cost-effective units to run at any given time and that may or may not include Cooperative Energy’s units. Also, MISO would always be focused on which units are most economical at any time and not necessarily what made the most sense from an operational standpoint. After taking the operational issues into consideration, from an economic perspective it still made sense to join MISO. Entergy’s decision to join MISO seriously affected Cooperative Energy’s member distribution systems and its operations. In MISO, Entergy’s generation and transmission facilities would be dedicated first to the MISO system, leaving Cooperative Energy and its member cooperatives, who are in the Entergy area, in a difficult position. Costs to move power through the MISO area to reach those members would be higher, and there would be operational considerations that would make it more difficult. These factors helped confirm Cooperative Energy’s decision to join MISO. I hope this helps explain how we got to the point in January where we were required to ask members to reduce their electricity use.
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Heroes Wear Hard Hats Lineman appreciation day is April 9. CELEBRATE EARTH DAY
#ThankaLineman
April 22, 2018
Go green with big-ticket renovations Going “green” means living in a way that’s friendly to the planet. But it also means keeping a little more “green” in your pocket by living more efficiently. Even if a tight budget is keeping you from making over your whole house so it’s more energy efficient, you can convert it a little bit at a time. Next time you need to replace an appliance or other home product, consider an eco-friendly choice. Here are some suggestions for going green at home: • When replacing major appliances, it pays to buy those that are Energy Star-qualified. These are significantly more efficient than other models so they’re cheaper to operate. • Buy appliances with “energy-saver” options. New dishwashers and washing machines, for example, use less water than older models and let you choose load size and water temperature. Turn off your dishwasher’s heated drying cycle, and chose a clothes dryer that automatically shuts off when it senses that clothes are dry. • Place the dishwasher and refrigerator on opposite sides of the kitchen so the heat from the dishwasher won’t force the refrigerator to work harder. Resist the temptation to store an extra freezer or refrigerator in the garage, where the extreme heat and cold will force it to work so hard it will send your energy bills soaring. • When it’s time to replace windows, go with double- or triple-paned glass. Those models cost more than your single-pane windows, but they prevent your heated or air-conditioned air from leaking outside, so you’ll save money on your energy bills.
Tipof the Month
When streaming online content, use the smallest device that makes sense for the number of people watching. Avoid streaming on game consoles, which use 10 times more power than streaming through a tablet or laptop. Source: energy.gov
Right-of-way clearing projects underway Dixie Electric Power Association clears trees, limbs and underbrush from the area around and below the power lines, called the right-of-way. Right-of-way clearing decreases the number of outages and reduces the risk of someone coming in contact with the power lines. Here are the substations and surrounding communities that are either currently being cleared or will be cleared soon: • South Waynesboro substation – Winchester, Denham-Progress, Sunlight, Big Rock, and the Central School area • Glade substation – Glade, Antioch and Powers communities • Macedonia substation - Macedonia, Leeville, Union, Corinth Church and the Ovett oilfields 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.
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April 2018
Dixie Electric sends local students to Youth Leadership Workshop
Leading the Way into the
FUTURE through Mississippi’s brightest students
Top photo: Garrett Crowder and Aubrey Gaudet represented Dixie Electric for the 2018 Youth Leadership workshop. Above: Ron Stewart, senior vice president of Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi, presents Aubrey with an award for qualifying as a finalist for the Youth Leadership Council during the workshop.
The Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi recently held the 32nd Youth Leadership Workshop in downtown Jackson. This annual youth event brought students from across Mississippi to the state capital to meet their legislators and to participate in activities designed to enhance their already present leadership abilities. The workshop began on Wednesday, Feb. 21, and continued through Friday, Feb. 23. Electric cooperatives from all areas of Mississippi participate in the program each year. Garrett Crowder and Aubrey Gaudet were selected among the schools in Dixie Electric’s service area to represent the electric cooperative during this hands-on event. “The program was developed to help young leaders determine their strengths and weaknesses while showing them ways to become better leaders. We then encourage them to return home and put their skills to use,” said Ron Stewart, senior vice president and program coordinator. “We challenge these young people to go out and make a difference in the lives of others, exemplifying true leadership.” This year, 80 students attended the workshop which was held at the Marriott in downtown Jackson. When the students arrived on Wednesday, the workshop began with a “get acquainted” session
and they were put into situations where they had to learn about others. They were then asked to participate in a Town Hall meeting, which encouraged them to discuss issues they are facing as young people. Together with their groups, they developed possible solutions to these issues, and were encouraged by group leaders to take the skills they learned back to their schools where they could make a real difference in the lives of their peers. On Thursday morning, the students enjoyed breakfast with senators and representatives who serve in state government on behalf of the districts in which they reside. The breakfast was well-attended with over 40 legislators in attendance. Before visiting the Mississippi State Capitol, Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves spoke to the students and encouraged them to work hard for their dreams. He gave the students three guidelines for success: dream big, make a plan and work hard. “If you do these three things, you can accomplish anything you set your mind to,” he said. Gov. Phil Bryant continues to support this program by speaking to the students each year during a luncheon at the Old Capitol Inn. During his speech, he encouraged the students to pursue their dreams and hold on to their Mississippi values. He discussed the positive economic factors happening
“We are proud to have these two outstanding students represent Dixie Electric.” – Randy Smith General Manager
WORKSHOP SPEAKERS April 2018
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Today in Mississippi
Gov. Phil Bryant
Above: From left, Rep. Shane Barnett, Rep. Gary Staples, Aubrey, Sen. Dennis DeBar, Garrett and Rep. Larry Byrd. Right: Garrett and Aubrey pose during the Fun Time photobooth session.
in Mississippi and told them that they don’t have to go far from home to become successful. “There are so many opportunities for you in Mississippi to take on leadership roles here. Whether you go on to college or choose a technical trade, there are many advantages to staying right here at home,” he said. The students also heard from other motivational speakers and participated in a fun evening with local magician, Dorian LaChance where he wowed them with his illusions. When the workshop came to a close, the students had made many new friends and memories that will last a lifetime. Building leaders is fundamental to building a strong community and through this program, Dixie Electric hopes to prepare these young people for a bright future. The pro
Lt. Gov. Tate Reeves
gram has proven to encourage students to reach their goals year after year, and the students take away lifelong relationships. Dixie Electric is a proud sponsor of the program. “We are proud to have these two outstanding students represent Dixie Electric,” said Randy Smith, general manager. “They are our future leaders, and we look forward to seeing all that they accomplish.” In June, Garrett and Aubrey will travel with the youth group to Washington, D.C. The sevenday trip will include visits to all of the popular monuments and memorials, as well as meetings with Mississippi’s congressional delegation during a visit to Capitol Hill.
Sen. Chris McDaniel visited with Aubrey and Garrett at the Mississippi State Capitol.
Bro. Terry Rhodes
Garrett Crowder and Aubrey Gaudet
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. g n i v i G . f l GoGreat day!
Pollyanna Magee presents the morning flight winners with their prizes. They are Thomas Prine, Mike Kenny, Dwain Strickland and Joey Landrum.
DIXIE ELECTRIC HOSTS ANNUAL CHARITY GOLF TOURNAMENT
On a beautiful, cool sunny day at the Laurel Country Club, Dixie Electric hosted its tenth annual charity golf tournament that benefited the American Cancer Society. The four-man scramble tournament featured morning and afternoon flights with a total of 38 teams participating. The one-day tournament on Thursday, March 22, raised $11,400, which will be given to the American Cancer Society through their Relay for Life events in late April and early May. Dixie Electric is an electric cooperative; concern for community is a principle that cooperatives seek to fulfill. Hosting this annual charity tournament is one way that Dixie Electric lives out this principle. “This was our tenth year to host our charity American tournament. I’m so appreciative to Dixie Cancer ® Electric’s vendors and Society
members of the local community who support the American Cancer Society through our annual tournament,” Community Relations Coordinator Pollyanna Magee said. Closest-to-the-hole winners were John Luke in the morning flight and Jacob Sullivan in the afternoon flight. Closest-to-the-hole prizes were sponsored by the Laurel Country Club. The winning teams for the morning flight wereas follows: • FIRST PLACE: Dwain Strickland’s team - Thomas Prine, Mike Kenny, Dwain Strickland, Joey Landrum; • SECOND PLACE: Scott Thames’ team – Scott Thames, Will Thames, Ernie Joiner, Brent Smithers; • THIRD PLACE: Cooperative Energy – Don Hinton, Trey Cannon, Steven Jackson, Jeff Lazenby. Tommy Ulmer makes a putt for his team during the four-man scramble tournament. Other team members are Jason Holder, Will Pitts and Kenny Batte.
The winning teams for the afternoon flight were as follows: • FIRST PLACE: Community Bank – Justin Holifield, Sawyer Taylor, Al Taylor, Andrew Hudson; • SECOND PLACE: First State Bank – Darren Dodd, Mark Waller, Jim Clark, Joey Landrum; • THIRD PLACE: Hugh Parker Team – Jim Henderson, Steve Brantley, Hugh Parker, Donald Coleman. The flight winners received gifts provided by Canebrake Country Club and Dixie Electric. Hole-in-one prizes were provided by Kim’s Chrysler Dodge Jeep Toyota and Woolwine Ford of Collins, and Lunch was donated by Bush Construction and R&C Sons, LLC.
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PRIZES WERE DONATED BY: • Boomtown Casino • Canebrake Country Club • IP Casino Resort & Spa • Kim’s No Bull
• Laurel Country Club • Pearl River Resort • Woolwine Ford Lincoln
TOURNAMENT SPONSORS
The first place team in the afternoon was Community Bank. The team members, Justin Holifield, Andrew Hudson, Sawyer Taylor and Al Taylor, received their winnings from Pollyanna Magee.
• Aertker Co. • Anderson Design Center • BancorpSouth Bank • Border States Electric • Bourne Brothers Printing Co., Inc. • Bush Construction • Cspire • Cooperative Finance Corporation • Chancellor, Inc. • Coca-Cola Bottling Company • Cooperative Energy • Desoto Treated Materials • Ditch Witch Midsouth • Drake Lighting • Emerald Transportation • E-Z-Go Golf Carts • Futura Systems • Garner Lumley Electric • Godwin Group • Golf Cart Repair and Sales - Randall Culpepper • Gresco
• Hell Fighters Motorcycle Shop • Holt & Associates PLLC • Howard Industries • Industrial Services of Laurel • Kirby Plumbing • MDR Construction • Milsoft Utility Solutions • Mississippi-Tennessee Transformers Inc. • National Information Solutions Cooperative • Osmose • Priority Electric • R&C Sons • Royals Western • Substation Enterprises • T & C Specialty Distributors • Terex Utilities • Tessco Technologies, Inc. • Thomas Tax Financial • Titan Utility Services • Trustmark National Bank • Walters Construction • Woolwine Ford Lincoln
Thank you from: Cooperative Energy takes a shot during the morning flight. They were the third place winners for that flight.
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