News for members of East Mississippi Electric Power Association
Billups nostalgia
Periodical postage (ISSN 1052 2433)
drives diner concept
Guy Billups III
14
MFWC cookbook supports heart health
15
Historic school to be preserved
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Today in Mississippi
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September 2018
East Mississippi Electric Power Association Louisville 662.773.5741
Meridian 601.581.8600
Quitman 601.776.6271
DeKalb 601.743.2641
A MESSAGE FROM YOUR CEO
Member engagement empowers community East Mississippi Electric Power Association is a member-owned, member-governed cooperative. When the coop was founded back in 1938, members of the community knew that we were a locally owned business – likely because they or someone they knew played a part in helping found the cooperative. Over time as the novelty of receiving electricity waned, the founders passed on and new people moved into the community, viewing the electric co-op like any other energy provider. But we are different and the key to that difference is you, the member-owner of our cooperative. Without your support and commitment, we would not exist. For many years, people had no choice in the company that provided them with the electricity they so greatly depended upon, but today, the electric utility industry is changing. Research proves that when people own something they treat it differently, which is why we encourage EMEPA members to act as an owner rather than a
customer. As an owner, you play a critical role in our success. Each year, if our revenue exceeds our expenses (which is always our goal), a certain percentage is allocated back to you – because you are a member of the co-op. With that ownership comes certain rights like the opportunity to participate in the annual elections. EMEPA’s 80th annual meeting is set for Saturday, Oct. 6th, and we encourage your participation through either attending the meeting or returning the proxy card you received by mail. We welcome your feedback as we continually look for innovative ways to help you use energy efficiently and in a more cost-effective manner. Through our prepay service, you can better track your daily energy use and pay forward to fit your budget and schedule. Additionally, we have resources through emepa.com and our free smartphone app to help you manage your energy use, discover ways to save as well as report and view outages. There are a number of convenient 24/7 payment options available
Noxapater
Cotton Gin September 29
Festival
The Noxapater Community Alliance and Mississippi Main Street Association will host the Annual Cotton Gin Festival at J.W. Young Park in Noxapater on Saturday, Sept. 29 from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m. Events and entertainment include children’s activities, a variety of local entertainment, food booths, beauty pageant and car show. Booth spaces are available for interested vendors. For more information, contact the
Noxapater Community Alliance P.O. Box 35 Noxapater, MS 39346 or noxapateralliance.org.
as well, such as online, smartphone app, payment kiosks at each branch office and automatic bank draft. As a local business, we have a real stake in the comCEO Randy Carroll munity, just as you do. That is why we seek opportunities to engage with local organizations like our community volunteer fire departments, Relay For Life, United Way and others. While electric power is the commodity that your coop delivers, the real power is that together, we empower this local community. When people feel empowered they accomplish great things. True, the world is different today than it was in 1938 when EMEPA was founded, but our mission of serving you and our community is constant. Working together with your active, inspired engagement, we can continue to accomplish great things.
Gue uess wher ere we
September 2018 I Today in Mississippi
we ent last summer er.
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memorable by participating in the h 2019 Leadersship Works kshop in Jackkson, Misss., and Tour of Was a hington, D.C.
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Washington National Cathedr e ral I Jeffferson I FDR I MLK Memorials I Newseum I Arllington National Cemeter y I Iwo Jima I World War II Memorial I Vietnam Wall
Lydia Palmer, Grace Chriistian School; Maya Clay, Louisvilllle High School; Shon Willis, Southeast Lauderdale High School; Sierah Roberts, Lamar High School; and Michaiah Bolar, Weest Lauderddale High School
See your Guidance Counselor or call EMEPA for infomation at 601-581-8600.
Co-op Connections Business Spotlight EMEPA has been delivering value to our communities for more than 80 years and now we are proud to offer another member benefit – the Co-op Connections Card. Through this free program, you will receive discounts on products and services from participating local and national businesses. The card is a simple membership card that in identifying you as a member, also qualifies you for special discounts and offers at local participating businesses. There are no sign-up or participation fees and we do not track your participation or purchases. There is no charge to you for this program. This is just one more way you benefit from being a cooperative member. To receive discounts, simply show your Co-op Connections card to any participating business.
Each month, EMEPA spotlights local businesses that participate in the Co-op Connections Program. This month’s featured businesses are:
10% off
1000 14th Street, Meridian 601-693-4527
windshield replacements and
$25 off for windshield repairs
Penny’s From Heaven 532 East Main Street, Louisville
10% OFF all merchandise.
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Today in Mississippi
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September 2018
EMEPA to hold 80th Annual Meeting Join East Mississippi Electric Power Association for our 80th Annual Meeting of the membership Saturday, Oct. 6, 2018, in the Association’s Meridian Auditorium. Official notices were mailed in August to invite you and all EMEPA members to attend our Annual Meeting. The Annual Meeting will inform members of actions taken during the past year, in addition to conducting the Association’s business and the election of three directors. Members in attendance at this year’s Annual Meeting will have the chance to win one of two $250 electricity credits or the grand prize of a $500 electricity credit. In accordance with the bylaws of East Mississippi Electric Power Association, a quorum of the membership must be represented in person or by proxy in order to conduct the business
meeting and hold the election of the directors. Any member of EMEPA may obtain a complete set of bylaws by contacting their district office in Louisville, DeKalb, Quitman or the main office in Meridian.
Mark your calendar for Saturday, Oct. 6 and make plans to attend our 80th Annual Meeting celebration. If you have any questions about the Annual Meeting or just want to know more, please contact EMEPA’s Marketing and Communication Department at 601.581.8624 or visit our website at www.emepa.com.
Return your EMEPA Annual Meeting proxy card for a chance to win a $500 electricity credit The Annual Meeting notice and proxy were mailed to members the week of August 6, 2018. Attending the Annual Meeting If you plan to attend the annual meeting in person, the meeting is scheduled for Saturday, Oct. 6, at East Mississippi Electric Power Association’s auditorium in Meridian beginning at 10 a.m. To vote and be eligible for prizes, you need to register at the door.
Returning your proxy If you do not plan to attend, you may appoint the Board of Directors or any other member of the association as your proxy. To do this you must sign and date the proxy card and return it to EMEPA by Tuesday, Sept. 25. The postage to return the proxy is paid. All you need to do is sign, date and mail it. You may also drop off your proxy at your local EMEPA office.
Mark your calendar for Saturday, Oct. 6 and make plans to attend our 80th Annual Meeting.
September 2018
OFFICIAL NOTICE OF 2018 AANNUAL MEETING &# 0& ++1 ) ##0'+% % ,$ 0&# *#* #./ . ,$ /0 '//'//'--' )#!0.'! ,3#. //,!' 0',+ 3')) 3 # held at the East Mississippi Electric Power Association au uditorium in Meridian, Mississipp pi, on 01." 5 !0 00 * $,. 0&# -1.-,/# ,$
#-,.0/ ,$ '.#!0,./ . . +/ !0',+ ,$ 1/'+# #//
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Today in Mississippi
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Financial Statement Fiscal Year Ending
June 30, 2018
)#!0',+ ,$ 0&.## '.#! !0,./ $,. 0&.## 5# . 0#.* In connection with the elecction of three Directors scheduled for this meeting g, 0&# $,)),3'+% *#* #./ . & 2# ##+ # +,*'+ 0#" '+ !!,." +! !# 3'0& 0&# 5 ) 3/ ,$ 0&# //,!' 0',+
Bill Clay
8293 Hwy H 493 DeKalb, MS 39328 • Kemper County
Mike Kennedy
276 Keennedy Lane Quitman, MS 39355 • Clarke County
Larry Pace
1077A A Masonic Lodge Road Meridian, MS 39305 3 • Lauderdale County
u must return a proxy or attend the meeting. Note: In order to vote, you
Welch G Gloria MEP PA Secretaryy, EM A 8/9/18
Yo Y ou will be eligiible to win a $500 electricity c credit by mailing in your proxy xy y,, or up to $500 in electricity credits by attending the meeting.
IF YOU PLAN TO AT ATTE END IN PERSON
IF F YOU DO NOT PLAN TO A AT T TTEND
Each member is invited ed to attend this Annual Meeting so that at a quorum will be available to transact th he business of the Association. To attend the meeting, you e East Mississippi should be present at the
It is still important for you to participate. ate. If you are re not going to attend, you may ap ppoint the Board of Directors or any other me ember of th he Association as your proxy who will vote acccording to your wishes. To do tthis, you
Meridian, Mississippi, Saturday S Oct. 6, 2018, by 10 a.m. To vote and be eligible for the prizes, you need ed to register as you enter.
to o this notice and return it to EMEP EPA. The postage ostage has been paid and the card is allready addressed. All you need to do is sign, da ate and mail it.
You o m must do one of the above to o be eligible to win. EMEP PA A’s Financial Stattement can be found in the Sep ptember issue of To Today in Missiissippi +" 0 5,1. ),! ) ,6!#
If you are not coming to th he EMEP PA A Annual Meeting: RETURN N THIS CARD by September 25, 2018. 2
Assets Electric plant less accumulated depreciation investments 129,116,206 CFC capital term certificates 1,440,393 Cash and temporary investments 3,761,617 Other investments 3,340,569 Accounts Receivable Customer electric bills Misc. accounts receivable
4,708,238 176,110
Stock of materials and supplies Prepayments and current assets Deferred debits
1,769,411 6,539,975 18,040
INSTRUC CTIONSS
If you want the Bo oard of Directors of EMEP PA A to cast yyour vote, sign, date and re eturn the proxy to EMEP PA. A. Otherwise, wise, you may appoint as your y agent and proxy an EMEP PA A member who will be present esent at the annual meeting. Alll proxies designating the B Board of Directors as proxy will be vvoting for the Directors nominated minated by the committee on nominations, minations, and for resolutions ns recommended by the Board of D Directors.
Don’tt forget to sign and datte the card FOR YOUR CHHANCE TO win a $500 electricity credit!
2018 PROXY X I hereby appoint the Board of Directors of East Mississipp pi Electric Power Association as my m agent and proxy to represent me m at the Annual Meeting of the East st Mississippi Electric Power Asso ociation, '+ #.'"' + '//'//'--' 0 * ,+ 01." 5 !0 3'0& $1)) 10&,.'05 0, ! /0 *5 2,0# 1-,+ )) * 00#./ #$,.# 0&# / '" *##0'+% ,. +5 "(,1.+*#+0 0&#.#,$
Total assets
150,870,559
Liabilities and Margins Long Term debt – Cobank
41,829,706
Long Term debt – CFC
1,862,181
Other long term debt Post retirement obligation Notes payable Accounts payable Customer deposits Current liabilities and deferred credits
595,926 7,147,550 3,905,868 8,017,017 1,822,816 3,264,170
Signature: ___________ _ ________________ _ _ _ __________ ________Date: _____________ ______ ____
OR I do d nott appoint i t the th B Board d off Directors Di t as my agentt a and d proxy but, b t instead, i t d appoint i t as my agen nt and proxy to represent me at the Annual Meeting: ____________________________________________
______________________________________
Representative’s Name
Re epresentative’s Account Number
(Must be an EMEPA member and present at the Annual M Meeting. Must NOT be a Board member.) .
Equities Memberships Earnings reinvested in system assets
480,890 82,425,325
&'/ -.,45 *1/0 # .#01.+#" 0, 5 - * #-0#* #.
This is a copy of the Annual Meeting proxy. Actual proxies were mailed in mid-August and they are also available at each EMEPA office.
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Total Liabilities and Margins
150,870,559
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Today in Mississippi
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September 2018
LEAVE THE POLE ALONE
Placing a sign on a utility pole could
endanger a life What do yard sale and political campaign signs, basketball hoops, deer stands, satellite dishes and birdhouses have in common? They’re often found illegally attached to utility poles. But this isn’t only a crime of inconvenience. Safety issues caused by unapproved pole attachments place the lives of lineworkers and the public in peril. It may seem innocent, but a small nail partially driven into a pole can have deadly results around high-voltage electricity. Your local electric cooperative line crews climb utility poles at all hours of the day and night, in the worst of conditions. Anything attached to utility poles can create serious hazards for our line personnel. Sharp objects like nails, tacks, staples or barbed wire can puncture rubber gloves and other safety equipment, making linemen vulnerable to electrocution. And even when nails are removed, the leftover holes provide easy entry for bugs and water, causing a pole that should have lasted four decades or more to weaken much faster. Electric cooperatives, like East Mississippi Electric Power Association, rely on more than 41 million utility poles to deliver more than 2.5 million power lines, and these staunch supporters of electricity are under constant attack from the elements – storms, woodpeckers, insects, moisture and harsh soils. But people play a part in pole erosion, too. Lineworkers with electric cooperatives have reported poles used as community bulletin boards, satellite mounts and even support legs for deer stands, lights and carports. And with political campaign season upon us, it’s becoming an even bigger issue. Abandoned nails or tacks can rip through protective gloves, leaving the lineworker potentially exposed to thousands of volts of electricity. Not only do these attachments put line crews at risk, anyone illegally placing these items on poles comes dangerously close to energized power lines with thousands of volts of energy pulsing overhead. It’s always wise to keep any structure at least 10 feet away from utility poles. Unauthorized pole attachments violate the National Electrical Safety Code, the accepted manual containing guidelines for safe electrical engineering standards. Utilities strictly follow this code that includes a section that reads, “Signs, posters, notices and other attachments shall not be placed on supporting structures without concurrence of the owner (the utility is the owner of the pole).
Supporting structures should be kept free from other climbing hazards such as tacks, nails, vines and through bolts not properly trimmed.” We need your help. If you notice anyone trying to attach something to a utility pole, let them know it’s dangerous and against the law. Whenever we see an illegal attachment – whether it’s a satellite dish, a birdhouse, a basketball hoop, deer stand, political sign or anything else – our employees will remove it and are not responsible for any damages caused to the unauthorized item. Please help us keep our linemen—and our community— safe. Don’t attach any of these unauthorized and dangerous items to utility poles. Thanks for your help as we work together to prolong the lifespan of our utility poles that provide us with safe, reliable and affordable electric service.
UTILITY POLES ARE NOT BULLETIN U BOARDS
THINK LINEMAN SAFETY
September 2018
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Today in Mississippi
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DEER ZONES For a complete listing of hunting seasons, bag limits and other legal restrictions, go to www.mdwfp.com.
White-tailed Deer DELTA, NORTHEAST, EAST CENTRAL, AND SOUTHWEST ZONES METHOD
SEASON DATES
LEGAL DEER
Archery Youth Gun (15 and under) Antlerless Primitive Weapon
Oct. 1 - Nov. 16 Nov. 3 - Jan. 31
Either-Sex on private and open public land. Either-Sex on private and authorized state and federal lands. Legal bucks only after Nov. 17 on authorized state and federal lands. Antlerless Deer Only on private lands.
Gun (with dogs)
Nov. 17 - Dec. 1
Primitive Weapon
Dec. 2 - 15
Nov. 5 - 16
Gun (without dogs)
Dec. 16 - 23
Gun (with dogs)
Dec. 24 - Jan. 16
Archery/Primitive Weapon
Jan. 17 - 31
Either-Sex on private land. Legal Bucks only on open public land. Either-Sex on private land. Legal Bucks only on open public land. Weapon of choice may be used on private land with appropriate license. Either-Sex on private land. Legal Bucks only on open public land. Either-Sex on private land. Legal Bucks only on open public land. Either-Sex on private land. Legal Bucks only on open public land. Weapon of choice may be used on private land with appropriate license.
SOUTHEAST ZONE
In all zones: For youth fifteen (15) years of age and younger hunting on private lands and authorized state and federal lands, all three (3) of their three (3) buck bag limit may be any antlered deer.
METHOD
SEASON DATES
LEGAL DEER
Archery
Oct. 15 - Nov. 16
Either-Sex on private and open public land.
Youth Gun (15 and under)
Nov. 3 - Feb. 15
Either-Sex on private and authorized state and federal lands. Legal bucks only after Nov. 17 on authorized state and federal lands.
Gun (with dogs)
Nov. 17 - Dec. 1
Either-Sex on private land. Legal Bucks only on open public land.
Dec. 2 - 15
Either-Sex on private land. Legal Bucks only on open public land. Weapon of choice may be used on private land with appropriate license.
Primitive Weapon Gun (without dogs)
Dec. 16 - 23
Either-Sex on private land. Legal Bucks only on open public land.
Gun (with dogs)
Dec. 24 - Jan. 16
Either-Sex on private land. Legal Bucks only on open public land.
BAG LIMITS: Antlered Buck Deer: The bag limit on antlered buck deer is one (1) buck per day, not to exceed three (3) per annual season. Legal bucks must meet the antler criteria within the appropriate deer management zone.
Antlerless Deer: Private lands: The bag limit on Northeast, Delta and East Central, and Southwest Zones antlerless deer is three (3) per annual season. The bag limit on Southeast Zone antlerless deer is one (1) per day, two (2) per annual season.
Jan. 17 - 31 Archery/Primitive Weapon Feb. 1 - 15
Small Game SEASON
SEASON DATES
DAILY BAG LIMIT
Youth Squirrel*
Sept. 24 - 30
8
Squirrel - Fall Season
Oct. 1 - Feb. 28
8
Squirrel - Spring Season
May 15 - June 1
4
SEASON
SEASON DATES
DAILY BAG LIMIT
Rabbit
Oct. 13 - Feb. 28
8
Bobwhite Quail
Nov. 22 - Mar. 2
8
Frog
April 1 - Sept. 30
25/NIght
Raccoon
July 1 - Sept. 30
1 per Party/Night
Opossum, Raccoon, and Bobcat
Oct. 1 - Oct. 31 (Food and sport) Nov. 1 - Feb. 28 (Food, sport, and pelt)
5/Day; 8/Party No Limit
Trapping
Nov. 1 - Mar. 15
No Limit
U.S. Forest Service National Forests: The bag limit is one (1) per day, not to exceed three (3) per annual season except in the Southeast Zone which is two (2) per annual season.
Either-Sex on private land. Legal Bucks only on open public land. Weapon of choice may be used on private land with appropriate license. Legal Bucks only on private and open public land. Weapon of choice may be used on private land with appropriate license.
*On private lands and authorized state and federal lands only in those areas open for squirrel hunting.
Fall Turkey
Dove • White-winged & Mourning Dove (North Zone) ** Sept. 1-Oct. 7; Oct. 27 Nov. 7; Dec. 22 - Jan. 31 (South Zone)*** Sept. 1-9; Oct. 6-Nov. 7; Dec. 15-Jan. 31 **(Dove North Zone) Areas north of U.S. Hwy 84 plus areas south of U.S. Hwy 84 and west of MS Hwy 35 ***(Dove South Zone) Areas south of U.S. Hwy 84 and east of MS Hwy 35.
SEASON
DATES
BAG LIMIT
FALL (SEE OPEN AREAS)
OCT. 15 - NOV. 15
TWO (2) TURKEYS, EITHER SEX
Open Areas: In the following counties or portion of counties, on private lands where the landowner/lease holder completes a fall turkey hunting application and provides a copy of the property deed or lease agreement at a MDWFP Regional Office or the Jackson Office. Delta Zone: Bolivar County - west of the main Mississippi River levee and those lands east of the main Mississippi River levee known as 27 Break Hunting Club; Coahoma, Desoto, Issaquena, Tunica, and Washington counties - west of the main Mississippi River levee. North-Central Zone: Benton, Lafayette, Marshall, Panola, Tippah, and Union counties.
Southwest Zone: Adams, Amite, Claiborne, Copiah, Hinds, Franklin, Jefferson, Lincoln, Madison, Warren, Wilkinson, and Yazoo counties.