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CENTRAL ELECTRIC POWER ASSOCIATION

A tradition of dependable, hometown service since 1937 CARTHAGE: 601-267-5671 | PHILADELPHIA: 601-656-2601 | RANKIN: 601-829-1201 | SEBASTOPOL: 601-625-7422

107 EAST MAIN STREET • CARTHAGE, MS 39051

We’re ready for

Are you? by Abby Berry Now that summer is in full swing, like many of you, we welcome more opportunities to be outdoors and enjoy the warmer weather. Summertime brings many of our favorite activities like cooking out with family and friends, afternoons on the water and simply slowing down a bit to enjoy life. But summer months also make conditions right for dangerous storms. The 2021 hurricane season, which officially began on June 1, typically makes for an active storm season across Mississippi. These potential weather events can cause destruction to our electrical system, but we want you to know that Central Electric Power Association crews are ready and standing by to respond should power outages occur in our area. When major storms knock out power, our line crews take all necessary precautions before they get to work on any downed lines. We would encourage you to also practice safety and preparedness to protect your family during major storms and outages. The Federal Emergency Management Agency recommends the items below as a starting point for storm and disaster preparedness, but you can visit www.ready.gov for additional resources. • Stock your pantry with a three-day supply of nonperishable food, such as canned goods, energy bars, peanut butter, powdered milk, instant coffee, water and other essentials (i.e., diapers and toiletries). • Confirm that you have adequate sanitation and hygiene supplies including towelettes, soap and hand sanitizer. • Ensure your first aid kit is stocked with pain relievers, bandages and other medical essentials, and make sure your prescriptions are current. • Set aside basic household items you will need, including flashlights, batteries, a manual can opener and portable, battery-powered radio or TV. • Organize emergency supplies so they are easily accessible in one location. 12 TODAY | JUNE 2021

In the event of a prolonged power outage, turn off major appliances, TVs, computers and other sensitive electronics. This will help avert damage from a power surge, and will also help prevent overloading the circuits during power restoration. That said, do leave one light on so you will know when power is restored. If you plan to use a small generator, make sure it’s rated to handle the amount of power you will need, and always review the manufacturer’s instructions to operate it safely. Listen to local news or a NOAA Weather Radio for storm and emergency information, and check our website for power restoration updates. After the storm, avoid downed power lines and walking through flooded areas where power lines could be submerged. We hope we don’t experience severe storms this summer, but we can never predict Mother Nature’s plans. At Central Electric, we recommend that you act today because there is power in planning. Abby Berry writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

2021 Tropical Cyclone names Ana

Henri

Odette

Bill

Ida

Peter

Claudette

Julian

Rose

Danny

Kate

Sam

Elsa

Larry

Teresa

Fred

Mindy

Victor

Grace

Nicholas

Wanda

STAYduring INFORMED Storm Season!

We know you are busy, so our website offers convenient, easy to use options at the click of a button. Visit centralepa.com today to feel the power at your fingertips.

VIEW OUR OUTAGE MAP

Central Electric’s outage reporting system will automatically recognize your account if your phone number is correct.

View current outages with just a click of a button through Central Electric’s outage map located under the QUICK LINKS at centralepa.com. All outage and restoration efforts can be accessed through our website.

JUNE 2021 | TODAY 13

Central Electric Power Association crews battled the elements on May 4, as they worked to repair a power system damaged by severe weather that swept through the association’s seven county service area. Tornadoes and damaging straight-line winds were reported across many areas. More than 16,000 members were left without power when the storms passed through our service area. This included Leake, Attala, Scott, Newton, Neshoba, Kemper and Rankin counties. Damage was widespread with over 25 broken poles, 24 transformers, numerous trees and conductors down. Assistance arrived on Wednesday, May 5, to aid in the power restoration.

By 2:00 p.m. on Friday, May 7, power was restored to all members that could receive power. We know that being without power for an extended period of time is inconvenient and we would like to thank our membership for their support and patience during this weather event. Manager Brian Long would like to thank the Central Electric employees, along with the outside crews who worked tirelessly in the power restoration efforts. To restore power to more than 16,000 members in three days is an outstanding accomplishment.

Central Electric would like to thank the following organizations for their assistance:

J U LY 4 T H

Sunday, June 20 14 TODAY | JUNE 2021

Our employees will observe Independence Day and our offices will be closed Monday, July 5, for the holiday. Dispatchers will remain on duty and crews will be on call throughout the holiday weekend. To report a power outage, please visit www.centralepa.com and click on Report An Outage or call 601-267-3043.

The Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi Foundation was created by Mississippi’s electric cooperatives in 2005. In an effort to give back to the communities they serve, the Foundation provides scholarships for post-secondary and vocational education to accredited institutions for qualifying high school seniors. For the fall of 2021, the Foundation awarded scholarships to dependents of employees of participating electric cooperatives. Three Central Electric employee’s children who are entering college this fall were awarded the ECM Foundation Scholarships. Central Electric wants to congratulate each recipient on receiving this scholarship.

Rylee Burkes is the daughter of Ryan and Amy Burkes. She is a graduate of Sebastopol Attendance Center. Rylee enjoys playing softball, basketball, fishing and kayaking. She plans to attend East Central Community College to pursue a degree in radiology.

Taylor Duncan is the daughter of Michael and Nyka Duncan. She is a graduate of Lake High School. Taylor enjoys playing softball, watching Netflix, shopping and hanging out with friends. She plans to attend Southeastern Louisiana University where she will continue her softball career and pursue a pre-dental degree.

Mallory Long is the daughter of Brian and Lynn Long. She is a graduate of Leake Academy. Mallory enjoys spending time with her family and four labs. She plans to attend East Central Community College and continue her education at Mississippi State University where she will pursue a degree in political science. JUNE 2021 | TODAY 15

P.O. BOX 188 • 340 HOPSON STREET • LYON, MS 38645 662-624-8321 • FAX 662-624-8327 • www.coahomaepa.com • cepa@coahomaepa.com

is a month of heroes, fathers and summer sports by Qua’Shara Monix As we transition into the month of June, which is the start of summer and has the longest day of the year, let us continue to honor the heroes who have impacted our lives in so many ways, whether they are still here on Earth with us today or have sadly passed on. Someone we love never leaves us. They remain with us in spirit, through memories, in the legacies, lessons and values they leave behind. Speaking of heroes, we had so many on June 6, 1944, also known as D-Day. The day marks the battle that helped turn the tide of World War II to victory. World War II was one of the biggest and deadliest wars in history, involving many countries. On D-Day, 156,000 troops from the United States, Great Britain and Canada stormed five beaches. Please take a moment of silence and thank the many soldiers who fought and died for our country on D-Day. Another significant date is June 14, which is Flag Day. The day commemorates the date when the United States approved the design of the country’s first national flag. Many Americans 12 TODAY | JUNE 2021

show their respect by celebrating with parades, ceremonies and displaying the flag in front of homes and businesses. On June 9, 2020, Mississippi lawmakers gathered votes and started drafting legislation to change the state flag. The new state flag may be a little different in appearance, but what it stands for remains the same. Our American flag represents the United States of America and its citizens and it symbolizes our independence and our unity as a nation — One Nation, under God, indivisible. Our flag was at the lead of every battle fought by Americans. Many people have died protecting what the flag represents. The flag also stands proudly on the surface of the moon. We’re so honored to be part of the greatest country in the world. As the United States progressed forward as a country, the end of slavery occurred on June 19, 1865, which is also known as Juneteenth. Historically marked by the passing of the 13th Amendment of the constitution, President Abraham Lincoln issued the Emancipation Proclamation on Sept. 22, 1862. The slaves were eventually freed in June 1865.

June 20 is Father’s Day and is always the third Sunday of the month. Fathers are the leaders of the family. They guide, provide direction and become role models for their sons and daughters. Father’s Day is a day of honoring fatherhood and paternal bonds, as well as the influence of fathers in society. A father is more than the biological paternal source of our being. He is the person who cares and provides for us, which includes stepfathers and other men who willingly and eagerly accept and cherish the role. Fathers are the men who help to set the standards, family values and a good example. As these few historical dates will remain the same, how we celebrate our heroes might look a little different this year because of the ever-changing COVID-19 crisis. However, that doesn’t mean you can’t still devote the day to your loved one or to the memory of them. New types of distanced and virtual celebrations are opening up the opportunity to get creative with your family, while still providing a level of intimacy despite the lack of physical presence.

As we navigate the coronavirus pandemic, outdoor moderate contact sports are gradually reopening. The weather is turning warmer and COVID-19 restrictions have eased. Practices, activities and competitions for indoor and outdoor organized sports has resumed in accordance with health and safety protocols and limits on attendance. The return of the sounds of the ball off the bat, the kicking of the soccer ball, the bouncing of the basketball, swimming and a few others are so wonderful to hear again. Some of these activities may feel and look different, but it gives us the opportunity to become more creative and innovative in our efforts to give us some mental and physical relief from the stronghold the pandemic placed on our lives. There are some activities that will obviously not work during the pandemic, however, the playbook for sports is simple in the Delta... Let’s play ball!!! Let us recognize some of the children of our fellow employees at Coahoma Electric Power Association in Lyon.

(Left) Graydon Burke, son of Robert Burke; Sarah Bennett, daughter of Clyde Ray and (center top) Khylea Shelby, granddaughter of Clyde Ray; (center bottom) Desi Monix, son of Qua’Shara Monix; (right top) Ella Burke, daughter of Robert Burke; (right bottom) Landon Britt, son of Josh Britt; (far right) Chloe Ray, daughter of Clyde Ray.

J U LY 4 T H Our employees will observe Independence Day and our offices will be closed Monday, July 5, for the holiday. JUNE 2021 | TODAY 13

FOR TODAY IN MISSISSIPPI INFORMATION, CALL 877-7MY-CEPA (1-877-769-2372) WWW.COASTEPA.COM

Where our members have the power

Communicators: April Lollar & Merilee Sands

A message from your CEO

Co-op success is community success Co-ops provide a vital service in our communities. Reliable, affordable energy is a necessity for communities to thrive and grow. Coast Electric’s right-of-way maintenance program and commitment to using advanced technology on our electrical grid have put your cooperative in the top tier of electric service providers in the country when it comes to service reliability. Co-ops like Coast Electric are owned by the people we serve and that gives our employees a mission that includes more than just superior technical service, but a commitment to help our communities shine. Our team of more than 250 skilled employees know how to successfully complete their jobs each day, and they also know what it’s like to live here and to raise their families here. When crews work on a job site, they are safe because they are trained, but also because it’s their friends and family they are working for. When a member service representative processes your payment, they do so knowing how hard you work for your money because they work hard for theirs too. And when we gather to help a local charity or pick up trash on our

roads and waterways, we gather knowing we are working to make life better for our communities and for our members, like you. Being a member of a co-op is a little different than being a customer of other utilities. Membership provides benefits, like being represented by fellow members on our board, and it comes with opportunities to be active participants in the business. One of the ways you can be involved is to participate in our Annual Meeting process. While our meeting isn’t until November, we are making preparations already. Please make sure to read our meeting announcement on the following pages and mark your calendars for Thursday, Nov. 4. We are already looking forward to seeing you.

by Ron Barnes President and CEO

CO-OP SUCCESS = COMMUNITY SUCCESS $500,000+

$243,000+

STABLE RATES

CONNECTING OUR

12 TODAY | JUNE 2021

MEMBER SATISFACTION 90

Coast Electric's score on the American Consumer Satisfaction Index, making your co-op one of the higest ranked in the nation. 5 4 3 2 1 0

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Cost and energy COMMUNITY More than half a Funds that have measures Our high-speed helped members saving million dollars have decreased internet subsidiary, awarded to local through the Share the cost the CoastConnect, is Your Blessings charitable average member energy assistance pays per month connecting organizations since Dec. 2018 fund, which is part over the past 10 residents in our area with the of our Operation through our years. fastest speeds and Operation Round Round Up program. best technology. RELIABLE Up program. 250+ SERVICE Employees Coast Electric's reliability record volunteering for puts your co-op in the top tier of local organizations. utility providers in the nation.

2020 Member Satisfaction Survey Results

Notice of Annual Meeting The annual meeting of the members of Coast Electric Power Association will be held on Nov. 4, 2021. The following information is provided in accordance with association bylaws.

Committee on Nominations It shall be the duty of the Board to appoint, no less than 120 days before the date of the meeting of the members at which directors are to be elected, a committee on nominations consisting of not less than five nor more than 11 members who shall be selected from different sections so as to insure equitable geographic representation. No existing Association employees, agents, officers, directors or known candidates for director, or close relatives (as hereinafter defined) or members of the same household of existing Association employees, agents, officers, directors or known candidates for director may serve on such committees. The committee shall receive and consider any suggestion as to nominees submitted by members of the Association. The committee shall meet at a time and physical or virtual location set by the Board of Directors. The committee shall prepare and post at the principal office of the Association at least 90 calendar days before the meeting a list of nominations for board members. The Secretary must mail with the notice of the meeting or separately a statement of the number of board members to be elected and the names and addresses of the candidates nominated by the committee on nominations. (b) Nominations by Petition. Any 25 members

acting together may make other nominations by petition and the Secretary shall post such nominations at the same place where the list of nominations by the committee is posted provided same is filed with and approved by the Committee on Nominations at least 90 calendar days prior to the Annual Meeting. Any petition for nomination shall be submitted on a form designated and provided by the Association. The Association shall provide notice to the members of the application for candidacy to the board of directors by mail at least 150 days prior to the Annual Meeting. Each member signing such petition shall place thereon the date of signing, address, account number and service location of the member. Nominations made by petition, if any, received at least 120 days before the meeting shall be included on the official ballot, if filed and approved by the Committee on Nominations, although such nominations shall not be posted at the principal office of the Association. Nominations made by petition, if any, received by the Committee at least seven calendar days prior to the meeting date and time, if filed and approved by the Committee, shall not be included on the official ballot but the candidate will qualify as a write-in candidate.

What is the Annual Meeting and why should I participate? Co-ops like Coast Electric were founded by and are led by the men and women we serve. If you have a Coast Electric account, then you are a member of the cooperative. That means our business runs a little differently. We don’t have shareholders, instead we have you – local people who have a vested interest in our company. Since we don’t have shareholders who are making money on their investment, we can focus on you, our member-owners. It also means we operate on a notfor-profit basis and work to keep costs down for you.

We need our members to operate effectively though. We need your participation in the company. You can participate in many ways like serving in leadership roles, giving us feedback about your service and attending our Annual Meeting. We hope to see you this fall! If you have any questions before then, we hope you will visit www.coastepa.com, give us a call at 877-769-2372 or stop by any local office. We love getting to know our members!

J U LY 4 T H Coast Electric offices will be closed Monday, July 5, for Independence Day. Dispatchers will be on duty and crews will be on call throughout the holiday weekend. The fastest and easiest ways to report outages is by using our CE on the Go app or texting 352667. If you want to text, you must have a mobile number associated with your account. You can also call 877-769-2372 to report an outage and view our live outage map on our CE on the Go app or on www.coastepa.com so you can keep up with restoration efforts. Have a safe and happy holiday weekend! JUNE 2021 | TODAY 13

We’re ready for

• Ensure your first aid kit is stocked with pain relievers, bandages and other medical essentials, and make sure your prescriptions are current. • Set aside basic household items you will need, including flashlights, batteries, a manual can opener and portable, battery-powered radio or TV. • Organize emergency supplies so they are easily accessible in one location.

• Confirm that you have adequate sanitation and hygiene supplies including towelettes, soap and hand sanitizer.

Abby Berry writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

Reduce Your Use Contest Coast Electric wants you to reduce your energy use and see savings on your monthly energy costs. Each month, you will have an opportunity to register to win a prize that will help you reduce the energy consumption in your home. To help you manage your use and save, we are giving away a Kill a Watt device. This device allows you to plug in small appliances to see how much energy they use and to encourage you to unplug for savings. All you have to do is visit www.coastepa.com and fill out our entry form. It only takes a few seconds, and you could win a prize that helps you save! Congratulations to member Timothy Odom for winning a water heater timer in our April contest! 14 TODAY | JUNE 2021

Proceeds Benefit The American Cancer Society

06.19.21 • 8P.M. Washington St. Pavilion Bay St. Louis Scan QR Code to Register Online $50 5k $20 1-Mile Fun Run (12 & under)

JUNE 2021 | TODAY 15

Delta Electric’s new IVR phone number is 662-743-4425 – USE IT ANY TIME 24/7

✓GET ACCOUNT INFO ✓MAKE A PAYMENT ✓REPORT AN OUTAGE ✓MAKE AN ARRANGEMENT

We’re ready for

Are you? by Abby Berry • Ensure your First Aid kit is stocked with pain relievers, Now that summer is in full swing, like many of you, we welcome more opportunities to be outdoors and enjoy the bandages and other medical essentials, and make sure warmer weather. Summertime brings many of our favorite your prescriptions are current. activities like cooking out with family and friends, afternoons • Set aside basic household items you will need, including on the water and simply slowing down a bit to enjoy life. flashlights, batteries, a manual can opener and portable, But summer months also make conditions right for dangerbattery-powered radio or TV. ous storms. The 2021 hurricane season, which officially began • Organize emergency supplies so they are easily accessible on June 1, typically makes for an active storm season across in one location. Mississippi. These potential weather events can cause destruction to our electrical system, but we In the event of a prolonged power want you to know that Delta Elecoutage, turn off major appliances, tric Power Association crews are TVs, computers and other sensiready and standing by to respond tive electronics. This will help avert should power outages occur in damage from a power surge, and our area. will also help prevent overloading When major storms knock out the circuits during power restopower, our line crews take all ration. That said, do leave one light necessary precautions before they on so you will know when power is get to work on any downed lines. restored. If you plan to use a small We would encourage you to also generator, make sure it’s rated to practice safety and preparedness handle the amount of power you to protect your family during major A disaster kit is key when storms threaten the area. will need, and always review the storms and outages. manufacturer’s instructions to operate it safely. The Federal Emergency Management Agency recommends Listen to local news or a NOAA Weather Radio for storm the items below as a starting point for storm and disaster and emergency information, and check our Facebook page for preparedness, but you can visit www.ready.gov for additional power restoration updates. resources. After the storm, avoid downed power lines and walking through flooded areas where power lines could be submerged. • Stock your pantry with a three-day supply of nonWe hope we don’t experience severe storms this summer, but perishable food, such as canned goods, energy bars, we can never predict Mother Nature’s plans. At Delta Electric, peanut butter, powdered milk, instant coffee, water and we recommend that you act today because there is power in other essentials (i.e., diapers and toiletries). planning. • Confirm that you have adequate sanitation and hygiene Abby Berry writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for supplies including towelettes, soap and hand sanitizer. the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association. 12 TODAY | JUNE 2021

Sign up for Delta EPA electronic (paperless) billing Delta Electric Power Association introduces its new Electronic Billing Service for residential and small commercial customers. Why bother with paper and the wait for your bill in the mail! Sign up for free Electronic Billing and you will receive a PDF image of your bill by email the morning of your billing date. You will receive a separate email and PDF image for each Delta EPA account. Please contact us at billpay@deltaepa.coop with your Delta EPA account number(s), name, primary email address and secondary email address (if applicable), and we will get you enrolled. You can also sign up by contacting your local Delta EPA office. Please note that once enrolled, you will no longer receive a paper bill. Non-delivery of your electronic bill for any reason does not relieve you of the responsibility for paying your bill on time.

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Sunday, June 20

Our employees will observe Independence Day and our offices will be closed Monday, July 5, for the holiday.

Three options to pre-register for fiber internet service

DELightSpeed.coop 662-477-1975 or info@delightspeed.coop JUNE 2021 | TODAY 13

“Powering communities and empowering lives” Dixie Electric is an equal opportunity employer and provider.

dixieepa.com | defastlink.net | prepared.dixieepa.com | AFTER HOURS: 888-465-9209 | 601-425-2535 @DixieElectricMS

@DixieEPA

@dixie_electric

Hurricane season: prepare and plan now Now that summer is in full swing, like many of you, we welcome more opportunities to be outdoors and enjoy the warmer weather. Summertime brings many of our favorite activities like cooking out with family and friends, afternoons on the water and simply slowing down a bit to enjoy life. Summer months also make conditions right for dangerous storms. The 2021 hurricane season officially began on June 1. These weather events can cause destruction to our electrical system, but we want you to know that Dixie Electric’s personnel, including our dispatch center, engineers, line crews and member support staff, are ready to respond should power outages occur in our area. Annually at Dixie Electric, we update and revise our Emergency Response Plan. This document helps our restoration activities, letting our personnel know their roles and responsibilities in a storm or other disaster situation. Just as we prepare at Dixie Electric, we encourage you to also

practice safety and preparedness to protect your family during major storms and outages. For power outage information, please stay tuned to our social media pages and the local news media. In addition, you can go to prepared.dixieepa.com for a real time outage map. Also, there are tips and information to plan and prepare for your family’s needs during an outage. We hope we don’t experience severe storms this summer, but we can never predict Mother Nature’s plans. At Dixie Electric, we recommend that you prepare today because there is power in planning.

by Randy Smith General Manager

The Federal Emergency Management Agency recommends the items below as a starting point for storm and disaster preparedness, but you can visit www.ready.gov or prepared.dixieepa. com for additional resources. • Stock your pantry with a three-day supply of nonperishable food, such as canned goods, energy bars, peanut butter, powdered milk, instant coffee, water and other essentials (i.e., diapers and toiletries). • Confirm that you have adequate sanitation and hygiene supplies including towelettes, soap and hand sanitizer.

12 TODAY | JUNE 2021

• Ensure your first aid kit is stocked with pain relievers, bandages and other medical essentials, and make sure your prescriptions are current.

• Set aside basic household items you will need, including flashlights, batteries, a manual can opener and portable, battery-powered radio or TV. • Organize emergency supplies, so they are easily accessible in one location. In the event of a prolonged power outage, turn off major appliances, TVs, computers and other sensitive electronics. • Fill your gas tanks before the storm in case you need to leave the area after the storm. • Visit an ATM or bank beforehand to have cash on hand.

DE Fastlink receives praise for internet pilot project In summer of 2020, Dixie Electric was awarded more than $3 million in CARES Act grant funding for a highspeed internet pilot project. On May 11, 2021, Public Utilities Staff ExecPublic Utilities Deputy Director Kyle Brown, right, shows General Manager Randy Smith and utive Director Sally PUS Executive Director Sally Doty the results of Doty and Deputhe high-speed internet test at the Ovett Little General Store. ty Director Kyle Brown visited for an update on the progress of the pilot project for the purpose of verifying the use of the CARES Act funds. “We were proud to host Sally and Kyle to see the progress of our internet company, DE Fastlink, and our pilot project. Entrusting us with CARES Act funding was an important step in offering high-speed internet, so we appreciated the opportunity to share the milestones of the pilot project,” General Manager Randy Smith said. In addition to hearing presentations from the staff of Dixie Electric, Doty and Brown visited with three customers in the

pilot project area who are receiving the service. They wanted to verify the speeds of the internet and hear from the customers on the reliability of the high-speed network. “Our speed tests were all strong, and the customers were complimentary of the service they are receiving,” System Engineer Jeremy McAndrew said. McAndrew manages the highspeed internet project. Doty and Brown visited with employees at the Little General Store in Ovett, Margaret Boyd — the first customer of DE Fastlink, and Lucy Executive Director Sally Doty discusses Cooley who resides PUS telemedicine with Wanda Dennis, 91, who uses DE Fastlink internet services to meet with her in Ovett, gauging physicians. how the internet service is benefiting the rural community of Ovett. DE Fastlink is a wholly owned subsidiary of Dixie Electric, providing high-speed internet to customers in rural areas. For package pricing and information on where the service will be expanded to next, visit defastlink.net.

JUNE 2021 | TODAY 13

UF ST F

On Friday, May 7, Dixie Electric hosted a nonperishable food drive at Walmart in Laurel to help offer support to the Good Samaritan Center in Laurel. Dixie Electric employees stood at the entrance doors encouraging shoppers to purchase items to help “stuff a bucket truck” for those in need. Patrons in Laurel overwhelming responded and quickly filled a Dixie Electric bucket truck with canned food, rice, pasta and other nonperishable items. The Good Samaritan Center works closely in the community

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to assist those in need, serving 250 hot meals a day. “We are thankful for non-profit organizations, like the Good Samaritan Center, who are pillars within our communities in caring and providing food for local citizens,” Community Relations Coordinator Pollyanna Magee said. Concern for community is one of the guiding cooperative principles that power Dixie Electric. Helping fight hunger in our community is just one of the ways the employees live out this principle.

Dixie Electric employees helped gather food for the Good Samaritan Center of Laurel. Those individuals are Kaden James, Pollyanna Magee, Joe Donald, Latonya Husband, Jim Grantham and Melanie Driskell. Not pictured are Justin Shows, Kim Beech, Amanda Mills and Lydia Walters.

Clearing trees and limbs for reliable service 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. 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.

CLEARING PROJECTS UNDERWAY • Clara substation: Clara, Big Creek and Waynesboro • Hoy substation: North Laurel, Hoy, Moss, Shady Grove, Matthews and Springhill Road • Petal substation: Petal, Sunrise, Hillcrest and Macedonia • North Petal substation: Eastabuchie, Glendale, and Petal • Ellisville Junction substation: Pecan Grove, Ovett and Tuckers Crossing

14 TODAY | JUNE 2021

Building a new home? Get the

Comfort Advantage Have you heard about the Comfort Advantage program? If you are building a new home or replacing the heating/cooling system in your existing home with a heat pump, Dixie Electric offers incentives through our Comfort Advantage program. Comfort Advantage is a recognized standard for energy-efficient construction and quality products for the home and business. If you’re building a home, the Comfort Advantage standards offer knowledge, which makes the home building process easier, etc. There are guidelines to follow and required inspections, so please let us know early in the construction process if you are interested in building a certified Comfort Advantage home. The Comfort Advantage energy-efficient program for existing homes is focused on energy-efficient heat pumps. There are several types of heat pumps to choose from. Speak with your professional heating and air dealer about the type to serve you best. Comfort Advantage is designed to help members minimize

their energy consumption, offering many years of savings on your home’s energy bill. If you are interested in building a Comfort Advantage home or updating your heating/cooling system, call Joe Donald at 601-425-2535 or visit dixieepa.com. The benefits of Comfort Advantage are promoted by electric cooperatives who collectively provide electric service to more than 400,000 Mississippi homes and businesses.

Notice of Dixie Electric’s Director Qualification period Candidates seeking election to represent Districts 3, 4 and 6 on the board of directors for Dixie Electric must visit Dixie Electric’s headquarters office at 1863 Highway 184, Laurel, Miss., and obtain a Director Qualification Packet during normal business hours between

J U LY 4 T H

June 1 and July 30. Please contact Melinda Padgett at 601-425-2535 or dixieelectric@dixieepa.com to set

Our employees will observe Independence Day and our offices will be closed Monday, July 5, for the holiday.

up a time. The forms and petitions in the packet must be completed and returned by close of business on

Friday, July 30, 2021. JUNE 2021 | TODAY 15

DeKalb 601-743-2641 • Louisville 662-773-5741 • Quitman 601-776-6271 • After-Hours Outages, Call 601-581-8600

MEMBER OWNED. LOCALLY OPERATED. THAT’S THE COOPERATIVE DIFFERENCE.

We’re ready for storm season.

Are you?

A MESSAGE FROM YOUR CEO Now that summer is in full swing, like many of you, I welcome more opportunities to be outdoors and enjoy the warmer weather. Summertime brings many of my favorite activities like cooking out with family and friends, afternoon walks and simply slowing down a bit to enjoy life. But summer months also make conditions right for dangerous storms like our most recent May storm. The 2021 hurricane season, which officially began on June 1, typically makes for an active storm season across Mississippi. These potential weather events can cause destruction to our electrical system, but I want you to know that East Mississippi Electric Power Association crews are ready and standing by to respond should power outages occur in our area. When major storms knock out power, our line crews take all necessary precautions before they get to work on any downed lines. I would encourage you to also practice safety and preparedness to protect your family during major storms and outages. The Federal Emergency Management Agency recommends the items below as a starting point for storm and disaster preparedness, but you can visit www.ready.gov for additional resources. • Stock your pantry with a three-day supply of non-perishable food, such as canned goods, energy bars, peanut butter, powdered milk, instant coffee, water and other essentials (i.e., diapers and toiletries). • Confirm that you have adequate sanitation and hygiene supplies including towelettes, soap and hand sanitizer. • Ensure your first aid kit is stocked with pain relievers, bandages and other medical essentials, and make sure your prescriptions are current. • Set aside basic household items you will need, including flashlights, batteries, a manual can opener and portable, battery-powered radio or TV. 12 TODAY | JUNE 2021

•

Organize emergency supplies so they are easily accessible in one location. In the event of a prolonged power outage, turn off major appliances, TVs, computers and other sensitive electronics. This will help avert damage from stresses placed on the power system and will also help stabilize circuits during power restoration. That said, leave one light on so you will know when power is restored. If you plan to use a small generator, make sure it’s rated to handle the amount of power you will need, and always review the manufacturer’s instructions to operate it safely. Listen to local news or a NOAA Weather Radio for storm and emergency information, and check EMEPA’s app or website for power restoration updates. After the storm, avoid downed power lines and walking through flooded areas where power lines could be submerged. Allow ample room for utility crews to safely perform their jobs, including on your property. Please slow down in work zones. Advance planning for severe storms or other emergencies can reduce stress and anxiety caused by the weather event and can lessen the impact of the storm’s effects. Sign up for NOAA emergency alerts and warnings, and download our app to stay abreast of power restoration efforts and other important co-op news and information. I would like to think we will not experience severe storms this summer but given our recent history, we can never predict Mother Nature’s plans. At EMEPA, we recommend that you act today because there is power in planning. From our co-op family to yours, we hope you have a safe and wonderful summer.

by Randy Carroll CEO — East Mississippi Electric Power Association

May storm brought

DESTRUCTION to east Mississippi East Mississippi was hit with a severe wind storm on Tuesday, May 4 bringing destruction across East Mississippi Electric Power Association’s service territory with power outages reaching nearly 15,000. EMEPA right-of-way crews began immediately clearing debris and removing thousands of fallen trees as damage assessment teams and line crews began working to restore power to EMEPA members.

Top: EMEPA crews remove a fallen tree from power lines along Long Creek Road in Lauderdale County. Left and below: Crews worked through day and night restoring power across EMEPA’s system following severe weather. By day three, restoration was complete to all members who were safely able to receive power. (Photo credit: Robert McCharen)

By the numbers • 15,000 members without power • 50 broken poles • 104 cases of downed lines • 120+ cases of trees on lines

JUNE 2021 | TODAY 13

EMEPA raises $28,000 for cancer research and patient support East Mississippi Electric Power Association employees and supporters came together at Camp Binachi in Lauderdale County in April to raise more than $28,000 to help fund research and patient support programs for the countless people battling cancer. The 8th Annual Shoot For A Cure clay-shooting event raised needed funds for the American Cancer Society’s Relay For Life as well as Anderson Cancer Center’s Cancer Patient Benevolence Fund. “Through Shoot For A Cure, we

are able to support research to find a cure for cancer while also directly benefiting cancer patients in our local communities,” said EMEPA CEO Randy Carroll. Thank you to all of EMEPA’s 8th Annual Shoot For A Cure sponsors and participants for your continued support. EMEPA also thanks Thomas Gun and Pawn in Meridian for donating a Glock G43 9mm handgun and Rock House Gun & Pawn in Meridian for donating a H&R Pardner Pump 12-gauge shotgun raffled at the event.

EMEPA to hold 83rd Annual Meeting East Mississippi Electric Power Association will hold its 83rd Annual Meeting of the membership Saturday, Oct. 2, 2021 at EMEPA’s Meridian Auditorium. Notices will be mailed later this summer to invite you and all EMEPA members to attend our annual meeting. The Annual Meeting will inform our members of the actions taken during the past year in addition to conducting the Association’s business and the election of three directors. 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. 2 and make plans to attend our 83rd Annual Meeting. If you have any questions about the Annual Meeting or just want to know more, please contact EMEPA at 601-581-8600 or visit our website at www.emepa.com. 14 TODAY | JUNE 2021

J U LY 4 T H Our employees will observe Independence Day and our offices will be closed Monday, July 5, for the holiday.

FULL SPEED AHEAD Thanks to a $6 million CARES Act grant awarded by Mississippi Public Utilities, East Mississippi Connect is bridging the digital divide. The project is proceeding fully, with well over 1,300 current subscribers. East Mississippi Connect celebrated empowering the lives of its initial 1,000 subscribers in April with the first of many giveaways. To commemorate the thousandth subscription, MPUS’ Executive Director Sally Doty, Telecommunications Director Angel Stenmark and Deputy Director Kyle Brown were joined by Sen. Jeff Tate in awarding the milestone subscriber, Bart Tims, with a smart TV that will be used with his East Mississippi Connect service. Tims notes that the speed of the service provided by the cooperative is better than what he experienced in a bigger city. “I’ve lived in Houston, Tex., and in Natchez, and our internet service all the way out here is just as fast or faster,” Tims says. “It’s hard to believe it all came together as quick as it did.” The MPUS toured East Mississippi Connect’s service area and visited the Vimville fiber hut. They also visited the homes and businesses of three subscribers, including Jerry and Amy Pope, who were among the first residents to receive this much-needed service. Prior to subscribing to fiber broadband from the cooperative, the couple did not have a safe or reliable internet or phone connection. “It’s been great, from the first time they came here and evaluated where to put the router … to the hookup,” Amy Pope says. “They’ve all been great to us.” And it took “no time flat getting them hooked up properly,” Jerry Pope adds. In addition to the MPU staff and Sen. Tate, EMEPA welcomed the Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi and Sen. Tyler McCaughn to see the progress East Mississippi Connect had made to provide fiber broadband to its members. East Mississippi Connect exceeded its goal for installed fiber to its subscribers in 2020 and is continuing to make steady progress to bring this transformative service to all its members.

Fiber is the future. Find out how it can change yours at EastMSConnect.com. JUNE 2021 | TODAY 15

BOARD OF DIRECTORS: Johnny Johnson, President • Mike Banks, Vice President • Marty Crowder, Secretary/Treasurer • Bill Bell • John E. “Jay” Gilliland Jr. • Bruff Sanders • Kenneth Seitz

We’re ready for storm season.

Are you?

Now that summer is in full swing, like many of you, I welcome more opportunities to be outdoors and enjoy the warmer weather. Summertime brings many of my favorite activities like cooking out with family and friends, afternoons on the water and simply slowing down a bit to enjoy life. But summer months also make conditions right for dangerous storms. Tropical weather experts predict that the 2021 Atlantic hurricane season will result in 16-20 named storms, including seven to 10 hurricanes. The 2021 hurricane season began June 1. These potential weather events can cause destruction to our electrical system, but I want you to know that 4-County Electric Power Association crews are ready to respond should power outages occur in our area. Here is a storm tip list: • Stock your pantry with a three-day supply of non-perishable food. • Confirm that you have adequate sanitation and hygiene supplies including towelettes, soap and hand sanitizer. • Ensure your first aid kit is stocked with pain relievers, bandages and other medical essentials, and make sure your prescriptions are current. • Set aside basic household items you will need, including flashlights, batteries, a manual can opener and portable, battery-powered radio or TV. • Organize emergency supplies so they are easily accessible in one location. Listen to local news or a NOAA Weather Radio for storm and emergency informa12 TODAY | JUNE 2021

tion and check 4-County’s Facebook page or website for power restoration updates. You can also download our mobile app to report outages. To use the mobile web app, browse to www.4county.org from your iOS or Android device. Then click on the “Pay Bill” or “View My Usage” link on the home page. To download the mobile app for your phone or tablet, please see the next section (How do I get the Mobile App for my device?). Once you’ve installed the mobile app on your device, you’ll also have the ability to receive push notifications and view a map of our offices and payment locations. If you are currently enrolled in our text messaging system and would like to participate, please text FCEPA to 1-800431-1544. After the reply, your outage will be automatically reported. Once reported you can text STATUS to receive an update on the outage. You will also receive a text message once power has been restored. After the storm, avoid downed power lines and walking through flooded areas where power lines could be submerged. Allow ample room for 4-County crews to safely perform their jobs, including on your property. I hope we don’t experience severe storms this summer, but we can never predict Mother Nature’s plans.

by Brian Clark CEO/General Manager

Please make room for roadside crews When the power goes out, so do 4-County Electric Power Association’s line crews. Linemen are the first to respond after an outage occurs, and they work tirelessly to restore power to the communities we serve. If you’re traveling and see one of our crews on the side of the road, we kindly ask that you move over if possible and give them a little extra space to work. We deeply care about the safety of all, and this extra precaution ensures just that. If you approach a crew while traveling on a two-lane road, moving over to the next lane might not be an option. In this case, we simply ask that you slow down when approaching roadside crews. If you approach a crew while traveling on a four-lane road, and safety and traffic conditions allow, we ask that you move over into the far lane. Utility crews aren’t the only ones who could use the extra space. Emergency responders, such as police officers, firefighters and emergency medical technicians, often find themselves responding to emergency situations near busy roadways. We ask that you follow the same procedures mentioned above to help keep these crews safe. There’s plenty of room for all. Let’s work together to keep everyone safe on our local roadways.

Youth delegates chosen

4-County CEO Brian Clark congratulates this year’s trio of 4-County Youth delegates: Denton Jenkins, Emmy Moyen and Todd Sharp.

Webster’s Dictionary defines leadership as the capacity to lead. Some area high school juniors are bringing that definition to life through their participation in the 4-County Electric Power Association Youth Leadership Program. Ten young leaders from the 4-County service area, selected as winners to represent their schools, competed virtually in the 2021 Youth Leadership Program May 5-7. Three high school juniors were selected to represent the cooperative as 2021 Youth Tour delegates. Due to lingering national COVID-19 restrictions, the program is limited in its scope — offering monetary educational scholarships this year in lieu of the program’s usual offerings of trips to Jackson and Washington, D.C. Cooperative officials believe the program components will more closely resemble typical offerings in the 2022 Youth Tour program. Emmy Moyen, a student at Starkville Academy, Denton Jenkins, a student at Starkville Christian School, and Todd Sharp, a student at Heritage Academy, are this year’s winners. Nominated by his/her high school, each student completed an application reflecting school and extracurricular activities. The application also included several short essay questions. Students

also completed an essay and were interviewed virtually to earn the honor. “All 10 candidates were truly outstanding,” said 4-County’s Brad Barr, Youth Tour coordinator. “Emmy, Denton and Todd are fine examples of young leaders who are persevering in the midst of today’s challenges. We are honored to assist this trio in their future educational endeavors. They are truly wonderful representatives of their schools and their families.” The purpose of the local youth program is to provide leadership development and training opportunities for young 4-County members and to educate a future generation about the cooperative form of business. Other students receiving winning nominations to represent their schools and participating in the 4-County program were: Caleb Farlow, representing Columbus Christian School; Taylor Fulgham, representing New Hope High School; Drake Flowers, representing Hebron Christian School; Kenny Dean Smith, representing Starkville High School; Sarah Sonnier’-Sudduth, representing Golden Triangle Early College High School; Conner Freeman, representing Oak Hill Academy and Connor Jewell, representing Choctaw County High School.

YMCA gets life-saving devices through foundation The 4-County Foundation recently awarded a $5,560 grant to the Frank P. Phillips Memorial YMCA in Columbus to purchase several life-saving devices. The YMCA purchased four automated external defibrillator (AED) devices for adults and four pediatric AED devices to install at the local non-profit organization. Since the foundation’s inception in February 2015, nearly $1.5 million has been dispersed to organizations in 4-County’s service area. 4-County believes in helping the communities it serves. That’s why the cooperative launched the 4-County Foundation, a community service program. Since February 2015, participating 4-County members’ utility bills have been rounded up to the nearest dollar; a

The Frank P. Phillips Memorial YMCA’s Stephanie Gibson, left, and Cynthia Mutch take part in training sessions for the non-proﬁt organization’s new AED machines, purchased through a grant awarded by the 4-County Foundation.

$125.78 bill, for example, becomes $126. That’s an average of only 49 cents per member, per month. That may not seem like much. But when you multiply those contributions by the thousands of member participants, that’s a lot of pennies! For more information on the 4-County Foundation, call 1-800-431-1544.

Broadband info rolled out in Choctaw County 4-County Electric Power Association’s new broadband subsidiary, FASTnet, was the talk of the town recently at an information meeting at the Sherwood Community Center in Choctaw County. Company officials told the 100 participants about its new, free Wi-fi hotspot in the community center’s parking lot. Those attending also learned the ins and outs of the new fiber service and could sign up to receive it. FASTnet recently signed up its 500th customer. Since FASTnet started its broadband efforts in fall 2020 with the CARES Act pilot projects, the 4-County subsidiary has been working to build out to its members as quickly as possible. In less than six months, FASTnet created a fiber internet service from scratch, with now more than 3 million feet of fiber hung to 500 plus customers in some of our most underserved areas. FASTnet will continue its aggressive buildout with a plan to have construction complete by early 2024. The plan as it stands is to finish construction in the pilot program areas and then complete a fiber ring around the service territory for communication to supporting substations and for service redundancy. Once the ring is complete, FASTnet will finish the project by building the final phases. Members can expect information in the mail, in their 4-County bills, on social media and in the local papers and news stations. FASTnet will also go into neighborhoods, hold events and even make phone calls to let members know we’re coming and to schedule installation. Questions and comments can be emailed to info@4cfastnet.com.

FASTnet hooks up 500th customer FASTnet, 4-County Electric Power Association’s new broadband subsidiary, recently hooked up its 500th customer. Flora Vance of Maben claimed the honor and celebrated with FASTnet officials. For more information on FASTnet, call 1-800-431-1544 or go to www.4cFastnet.com

14 TODAY | JUNE 2021

cently

FASTnet construction schedule*

Phase

Begin Date

Phase

Begin Date

Lone Oak (OAK) Montpelier (MPR) Maben (MAB) Brooksville (BRK) Adaton (ADT)

Spring 2021 Late Spring 2021 Summer 2021 Fall 2021 Late Fall 2021

Waverly (WVR) Lakeside (LKS) Prairie (PRA) South Macon (SMC) Sturgis (STG) Ackerman (ACK)

Early 2023 Spring 2023 Spring 2023 Fall 2023 Fall 2023 Late 2023

Phase

Begin Date

Oktoc (OKT) Golden Triangle (GTR) Lake Lowndes (LLW) Magbee (MAG) Stinson Creek (SCK)

Early 2022 Summer 2022 Fall 2022 Fall 2022 Late 2022

Phase

Begin Date

Weir (WER)

Early 2024

*Schedule subject to change

. t.com

www.4cFastnet.com JUNE 2021 | TODAY 15

Local woman makes it big in small business venture For Erika Henderson, her journey to entrepreneurship began in Starkville as a wide-eyed little girl watching her granny meticulously navigate the ins and outs of crochet blankets. “I remember being so intrigued on how she would make them, and on a daily basis at that,” Henderson said from her Charlotte, North Carolina, home. Today, Henderson is using the skills learned from her precious grandmother to launch a business that is drawing attention across the nation, including interest from the Oprah Winfrey Network. She makes crocheted hats, scarfs and chunky blankets in her home workshop and ships them to homes here, there and everywhere. “Once I became an adult, I picked back up on it by making hats and scarfs for family and friends. However, things didn’t really get going until the beginning of 2020 when a close friend wanted me to make her a chunky knit blanket. So, I studied the patterns and instantly fell in love. I figured why not make this a thing, really accomplishing something with this talent,” she explained. The result? The Slippin’ Knotz company was born and became a big part of Henderson’s life. The challenge? “I knew it had to be hip and modern since it was already a nostalgic old lady hobby,” she said with a laugh. “I built my brand around the hip and modern theme and began to promote myself within a bunch of small business and entrepreneur groups on social media,” she said. Erika credits much of her success to the support provided by her parents, John and Cora Lindsey of Starkville. “I inherited entrepreneurial wheels from my parents,” she said. Cora said supporting her daughter is an easy decision. “Obviously, we love her and always support her. But, also we know that she is honest, smart and a hard worker. She can make this business work,” the longtime 4-County Electric Power Association employee said. Erika put Slippin’ Knotz in the middle of all of Charlotte’s small business activities. She has been featured twice in The Charlotte Agenda, an area newspaper, and was contacted earlier this year by the 16 TODAY | JUNE 2021

Oprah Winfrey Network (OWN Team). “At first, I wasn’t sure if it was legit,” the entrepreneur said of the interest from Oprah’s group. “They wanted me to call them ASAP. That phone call was legit and an opportunity of a lifetime,” she said. The OWN Team was filming a new television show, Delilah, in the Charlotte area and wanted a few local, small black-owned businesses to provide products for their VIP press boxes. “These boxes are given to VIPs from the entertainment industry and to those behindthe-scenes people who make the show work,” Henderson said. The deadline for getting her products ready for the boxes was small and the amount of blankets needed was large. “But how could you say no to Oprah,” she stressed. After agreeing to the deal, she got to work and even taught her supportive husband, Franklin, how to crochet in order to finish on schedule. “We worked around the clock. But, boy, was it worth it. This journey has inspired and motivated us to dream bigger.” For more information on Slippin’ Knotz, check out slippinknotz.com or go to their Facebook page.

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT

Christmas memory blessing for Jones The Christmas morning that George Jones dined on convenience store beef jerky and pork skins is one of his favorite yuletide memories. A cry for help years ago from a neighboring co-op resulted in the 4-County Electric lineman leaving his family’s festivities to assist the fine people in Pocahontas, Tennessee, with power restoration efforts. “The best feeling in the world was seeing the children in that area come out and tell us thank you for getting their lights on at Christmas. It made everything easier,” Jones said. The veteran lineman has worked dozens of storms since he joined the 4-County team May 22, 1995. He remembers another call for help, in particular, he received several years ago from 4-County Dispatcher Robert Neaves. “It was probably 50 degrees in Sturgis. Robert called me and told me that, as crazy as it might sound, there was 14 inches of snow in Shuqualak. Sure enough, there it was, and we spent several days cleaning up the mess.” George came to 4-County after working with a utility contractor. Initially, he worked on the co-op’s rights-of-way crews, including stints with Jody Thompson’s tree-cutting crew, Mike Cliett’s bush hog crew and Roy Bailey’s side-trimming crew. He later transferred to J.B. Griffith’s Corporate Construction Crew, before transferring to the Ackerman Customer Service Center in 1998. He became a Journeyman Lineman in 1999. Today, he is based in Starkville but continues to work in the Choctaw County area. “The best part of being a lineman is help-

ing people. I also enjoy working outside and traveling to different parts of 4-County’s service area.” A native of Sturgis, George has an associate’s degree in supervision and management from East Mississippi Community College. George lives in Sturgis with his wife, Jennifer, and their daughter, Sadie. George has five grown children and is looking forward to becoming a Paw Paw, soon. He is a Mason and a member of Friendship Baptist Church in Sturgis. He is a longtime member of the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally Board. George currently serves on 4-County’s Apprentice Lineman Committee. In his spare time, George enjoys keeping tabs on Mississippi State University’s sports teams. He also enjoys tending to the 24 cattle that graze on his 110 acre-farm. “I get out there with the cattle and it’s pretty peaceful,” he said. “We’re also looking at getting some goats and sheep.” When George is not spending time with his family, he enjoys being at his home away from home. “I’m thankful for the opportunity to work at 4-County,” he explained. “I appreciate the way Mr. Clark (4-County CEO) cares about each employee. This organization has provided me with an opportunity to make a good living and raise my family. And I love the family atmosphere at 4-County.”

Ford joins 4-County team Hutson Ford of Ackerman has joined the 4-County Electric Power Association team. He will serve as Network Administrator, based at the 4-County Corporate Center in Mayhew. Hutson graduated from Mississippi State University with a bachelor’s degree in business administration. Prior to 4-County, he worked as IT Manager at Monroe Regional Hospital in Aberdeen.

Welcome to the

He lives in Ackerman with his wife, Julie, and their daughters Ann Elyse, 8, and Ginger Belle, 12. In his time away from work, Hutson enjoys participating in the Restoring Hope Ministry in Choctaw County, keeping up with Mississippi State University sports, kayaking and primitive camping.

4 County

family!

Hutson Ford JUNE 2021 | TODAY 17

P: 3027 HIGHWAY 98 WEST, SUMMIT 39666 | M: P.O. BOX 747, McCOMB 39649

www.MEPCoop.com

| REPORT OUTAGES 601-684-4011 | PAY BY PHONE 1-877-779-7740

and Twitter

We’re ready for

• Organize emergency supplies so they are easily accessible in one location. • Download the MEP SmartHub App. In the event of a prolonged power outage, turn off major appliances, TVs, computers and other sensitive electronics. However, do leave one light on so you will know when power is restored. If you plan to use a small generator, make sure it’s rated to handle the amount of power you will need, and always review the manufacturer’s instructions to operate it safely. Listen to local news or a NOAA Weather Radio for storm and emergency information, and check our Facebook page for power restoration updates. After the storm, avoid downed power lines and walking through flooded areas where power lines could be submerged. We hope we don’t experience severe storms this summer, but we can never predict Mother Nature’s plans. At Magnolia Electric Power, we recommend that you act today because there is power in planning. Abby Berry writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

2021 tropical storm names

• Confirm that you have adequate sanitation and hygiene supplies including towelettes, soap and hand sanitizer. • Ensure your first aid kit is stocked with pain relievers, bandages and other medical essentials, and make sure your prescriptions are current. • Set aside basic household items you will need, including flashlights, batteries, a manual can opener and portable, battery-powered radio or TV.

12 TODAY | JUNE 2021

Ana Bill Claudette Danny

Elsa Fred Grace Henri

Ida Julian Kate Larry Mindy Nicholas Odette

Peter Rose Sam Teresa Victor Wanda

SmartHub lets you manage all aspects of your Magnolia Electric Power account.

ad o l n w o D ay d o t p p on the a ne seas hurrica . before derway n u s t e g

With SmartHub you can: ✔ ✔ ✔ ✔

Report an outage View a live outage map Pay your bill View your billing history

✔ Check your use ✔ View service request ✔ Setup automatic notifications

JUNE 2021 | TODAY 13

VERSION #______________ RON Date_____ Approved Revisions Requested STEVEN Date_____ Approved Revisions Requested CHAD Date_____ Approved Revisions Requested ELISSA Date_____ Approved Revisions Requested CHRIS Date_____ Approved Revisions Requested ARTIST ___________ Date_____ Approved Revisions Requested

ACCOUNT MANAGEMENT AT YOUR FINGERTIPS!

Like everything else placed on hold for a year during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Walthall County Dairy Festival is gearing up for a return on the first Saturday in June at Holmes Water Park. The festival committee made it official, announcing Saturday, June 5, as the date for the Dairy Fest, one of the area’s longest running and best-known family-friendly festivals, held on the banks of Magee’s Creek. This year’s festival features most of the popular events of past festivals, along with some new additions. Music, contests, exhibits and games all return to the festival grounds, along with the popular hot air balloon rides. Because of the popularity of the free hot air balloon rides, this year organizers have made arrangements to have two of the balloons set up so everyone can have a chance to lift off and view the festival grounds and surroundings from above. What makes the festival an ideal outing for families is the price. It’s all free. In fact, it’s possible for mom, dad and the kids — if they so wish — to pack a picnic lunch, stay well-occupied all day long and attend at no charge. Even if you take advantage of the various food booths on the grounds, and drop a few dollars with the craft vendors, you’ll still get a lot of bang for the buck, because all the games, contests, demonstrations, entertainment and even the hot air balloon rides and the night fireworks show are all free. The butter churning contest, guess the cow’s weight, baby contest and flower show are all returning, as are the old tractor and engine show, along with the Cow Bag Nationals vintage car show. Train rides for kids, Walthall General Hospital’s cake bakeoff, ice-cream eating contest, mooing contest and bubblegun blowing contest will also return. A vintage bicycle show, Pike National Bank’s kids’ games and jumpers and Trustmark’s festival queen contest all add to the fun. Lexie BYW, again has charge of the arts and crafts vendors and plenty of food is available on the festival grounds from a number of food vendors set up by churches, youth groups and non-profits. As always, there’s an information booth with plenty of dairy-oriented free giveaways. And a newly designed Dairy 14 TODAY | JUNE 2021

This year’s Dairy Festival features free tethered hotair balloon rides with two balloons to give more people a chance to lift-off for a bird’s-eye view of the festival grounds and surrounding area.

Festival t-shirt will be available this year. Free milk and ice cream sandwiches will be available as well, as long as it lasts. The day’s activities kick off with a welcome at 8 a.m., and continue all day.

by Susan Collins-Smith Hurricane season began June 1, and it is a good reminder for residents of the entire state to prepare for various disasters. Floods, tornadoes, severe storms and fires may force families to evacuate their homes quickly and without notice. A disaster go box can help ensure families have important documents and other necessities to help them recover if their property is damaged or lost. “Store your disaster go box in a location you can get to quickly and easily if you need to leave in a hurry,” said Anne Howard Hilbun-Benoit, extension instructor with the Mississippi State University Extension Center for Government and Community Development. “You want to make copies of your original documents File folders, chargers, and rolls of quarters. (Photo by Susan Collins-Smith) for this box. Store the original documents in a safe place, like a safety deposit box at a bank.” Choose a durable box that is portable, waterproof, fire resistant and preferably lockable. File items in the box inside sealed, waterproof bags. Items can be placed in paper file folders or envelopes before putting the folders in the bags. Evacuees should always keep the box with them. Review the box at least annually and update the items as needed. Mariah Morgan, an assistant extension professor in the Extension Center for Technical Outreach, said it is a good idea to also back up these documents electronically and store them on a passwordprotected jump drive, which is stored inside the disaster go box. “There are other options to back up your files electronically, but I would caution people to weigh the benefits and risks of saving such personal identifying information in an electronic form such as the Cloud or similar service,” Morgan said. Families should also create a separate emergency kit that includes food, water, personal care items, entertainment, medication and other items. This box will come in handy for families who need to evacuate or shelter in place. Susan Collins-Smith is a writer for the Mississippi State University Extension Service.

Don’t forget pets. Basic items to include in their disaster kit:

• • • •

Items to include in your box: • Cash • Rolls of quarters • Several blank checks from each bank account • Phone charger and power bank • List of phone numbers, email addresses, and other means of contacting friends, family, employers, schools, doctors, pharmacy, insurance agent and financial institutions • Copies of all insurance policies and policy numbers, prescriptions, passports, deeds and titles for all property, immunization records for people and pets, tax returns, child custody documents and employee benefits documents

Store the following original documents in a secure location, such as a safety deposit box: • Deeds • Titles

• Stocks, bonds and certificates of deposit

• Mortgages

• Trust documents

• Bank account information

• Copies of power of attorney, wills and trusts

• Birth, marriage, and death certificates • Adoption papers • Child custody papers • Copies of passports • Military and veteran records • Appraisals • Leases and other contracts

Kennel or crate Important documents Photo of your pet Food and water supply for three days minimum

• • • •

• Insurance policies • Home improvement records and receipts • Household inventory (list, photos and/or a digital record) • Jewelry, precious metals, keepsakes and other collectibles

Bowls for food and water Collars and leashes Muzzle or gauze Medications

• Sanitation items • First aid kit • Pet comfort items

JUNE 2021 | TODAY 15

FOR PEOPLE AND PETS

AMORY – P.O. BOX 300 - 50408 GREENBRIAR ROAD – 662-256-2962 • CALEDONIA – 746 MAIN STREET – 662-356-4100

We’re ready for

• Organize emergency supplies so they are easily accessible in one location. In the event of a prolonged power outage, turn off major appliances, TVs, computers and other sensitive electronics. This will help avert damage from a power surge, and will also help prevent overloading the circuits during power restoration. That said, do leave one light on so you will know when power is restored. If you plan to use a small generator, make sure it’s rated to handle the amount of power you will need, and always review the manufacturer’s instructions to operate it safely. Listen to local news or a NOAA Weather Radio for storm and emergency information, and check our Facebook page for power restoration updates. After the storm, avoid downed power lines and walking through flooded areas where power lines could be submerged. We hope we don’t experience severe storms this summer, but we can never predict Mother Nature’s plans. At Monroe County Electric, we recommend that you act today because there is power in planning. Abby Berry writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

• Stock your pantry with a three-day supply of nonperishable food, such as canned goods, energy bars, peanut butter, powdered milk, instant coffee, water and other essentials (i.e., diapers and toiletries). • Confirm that you have adequate sanitation and hygiene supplies including towelettes, soap and hand sanitizer. • Ensure your first aid kit is stocked with pain relievers, bandages and other medical essentials, and make sure your prescriptions are current. • Set aside basic household items you will need, including flashlights, batteries, a manual can opener and portable, battery-powered radio or TV. 12 TODAY | JUNE 2021

J U LY 4 T H Our employees will observe Independence Day and our offices will be closed Monday, July 5, for the holiday.

A string trimmer is a quick way to trim weeds and grass near walls, bricks and rocks. If your family uses an old gas trimmer around the yard, it’s time for a change. Two-stroke engines pollute the air and require regular maintenance. Electric trimmers are more energy efficient and quieter. You can find a variety of models between $50 and $150, and it’s worth paying a little more to get a highly rated model that will last longer.

Leaf blower If the father in your family uses a gaspowered leaf blower, you can do him (and your neighbors!) a favor by giving him a cordless leaf blower, which is more energy efficient, much quieter and less polluting.

Flashlight A rechargeable flashlight can bring full light into small spaces.

Rechargeable tools help avoid the risk of a cut cord, which can bring a shocking end to a home project.

Sunday, June 20

LED technology is amazing — today’s LED flashlights can produce 20 times as much light as the old incandescent ones. And they come in a variety of options, from tiny key chain lights to headlamps to waterproof spotlights. A flashlight can usually give better light than a cell phone, especially if you’re working in a tight space like under a sink. A flashlight often comes as part of a cordless tool set, or you can buy a single unit that recharges using a USB port on a charger, a USB wall socket or a mobile phone battery.

JUNE 2021 | TODAY 13

Revisions Requested Approved

CHAD Date_____ Revisions Requested Approved

String trimmer

STEVEN Date_____

As one of the most-used power tools, a drill should be everyone’s first cordless tool. Using a corded drill can mean constantly moving the cord around furniture, other tools or your own feet, which can be dangerous. Cordless drills are so easy to use, and the technology has improved so they have more power and hold a charge longer. Light-duty drills are smaller and less powerful but easy to use for smaller projects.

Revisions Requested

by Pat Keegan and Brad Thiessen With Father’s Day approaching, many of you may be thinking of getting your dads some rechargeable power tools. It’s a great idea! If the dad in your life enjoys tackling home projects, rechargeable tools are an excellent gift idea. Rechargeable cordless tools are worth the investment when the corded version is the least convenient option. For example, a power drill is something you usually move around with and often use outside, so a cordless drill is much more convenient and a worthy investment. On the other hand, a table saw is usually not the first choice of cordless tools because it doesn’t need to be moved repeatedly during a home project. Quality cordless tools are usually less expensive if you buy them as part of a set instead of one tool at a time. And since each line of tools uses a unique battery, you can’t mix and match between brands. So, it may cost less in the long run to buy a cordless starter kit with a few helpful tools and a battery, then add tools to the set as needed. We hope this information helps you choose the right cordless tools for your dad so he can enjoy using them for years to come. Pat Keegan and Brad Thiessen of Collaborative Efficiency write on energy efficiency topics for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

Approved

Power drill

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Here are a few cordless tools that the father in your family should love!

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Four efficient cordless tools for Dad

For more information about Today in Mississippi, contact Michael Bellipanni at 662.895.2151. northcentralelectric.com

NorthcentralEC

@Northcentral_EC

A message from your CEO Exciting occurrences have been taking place at your electric cooperative. The pace of our fiber construction is really picking up. This fiber is being used to enhance our existing advanced metering infrastructure, Supervisory Control and Data Aquisition (SCADA) and outage management, as well as planned electric vehicle charging. It will also be leased to our telecom affiliate, Northcentral Connect, to provide high-speed internet via fiberto-the-home technology to our community. It is reminiscent of the mid-20th century when electricity came to our area. Many experienced the pleasure of their first electric light but had no idea of the many uses of electricity available to come in the future. Many look forward to highspeed internet for web browsing, but the myriad of future possibilities is unlimited — from gaming, remote learning, working, telemedicine and what seems to be an unlimited source of entertainment. Previous generations not only found value in the current applications of electric power but unhinged it in a manner that made it work for them in almost every aspect of their lives. I expect nothing less from our current and future generations. You just never truly know where something may take you.

12 TODAY | JUNE 2021

Earlier in May, I had the privilege of watching nine young men graduate from the Northwest Community College Utility Line Worker Training Program. Many of us have a vision of a lineman and all the special and necessary duties they perform. It doesn’t stop there. These young men,(and hopefully soon, young women) have tremendous opportunities in front them. Linemen in electric cooperatives have moved on to become servicemen, staking technicians, system operators, mapping coordinators, safety coordinators and special project coordinators that deploy advanced metering and high-speed internet. I’m continually amazed at the endless applications of electric power and future of high-speed internet and its impact on our community. I am also excited about these young graduates and the growing opportunities that lay ahead of them. Stay Safe!

by Kevin Doddridge General Manager/CEO

By Justin Jaggers With summer break upon us, kids at home will occupy their days by sleeping in, playing sports and perhaps enjoying some time at the pool. For many, the summer months mean more time for video games. As we explore what high-speed internet can do for families in underserved areas, and Northcentral Electric Cooperative continues to build services for Northcentral Connect, we’ve looked at home security, working from home and streaming entertainment options. This month, I show off my nerdy side in discussing online gaming. There are several things to consider when deciding how to connect to online gaming and how to keep your family safe when you do. Upload and download speeds are the biggest factor in how you’re going to connect to servers that support PC, XBox, Switch or Playstation games. Many PCs and laptop computers have done away with their CD/DVD-ROM drives. Microsoft and Sony have recently released digital-only versions of their Xbox Series S and Playstation 5. With games now boasting more realistic graphics, higher-quality audio and hours of gameplay, you can expect the typical game download to be between 20 to 100+ gigabytes. Your internet speed can determine if you are playing your newly-purchased video game in a couple of hours or the next day. For example, if you were to download EA Sports’s NBA 2K21 that has a 150GB file size, it would take you nearly four hours to download on a speed of 150 Mbps internet speed. That same file size would roughly take 20 minutes on a 1000 Mbps connection. Northcentral Connect services offer symmetrical speeds, meaning that our Ultimate Gig plan offers up to 1000 Mbps upload and download speeds with unlimited data. If you’ve dealt with networking, you have probably heard of the term “ping.” Ping is important in online gaming because it determines how fast the input commands from your controller or keyboard reach the game server and then return to your console and the other players in the game with you. Gamers will often complain about “gaming lag” with players that have a poor or slow connection. When you’re playing a game online, you can expect an hour of gaming to use about 40 to 300 megabytes of data per hour. Both speed packages offered by Northcentral Connect are enough to enjoy online gaming, but it’s important to consider how many other devices are using the Internet at the same time you’re trying to play Call of Duty. The more devices that are connected and transferring data (like the television streaming videos, a couple of cell phones connected to Wi-Fi and someone else surfing the web) less data transfer is available for your gaming device. Suddenly, the gaming service starts lagging or even skipping, and you’re on the losing side of the game. Another issue to consider is updates and patches. Video game developers are constantly updating their products to reduce bugs, improve features or offering additional download

advantage with fiber able content to keep you playing their game. Consoles like the Playstation or XBox allow the user to run these downloads in the background. So, your device could be using more bandwidth if you’re playing a game and updating at the same time. Usually, game performance takes priority in using that bandwidth, but updating can affect performance. Most devices offer an option to run updates and downloads at a certain time when you aren’t playing. A popular option is to have these updates run between 2-7 a.m. when you’ll (hopefully) be sleeping. Last, but certainly not least, it’s important to keep your family safe. When it comes to gaming online, there is no background check as to who can play the game. Now, there are rules that users must follow (usually called Community Standards) when it comes to harassment, cheating, etc. But, when you’re gaming online, you’re able to interact and communicate with other gamers from anywhere in the world. So, here’s some cybersecurity tips for online gaming: Creating your screen name Don’t use your real name as a gaming handle. Don’t use your birthday to create a unique identifier. Treat it like you would your banking password. You’re already giving away too much information about yourself if you do. Making friends online Be smart. Sometimes games are more fun when you have a crew or squad you work with in a game. But don’t give them any information about yourself. If you wouldn’t post it on Facebook or Twitter, don’t say it in the gaming chat. Watch out for “microtransactions” Gaming is fun, but it is also a business. Some games offer “microtransactions” that can give you a competitive advantage in the game or offer a new character costume or appearance that can allow you to customize your experience. These transactions can cost 99 cents or even $99. Be careful because these charges can add up. Something you can do is require a password for every purchase that you make so you can keep an eye on spending. Watch your mouth Some people take gaming too seriously and don’t like losing. Most gaming servers have Community Standards when it comes to online behavior, and they don’t tolerate harassment, threats or bad language. If you violate these standards, get reported too much or an administrator catches you, they can prevent you from logging in for a while or even ban you for life. Know what you’re downloading Viruses and piracy are big issues when gaming online. Make sure you are downloading products, mods or content from the publisher. Make sure the store you’re purchasing from is legitimate. Some hackers like to disguise their malware, viruses or ransomware as something that will work with a popular game or as a popular game itself. Once it’s on your PC or console, they have access to your sensitive information. JUNE 2021 | TODAY 13

The

Congratulations to our 202

Each of these graduating seniors will receive a $1,500 sc

Nathan Beach

Center Hill High School Delta State University

Kobe Childress

Home Life Academy Mississippi State University

Makala Parker

Byhalia High School Baptist Health Sciences University

14 TODAY | JUNE 2021

Macy Gallimore

Hernando High School University of Mississippi

Annie Shelly

DeSoto Career Technical Center East Mississippi State University

For 2022 scholarship applications, v

2021 scholarship winners!

,500 scholarship from Northcentral Electric Cooperative.

Marybeth Grifﬁn

David Kiesel

Olive Branch High School Mississippi College

Lewisburg High School Mississippi State University

Mikayla Ware

Alexis Williams

DeSoto Central High School University of Arkansas — Pine Bluff

Michayla McDaniel

Northpoint Christian Academy University of Mississippi

Marshall Academy Northwest Mississippi Community College

ions, visit northcentralelectric.com.

JUNE 2021 | TODAY 15

NWCC graduates second class of utility line workers by Justin Jaggers Caps and gowns, struggling to find a parking spot and running through what seems like an endless list of classmates before your name is called. That’s what I remember about graduation day. Don’t get me wrong, there was the sense of pride; but there is some necessary patience attached as well. However, this event was much different. As the day warmed up on May 5, the Northcentral training facility began filling up with family equipped with lawn chairs, faculty in suits and future employers. The graduating class wasn’t waiting in their caps and gowns, they were ready to work in hard hats and climbing gear. For this graduating class, the day marked the end of the 16-week Utility Line Worker Training Program at Northwest Mississippi Community College. As part of their commencement exercises, they demonstrated to their friends and family what they had learned. Whether it was a pole-top rescue or crossarm replacement, these apprentice linemen showed just how fast and how safely they could perform their tasks. It was a chance to show off their new skills to future and potential employers as well. On this Thursday, the graduates received their certificates and handshakes from faculty members, and most started their careers the following Monday morning. “I grew up around a lineman community. My stepdad has been doing this work for 20+ years, and I’ve seen how he provides for

us. That’s how I want to provide for mine,” said graduate Caden Walker. Caden’s stepfather, Floyd Sanderson, has been a Serviceman and Lineman for Northcentral Electric Cooperative since 1994. In 2017, Walker attended Youth Tour with the Northcentral Electric youth group. He has already been hired as an apprentice line worker for DeSoto County Electric. “We got to experience the whole aspect of [working as a lineman]. One morning, we got here at 4:30 a.m to change out poles and understand what it’s like to work overnight,” said Walker. During the graduation ceremony, Dr. Michael Heindl, President of Northwest Mississippi Community College explained, “These students trained for this during a pandemic. We’re proud of these students and the work they put in. This program has been

Northcentral Serviceman Floyd Sanderson and wife Nikki with Caden Walker

Graduates perform pole-top rescue demonstrations

16 TODAY | JUNE 2021

a long time coming and we couldn’t have done it without the help of Northcentral Electric Cooperative.” The focus of the Line Utility Worker Program is to better train potential employees in the electrical power transmission and distribution industry. With most of the graduating class of nine already employed, it may be safe to say that the program is off to a great start. The day wouldn’t be complete without some form of initiation for the new utility workers. “Let’s show them how good of a job they did!” exclaimed J.D. Cox, Director of Safety and Loss Control for Northcentral Electric Cooperative, right before he doused the graduating class with rainwater collected above the tent where the ceremony took place. The Utility Line Worker Training Program will continue to be offered through Northwest Mississippi Community College at its Olive Branch campus. The next scheduled class will begin August 16. If you are interested or know someone that would benefit from this program, you have until July 15, 2021, to submit applications. Applicants must be at least 18 years old, have a high school diploma or high school equivalency, score a silver level on the National Career Readiness Certificate and submit a clean Department of Transportation drug screen. For application information, you can visit northwestms.edu and search for the “Utility Line Worker” program. The program covers everything from safe vehicle operation of bucket trucks and digger derricks to pole top rescue. It’s important to understand that completion of this program does not advance you past the Apprentice Lineman training; but it does give you a good start in your journey. “Safety is the number one priority at Northcentral Electric Cooperative. So, we look forward to continuing our relationship with Northwest and our support of this great program,” said Cox. Spring 2021 graduating class

Initiation shower for program graduates

JUNE 2021 | TODAY 17

PAY BILLS or REPORT OUTAGES: 855-2PRVEPA (855-277-8372) COLUMBIA: 601-736-2666 | HATTIESBURG: 601-264-2458 | PURVIS: 601-794-8051 | WIGGINS: 601-928-7277 Member owned. Locally operated. That’s the cooperative difference. • Visit us online at www.PRVEPA.com

Pearl River Valley Electric celebrates 83 years with a new look I am pleased to announce that for the first time in over 30 years, we have changed the Pearl River Valley Electric logo. The oil lamp that has been associated with us for the past three decades was updated in May to coincide with the 83rd anniversary of our incorporation as a rural electric cooperative. The logo was created by the designers from Conexon who also helped us design our PearlComm logo. We were so impressed with the work Conexon did we decided now was the perfect time to rebrand and refresh Pearl River Valley Electric. Both logos are unique but have some similar design elements. When we designed our new logo, we wanted to modernize it without losing the history it represented. The river silhouette showcases our deep ties to the Pearl River Valley region, the lightning bolt pays tribute to the original EPA logo and the

colors reflect the well-known blue and yellow that emblazon our trucks. We began serving our first members in 1938 with a basic EPA logo featuring Willie Wiredhand, then we transitioned to an oil lamp with atom rings in the 1980s. Now is the perfect time to join our subsidiary, PearlComm, with a new look. The logo will begin appearing on all Pearl River Valley Electric trucks, signs, uniforms and printed materials throughout the year.

Mockup of new logo on PRVEPA truck

12 TODAY | JUNE 2021

by Matthew Ware CEO/General Manager

Youth Leadership scholarship winners Every year, Pearl River Valley Electric Power Association has chosen outstanding students to participate in the Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi’s Youth Leadership Program. These students represent the cooperative at a youth leadership workshop in Jackson and during a week-long trip to Washington D.C. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, we have had to alter our program. Instead of a trip this year, students were offered a $2,500 scholarship. The winners of this year’s Youth Leadership scholarships were Will Watson of Columbia Academy and Sterling Robbins of Presbyterian Christian High School. Winners were chosen from an essay contest and interviews. Nearly 40 students submitted essays throughout our 12-county service area. The topic of the essay was to describe the importance of strong leadership within an organization and how it applies to electric cooperatives. Will Watson is the son of Robert and Sharon Watson. He is a

member of the Key Club at Columbia Academy. In addition, he is a National Honor Society member and was selected for the HOBY Leadership Conference. Will is looking at majoring in accounting either at Ole Miss or Mississippi College. Sterling Robbins is the son of Brett and Tisha Robbins. He is the vice president of his junior class as well as a member of the Senior Beta Club. Robbins also spends time volunteering at Hattiesburg Clinic and is a member of the Presbyterian Christian High School tennis team. He is looking at possibly attending Ole Miss to study engineering or medical school. Ten high school juniors were finalists in this year’s contest: Makaila Belk and Christopher Hahn of Columbia High School, Abigail Fagan and Emily Regan of Columbia Academy, Katherine Ashtyn Walker, Sumrall High School, Avery Foret of Purvis High School, Zoey Swan and Stella Bertram of Presbyterian Christian High School and Kaylee Smith and Kaylee Owens of Forrest County Agricultural High School.

ANNUAL MEETING NOTICE SEPTEMBER 25, 2021

All members are invited to attend the annual meeting of members on Saturday, September 25, 2021. Registration will begin at 9:30 a.m. at the Association’s meeting room facility (Lawrence Building) in Columbia at 1428 Highway 13 North. The meeting will begin at 10:30 a.m. Member participation at its annual meeting is important to elect directors, hear reports covering the operation of the We will also award attendance prizes. Association and to transact other business that may come before the meeting. This year’s annual meeting will adhere to appropriate CDC guidelines in place at the time of the meeting. Due to the pandemic, the location of the meeting is subject to change. Please keep up to date through our Facebook and Twitter pages along with our website, www.PRVEPA.com for any changes to our annual meeting.

Included on the agenda is the election of three directors to three-year terms.

JUNE 2021 | TODAY 13

maintenance is underway in your area Pearl River Valley Electric’s distribution system has grown significantly over the past 83 years to meet the needs of our members. We now have more than 6,000 miles of power lines across our 12-county service area. Maintaining clear rights-ofway (ROW) along those lines is vital to the Association’s ability to provide reliable service. It is also necessary to maintain a proper distance between trees and power lines to ensure public safety. We want members to understand that maintaining ROW is not an inconvenience, it’s a necessity. Controlling vegetation within the ROW floor assures safe access for employees when they are troubleshooting outages and repairing downed power lines. The overall result of ROW maintenance is quicker restoration of outages during storms.

COVINGTON

Bassfield JEFFERSON_DAVIS

LAWRENCE

Clearing brush and other low-growing vegetation is accomplished by a combination of bush-hogging and herbicide application. We use off-the-shelf, non-restrictive herbicides because they are effective, economical, and environmentally friendly. They are not harmful to humans, pets or livestock. Managing vegetation in this way also allows native grasses and wildflowers to grow, thereby improving the aesthetics and wildlife habitat along the ROW. For a more detailed map of this year’s ROW spraying, please visit the help center at www.PRVEPA.com and click the “Technical Services” box. Also, if you have any questions about our ROW maintenance program, please feel free to call any of our offices. Thank you for your understanding and cooperation.

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14 TODAY | JUNE 2021

Don’t forget pets. Basic items to include in their disaster kit:

• • • •

Store the following original documents in a secure location, such as a safety deposit box: • Deeds • Titles

• Stocks, bonds and certificates of deposit

• Mortgages

• Trust documents

• Bank account information

• Copies of power of attorney, wills and trusts

• Birth, marriage, and death certificates • Adoption papers • Child custody papers • Copies of passports • Military and veteran records • Appraisals • Leases and other contracts

Kennel or crate Important documents Photo of your pet Food and water supply for three days minimum

• • • •

• Insurance policies • Home improvement records and receipts • Household inventory (list, photos and/or a digital record) • Jewelry, precious metals, keepsakes and other collectibles

Bowls for food and water Collars and leashes Muzzle or gauze Medications

• Sanitation items • First aid kit • Pet comfort items

JUNE 2021 | TODAY 15

FOR PEOPLE AND PETS

We’d like to wish a Happy Father’s Day to all the dads! Here’s a group of PEPA fathers who celebrate the holiday right along with you! PONTOTOC 662-489-3211 • Fax: 662-489-5156

BRUCE 662-983-2727 • Fax: 662-983-1335

P.O. Drawer 718 • 12 South Main Street, Pontotoc, MS 38863

P.O. Box 415 • 129 South Newberger Street, Bruce, MS 38915

3 1

1 – Bruce District Foreman Phillip Brackett with Brice, Brylon, Brandon, Keeton, Willa Rose, Christina, David, Glennis, Zion, and Tristan (Phillip’s wife Ruth is also pictured.) 2 – Apprentice Lineman Erik Gentry with Sadie Grace and Maisie Jo 3 – Lineman Jahew Harrelson with Jaton 4 – Meterman/Member Services Representative Jimmy Williamson with Maggie and Lane 5 – Bruce Staking Technician Richard Morgan and Elliott (Not pictured is son Eli) 6 – Journeyman Lineman John Fleming with Noah and Jonah 7 – Assistant Foreman Robert Mitchell with Sawyer, Zeke, Sutton, and Rhett (Robert’s wife Leah is also pictured.)

12 TODAY | JUNE 2021

8 – Right-of-Way Trimmer/Laborer Larry Martin with Lathe 9 – Right-of-Way Trimmer/Laborer Daniel Robinson with Liddy, Jayley, Banner, and Indy. (Daniel’s wife Ashley is also pictured.) 10 – Manager of Technical Services Nathan White with Margie Grace and Lilly Anna 11 – Right-of-Way Trimmer/Laborer Chad Phillips with Caylee, Quade Parker, and Haylee 12 – Right-of-Way Trimmer/Laborer Sam Stewart with Jace 13 – Bruce District Manager Ben Hogan with Wyatt, Hailey, and Blake 14 – Apprentice Lineman Stewart Owen with Ivy Claire 15 – General Manager Frankie Moorman with Bailey and Garrett (Frankie’s wife Angie is also pictured.)

13 Approved

Revisions Requested

14 RON Date_____

12 STEVEN Date_____

Approved

VERSION #______________

Revisions Requested

CHAD Date_____

7 Approved

Revisions Requested

Celebrating the Class of 2021 Celeste Clayton is the daughter of Neil Clayton (PEPA electrical engineer) and Ericka Miller. Celeste has been a member of the Pontotoc City Schools band system since sixth grade. She played the mellophone in the marching band, French horn in the symphonic band, and trumpet in the jazz band. She was a section leader during her junior and senior years, and she was a member of the State 4A Championship Band during her freshman year. Celeste plans to attend Itawamba Community College this fall and study nursing.

Maggie Williamson is the daughter of Jimmy and Lisa Williamson. (Jimmy is the Meterman/Member Services Representative at Pontotoc Electric.) Maggie has been part of the marching band at South Pontotoc School, the National Honor Society at UMHS, had a role in the play “A Family Reunion to Die For” at Pontotoc Community Theater, and had a role in “Elf, the Musical” and “Mama Mia” at Tupelo Community Theater. She also had a role in “Frozen” with the Pied Piper community theater group. Maggie plans to attend Blue Mountain College this fall, and her career plan is to become a doctor.

No. 6 of the seven Cooperative principles

Cooperation Among Cooperatives

A group from our PEPA line crew headed to Yazoo City, Miss., on Wednesday, May 5, to assist the members of Yazoo Valley Electric Power Association. Severe weather took down lines and caused power losses. They returned on Friday, May 7. Pictured left to right: Erik Gentry, Cody Laster, Brandon Jenkins, Robert Mitchell, John Ivy, Jimmy Moore, Wes Hillhouse, and Stewart Owen.

J U LY 4 T H

Pontotoc Electric Power Association will be closed Monday, July 5, 2021, in observance of the Independence Day holiday. To report power outages or emergencies, please call 662-489-6711 (Pontotoc) or 662-983-2727 (Bruce). A Pontotoc Electric dispatcher is on duty 24 hours per day, seven days per week. 14 TODAY | JUNE 2021

This month, we’re starting a new quarterly feature we hope you’ll enjoy. If you’re looking for great cooking tips and quick and easy recipes to feed your family, look no further than COOKING WITH BONNIE!

Open-Faced Stroganoff Burgers

Cheesy Chicken Mac and Cheese

1 lb. ground beef 1 medium onion 8 oz. sour cream Cheddar cheese slices, or shredded cheese Garlic powder (to taste)

1 box macaroni and cheese (prepared as to directions on box) 1 can cream of chicken soup 1 cup shredded cheese

Salt and pepper (to taste) Texas toast, hamburger buns, or loaf of French bread (whichever you have on hand)

Brown and drain ground beef with chopped onion. Add sour cream to mixture, along with salt, pepper and garlic powder to taste. Cook until mixture is hot and bubbly. Cover bread with meat mixture (if using French bread, cut in half lengthwise before adding meat), top with cheese. Bake for about five to 10 minutes (to crisp bottom of bread), then broil until cheese is bubbly.

1 can chunk white chicken or about two boneless chicken breasts, cooked and shredded (about one cup)

Prepare the macaroni and cheese according to directions on the box. Add one can cream of chicken soup, canned or cooked chicken, top with shredded cheese and bake at about 325 to 350 degrees until hot and bubbly. (Note: You can easily substitute one pound of cooked and drained ground beef and use cream of mushroom soup instead of cream of chicken.)

Bonnie’s Helpful Tip: Oreo Dessert 1 box instant Jell-O vanilla pudding (large size) 1 box instant Jell-O chocolate pudding (large size)

16 oz. tub Cool Whip 1 package chocolate Oreo sandwich cookies

Crumble the Oreos in a zip-top bag, then pour crumbs into the bottom of a 9 x 13 baking dish. Prepare vanilla Jello-O pudding according to package directions. Pour on top of Oreos. Allow to sit in refrigerator until set (maybe five to 10 minutes). Prepare chocolate pudding and then allow to sit in refrigerator until set (again, maybe five to 10 minutes). Once chocolate pudding is set, cover with cool whip. (Note: This is a good summertime dessert or for children’s activities at church. This recipe can easily be halved by using the smaller boxes of pudding and an eight-ounce tub of cool whip.)

Shred your own cheese instead of purchasing the product pre-shredded. Invest in a good food processor or box grater, buy a two-pound block, and shred your own! You can shred it, measure it into one or two cup amounts, and freeze it in zip-top bags. It doesn’t stick together, and you can take out what you need. It thaws almost instantly! It will also keep much longer in the freezer than store-bought shredded cheese.

by Bonnie Heatherly Bonnie Heatherly is a service clerk at Pontotoc Electric, who enjoys cooking great food, feeding folks on a budget, and spending lots of time with her four grandkids. JUNE 2021 | TODAY 15

BRIAN HUGHEY

Bringing power and energy services to local communities

Public Relations Specialist

LORRI FREEMAN, APR

STEPHANIE CHISHOLM

Manager of Public Relations

For more information, call 601-947-4211 or 228-497-1313.

www.singingriver.com

AMANDA PARKER

General Manager & CEO

@singingriverelectric

Public Relations Assistant

SRE is an equal opportunity employer and provider.

@SRECooperative

A MESSAGE FROM YOUR CEO

@singingriverelectric

Energy Tips

Are you prepared? As we enter the month of June, we begin yet another hurricane season. You will hear a number of messages in the coming weeks, encouraging you to Brian Hughey begin preparations General Manager for hurricane season & CEO by storing such things as non-perishable food, water, fuel and batteries. You may also be encouraged to have storm evacuation routes picked out ahead of time, depending on the magnitude of the storm. While this is not a topic any of us enjoy discussing, it is of utmost importance we take storm preparation seriously. Singing River Electric recently concluded the annual review of our Emergency Preparedness Plan. Should a hurricane or tropical storm approach our area, our plan contains detailed steps to take once the storm enters the Gulf of Mexico. Employees are pre-assigned specific tasks, such as securing supplies, food, fuel and housing, while line crews,

service personnel and their supervisors are assigned certain areas of the system to report to once the storm has passed. This plan was activated and successfully implemented numerous times last year, specifically prior to and during Tropical Storm Cristobal, Hurricane Sally and Hurricane Zeta. Being a part of the national network of electric cooperatives provides Singing River Electric access to cooperative line personnel who will assist us in restoring your electric service following a disaster. Cooperatives have come from as far away as Delaware, Illinois and Indiana to assist us following past storms, and should we face another disaster, fellow cooperatives will again come when needed. This is an immeasurable asset allowing us to speed restoration and help our communities. I encourage each of you to begin making your preparations for this hurricane season. It’s not too early. Be assured, your electric cooperative is prepared to restore electric service to our members as quickly and safely as possible.

JULY 4TH Our employees will observe Independence Day and our offices will be closed Monday, July 5, for the holiday.

1 Jeff Gray Energy Services Representative gray@singingriver.com

Use ceiling fans wisely Ceiling fans do not cool the air. They circulate air in the room and make you feel cooler. This is why they should only run when the room is occupied. Because you feel cooler, the thermostat can be set a degree or two higher, which saves money. Each degree you adjust your thermostat can save you around 5% on your energy costs.

When using ceiling fans in the summer months, check the fan to ensure air is moving in a downward direction. The fan speed can be set to your personal preference. ENERGY STAR-certified ceiling fans are 60% more efficient than conventional fan/light combinations. So, it might be time to update your fixture to compound these energy savings. For more information, visit singingriver. com/ways-to-save and energystar.gov.

2021 Annual Membership Meeting Notice JOIN US AT THIS YEAR’S MEMBERSHIP MEETING!

Singing River Electric is member-driven and built by the communities we serve.

SRE fiber project Member update

2021 Annual Membership Meeting

ne 24 Thursday, Ju, Lucedale South 11187 Old 63

00 p.m. begins at 5: Registration p.m. ins at 6:00 Meeting beg

Participate by voting online or returning your proxy. Co-op bylaws require a 10 percent quorum of the membership in order to conduct business. Your participation is crucial to our success, and with it you will be eligible to win prizes including $500 in cash!

THERE ARE THREE WAYS TO PARTICIPATE:

IN PERSON, BY PROXY AND ONLINE Voting in person can be done the night of the membership meeting on Thursday, June 24, at 6 p.m. The meeting will be held at the SRE Lucedale office at 11187 Old 63 South and will comply with current COVID-19 restrictions. To vote by proxy, simply complete the proxy in this notice and return it using the enclosed selfaddressed, postage-paid envelope by Tuesday, June 15. You may still attend the meeting; your presence will rescind the proxy and allow you to vote in person. Voting online is easy! Members can vote online beginning Monday, May 10, through Tuesday, June 15. Simply click on the “Vote Here” icon on either the SmartHub app or website at singingriver.com. By entering your membership ID and zip code, you can view candidate biographies and cast your vote.

Singing River Electric has chosen contractors for makeready engineering, make-ready construction and fiber construction. We are on schedule and projected to begin fiber construction of the fiber ring connecting SRE’s 44 substations and three district offices in July. Locations of the three pilot project areas and further updates about SRE’s fiber project will be announced at the Annual Membership Meeting being held at SRE’s Lucedale office located at 11187 Old 63 South in Lucedale on Thursday, June 24, with registration starting at 5 p.m. and the meeting beginning at 6 p.m. We will also launch the website for SR Connect at that time. Should you miss the membership meeting, watch for the pilot project locations and more in the July 2021 issue of Today in Mississippi.

Six members who vote online or return their proxies by the June 15 deadline will be selected to receive a $250 CASH prize. One member who votes online or returns the proxy by the deadline will receive a special grand prize of $500 CASH!

Meet your SRE board Singing River Electric is led by member-consumers like you who understand and listen to the community. Our 10-member board of directors is elected by the membership to serve a three-year term.

Singing River Electric board members (left to right): Ron Wilson, Ralph Hicks and Robert Steele.

Singing River Electric board members (left to right): Roy Grafe, Howard Davis and Travis Baxter.

Conexon project manager Patrick Barnes consults with SRE project engineer/fiber coordinator Brandon Welford.

Crews respond to severe weather this spring Looking toward summer this month, we can only hope for a mild hurricane season. Singing River Electric crews have been busy responding to weather-related outages this wet and storm-filled spring. Here are a few photos:

SRE crews respond to weather-related power outages and flooding throughout Jackson County.

Linemen Colby Pilkington and Collin Davis join Construction Foreman Ryan Evans to restore power in Cedar Creek Estates in Jackson County.

Greeting our membership at Lucedale’s Second Saturday event Singing River Electric employees visited with SRE members attending Lucedale’s Second Saturday event on May 8. Trees and large shrubs were given away with discussions about how important it is to call 811 before you dig, look up before you plant, consider the tree’s mature height and never plant anything within 10 feet of a power line. Always consider safety first! www.singingriver.com/electric-safety

Supporting technical education SRE NHN Grant beneﬁts Jackson County FABLAB NHN Community Grants Neighbors Helping Neighbors (NHN) Community Grants help Singing River Electric merge efforts with the hard work of those within our communities. Since the program’s inception in 2001, $312,178.15 has been awarded to local non-profits in local communities.

Jackson County FABLAB received a $2,470 Neighbors Helping Neighbors Community Grant to purchase 20 Makeblock Airblock modular drones for use throughout the school year and at the 32 camps scheduled this summer. These drones help students focus on modular design, electronics, coding and programming. According to FABLAB Manager Scott Beebe, working with drones gives students a hands-on, tangible way to experiment with what is taught in the classroom and engages the students in critical thinking and cognitive development.

For more information on SRE NHN Community Grants and how to apply, visit singingriver.com/my-community. Grants for up to $2,500 are awarded to nonproﬁts in SRE’s service area three times a year in January, May and September.

Generator Safety For tips on how to operate a generator properly along with storm-related safety information as we begin hurricane season, visit beawareeverywhere.com and view the severe weather safety area.

We honor all fathers this month. Thank you to all the dads, grandfathers and all those who step up to fill this role in the lives of so many.

JUNE 2021 | TODAY 15

BRINGING THE POWER WWW.SOU THERN PIN E.COOP | P.O. BOX 60 | 1349 1 H WY. 28 | TAYLO R SVIL L E, MS 39 16 8 | 800.231 .524 0

FATHER’S DAY

“A good father is one of the most unsung, unpraised, unnoticed, and yet one of the most valuable assets in our society.” —Billy Graham

Each June, as we celebrate Father’s Day, I am reminded of just how blessed I am to have been raised by a wonderful, caring father. My dad, Ken Rhodes, is a man who loves me, my sister, and my mom unconditionally, and we never doubted that for one minute growing up. We still don’t doubt it today. He always worked hard to make sure that we had everything Chris Rhodes and his Dad, Ken Rhodes we needed and a lot of what we wanted. His hard work was not the most impactful thing I remember, though. My dad spelled love “T-I-M-E.” He never failed to invest time in us while growing up and was faithfully present for us no matter what we were involved in. Most of my childhood memories include my dad because he made his family a priority and always spent time with us when he could. He, like countless others, was quick to offer wise advice when needed. More importantly, he provided an excellent example of how to live a kind and compassionate life dedicated to God and family. Not everyone has the same story. I’ve been around long enough to know just how blessed I am and that my experience is not the same as everyone’s. Many people are not as fortunate to have a great dad like mine to love and guide them along the way. For

whatever reason, abusive fathers and absent fathers have increasingly become a problem our society faces. The challenges that can result often take years for someone to overcome. However, our pasts, good or bad, do not dictate our futures. Just because I have a great dad does not mean that I am one. Just because someone grew up with a bad father or no father does not make them a bad father. It is up to us as men to decide what kind of father and person we want to be. We make that choice every day. We can choose to love our families, provide for them the best we can, and make sure they know we are here for them by spending time with our families. It is solely on us to be the kind of father we were blessed to have or to change paths from the bad example we were given. As Billy Graham said, a good father is “one of the most valuable assets in our society.” I believe he was right. So as Father’s Day nears, let’s all recommit to being the husbands and fathers that our families, and quite frankly the world, deserve and so desperately need. And to my dad, thank you for all you have done for me. Happy Father’s Day!

by Chris K. Rhodes President / CEO Southern Pine Electric

Sign up now for a bank draft option Would you like a one-time bill credit of $25? Would you like an easy, convenient way to pay your bill? Do you want to eliminate the hassle of remembering to mail a check or drive to the office each month? You can have all that with Southern Pine’s Bank Draft Program.

Members can easily enroll by: • Select the Bank Draft Option when logged in to your MyPower account • Visiting southernpine.coop for a downloadable form to mail or drop off at one of our locations • Visit a Southern Pine district office 12 TODAY | JUNE 2021

It’s as easy as that and you will earn a one-time $25 credit on your bill!

G R 0

SOUTHERN PINE HOSTS MEMBER CIRCLE IN SCOTT COUNTY Southern Pine Electric hosted a Member Circle event recently for members, elected officials and first responders. Southern Pine thanks our member, the Forest Country Club, for the use of its facility that allowed for social distancing. The casual event was an opportunity for Southern Pine to hear from some of our members, answer questions and discuss various topics related to electric power distribution. Jamie Baucum, Newton district manager, discussed the steps in a significant outage restoration. Jan Collins, vice president of communications, talked about the history of Southern Pine Electric. David Tadlock, Scott County director, provided an opportunity for members to share feedback and discuss the economic impact the co-op and its employees make in Scott County and

the region. Other Southern Pine employees took part in the event as well. “We are thrilled to be back out in the communities we serve with our Member Circle Program,” said Collins. “This past year, due to COVID-19, we’ve been unable to meet face-to-face with our members, community leaders and first responders.” “This program allows us an opportunity to serve our members better, answer questions, and talk with them about all the services provided by Southern Pine.” Southern Pine Electric will host Member Circle events in each of the 11 counties it serves during the coming months. For more information about these events or Southern Pine Electric, please email voice@southernpine.coop.

JUNE 2021 | TODAY 13

SOUTHERN PINE ENGINEERING TEAM by Jim Jordan, PE — Vice President of Engineering There are many electric distribution cooperatives throughout the country that do not have adequate engineering expertise. Fortunately, Southern Pine is not one of those! Our engineering team is made up of highly competent personnel equipped with a variety of abilities and technical proficiencies. Many members of the engineering team, such as dispatchers, clerks and engineers operate behind the scenes making sure critical tasks are completed while making sure the power system is functioning healthily.

short- and long-term system improvement projects, electrical connectivity for the outage management system and source data for over-current studies. GIS data feeding the outage management system produces the outage map on the website which is vital information to members. When you think about the engineering department, you typically think about engineers, but the engineering team crosses departments and districts to bring the power. It takes everyone working together to serve our members.

Substation Group Operating and maintaining 41 electric power substations presents many challenges for the engineering team including intensive checks and maintenance. There are dedicated employees in the substation group who are responsible for the design, operation and maintenance of substations. Technicians perform on-site inspections and perform equipment maintenance. Six substations are dedicated to large industrial customers and are frequently handled by an engineer due to the complexity of the station.

Line Design An engineering representative, or staking technician, is responsible for electrical service designs and has a particular set of skills which rely on practical experience, fairness and training. They are the first to respond to a member request for new service. Staking technicians have a good working knowledge of electric safety codes, company guidelines, and coordinate with construction crews in line design. Meetings are typically scheduled with the new members to determine the best route for power to a home or business. Stakes are driven into the ground and the line is designed and drawn on a computer. Drawings are passed along to line construction crews.

Metering The Metering Group has a team of employees who are responsible for all aspects of metering including new installations, warehousing, testing and meter replacements. Metermen learn through formal training, team member training and possess a specialized skill of understanding detailed voltage and current relationships.

Taylorsville District and Headquarters: L to R (front row) Faye Killings, Lacy Adcock, Stephanie Sharp, (second row) Ronald Wilson, Jonathan Walters, David Odom, Larry Robinson, Chris Jones, (third row) Mark Phipps, Ronald Ishee, Brice Hughes, Derek Bruce, Jim Jordan, (fourth row) Tony Byrd, Jeremiah Seal, Richie Matson, Rodger Pardue and Jay Montgomery

Brandon District: L to R Suzanne Easterling, Ronnie Garrison, Scott Holston, Andrew Huff and Shane Killebrew

GIS Engineers and draftsmen work with the company’s geographic information system (GIS) map to oversee the distribution power system. The GIS software is second-to-none and is the foundation for many other value driven applications at Southern Pine such as engineering studies for identifying 14 TODAY | JUNE 2021

New Hebron District: L to R Brandon Henderson, Renee Cooley and Rodney Ellzey (not pictured Brooks Howell)

Newton District – L to R Chris Hollingsworth, Denise Cleveland, Ricky Maske and Jim Mason

HAPPY FATHER’S DAY FROM SOUTHERN PINE

Lynn Reeves and Jerry Stuckey

Stephanie Sharp and Billy Kilgore

Denise Knight Cleveland and Joe M. Knight

Jackson, Steve and Adele Bryant

Mandy Stanley and Don Thames

Michael, Iris and Lily Helton

PLANNING FOR POTENTIAL OUTAGES DURING HURRICANE SEASON June 1 marks the beginning of hurricane season, and Mississippians are no strangers to the devastation hurricanes can bring. Storms can also cause prolonged outages, and since we never know when severe weather will strike again, it is always best to prepare.

The power of preparation can save a lot of stress, worry and headache when the next outage occurs. Therefore, an Outage Preparation Kit is a must-have item in Mississippi, where severe weather systems arise regularly. Here is what you need to be safe, prepared, and comfortable during times of outage.

• Flashlights, lanterns, and candles – These are essential to light the way for safety.

• Batteries & battery-powered chargers – Make sure to include all types of batteries.

• First aid kit – Many first aid kits are available at retailers, or you can make your own (visit redcross.org to find essential contents of a first aid kit).

• Battery-Powered radio – This is crucial for staying updated on emergency-related progress when all else fails.

• Water – Always have more water than you think you may need. • Non-Perishable food – Some examples are crackers, trail mix, protein and breakfast bars, canned foods and other pantry items. • Medications – Adequate supplies of medications can be a life saver during an outage, particularly in extended outages.

• Sleeping bags & blankets – When the power is off, particularly in cold weather, you’ll be thankful for the extra blankets. • Books, board games, playing cards – Boredom can be one of the most frustrating things in an outage, particularly for children. Make sure you have plenty of entertainment items in your kit.

• Hygiene products – Baby wipes, hand sanitizer, and deodorant will be your friend in an extended outage.

Southern Pine Electric believes there is power in preparation, so start building your Outage Preparation Kit today and be ready for whatever tomorrow brings. JUNE 2021 | TODAY 15

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT:

FAYE KILLINGS

Faye Killings quietly enters the Jordan Building every day, ready for work, and has been a member of the Southern Pine family for 41 years. She currently works as a system work order technician and has also worked as a work order clerk during her long history with Southern Pine. Faye loves her work, and she loves Southern Pine. Working around a group of people that feel like family is part of what drives her to put 100% into anything she does. “Being able to work with a group of people that are so kind and caring and generous means a lot to me,” Faye said. It’s easy to see why people would treat Faye with kindness because that’s what she gives to others. Jim Jordan, vice president of Engineering, said, “Faye has always performed at a high level. The thoroughness of her work has made our engineering team excel in many ways. It is valuable to have someone with her work ethic when dealing with highway permits, timber permits or work order inspections. The thing she has taken the most pride in is the accuracy of her work. There is no one more accurate than Faye.” The engineering team can depend on Faye because of her diligence in making sure everything is correct. Another big part of her life is faith. Faye’s faith is evident when talking with her, and she says her life hasn’t always been an easy road, but all of the bad things eventually turned into good things. “Life has brought me from down low to really high, and I never gave up,” she said. “I am most thankful for the blessings God has placed in my life and my family’s lives and for the strength God gives me each day and for all the people around me who make life more meaningful.” Faye counts her greatest blessing as her two sons, Cedrick and Terry. She said she has two beautiful sons who she talks with every single day, no matter what. Faye beams with pride when speaking about her sons. Terry is a Mercedes-Benz technician in Alexandria, Louisiana and Cedrick is in the United States Air Force, currently stationed in New Jersey. Faye is also the proud grandmother of two beautiful granddaughters, Briona, 16, and Ava, 6, and one grandson, Xavier, 1. Living in Summerland, Faye attends Pine Valley Baptist Church.

16 TODAY | JUNE 2021

“I am thankful for the blessings God has placed in my life and my family’s lives...”

MEET YOUR DIRECTOR:

MIMS BERRY

Lawrence County is home to Monticello, Silver Creek, and New Hebron, with several communities scattered throughout the county. Here you will find some of the kindest people in Mississippi, a group that will go out of their way to help each other, and to promote business opportunities. At Southern Pine, we believe the best thing about Lawrence County is our members and our director, Mr. Mims Berry. Representing 3,024 members, he has served as a director since 2006. Lawrence County is in a rural area conveniently located 60 miles from the Jackson Airport and within 120 miles of the Port of Natchez, Port of New Orleans, Gulfport and the Meridian Airport. Mims and his wife, Susan, are active in the county, work to promote business opportunities and are always available for community events. With three sons, a daughter, and an amazing group of seven grandchildren, their lives are devoted to each other and to supporting their communities. Participation over the years in soccer, baseball, football and horseback riding has kept the Berrys active with their neighbors and fellow Lawrence Countians. What affects one person affects all, which is never truer than with Mims’ work on the Southern Pine board. Along with other board members, he participates in classes and conferences to stay current with ever-changing legislative matters that affect Southern Pine and other electric distribution cooperatives. Legal requirements, financial best practices, policy changes and the rapid development of new technologies require a substantial amount of time as Southern Pine works to make sure members receive the best electric service available. Though challenging work, perhaps the most complex year of all was 2020. A year of horrific storms, sickness, death, and strife, COVID-19 struck not only Lawrence County but Southern Pine’s members, territory and our state. Almost every family has been impacted with sickness and death. The Berrys were not exempt from the harsh realities of 2020. Though avoiding the virus personally, they had to find ways to work remotely, live through quarantine, hear about friends and family’s funerals that they could not attend and miss countless other opportunities that will not come again. Never given to complaining, they joined with others as best they could to make sure neighbors and friends had what they needed to survive one of the strangest seasons in recent memory. Many of our members will recall that for 36 years, Mims was a Chevrolet dealer in New Hebron and then in Prentiss. Many of his customers became lifelong friends. Today, he and his family own

LAWRENCE COUNTY

a farm, work with cattle and help promote Lawrence County and our state. Devoted to Southern Pine members, he can be counted on to give due diligence and great consideration to any decision. Recognizing quickly that co-op matters may affect thousands of people, he takes his time and considers all possibilities before moving forward. That effort has helped Southern Pine to remain sound and has provided economic growth to all areas within the co-op’s territory. Mr. Berry considers his service on the board as an honor and privilege. He takes pride in Southern Pine, its members and its employees. Committed to improving all areas of the co-op, including right-of-way clearing, he and other board members are constantly working to provide better service and fewer power interruptions. We are grateful for Mr. Berry and his work on behalf of Southern Pine and wish him and his family a healthy and blessed 2021.

JUNE 2021 | TODAY 17

Adams • Amite • Claiborne • Copiah • Franklin Hinds • Jefferson • Lincoln • Wilkinson Southwest Electric is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

P.O. Box 5 • 18671 Highway 61 • Lorman, MS 39096 | 601-437-3611 | 800-287-8564 | Fax: 601-437-8736 | Email: info@swepa.coop southwestelectric.coop

Southwest Electric

SWElectricCoop

sw_electric_coop

Southwest Electric

Southwest Electric employees volunteered at the

Hog Wild BBQ Cookoff & Family Festival on Saturday, May 1. This is the seventh year that employees have volunteered at this Brookhaven event. Southwest Electric employees and their families volunteered time at the annual festival on Saturday, May 1. Drinks and raffle tickets for a barbeque grill were sold and all funds were donated to the Lincoln County volunteer fire departments. They share some of the proceeds with TEAAM Autism and the Alzheimer’s Association.

Volunteers sold drinks and rafﬂe tickets to raise money for the organizations.

Volunteers from left to right are John McGee, Jeremy Smith, Deb McGee, Kevin Bonds, Dusty Matthews with Avery and Andrew, Norvell Davis with Norvell III. Not pictured are Scott Campbell with Trigger.

SOUTHWEST ELECTRIC WISHES YOU AND YOUR FAMILY A SAFE AND HAPPY HOLIDAY!

Southwest Electric’s office will be closed July 2 and 5 for

Independence Day If you experience an outage or other emergency, please report it on the SmartHub app or call 800-287-8564. Dispatchers will remain on duty and crews will be on call throughout the holiday.

12 TODAY | JUNE 2021

Hannah Garrett, from one of the teams competing in the cook-off, was the winner of the charcoal grill donated by Southwest Electric.

Southwest Electric’s office will close at noon on Thursday, June 24.

Annual Meeting

RETURN BOTTOM PORTION

Wednesday, August 11, at 10:00 a.m. The annual meeting is being held for the purpose of electing directors, hearing and passing upon reports covering the previous fiscal year and transacting other such business as may come before the meeting. Look for your annual meeting notice in the mail. The bottom portion must be returned by August 6 at 4:30 p.m. Southwest Electric’s bylaws can be found at southwestelectric.coop/ what-is-a-cooperative. The Nondiscrimination Statement can be found at southwestelectric.coop/nondiscrimination-statement. You can also call our office to obtain copies.

ANNUAL MEETING AT 10:00 A.M.

Copiah-Lincoln Community College 11 Co-Lin Circle, Natchez Tom Reed Academic Building, Room 300

TREE PLANTED IN MEMORY OF

CLAIRE ESTES A plum tree was planted in memory of Claire Estes on the grounds of Southwest Electric on Friday, May 7. Claire was a long-time employee who served our Members for more than 33 years before she passed away in November 2020. Employees and family members attended the dedication.

Family members attending were Claire’s son, Will, her mother, Elaine, and her husband, Howard.

JUNE 2021 | TODAY 13

ctric

Southwest Mississippi Electric Power Association

P.O. BOX 206 • 109 EAST COOPER ST. | RIPLEY, MS 38663 | OFFICE & REPORT OUTAGES — 662-837-8139 | PAY BY PHONE — 662-212-5233 FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK

TWITTER

AND INSTAGRAM

VISIT US ONLINE @ WWW.TIPPAHEPA.COM

Celebrating the Class of 2021

My name is Kaylee Derrick. I am a 2021 graduate of Pine Grove High School. My parents are Scott and Kami Derrick and we reside in Dumas, Mississippi. My dad is a lineman at Tippah Electric Power Association. Over the course of my high school years, I’ve been part of the following: the Lady Panther basketball program, track team, cross country team, RAK club, and the Beta club. While playing on the basketball team, we won the Division 1A state championship three consecutive years. I am also an active member at Dumas Baptist Church. I’ve received the following honors: Rotary student of the month, DAR Good Citizen from my school, chosen Prom Queen, Homecoming senior maid, Mississippi Scholars, elected “Most Courteous” in Who’s Who, elected “Miss Pine Grove,” and received an ACT scholarship at Northeast MS Community College. My future plans include attending Northeast MS CommunIty College and majoring in radiology. 12 TODAY | JUNE 2021

My name is Jeremiah Mitchell and I’m a graduate of Falkner High School. My parents are Marvin and Candiance Mitchell and my dad is a TEPA lineman. I have been an active member on the baseball, basketball, and football teams for the past four years all while maintaining a 3.71 GPA. I served as President of DECA, Vice President of the National Honor Society along with being on the Usher board, Brotherhood, and active choir member at Bethlehem Missionary Baptist Church. After graduation, I plan to attend NEMCC where I will major in Dental Hygiene and then further my career in Pediatric Dental.

My name is Bricen Gene Stroupe and I’m a 2021 graduate of Falkner High School. My parents are Ronald and Jennifer Stroupe. My dad is a TEPA Right-of-Way crew member. I enjoyed playing basketball, baseball, and football and earned several awards in athletics. In basketball, I received the Captain Award and the Gut Award. In baseball, the Grit Award and in football, I earned the Best Defensive Lineman award. Academically, I was awarded an Academic All-Star award for maintaining a grade point average of 3.25 and was chosen for the Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizens award. I received a Northeast MS Community College Leadership Scholarship and the Liz Curtis Memorial Scholarship. I will be attending Northeast MS Community College this Fall and am presently undecided on my major.

CONGRATULATIONS!

TEPA Lineman Appreciation Day 2021

How to qualify to run for the Tippah EPA Board 1. Anyone wishing to run for the Tippah EPA Board of Directors would first need to pick up a Petition Packet, which is made available starting September 1st of each year. The packet includes a petition to run, along with detailed director qualifications. Each potential candidate must get signatures from twenty-five(25) Tippah EPA members within the potential candidate’s district. All petitions must be turned in no later than September 30th. Qualifying candidates will be notified by the second Thursday in October.

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2. Ballots are mailed by the first Monday in November and should be returned by the third Monday in November. A run-off is necessary if no candidate within a district receives 50% + 1 votes. 3. All candidates must meet the qualifications listed below.

Director Qualifications In May, Tippah Electric joined electric cooperatives around the country in saying thanks to their linemen. The linemen were treated to delicious cake and cupcakes provided by Jeannie Shinall, wife of retired lineman, Ricky Shinall. In top right photo, Manager Tim Smith speaks to our TEPA lineman and expresses everyone’s appreciation for their dedication and outstanding work they do in keeping the lights on. In bottom right photo Donald Crum, Ronald Stroupe and Stan Yancey prepare to enjoy the meal along with Michal Miller (left).

TEPA Administrative Professionals Day 2021

In order to become or remain a member of the Board of Directors of the Corporation, a person: 1. Must be an individual with the capacity to enter into legally binding contracts. 2. Must be a member in good standing (not more than 1 penalty in the last 12 months and no late notices) and a bona fide resident of the district represented; for at least 12 months prior to nomination. 3. Must not be employed by or in any way financially interested in a competing enterprise or a business selling electric energy supplies, or services, to the Corporation. 4. Must not have been an employee of the Corporation within five (5) years prior to the beginning of the term. 5. Must not have a spouse, child, sibling or parent who has been an employee of the Corporation within five (5) years prior to the beginning of the term. 6. Must not hold an elected public office at the time a petition is submitted by the candidate.

TEPA observed Administrative Professionals Day in April. The work done by our administrative staff is important to the daily operations of the organization and we want to recognize them for a job well done. Front row, left to right: Regina Rogers, Gwen Hill, Dawn Rinehart, Back Row: Kela Johnson, Jennifer Craft, Chyron Wallace, Mary Beth Martin, Jamie Hill, (not pictured: Brenda Storey). In photo at left are TEPAConnect administrative staff, Brandie Austin and Cindy Jones.

J U LY 4 T H Our employees will observe Independence Day and our offices will be closed Monday, July 5, for the holiday.

7. Must not have been convicted or have plead guilty to a felony. 8. Must comply with any other reasonable qualifications determined by the Board. 9. Must not be an employee of or a member of any union representing any number of employees of the Association. In the event a membership is held jointly by husband and wife, either one, but not both, may be elected a director, PROVIDED, that neither one shall be eligible to become or remain a director unless both shall meet the qualifications hereinabove set forth. Upon determination that a board member is holding the office of director in violation of any of the foregoing provision, the Board shall remove such director from office provided, however, nothing contained in this section shall in any manner whatsoever effect the validity of any action taken at any meeting of the Board.

JUNE 2021 | TODAY 13

SERVING MORE THAN 12,600 ELECTRIC METERS IN SEVEN DELTA COUNTIES Hollandale - 662-827-2262 | Belzoni - 662-247-1909 | Greenville - 662-334-9543 | Rolling Fork - 662-873-4233 | REPORT OUTAGES 866-897-7250

We’re ready for

• Organize emergency supplies so they are easily accessible in one location. In the event of a prolonged power outage, turn off major appliances, TVs, computers and other sensitive electronics. This will help avert damage from a power surge, and will also help prevent overloading the circuits during power restoration. That said, do leave one light on so you will know when power is restored. If you plan to use a small generator, make sure it’s rated to handle the amount of power you will need, and always review the manufacturer’s instructions to operate it safely. Listen to local news or a NOAA Weather Radio for storm and emergency information, and check our Facebook page for power restoration updates. After the storm, avoid downed power lines and walking through flooded areas where power lines could be submerged. We hope we don’t experience severe storms this summer, but we can never predict Mother Nature’s plans. At Twin County Electric, we recommend that you act today because there is power in planning. Abby Berry writes on consumer and cooperative affairs for the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association.

J U LY 4 T H Our employees will observe Independence Day and our offices will be closed Monday, July 5, for the holiday.

Four efficient cordless tools for Dad

Here are a few cordless tools that the father in your family should love! Power drill

String trimmer A string trimmer is a quick way to trim weeds and grass near walls, bricks and rocks. If your family uses an old gas trimmer around the yard, it’s time for a change. Two-stroke engines pollute the air and require regular maintenance. Electric trimmers are more energy efficient and quieter. You can find a variety of models between $50 and $150, and it’s worth paying a little more to get a highly rated model that will last longer.

Flashlight A rechargeable flashlight can bring full light into small spaces.

Rechargeable tools help avoid the risk of a cut cord, which can bring a shocking end to a home project.

Sunday, June 20

JUNE 2021 | TODAY 13

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We’re Ready for Storm Season. Are You? Now that summer is in full swing, like many of you, I welcome more opportunities to be outdoors and enjoy the warmer weather. Summertime brings many of my favorite activities like cooking out with family and friends, afternoons on the water and simply slowing down a bit to enjoy life. But summer months also make conditions right for dangerous storms. These potential weather events can cause destruction to our electrical system, but I want you to know that Yazoo Valley Electric crews are ready and standing by to respond should power outages occur in our area. When major storms knock out power, our line crews take all necessary precautions before they get to work on any downed lines. I would encourage you to also practice safety and preparedness to protect your family during major storms and outages. The Federal Emergency Management Agency recommends the items below as a starting point for storm and disaster preparedness, but you can visit www.ready.gov for additional resources. • Stock your pantry with a three-day supply of non-perishable food, such as canned goods, energy bars, peanut butter, powdered milk, instant coffee, water and other essentials (i.e., diapers and toiletries). • Confirm that you have adequate sanitation and hygiene supplies including towelettes, soap and hand sanitizer. • Ensure your first aid kit is stocked with pain relievers, bandages and other medical essentials, and make sure your prescriptions are current. • Set aside basic household items you will need, including flashlights, batteries, a manual can opener and portable, battery-powered radio or TV. • Organize emergency supplies so they are easily accessible in one location. 12 TODAY | JUNE 2021

In the event of a prolonged power outage, turn off major appliances, TVs, computers and other sensitive electronics. This will help avert damage from a power surge, and will also help prevent overloading the circuits during power restoration. That said, do leave one light on so you will know when power is restored. If you plan to use a small generator, make sure it’s rated to handle the amount of power you will need, and always review the manufacturer’s instructions to operate it safely. Listen to local news or a NOAA Weather Radio for storm and emergency information, and check Yazoo Valley Electric’s Facebook page for power restoration updates. After the storm, avoid downed power lines and walking through flooded areas where power lines could be submerged. Allow ample room for utility crews to safely perform their jobs, including on your property. Advance planning for severe storms or other emergencies can reduce stress and anxiety caused by the weather event and can lessen the impact of the storm’s effects. Sign up for NOAA emergency alerts and warnings, and download our app to stay abreast of power restoration efforts and other important co-op news and information. I hope we don’t experience severe storms this summer, but we can never predict Mother Nature’s plans. At Yazoo Valley Electric, we recommend that you act today because there is power in planning. From our co-op family to yours, we hope you have a safe and wonderful summer.

by Michael Neely General Manager

GENERATOR An approved generator transfer switch, which keeps your house circuits separate from the electric co-op, should be installed by a professional.

Portable Generator: Plug appliances directly into the outlet provided on the generator.

Set up and run your generator in a well-ventilated area outside the home. Make sure it’s out and away from your garage, doors, windows and vents. The carbon monoxide generated is deadly. Use a heavy-duty extension cord to connect electric appliances to the outlet on the generator. Start the generator first before connecting appliances.

Source: SafeElectricity.org

Approved

Energy Efficiency Tip of the Month

CHAD Date_____

Stationary Generator:

Revisions Requested

ever connect a standby generator into your home’s electrical system. There are only two safe ways to connect a standby generator to your equipment.

Approved

Revisions Requested

SAFETY TIPS

Revisions Requested

STEVEN Date_____

During summer months, run large appliances that emit heat (like clothes dryers and dishwashers) during the evening when it’s cooler. This will minimize indoor heat during the day when outdoor temperatures are highest.

Sunday, June 20

Our employees will observe Independence Day and our offices will be closed Monday, July 5, for the holiday.

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J U LY 4 T H

RON Date_____

Approved

Source: energy.gov