Louisiana Country, South Louisiana Electric Cooperative Association, March 2026

Louisiana Country

Leslie’s Lights

Tragedy leads to lighting project completion in Amelia community

Page 18

With its innovative design, modern comforts, and guest-focused philosophy, American Encore is not just a riverboat, it’s the finest expression of American river cruising ever built. Designed to host just 180 guests, American Encore features more square feet per guest than any other small cruise ship with the largest staterooms globally. Small Ship Cruising Done

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COMMUNICATIONS

Conley Bourgeois, CCC

ACCOUNTING

Beth Fraser

Board of Directors

President Michael Heinen

Vice President Roger Dale DeHart

Secretary/Treasurer Richard Sitman

Mike

Daniel

WIred for growth

Balancing data center demand and reliability

Data centers may feel like a big-city phenomenon, but more of them are showing up in rural communities like the ones we serve—and for good reason. Rural areas offer what data centers need most: affordable land, room to grow and access to transmission lines that can move large amounts of power.

What makes data centers different from other large businesses is their appetite for electricity. These facilities run 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Servers must stay online constantly, which means power must be reliable every minute of every day.

For Louisiana’s electric cooperatives, the growth of data centers presents both opportunity and complexity.

On the plus side, data centers have the potential to bring steady, long-term load growth that helps support investments in local grids. With proper planning and policy support, those upgrades—including new substations, stronger lines and smarter technology—could benefit all co-op members and help keep electricity rates steady.

However, providing power to data centers presents challenges, too. These large facilities can be constructed and operating in as little as a year, but ensuring the necessary infrastructure, equipment, and electricity requires longer lead times and significant financial investment. Strategic planning and partnerships—as well as long-term power supply strategies—are essential to the process.

While most data centers operating in Louisiana are served by

investor-owned utilities, co-ops nationwide are fielding requests and inquiries from tech companies.

As member-owned utilities, electric cooperatives have a dual responsibility: to listen to the communities they serve and to provide reliable, affordable electric service to all co-op members.

Balancing those responsibilities is not always simple, especially as new types of large-scale energy users— such as data centers—become part of the local landscape.

Louisiana’s energy landscape continues to evolve, bringing both promise and new challenges. The board and employees of the Association of Louisiana Electric Cooperative are committed to continuing to listen, communicate, and work with our member cooperatives, policymakers and community leaders to ensure decisions reflect the best interests of the people and communities we serve.

We encourage cooperative members to stay informed and engaged and to reach out to their local electric cooperative with questions about data centers, electric service or other energyrelated issues. Your voice matters. 

Big Data, Bigger Demands

Many companies are choosing rural areas for their data centers because of cheaper land, available power and potential tax breaks. Data centers require huge amounts of electricity to operate, which presents new opportunities and challenges for electric co-ops.

HVAC. Constant cooling is needed to ensure servers function properly.

Server racks. Servers run applications and process data 24/7. One server rack can consume enough electricity to power a small home. A large data center can house thousands of server racks.

Power upgrades. Data centers often require new electrical infrastructure to meet their power needs.

Water source. Many large data centers are deploying evaporative cooling, which is more efficient than compressor-based systems.

Love the Boot Week is Louisiana’s largest litter removal and beautification effort, bringing awareness to our state’s litter problem while empowering organizations and individual citizens to clean up litter and beautify spaces in their communities.

This year, we are cleaning up in honor of America’s 250th birthday! Show your love for your country and your community by participating.

In 2025, 26,935 people volunteered a total of 81,852 hours at over 1,408 events, removing a record 514 tons of litter in all 64 parishes.

Let’s surpass last year’s numbers and grow our impact statewide.

WIN A PORTABLE BLACKSTONE GRILL

Make a $1 donation to the Cooperative Youth Leadership Fund to enter a drawing for a new grill. Tickets are available at your cooperative, and proceeds benefit the Louisiana Youth Leadership Council Representative Scholarship.

The prize drawing is held in July at the Association of Louisiana Electric Cooperatives Annual Meeting in Baton Rouge. The winner is contacted by phone.

SOUTH LOUISIANA ELECTRIC

COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION

P.O. Box 4037, Houma, LA 70361

2028 Coteau Road, Hwy. 660, Houma, LA 70364

985-876-6880

Amelia branch office: 2903 Lake Palourde Road Morgan City, LA 70380 985-631-3605

www.sleca.com

STAFF

Matthew Peters | General Manager

Brett Ledet | Assistant General Manager and Manager of Engineering

Shannon Soudelier | Operations

Superintendent

Sandi Click | Manager of Finance

Jordy Bourg | Manager of Purchasing

Abigail Hover | Manager of Member Services

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

David Luke | President | 985-855-4106

Roger Dale DeHart | VicePresident | 985-860-1078

Larry Daigle | Secretary| 985-870-1121

Terry Trahan | Treasurer | 985-804-7335

Ivan Acosta | 985-397-3341

Trevor Benoit | 985-498-0602

Sandra Boudreaux | 985-859-3526

Abby Rivet LeBlanc | 985-665-6974

Betty Jean Doyle | 985-709-4396

Lloyd Gibson | Board Adviser | 985-209-3765

Volume 43, Issue 2

Louisiana Country (USPS 473-180) is published bimonthly by the Association of Louisiana Electric Co-ops Inc., 10725 Airline Highway, Baton Rouge, LA 70816, in partnership with Pioneer Utility Resources.

Annual subscriptions: Members $2.79. Nonmembers $5.

Postmaster: Send form 3579 to 10725 Airline Highway, Baton Rouge, LA 70816.

Periodicals postage paid at Baton Rouge, Louisiana 70821, and additional mailing offices.

All Members Are Welcome

On behalf of everyone at South Louisiana Electric Cooperative Association, I am pleased to invite all our members to SLECA’s 2026 Annual Membership Meeting on Friday, April 17, at the Barry P. Bonvillain Civic Center.

This special evening is a wonderful opportunity for our members to get together as a community, reconnect with fellow members, and spend time with SLECA employees and your elected Board of Directors.

The formal event begins at 7 p.m., but doors open at 5:30 p.m. The event features a variety of activities for all ages, such as face painting, balloon creations, health screenings, informative booths, and live entertainment provided by the Terrebonne Parish Community Band.

During the formal meeting, we will share an update on the current state of your cooperative, discuss challenges faced over the past year, and outline what we see ahead for the coming year, including any major upcoming changes. Following the meeting, we invite you to enjoy food and conversation with your Board of Directors and SLECA team.

We look forward to welcoming you to an evening that highlights the strength of our cooperative and the spirit of our community. We hope you will make plans to join us for this meaningful event.

Members Asked to Update Account Names

To help speed up your registration at South Louisiana Electric Cooperative Association’s annual meeting Friday, April 17, take a few minutes now to check the name (or names) on your bill. This is how your account is listed on our records. If any changes have occurred, you need to contact us to find out what needs to be done to make proper corrections.

Your registration is important for voting and the prize drawing at the end of the business session. Only members of record (those listed on the bill) may register at the meeting. A joint membership of husband and wife counts as one registration. A tenant may not register if the account is in their landlord’s name, nor may a landlord register if the account is in their tenant’s name.

A qualified representative of a church, business or organization may register if proper documentation is presented. Only the president, officer or manager of a corporation may vote for the corporation at a meeting of the members. Any corporation employee may vote for the corporation as authorized by corporate resolution of the board of directors. This resolution must be adopted within 90 days prior to the meeting. 75993002

We urge you to contact us as soon as possible if any changes or corrections need to be made on your records.

Sleca offices are closed April 3 in observance of Good Friday.

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SOUTH LOUISIANA ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE ASSOCIATION P.O. BOX 4037

HOUMA, LA 70361

OFFICIAL NOTICE OF THE MEETING OF MEMBERS

In accordance with Article III, Section 3.03 of the cooperative bylaws, notice is hereby given of the Annual Membership Meeting of South Louisiana Electric Cooperative Association (SLECA) to be held Friday, April 17, 2026, at Barry P. Bonvillain Civic Center, 346 Civic Center Blvd., Houma, Louisiana.

Member registration (every registered member receives a gift) ..............................................

Health screenings and community information booths ...............................................................

Houma-Terrebonne community band .............................................................................................

and face painting for children ....................................................................................

The meeting is being held for the following purposes:

• To administer the oath of office to SLECA board members elected in Districts 4, 5 and 6.

• To transact any other business that may come during this meeting.

Respectfully submitted,

Larry Daigle, Secretary

p.m.

All registered members will be entered in drawings for 10 $100 electric bill credits!

When the lights go out, lineworkers are ready to answer the call, day or night, to safely restore power and keep our communities moving forward. They take pride in powering the places we call home. Today and every day, we thank lineworkers for their service and commitment.

Lineworker Appreciation Day April 13, 2026

ReadyWhen i t Matters Most

WIN A TRIP OF A LIFETIME

Washington,

D.C., Youth Tour

South Louisiana Electric Cooperative Association sponsors two students to attend the National Rural Electric Youth Tour from June 13-20 in Washington, D.C.

Who Can Apply

• Students who reside on SLECA’s electric lines.

• Sophomores or juniors during the 2025-26 school year.

• Students who have not previously won this contest.

Application Requirements

Submit a 500-word letter written to a representative or other elected official on a topic the student considers most important to them.

On a separate sheet, include: student’s full name; email address and phone number; name of school and current

grade level; parent’s or parents’ full name, address, phone number and email address, if available.

How to Submit

To submit an application, mail it to Youth Tour Contest c/o SLECA, P.O. Box 4037, Houma, LA 70361. Applications can also be submitted by email, youthtour@ sleca.com, or by dropping them off at 2028 Coteau Road, Houma, or 2903 Lake Palourde Road, Amelia

Important Dates

The contest ends March 20. All mailed entries must be postmarked by March 13. 221158001

For more information, visit www.sleca.com or call 985-876-6880 or 800-256-8826.

Lighting a

Louisiana firefighter Coby Bailey wins ‘The Great American Recipe’

By Cheré Coen

Like many South Louisiana natives, Coby Bailey learned to cook from his parents and grandparents. But it took a fire station to turn it into a passion.

“It really wasn’t until I started as a firefighter that I enjoyed cooking,” Coby says.

That spark turned into a fire that landed Coby on Season four of “The Great American Recipe” show on PBS. After a month of competition, Coby took home the top award Aug. 15, 2025.

“Cajun Country for me is not just food and something to eat but a way of life,” he says. “Everything we do here in South Louisiana is centered around food. I wanted the Cajun culture represented well, and I think I did that.”

inspect their gear and get ready for the day. They’re usually done around 9 a.m. to either train or start cooking for lunch, Coby explains. Sometimes the firefighters make a run to the grocery store to pick up supplies. And yes, they take the fire engine and head off for emergencies when needed.

“We’ve left a lot of groceries in the truck,” Coby says with a laugh.

Back at the station, the fires they attended to were on the stove.

“I was fortunate to have a captain who loved to cook every single day,” Coby says. “He liked to get everyone involved, including other stations or people we liked around the community.”

The firefighters ate well.

“We’d have a great meal,” Coby says. “The other stations would come. We’d tell stories. And we’d always make enough so we’d have supper.”

At the Lafayette Fire Department, the crew arrives early to clean,

When Coby made captain—he’s been at the Lafayette Fire Department for 27 years after serving in the U.S. Navy, including during Desert Storm—he decided to carry on the tradition and teach others at the station to cook. One day, a firefighter approached him about watching his YouTube channel and encouraged Coby to create his own.

“I said, ‘Dude, I watch you every day. I don’t need to know what you do on your day off,’” Coby says with a laugh.

The firefighter challenged Coby to see who could attract the most followers on YouTube. Coby did, and his cooking videos took off. That’s how PBS producers discovered the Lafayette native to invite him to compete on “The Great American Recipe.”

Coby had two requests: He had to bring his own food, and the chief needed to give him a month off to travel to Nashville, where the show is filmed.

“I really didn’t have to sell him,” Coby says of his chief giving permission. “I said, ‘Let’s do it for Lafayette. Let’s do it for the food.’ And he agreed.”

The trick for this Cajun chef was cooking up his recipes with his needed tools in hand. Coby drove to Nashville with a pickup full of his beloved pots and pans, roux spoons and supplies.

Filming began around 6:30 a.m. in a barn where contestants prepared their recipes while telling storie. Filming ended around 8 p.m. The first exercise was for contestants to cook a dish that made them fall in love with cooking. Cody thought of eggs, so he prepared a unique boudin omelet.

“It was important to me to keep the Cajun food and the Cajun tradition in there,” he says.

Other recipes Coby delivered to judges Tiffany Derry, Tim Hollingsworth and Francis Lam were an alligator sauce piquante and seafood gumbo. During one episode, Coby related a heartfelt anecdote about his buddies in Desert Storm. He took the top prize after creating a Cypress knee shrimp po’boy and cornbreadstuffed chicken with andouille cream sauce.

In announcing Coby as the winner, Tiffany said, “This home cook stayed true to who they are through every last one of their dishes that truly represented the heart of their cooking and their great American recipe.” 

Coby Bailey’s Alligator Sauce Piquante

10 alligator legs

¼ cup yellow mustard

Capt. Coby’s Cajun Seasoning

2 cups regular coconut oil, not extra-virgin oil

1 cup flour

1 pound smoked sausage, sliced

2 medium yellow onions, diced

1 green bell pepper, diced

2 8-ounce cans tomato sauce

1 can diced tomatoes with green chiles

3 cloves garlic, minced

2-3 tablespoons dry roux

1 pound peeled Louisiana Gulf shrimp, 31-40 count (or best available)

1 bundle green onions, chopped, for garnish

FOR THE GRITS

1 pint heavy whipping cream

3 12-ounce cans chicken broth

2 sticks butter, divided

4 teaspoons salt, plus more to taste

16-ounce box quick 5-minute grits

DIRECTIONS

In a large bowl, apply generous amounts of mustard and Capt. Coby’s Cajun Seasoning to the alligator legs, and mix well. Melt coconut oil in a large cast-iron pot. Toss the alligator legs in flour, then add to pot. Cook until lightly browned. Add sausage, onions and peppers. Cook until browned and all brown bits are lifted from the pot.

Add in tomato sauce, diced tomatoes, garlic and dry roux. Let cook for 30 minutes. Stir in shrimp, and let cook for 15 minutes until all flavors come together.

To make the grits, add heavy whipping cream, chicken broth, 1 stick of butter and salt to a pot. Bring to a boil. After liquid comes to a rolling boil, pour in grits. Stir constantly until grits become firm and almost cooked, about 5 minutes. Finish by adding a stick of butter to the grits.

Serve alligator sauce piquante over grits, and garnish with green onions.

Monarchs

Protecting the

There are ways you can help

By Pamela A. Keene

Over the past several decades, the monarch butterfly population has declined because of habitat loss, increased pesticide use and climate variability.

The decreased availability of milkweed— the sole host plant and food source for monarch caterpillars— is another factor in the dwindling numbers of the colorful migrating butterfly. Deforestation, expanded lawn development and increased pavement contribute to reduced native habitats, putting insects at greater risk.

Monarchs are considered a high-profile species, and their plight is frequently described as a “canary in the coal mine” for environmental health. Studying their migration patterns and pollination activity as indicators of a healthy environment helps scientists better understand broader environmental changes.

“Monarchs are among the most recognizable butterflies in the United States,” says Morgan Christman, pollinator ecologist and assistant professor in the Department of Entomology at Louisiana State University. “Scientists and citizenscientists have been studying monarchs for decades and have seen the overall decrease in their populations, as well as environmental and ecological changes.”

sources, and the use of glyphosate herbicides. In Louisiana, we can plant pollinator gardens and include native milkweed species in place of tropical milkweed. We can promote preserving and constructing natural habitats that include places for shelter, breeding sites and nectar sources.”

Morgan’s lab at LSU researches native and managed pollinators across natural, agricultural and urban landscapes to advance understanding of their ecology, threats and conservation.

“As the first pollinator ecology lab at LSU, we aim to address gaps in pollinator research in Louisiana and to translate that science into educational materials for the public,” she says.

Studying Monarch Migration

Think Diversity for Pollinators

Choose colorful native flowers and foliage and heirloom plants for gardens. Pay attention to providing a range of heights, leaf shapes and plant forms. Combine trees and shrubs with perennials to create an aesthetically pleasing area for pollinators and humans.

Plant flowers of different varieties, colors and bloom schedules that give life throughout the year and attract an array of insects. Plant them in clusters to make it easier for insects to find them.

Colorful perennials, such as black-eyed Susans, coneflowers, asters, coreopsis, blazing star, goldenrod, American yarrow, swamp sunflowers and cardinal flowers, can be complemented by flame azaleas, flowering dogwood and coral honeysuckle.

Monarch Watch, an education, conservation and research program based at the University of Kansas, offers ways for the public to become involved in studying and supporting monarchs. One of its most popular endeavors—the Monarch Watch Tagging Program— encourages individuals, schools, nature centers and other organizations to help study migration by tagging monarchs in the fall. That’s when the butterflies make their long commutes from summer breeding areas in southern Canada and the northern United States to overwinter in the warmth of central Mexico.

While monarchs are not listed as threatened in Louisiana, Morgan says they’re worth studying because the species may soon be considered for protection under the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service’s Endangered Species Act.

“It is important that all of us work together to mitigate threats to the monarch population,” she says.

“For instance, we can address the disappearance of habitats, the decrease in the availability of native milkweed and nectar

“The tagging program helps us understand more about the eastern monarch population’s fall migration,” Monarch Watch Director Kristen Baum says. “Since the start of the tagging program, the data we’ve collected with the help of many community scientists has revealed new information about the timing and pace of the migration, how weather can affect the migration, where migrating monarchs come from and more.”

Now in its 35th year, Monarch Watch sells tagging kits through its website. Each kit contains weatherproof adhesive tags with unique alphanumeric codes, datasheets for recording information about tagged monarchs, tagging instructions and other information. Visit monarchwatch.org for details.

Insects and butterflies seek sources for both pollen and nectar. Make sure to include a good assortment of each. Consider bloom time to ensure a continuous food source.

Pollinators and insects prefer differing flower shapes to accommodate their body types. For instance, butterflies prefer tubular blossoms so they use their proboscis to harvest nectar. Bees are drawn to bowl-shaped flowers, or those where pollen is easy to reach, where they have a place to land.

Remember to include a shallow water source or two, such as a saucer or a bowl that’s filled with small rocks.

Include at least one variety of milkweed. Not only do monarchs thrive on it, but other insects and butterflies are attracted to it as well.

Monarch Watch is a mark-andrecapture program, meaning its data comes from information participants provide when reporting insects’ recovered tags. Tagged monarchs are reported along the migration route, and some are recovered every year from overwintering sites in Mexico. Each year, Monarch Watch compiles and publishes this information for the public to view.

Monarch Waystations and Nectar Sources

Monarch Watch also developed the Monarch Waystation Program to encourage people to create, conserve and protect monarch habitats. The organization provides educational resources to help people establish and maintain Monarch Waystations, the program’s term for monarch habitats, to support butterflies during spring, summer and fall.

It’s easy to create a Monarch Waystation in home gardens, schools, businesses, nature centers and along roadsides. Sometimes all it takes is creating a small space with several nectar-producing plants and a clump of native milkweed. However, it is important to

have a plan to sustain the space, regardless of size.

Good practices include thinning plants, mulching, watering, avoiding insecticides and removing invasive species. It is also helpful to occasionally add more native milkweed plants.

To date, Monarch Watch has recorded more than 54,000 registered Monarch Waystations worldwide.

“The Monarch Waystation Program is celebrating 21 years this year, and it’s been incredible to see how many people have registered their habitats as Monarch Waystations,” Monarch Watch Communications Coordinator Jess Anderson says. “These habitats provide crucial resources for monarchs, and we need to continue planting milkweed and nectar plants. This not only will benefit monarchs but many other pollinators and wildlife.”

Native Milkweed Is Key

As monarchs’ sole host plant, milkweed is crucial to the future of the species.

“We urge people to only plant native milkweed,” says David Mizejewski,

naturalist with the National Wildlife Federation, a nonprofit conservation education and advocacy organization.

In Louisiana, recommended native species include aquatic milkweed, swamp milkweed and butterfly weed.

“We strongly advise against planting tropical milkweed because it is nonnative and it can carry a parasite called OE (Ophryocystis elektroscirrha) that is harmful to monarchs,” David says. “Although tropical milkweed is sold at some retail nurseries, it’s not native to the United States. Its distinctive reddish orange and yellow blooms may be pretty, but they signal, ‘Don’t plant; nonnative.’

“The reason to plant native is that native wildlife and native plants coevolved together over millennia and, as a general

BELOW: Aquatic milkweed, asclepias perennis, is an exceptional native host plant for monarchs.

rule, rely on each other for survival in a way that nonnative plants often can’t replicate,” he says. “Nonnatives can also become invasive or spread disease to native species.”

OE can be present on all types of milkweed, but it’s most prevalent on the colorful tropical milkweed. Unlike native milkweed, tropical milkweed does not die back seasonally, allowing the parasite to persist year-round.

“The OE parasite’s life cycle on tropical milkweed is not interrupted,” David says. “When the native milkweed dies back, the virus dies with it.”

Debate about milkweed species sometimes stands in the way of taking action.

“Finding native milkweed can be challenging, but it is important to ensure that you’re only planting native,” David says. “Take the extra time to seek out native milkweed at native plant sales at public gardens, arboretums and area native plant societies, such as the

Louisiana Native Plant Society, lnps.org, that maintains a listing of plant sales, workshops and conferences.”

Ray Moranz, pollinator conservation specialist with Xerces Society of Invertebrate Conservation in the central region of the United States, says OE may not be the main issue around preserving monarch butterflies.

“The biggest concerns are the declines in the availability of milkweed and nectar plants,” he says. “Rising temperatures, loss of habitats and the use of pesticides are also some of the other major threats.”

Ray says places for monarchs to feed on nectar, lay their eggs and protect themselves from predators are vanishing as native and natural habitats disappear.

“It’s up to all of us to be aware of the monarch’s dwindling population and to each do our part to help them survive and thrive by creating pollinator gardens with plants that haven’t been sprayed with insecticides, reduce our use of pesticides and help preserve native habitats,” he says. 

Helpful Resources

Reputable organizations in Louisiana can provide a wealth of information about native plants and sources, monarch butterflies and pollinators. Here are a few resources:

 Louisiana Native Plant Society—Find native plant lists, plant seeds and sources, plus information about area-specific Native Plant Society Chapters; lnps.org

 Louisiana State University Agricultural Center—Provides Louisiana-specific recommendations and information about pollinators and monarch butterflies; lsuagcenter.com and lsuagcenter.com/ topics/lawn_garden/native-plants

 Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries—Offers the Louisiana Native Plant Resource Guide; wlf.louisiana.gov

 Xerces Society—Is dedicated to protecting monarch butterflies; xerces.org/monarchs

 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service— Home of the Save the Monarch initiative, fws.gov/initiative/pollinators/save-monarch

 Monarch Watch—Offers ways to support monarchs; monarchwatch.org.

ACROSS THE BOARD

Jan. 12, 2026

Present were directors David Luke, president; Roger DeHart, vice president; Larry Daigle, secretary; Terry Trahan, treasurer; board members Ivan Acosta, Trevor Benoit, Sandra Boudreaux, Betty Jean Doyle and Abby LeBlanc; and Lloyd Gibson, adviser to the board.

Also attending were Matt Peters, general manager; Abigail Hover, manager of Member Services; and Ashley Ferrington, administrative assistant.

The board approved the minutes and summary of the Dec. 1, 2025, regular board meeting and the minutes of the Nov. 20, 2025, budget meeting. The Association of Louisiana Electric Cooperatives and 1803 Cooperative reports were also approved.

The financial report, approved by the board, highlighted interest earnings, cash on hand, a rate comparison showing South Louisiana Electric Cooperative Association having the most steady rates in the area, line loss, monthly kilowatt-hour sales, cumulative sales to date, cost of service, equity, times

interest earned ratio, and electric and total revenue versus cost per kWh.

Following an update on upcoming schools, meetings and events, Peters reported the following:

• Christmas lighting contest was judged Tuesday, Dec. 9. This year, SLECA had 21 entries.

• SLECA offices will be closing Jan. 19 in observance of Martin Luther King Day.

• SLECA received a check from Federated Insurance.

• SLECA will pay a total of $1,319,625.89 in property taxes for 2025.

• SLECA received a check from FEMA for Hurricane Ida.

• A monthly update was given on Hurricane Ida.

The board approved the manager’s report and expenses, attorney’s fees, and safety report showing employees have worked 4,808,301 hours without a lost-time accident since December 1996. 96306001

The meeting was adjourned.

For copies of the minutes, contact SLECA, P.O. Box 4037, Houma, LA 70361, or call 985-876-6880 or 800-256-8826.

SLECA Offers $500 Scholarship Opportunity

The South Louisiana Electric Cooperative Association Scholarship is valued at $500 and awarded to a full-time student enrolling at any Louisiana university, community college, or technical college who lives on SLECA’s lines and whose immediate family is a member of SLECA.

Rules and Conditions

X Must be entering freshman year of college and registered as a fulltime student at a Louisiana university, community college or technical college at the time of scholarship payout.

X Must live on SLECA lines or have a parent who owns a business that is a SLECA member.

X Must have maintained a “C” average or higher in high school.

X Must demonstrate a need for financial assistance.

X Must provide SLECA with a cap and gown photo for publication and media outlets.

X Must provide grade transcripts and ACT/SAT scores.

Deadline to apply is March 25. Completed applications must be mailed with all requested materials to SLECA (Attn: Scholarships), P.O. Box 4037, Houma, LA 70361. Applications can be dropped off at 2028 Coteau Road, Houma, LA or 2903 Lake Palourde Road, Amelia, LA; or emailed to scholarships@sleca.com. Visit www.sleca.com under the Community tab for the application. 16846002

Leslie’s Lights

By EmmaLee Tingle

On June 11, 2018, Leslie Matthews died along a dark stretch of road in St. Mary Parish, triggering a chain of events that proves light can come from even the darkest circumstances.

Leslie, the 43-year-old daughter of Amelia resident Emma Matthews, was walking along an unlit section of Duhon Boulevard at night in Amelia when she was struck by a vehicle and died.

“She was just lovely,” Emma says. “She would give you the shirt off her back. Every day, I go to do something and I think, ‘If Leslie was here, she’d be doing this.’”

For years after Leslie’s tragedy, town and parish officials discussed the need for lighting in that area. After Leslie’s death, Andrew Gros, Jr. was appointed to Amelia’s recreation board. He began working on recreation projects, and said Amelia’s residents made it clear they wanted lighting along Duhon Boulevard.

Andrew had known SLECA board member Trevor Benoit for years, so he approached Trevor about the possibility of SLECA lighting the dark stretch of roadway.

Andrew started working on the project through public bodies of town and parish government, and Trevor presented it to management and operations personnel at SLECA. Afterward, budgets were amended, funding came together and SLECA offered to donate all the labor, bringing the lighting project to life..

The project was years in the making, but when the work began, it only took a few months to complete.

Recently, a ribbon-cutting ceremony celebrated the project’s completion. Dozens of people turned out to honor Leslie’s life and her family. Andrew and Trevor attended to support Emma as she cut the ribbon in the very place her daughter lost her life.

“I was so overwhelmed,” Emma says. “I just couldn’t believe so many people came out. I appreciate Andrew and (how he helped). He’s been a good, good friend—he and Trevor. I’ve known them for a long time, and they became like family.”

Andrew and Trevor recount the story of seeing the lights come on. The evening the lights were set to be energized, they had dinner at a restaurant on Duhon Boulevard to watch in celebration as the bulbs burned in the evening sky for the first time.

Leslie’s family, Andrew’s wife, Ethyl, and several community members joined them. As the sun set and time came for the automatic lights to turn on, one solitary light lit the sky. It was the pole just a few feet from where Leslie lost her life, and it was the only bulb that came to life. Slowly, the other bulbs in the lighting project lit up Duhon Boulevard like never before.

“I get chills every time I think about it,” Trevor says. “We were

all just sitting there with big lumps in our throats. A few of us had to wipe our eyes.”

Andrew says the sight of the lighting project and memory of the overwhelming community spirit that resulted from it still amaze him.

“Every week, my wife and I go to church,” Andrew says. “We pass the lights, and we say to each other how well this community did for each other in coming together to get this done.”

Trevor says the lights now seem like they have always been there.

“It’s been a few months now that we’ve had the lights on the boulevard, and it almost seems like they’ve been there forever,” Trevor says. “It’s really a beautiful sight to see when things were so dark for so long.

“When we held the dedication, I said this was a dark situation, and it had just turned bright. These are Leslie’s lights.”

Trevor says Andrew is the one to thank for making this project happen within the community.

“I want to thank everyone who was involved,” Trevor says. “Andrew put his heart and soul into this project. It was sentimental and personal to him, and he persevered to get it done.”

Emma doesn’t visit the area often because of painful memories, but she has so much pride in the project and the honor this process brought to Leslie’s life.

“I go that way every once in a while,” she says. “When I see that pole—Leslie’s pole—I am a Christian and I know that one day we will meet again. I just miss my baby.”

Leslie’s life motto was “Matthews—all day, every day.” Emma lives every day to remember and honor that motto, along with the rest of Leslie’s family. In the darkest situation imaginable, Emma saw a community come together to bring light from the darkness of death.

Duhon Boulevard now buzzes with light for homes and businesses, with a hope of future development. Leslie’s lights shine with the strength and resilience that continually honor the family and community who loved her dearly.

PLUGGED IN

Home Lighting 101

By Abby Berry

Lighting is something most of us don’t think much about—until it’s wrong. Maybe the living room feels too dim for reading or the kitchen lights cast an odd glow. We often grab whatever bulb or fixture looks good without considering how it will perform. With a little planning, your home can be brighter, cozier and more energy efficient.

Watts vs. Lumens

When shopping for light bulbs, it’s easy to focus on wattage, but that only measures how much energy is used. When it comes to brightness, what matters is the lumen count.

Lumens measure the actual light output. For example, an 800-lumen LED bulb gives off about the same amount of light as an old-fashioned 60-watt incandescent bulb.

You’ve likely replaced all incandescent bulbs with long-lasting, energy-efficient LEDs. If not, it’s time to make a switch.

A rule of thumb: The higher the lumens, the brighter the light while lower watts result in less energy consumed. Check wattage ratings for fixtures and install bulbs that meet the fixture’s wattage safety requirements.

Color Temperature and Consistency

Light bulbs vary in color temperature. This detail is often overlooked—until you replace one bulb and notice the new light

doesn’t match the others.

Consider installing bulbs of the same brand and wattage at the same time. That way, the look stays consistent, and you won’t be stuck hunting for a perfect match later.

Dimmers and Switches

Installing dimmers in place of on/off switches can be a game changer. Dimmers give you more control over brightness, help save energy and create a more comfortable atmosphere. Not all bulbs are dimmable, so double check labels before buying.

While thinking about light switches, consider whether you have enough of them and whether they’re in the right places.

A light you can only turn off from one end of a hallway becomes annoying. For installations or upgrades, it’s best to hire a licensed electrician to ensure everything is wired safely and efficiently.

Form Meets Function

Bulbs are only part of the equation—fixtures matter, too. Each type serves a purpose.

Ambient lighting from sconces or glasscovered ceiling fixtures provides general illumination. Task lighting—provided by pendants, desk lamps or track lighting— focuses light where you need it most.

When choosing a fixture, think beyond looks. Does the light provides the right amount of brightness for the space? A beautiful chandelier might look perfect over

the dining table but leaves the rest of the room too dim. Alternatively, an oversized fixture could flood the room with more light than needed, wasting energy and money.

Energy Efficiency Meets Convenience

Smart lighting adds a layer of control, but the real magic is convenience. With smart bulbs, you can adjust brightness and colors, and set schedules from your phone or an assistant such as Alexa or Google Assistant.

Want the lights to dim automatically for movie night or to turn on before you get home? Smart bulbs make it easy.

Smart lighting also personalizes your space. You can go classic with warm, white tones or experiment with colors to set the mood—anything from a soft glow for winding down to vibrant hues for a party.

Smart bulbs rely on power from a wall switch, which needs to stay in the “on” position for remote controls to work. If you prefer using a physical switch, consider pairing smart bulbs with a smart light switch.

Many of today’s smart switches also come with motion detectors, adding another level of efficiency and convenience.

Good lighting makes your home look better and feel better. You can create spaces that are welcoming, functional and energy efficient. Whether you stick to traditional bulbs and fixtures or explore the flexibility of smart lighting, thoughtful choices today will brighten your home for years to come. 

A Word About Water

Tap Into Water Heating Savings

If your home is like most, you and your family use about 64 gallons of water each day. If your water heater is electric, that probably accounts for about 18% of your power bill.

That makes your water heater the second-largest energy expense in your home. Why not use less electricity to heat it?

Today’s high-efficiency water heaters use much less energy than older models, so you don’t need to give up comfort for energy savings. That’s good news for your power bill.

There is a newer option to consider: an electric heat pump water heater. These units give you the hot water you need by pulling heat from the surrounding air to heat the water—like a refrigerator in reverse. Because they do not directly produce heat, electric heat pump water heaters are two to three times more energy efficient than standard units.

According to the U.S. Department of Energy, a family of four can save about $550 a year on water heating costs, which adds up to $5,610 over the lifetime of the unit.

A heat pump water heater may cost a bit more upfront than other models. However, according to the DOE, most people see a payback in less than three years due to the unit’s lower operating costs and energy savings. Look for the Energy Star label when shopping for a water heater.

Tankless electric water heaters are another option, but carefully weigh the benefits and drawbacks. These smaller units quickly heat water to provide it when called upon, but can use eight times more electricity than a standard water heater.

This high demand increases your co-op’s cost of purchased power, which plays an important role in how much you pay for electricity. In some cases, people who use electric tankless water heaters must upgrade their home’s wiring to support the greater demand for electricity.

Other ways to lower your energy costs include setting your water heater’s thermostat to no higher than 120 degrees, fixing leaks, installing low-flow fixtures, and using energy-efficient dishwashers and washing machines.

Helping you save energy and money is another way your co-op is always here for you. n