FLASHES
WFEC Recognizes Local Students with Scholarships
West Florida Electric Cooperative (WFEC) is proud to recognize its 2026 scholarship recipients. Each student will receive a $1,000 scholarship based upon their essays about what makes cooperatives unique compared to other utilities, their academic achievements, and their service to their communities.
These scholarships are part of the cooperative’s ongoing commitment to support and empower local students as they pursue higher education, trades, and work toward building successful futures. 115676002
Winners representing nine schools from throughout WFEC’s service area were recognized at our Annual Meeting/Member Appreciation Day on Saturday, April 25. They are:
• Saxon Smith, Altha School
• Daiden P. Hardy, Bethlehem School
• Isabella Coley, Blountstown HS
• Emma Grace Fowler, Holmes Co. HS
• Ian Hatcher, Malone School
• Anna Kate Medley, Marianna HS
• Rhett Greenwood, Poplar Springs School
• Samuel Searcy, Sneads HS and
• Jessica Yarbor, Vernon HS.
Page 2: Notify County Agencies About Special Needs
Page 2: State Legislators Support Cooperatives with Legislation
Page 3: Protect Yourself and Your Medical Devices During Power Outages
Page 4: Alday Earns Associate of Arts Degree
ROW U pdate
WFEC Right-of-Way Crews will be cutting & trimming in the following area(s) during
When ROW crews are trimming in your area, there may be several days between ROW cutting & clean-up crews due to inclement weather, equipment failure, or other unforeseen circumstances.
WFeC
Notify County Agencies About Special Needs
The Special Needs Registry Shelter Program helps individuals who may need assistance during a hurricane or other disaster evacuation. If you require transportation or have a medical condition that needs attention in a shelter, you should register.
For those receiving hospice or home health care, confirm you’ve been registered by your provider.
Special Needs Shelters are designed for people whose needs go beyond what general population shelters can provide. These shelters offer additional support for individuals who are medically stable but may need help with daily tasks or rely on medical equipment.
Who qualifies?
• Individuals with special needs.
• Those needing more than basic first aid.
• People with disabilities or impairments who are medically stable. Registration helps emergency officials plan and respond effectively, and must be updated each year. All information is kept confidential.
If you or someone you know may need assistance during an evacuation, contact your local emergency management agency to register and to learn more. Note: registering does not guarantee placement in a special needs shelter but local officials will provide guidance based on your situation. 94681002
State Legislators Support Cooperatives with Legislation
Please join us in thanking our local state legislators for passing Senate Bill 288 and House Bill 379, which support affordable, reliable energy, and for always supporting Florida’s electric cooperatives. A special thank you to the bill sponsors, Rep. Jason Shoaf (representing 5 panhandle co-ops) and Senator Anna Maria Rodriguez (representing Florida Keys Co-op).
Sponsors:
For assistance and to register for the program, contact:
• Calhoun County: 850-674-8075
• Holmes County: 850-547-1112
• Jackson County: 850-526-4500
• Washington County: 850-638-6203
You can also register online: https://snr/floridadisaster.org.
WFEC offers a variety of ways to pay your monthly bills.
Check out your options and decide what’s best for you.
Protect Yourself and Your Medical Devices During Power Outages
Do you or a loved one rely on electric medical devices? If so, power outages aren’t just inconveniences. Severe weather or equipment failures can knock out electricity without warning, so it is essential to have a plan to stay safe.
You and your doctor can complete a medically essential service form which allows the cooperative to contact you when there is a planned outage to perform routine maintenance or upgrade lines and equipment in your area. WFEC strives to give these accounts special consideration during planned outages. However, when severe storms hit our area, there is no way to determine how long electric service will be disrupted, so it is very important for West Florida Electric Cooperative (WFEC) members who require life support or other medical devices to make arrangements for their medical needs in advance.
Members with critical care needs are strongly encouraged to have backup plans to move to locations with power during an emergency, have extra batteries and medical supplies readily available, or have a generator on hand for their use.
To sign up for medically essential
EfficiEncy Tip of ThE MonTh:
service, your doctor must complete a form and you must return it to WFEC to keep on file. To request a medically essential service form, please call 800-342-7400.
Follow these tips to prepare medical equipment for power outages:
Document your devices. Create a file that includes the device’s manufacturer, model, serial number, instruction manuals and a photo. 86340002
Know your backup options. Find out if your device is compatible with backup power like batteries or a generator. Check how long it can operate during an outage. Follow the manufacturer’s recommendations and keep device-specific supplies on hand.
Maintain your devices. Make sure equipment is clean, calibrated, and working properly. Routine maintenance helps prevent surprises during emergencies.
Charge up. Keep your cell phone, backup power sources and battery-powered medical devices fully charged. Keep extra batteries on hand, especially during storm season.
Create an evacuation plan. Have a plan in case you need to leave your home. Identify the locations of emergency shelters and power stations in your area. Talk with family and friends about places you can go that have power and are accessible.
Stock up for two weeks. Keep a two-week supply of medications, medical accessories and essentials like coolers and refrigeration packs for temperature-sensitive medicine.
Consider manual alternatives. Look for portable, dependable alternatives to electronic medical devices. For example, a manual wheelchair, walker, or cane as a backup for an electric scooter.
Review your insurance coverage. Talk with your insurance provider so you know what’s covered if your medical device is damaged during a weather event or power outage.
As temperatures start to rise, many homeowners focus on staying cool. Don’t forget about the small gaps around windows and doors. While air sealing is often associated with keeping cold air out during winter, it’s just as important during summer.
Tiny cracks and worn weatherstripping allow cool, conditioned air to escape and hot, humid air to seep indoors. This forces your air conditioner to work harder than necessary and increases energy costs. Take a few minutes to check for drafts, replace weatherstripping and seal leaks. A tighter home keeps you more comfortable and helps manage energy use.
Alday Earns Associate of Arts Degree
Congratulations to Jamie Alday, a line crew leader in our Sneads district, for earning his Associate of Arts degree in Business Administration from Keiser University. He is currently continuing his education and working toward a bachelor’s degree in business administration, which he expects to complete in July 2027. He was hired at West Florida Electric (WFEC) in 2003, earned his journeyman linemen status in 2007, and was promoted to line crew leader in 2019.
While working full time at the cooperative, Alday balanced work, his studies, and earned a place on the Dean’s list at Keiser. He said that while balancing everything was challenging at times, it has also been very rewarding, helping him build stronger time management skills, stay organized, and remain focused on his professional growth and longterm goals. 53207001
Alday believes this degree strengthens his understanding of business operations, communications, and decision-making, allowing him to contribute more effectively and prepare for future leadership opportunities. He also noted that learning how areas like management, finance, and operations
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are interconnected has provided him with a broader perspective about how organizational decisions are made. He plans to use his degree to continue growing professionally, pursue leadership roles, and support his personal business building spec homes.
“Earning my associate degree was a meaningful milestone. It represents dedication, growth, and my commitment to building a better future for myself personally and professionally. I’m excited about what’s ahead and grateful for the opportunity to keep learning and growing. I’m especially motivated to apply what I learn to my career and my personal business goals. If you’re considering going back to school, I encourage you to go for it,” said Alday. “It can feel like a big commitment, but taking it one step at a time makes it manageable. Investing in yourself is always worth it in the long run.”
Submit your event by email clf@westflorida.coop. Visit the link below to view a list of events.
Notifications Statement: Notice is hereby given that the West Florida Electric Cooperative Association, Inc., Board of Trustees regularly meets on the fourth Tuesday of each month at 1:00 PM, unless special circumstances warrant a change. If a change is warranted, it could include changing the time or date of the meetings. It is best to verify the details by calling (800) 342-7400. If you would like to address the Board of Trustees, please consult Board Policy 114 (located on the co-op website).
This Institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.