2023 Trustee Nominees

Below are this year’s candidates for trustee election. Remember, every member has the opportunity to vote for each trustee.Your ballot/registration form is included in the center of this magazine. CAEC's Board represents the only board in the nation to be 100 percent at the Leadership Circle level of commitment and their spouses at the Presidential level to the nonpartisan rural electric political action committee, known as America's Electric Cooperatives PAC.

Mike Lamar, resident of Autauga County, began his term of service on CAEC’s Board on Sept. 16, 2020. Lamar graduated Salutatorian from Autauga Academy and has a Bachelor of Science in Financial Management from Auburn University Montgomery, graduating Cum Laude. He has been in the banking industry since August 1993 and is currently the Autauga County Bank President/Relationship Manager for River Bank and Trust. Lamar and his wife Melissa have two children, Amanda and Savannah. They attend Autaugaville Baptist Church. Lamar serves on the Prattville YMCA Board, Autauga Cattlemen’s Association, and as Chairman of the Autauga County Farm City Committee. He is a member of the Prattville Kiwanis Club as well as the Autaugaville Lions Club. He has earned the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s (NRECA) Credentialed Cooperative Director and Board Leadership certificates.

Terry Mitchell, resident of Stewartville, has served on CAEC’s Board of Trustees since February 1999. He served as the Secretary/Treasurer of the Board from November 2014 until August 2015 and Board Chairman from August 2015 until August 2018. He has earned the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s (NRECA) Creden¬tialed Cooperative Director and Board Leadership certificates and continues to maintain his Director Gold credentials. He also serves on the Cooperative Utility Services, LLC (CUS) Board, a subsidiary of CAEC and Dixie Electric Cooperative that serves Maxwell/Gunter AFB. Mitchell served as Probate Judge for Coosa County from 2001-2016. He served as the Chief of Staff for the Alabama Department of Mental Health until July 2017. A native of Coosa County, Mitchell participates in numerous community and civic organizations and was one of the founders of the Coosa County Chamber of Commerce. Mitchell and his wife Diane have been members of the Cooperative since 1978. They represented CAEC in 1996 at the Alabama Council of Cooperative’s Annual Co-op Couples Conference.

James Robert Parnell, resident of Chilton County, was appointed to the Board of Trustees for Central Alabama Electric Cooperative (CAEC) to fill the unexpired term for District 6, a position formerly held by Jimmie Harrison, Jr. for 23 years. Parnell began his term of service on May 24, 2022. Parnell is the farm manager for Parnell Inc., in Maplesville. He is a graduate of Auburn University with a Bachelor of Science in Agriculture Business and Economics. During his career, he has served on numerous committees including the USDA Farm Service Agency and the American Shorthorn Association (Commercial Acceptance Committee) and held positions in both the Chilton County Young Farmers (Chairman) and the Alabama Farmers Federation (Young Farmers Committee South at Large Director). Currently he serves as Vice President of the Board of Directors at the YMCA of Chilton County as well as the President of the Chilton County Cattleman’s Association. Parnell and his wife Jami have two daughters, Charli Bay and Merit, and one son, Lou. They attend Hillcrest Baptist Church in Maplesville. He has earned the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s (NRECA) Credentialed Cooperative Director certificate.

Play it safe at the beach this summer

One of the highlights of a beach trip is water recreation. But the Alabama Law Enforcement Agency (ALEA) reminds everyone to be mindful of safety around water this season.

Never swim alone. Stay in groups, and don’t drift too far from shore.

• Don’t swim near piers, pilings and platforms.

• Do not swim in areas being used by fishermen. Avoid swimming in areas where schools of fish are present.

• Use extra caution when water is murky. Avoid being in the water during nighttime hours.

• Rip currents are most prevalent when the waves crash perpendicular to the beach, rather than at an angle. Look for gaps between the waves; a small patch of calm water surrounded by waves is often a rip current. And look for discolored water near the shore. Rip currents tend to drag large amounts of sediment back out to sea; they’re identifiable by a noticeable flow of sand extending away from the shore.

• Heed beach warning flags, which are posted at all public beach areas in Gulf Shores, Orange Beach and Gulf State Park. For more on summer safety, visit alea.gov.

Alabama launches statewide action plan to eliminate cervical cancer by 2033

Alabama ranks third in the nation in the incidence and deaths from cervical cancer, and the burden is even worse in rural counties. To address the problem, the state Department of Public Health, primary care providers and several other health and advocacy groups have launched “Operation Wipe Out Cervical Cancer Alabama.”

The action plan will use evidence-based strategies to promote vaccination against the human papillomavirus (HPV), encourage cervical cancer screenings, and ensure follow ups when a screening indicates abnormal results.

HPV vaccinations help protect children and adolescents before they are exposed to the virus. Cancer screenings among women ages 21 to 65 detect abnormal cells in the cervix, which can lead to cancer. And appropriate follow-ups improve the chance of recovery from cervical cancer.

For more information on the statewide action plan, and to find out how you or your organization may get involved, visit alabamapublichealth.gov

Take us along!

We’ve enjoyed seeing photos from our readers on their travels with Alabama Living! Please send us a photo of you with a copy of the magazine on your travels to: mytravels@alabamaliving. coop. Be sure to include your name, hometown and electric cooperative, and the location of your photo.We’ll draw a winner for the $25 prize each month.