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JANUARY Quick Hits

Winter Weather Icy out there? Stay off roads if possible. Find driving tips and other ways to prepare for winter weather at

Soup’s On National Soup Month has arrived, perfect for chilly nights. Get a jump on it with our stew recipe on page 32.

Day of Service This Martin Luther King Day (January 17), find a community group near you that needs volunteers to lend a hand.

Energy Tip Are your fans winter-ready? Make sure they’re switched to turn clockwise to circulate warm air around the room.

StormCenter.coop

Speed Under Pressure: Lineworkers Test Lifesaving Skills

Pole Top Rescue Competition held at Nash Community College

In November, North Carolina’s top electric cooperative lineworkers assembled at Nash Community College in Rocky Mount to compete for the title of State Champion in the 2021 Pole Top Rescue Competition.

The biennial competition pitted lineworkers against the clock and each other as they demonstrate essential lifesaving skills and provided an up-close look at the speed, technique and safety knowledge required to maintain the lines that power the lives of electric cooperative members. To advance to this state championship, each competitor had to win a similar competition at their local cooperative.

During the competition, each lineworker executed a scenario in which a coworker is unconscious atop a utility pole. The competitor, dressed in full climbing gear, had to radio for help, scale 20 feet up the utility pole, lower a 105-pound mannequin (nicknamed “Kool”) and begin lifesaving procedures. All North Carolina electric cooperative lineworkers must complete this same scenario in less than five minutes to maintain their certification to work on electric co-op lines.

“This championship highlights just how rigorous and challenging it is to be a lineworker,” said Louis Duke, spokesperson for North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives. “These highly trained individuals play a critical role in co-op operations, and we can’t thank them enough for the vital service they provide to our members and communities.” Meet the 2021 Pole Top Champs Pictured, top to bottom First Place: Levi Fagan, EnergyUnited, Time: 1:53.37 Second Place: Jason Helms, Union Power Cooperative, Time: 1:57.90 Third Place: Cody Buck, Brunswick Electric, Time: 1:59.83 Not pictured: Chris Griffin of Union Power maintains the overall record with his 2014 time of 01:33.47. carolinacountry.com/extras These guys are fast — this is a competition you have to see to believe! Watch them in action on our website. The competition was held for the first time at Nash Community College thanks to a valuable partnership maintained with North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives. Nash Community College (nashcc.edu) offers critical degree and certificate programs in Electric Lineman Technology that help support the vital line workforce across rural North Carolina.

Roanoke Electric CEO Honored with NC Rural Leadership Award

Recognition comes as Wynn is named CEO of Fla. co-op

Curtis Wynn, CEO of Roanoke Electric Cooperative, has received the 2021 Larry Wooten Rural Leadership Award, presented by Governor Roy Cooper and Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler each year to an outstanding leader who has worked to advance North Carolina’s rural communities. The award is a milestone recognition for Wynn, who, after leading Roanoke Electric for more than 24 years, was recently named the incoming CEO at SECO Energy, an electric cooperative serving more than 200,000 members in central Florida.

At Roanoke Electric, headquartered in Ahoskie, Wynn earned national accolades for his commitment to implementing services and programs that help local communities and members thrive.

“Curtis Wynn has brought opportunity and innovation to rural North Carolina, making rural communities an even better place to live and work,” said Gov. Cooper. “Thanks to his work, more families, schools and businesses have access to high-speed internet, a critical tool to help rural communities thrive. We are working hard to build on the great work of our rural co-ops and other partners to get even more North Carolinians connected to broadband.”

Wynn has spearheaded a variety of cutting-edge, high-impact initiatives in the co-op’s long-standing efforts to empower member-owners in a region facing economic challenges.

“Curtis Wynn has built a transformative legacy of leadership, from efforts to bring broadband connectivity to rural communities and raising more than $10 million to support economic development projects, to encouraging wealth creation through land ownership and sustainable land management,” said Agriculture Commissioner Steve Troxler.

A Florida native, Wynn began his career washing trucks for his rural hometown electric co-op in Graceville, Fla., and his decision to make a career transition stems, in part, from his desire to be closer to his family and home, where he plans to eventually retire.

“It’s been a pleasure serving Roanoke Electric’s member-owners for the past 24 years,” Wynn said. “This has been the highlight of my 42-year career in the electric co-op industry. I am not saying goodbye. A part of me will always be a part of this region and connected to this co-op.”

The impact of Wynn’s leadership on Roanoke Electric and its consumer-members is lasting. During his tenure, the co-op developed the Upgrade to $ave program, which provides energy efficiency and smart energy upgrades to homes and businesses that financially benefit both the member-consumers and the cooperative.

In partnership with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the co-op established its sustainable forestry program. It has helped hundreds of local landowners by providing information and resources to help them better manage and retain their land for the purpose of building generational wealth.

The Roanoke Connect initiative is bridging the digital divide by bringing broadband connectivity to the region for the first time. After years of laying the groundwork, connections to high-speed internet service are now underway.

The impact of Wynn’s vision and legacy stretches beyond the borders of North Carolina. As immediate past president of the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA), Wynn had the distinction of being the first Black board president in the organization’s history and leading the organization through the unprecedented disruptions of the global pandemic. During his tenure, he was a tremendous voice for the nation’s electric cooperatives to embrace the tenets of diversity, equity and inclusion, and the NRECA membership passed a diversity, equity and inclusion resolution in 2020.

In addition to leadership roles at Roanoke Electric and NRECA, Wynn has served on various local, state and national boards of directors. His greatest sense of achievement, however, comes from Roanoke Electric.

“I would say my proudest accomplishment is the growth I have seen in our team, and how they have stepped up to address the many challenges the industry has thrown our way over the years,” Wynn said. “They did so by embracing our core values beyond anyone’s expectations, really wanting to make a difference in the community we serve. Leaving that behind makes me feel good about what lies ahead for Roanoke Electric.”

Wynn’s last day at Roanoke Electric was December 13. The board of directors has appointed the co-op’s chief operating officer, Marshall Cherry, to serve as interim CEO.

Wynn has advocated on behalf of electric co-ops throughout his career, including during 2017 testimony to the U.S. House Agriculture Committee.

—Louis Duke, North Carolina’s Electric Cooperatives

Scenes CAROLINA COUNTRY A GALLERY OF YOUR BEST PHOTOS

A Mountain Rainbow

Taken from the Clingman’s Dome parking lot in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, the camera was pointing toward Joyce Kilmer Memorial Forest and Cherokee National Forest. Rodney Hendrickson, London, KY Thanks to everyone who submitted pictures to our annual photo contest! The judges chose from hundreds of photos of people and places throughout North Carolina. In addition to these images, we’ll run more in our “Carolina Creators” magazine feature. And even more selections will appear as the “Photo of the Week” on our website (carolinacountry.com/potw), where there’s an archived collection. Our Facebook and Instagram pages also routinely showcase reader photos.

Gone Turtlin’?!

We had a slow afternoon of fishing off of Moccasin Creek, but we were able to catch this large snapping turtle while attempting to catch a catfish. You can tell by my nephew’s expression that he was rather large. After snapping a few photos, we removed the hook and let him swim away. Jon McReynolds, Wake Forest, Wake Electric

Mud Minis

These are my sons, Gabe (age 5), and Grant (age 2), having the time of their lives in Lewiston. Chelsie Blowe, Ahoskie , Roanoke Electric Photographer Casey Byrum

Casting Cousin

My cousin casted into the Atlantic Ocean on a beautiful fall evening in Pine Knoll Shores. Emily Bedsworth, Pine Knoll Shores, Carteret-Craven Electric Cooperative

In Memory of “Cap”

On my Deddy’s birthday, my oldest son, Jace, my youngest son Ryker and I went to the Pee Dee River to spread some of his ashes. “Cap” was everything to Jace as he was to me. Jason Bud Sweet was a true wonder, a man of nature with a heart of gold! Kaylee Sweet, Hamlet, Pee Dee Electric

All Decked Out

Sunrise at the Roanoke Marshes Lighthouse on the Manteo waterfront. Winter sunrises at the Outer Banks are the best. Alan Trammel, Chapel Hill

Many Mouths To Feed

Bluebird feeding time in my backyard. Nhat Vu, Mint Hill, Union Power Cooperative

Dapper Champ

My “grand-dog” Champion is a 3-year-old pit bull and quite dapper in his hat and shirt. The sweetest, most laid-back pitbull you’ll ever meet, he gets his feelings hurt easily and will go pout in the corner when he does! Lisa Reeves, Hickory, Rutherford EMC Photographer Hilary Reeves

Tunnel Travelin’ Tot

My grandson Mason having fun at Stokes Family Farm. Rebecca Lewis, Troy, Randolph EMC Photographer Amy McLawhorn

Stetson and Fred

Our 2-year-old grandson, Stetson Lail, with Fred the cow. This picture was taken by K. Smith Photography. Taylor Lail, Hickory, Rutherford EMC

Cape Lookout Moonrise

This photo was taken at a unique moonrise at Cape Lookout. Late in the year, the full moon will rise further north than it normally does, giving an interesting angle on the lighthouse—an incredible sight to witness! Wick Smith, Beaufort, Carteret-Craven Electric Cooperative

Winterscape

Mount Carmel Road, Lexington. William Deal, Lexington, EnergyUnited

Sweet Girl

One of our sweet girls laying her egg in the nesting boxes. She gives us an egg each day, and is the only one of our Barred Rock girls left. She’s a beautiful, active lady who loves worms, bugs, chicken scratch (corn especially), and taking dust baths in the warm sunshine! Micah Junket, Mount Pleasant

Falling for Fall

Tiny World My neighbor’s daughter came over and I love to wander around my yard and find all the hidden offered to help me gather leaves. Her smile worlds that exist if you slow down enough to see them. was exactly the “pick me up” that I needed This is one tiny example. to finish one of my least favorite fall chores! Chris Rodermond, Hillsborough, Piedmont ElectricLisa Hall, Waxhaw, Union Power Cooperative

The Importance of Farming

My wife’s uncles were digging ditches in the field to allow water to drain so that crops do not drown. Spending time around family I have learned a lot about farming and how much it means to parts of North Carolina. It is something we should continue to educate others on. Ian Slade, Wake Forest, Wake Electric

Flower Children

Best friends sharing a tender moment in the sunflower field at Dorthea Dix Conservatory Park in Raleigh. Alya Jakubowicz, Raleigh, Wake Electric

Nature Finds a Way

I took this photo while walking through the woods behind my house in late March while looking for deer antler sheds. Austin Heine, Eastover, South River EMC

Room with a View

We escaped the heat and headed up to Round Bald, straddling the border with NC and TN, for a night out under the stars for my birthday. Adventures are the best birthday gifts. Kate Kedzierski, Morganton, Rutherford EMC

Senior Fitness

Stay active in your home with online workouts

Seniors, especially those who don’t drive or who prefer to stay in their homes, may feel challenged in figuring out how to stay motivated or participate in a workout class if they can’t get there. Fortunately, nowadays there are many online options where they can attend a workout with a qualified instructor.

For example, the free exercise classes offered through the Silver&Fit® program cater to senior fitness. Its halfhour classes include videos on strength/bodyweight, yoga, dance, tai chi, mixed formats, and flexibility and balance, at beginner, intermediate and advanced levels. The classes premiere Monday through Saturday, and can also be watched later. People can view them at facebook.com/SilverandFit or youtube.com/SilverandFit.

Dr. Jaynie Bjornaraa, PhD., MPH, PT, and AVP of Digital Fitness Solutions with the Silver&Fit program, shared four tips for choosing an online class:

1Find a class tailored to your fitness level There’s nothing more discouraging than trying to follow a fitness instructor who’s doing movements at a speed you can’t keep up with. If you’re just starting out, find beginner classes offering a lower level of intensity. As your fitness improves, add intermediate level classes. Older adults should seek instructors who specialize in the specific needs of your age group, such as maintaining and building muscle, maintaining flexibility, and improving balance.

2Look for credentials There are thousands of instructors teaching classes on social media or fitness websites, but the wrong instructor can result in injury or a bad experience. Top instructors may have certifications such as Certified Group Fitness Instructor, Certified Personal Trainer, Certified Exercise Expert for Aging Adults, or others. Such certifications are earned through organizations such as the Athletics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA), American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), or National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM).

3Select an instructor who motivates you Data shows that 50 percent of sedentary people who start a new exercise program drop out after six months. An instructor who inspires you is key to your success. Top factors to look for include enthusiasm and encouragement, a “real” personality, music you like, and a sense of community. If your online community allows for commenting, share your fitness goals with the group to get additional encouragement.

4Find classes that work with your routine Are you more likely to stick with an 8 a.m. class, a noon class, or an-end-of-day class? Finding a time that best suits your schedule increases your chances of sticking with a new program.

Even if you’re not ready to take the big plunge to a 30-minute class today, just get going. Try 10 minutes of exercise and work up to your goals. Just getting started will give you a sense of accomplishment and can eventually result in real health improvements. As always, before you start any new exercise routine, talk with your doctor.

— NewsUSA

Divine Design

5 steps to create your dream closet

Whether you’re a stylist with an eye for fashion who chooses each garment carefully or the laid-back type who can rock the first outfit you find each morning, the closet can provide a location for inspiration. Turning bland closet space into an eye-catching room calls for a little planning and do-ityourself creativity. Here are steps to get you started. For additional DIY ideas, visit closetmaid.com.

1Plan it out Creating the perfect closet space begins with your ideas. Look at your current closet and think about how you want the space to look and the type of storage you need. It’s easy to get discouraged here, so once you’ve visually reviewed your closet, step away. Go into another room, sit down and begin sketching out your ideal closet. Use colored pencils so you can begin the process of choosing complementary colors for your closet’s door frame, walls and backdrop.

2Focus on practicality Once you’ve sketched your ideal closet, compare your ideas with the space you have available and adjust your plans to fit your footprint and budget. This step allows you to get creative with ways to maximize your space and use every available inch to create a closet with the function and aesthetic you desire. Don’t forget to measure the space for shelving (width, depth and length). Your measurements will come in handy, whether you envision new shelving or buying new containers to sit on shelves. 3Ongoing organization A beautiful closet likely won’t mean as much to you if it isn’t functional on an ongoing basis. Do you have a lot of sweaters, but they aren’t in view? Do you need more space for shoes? Are there other items you’d wear more but you forget about them? You can keep your clothes and footwear organized in a stylish manner with options such as vertical sweater holders, open shelving and rotating shoe holders. You can find organization products at your local hardware store, big box retailers such as Lowe’s and Home Depot, and retailers that specialize in home organization.

4Details mean a lot Little touches can add up in a big way. Upgrade your light fixture, for example, and look for other ways to personalize the space for a look that’s all yours. Ideas include shelving to display treasured photos or keepsakes, or make room on the wall for a vision board to draw inspiration from as you begin each day. Consider buying non-slip velvet hangers that are all black or all white for a visually clean look. Non-slip hangers are easier on clothes, too.

5Change up the color Introduce personality into your closet with rich color. Add accent color on the walls behind your clothes or incorporate color with the structural elements. You can help make the space pop by complementing the colors of your wardrobe. For example, if you wear a lot of blue, consider painting the door frames or backdrop the same shade of blue you have hanging in the closet.

January 2022

South River EMC Communicator

STEM PREPARES STUDENTS

Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math, or STEM — no longer a buzzword, but a way of life.

Schools are still finding ways to add STEM into their class curriculum. Linwood Starling, a teacher at Pine Forest High School, did so with a Bright Ideas grant and is giving his students a lot more options for study.

"I have been teaching 15 years, the last nine years I have been with Cumberland County Schools, particularly Pine Forest High," he said. "Prior to that, I taught at a community college."

Being in public education, Starling realized how much better learning was when students had more hands-on opportunities. Students would have the ability to see and use several concepts for a goal, giving them a more real-world learning experience.

Dissecting a sheep kidney to compare muscular outlines and how organ systems work together.

continued on page B

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

Basketball Camps C

Student Programming D

Right-of-Way Maintenance E

Energy Smarts F-H

STEM continued from page A However, those hands-on opportunities tend to require money that isn’t always in the budget. And teachers are looking for ways to put materials in the classroom more than ever.

“I heard about Bright Ideas grants through an email from our district's grant coordinator,” said Starling. “I think I might have applied before ... but this was my first time receiving a Bright Ideas grant.”

He wrote his grant for 26 items to get students more involved, including a thin man chart, a digestion biokit, a neulog graphic display bundle, and more. The grant totaled over $2,300 in classroom supplies to improve lessons. so many people applying with such amazing ideas," he said. "It was like being a small child and going to a large toy store, as I knew that my students would have the same feeling, when we begin doing more labs and activities with the new equipment."

Once the equipment arrived, it was all hands-on deck.

"It was a quick introduction since as soon as the materials arrived, my students began to put them into use with activities. I like for my students to dive head first into their learning because this is how the real world works most of the time," said Starling. "My students have loved the new equipment and like I said, it gives them more of an opportunity."

"I was actually surprised when I found out that I received this grant, as I know grants are always a longshot, and with With STEM being such a part of today’s careers, the ability to have the experiences that Starling is providing his students with helps them reach their fullest potential.

A student doing a little hands-on work. “The resources and equipment have given my lessons a more hands-on collaborative learning approach,” he said. “I have the ability to challenge my students with more real-world learning opportunities, which allows them to tie in our objectives with things they will see around them and even on the news. It helps to break down the walls in the classroom, giving my students freedom for their learning abilities.”

It has also given rise to interest in different career pathways that students may have not considered otherwise. And students can get even more exposure if they attend the Academy of Technology, where they focus on Internet technology and computers, or the Academy of Emergency Medicine, which focuses on nursing and other healthcare fields.

"I have seen an increase in the overall scores during testing because hands-on learning allows the students to retain more information in ways that just memorizing data and objectives do not," said Starling. "But it's not only on test scores, that you can see the results, we are now able to have classroom discussions where you can see the students' full understanding of the material and how they refer back and relate the discussion to the lab or activity."

And it won't stop there, Starling is always looking for new ways to incorporate STEM topics and resources into his classroom.

If interested in learning about Bright Ideas grants at South River EMC, visit sremc.com/bright-ideas or email connections@sremc.com. You can also visit the North Carolina Bright Ideas web site at ncbrightideas.com.

Save Energy In 2022

South River EMC offers numerous ways to help you save energy and money, but using them is up to you.

The mid-cycle alert. If you have an email address on file you should receive a report in the middle of your billing cycle. This report gives your current energy use, as well as a projected use for your billing cycle.

By making changes or improvements, you can save energy and money before the end of your billing period.

GUESS WHAT'S BACK? BASKETBALL CAMP

This year, South River EMC will have a chance for current fifth and sixth graders to apply for the Touchstone Energy Basketball camps offered at NC State and UNC-Chapel Hill.

The camp opportunity gives boys and girls a unique experience to attend basketball camp on one of two of the state’s largest college campuses.

Students statewide are encouraged to apply for one of 50 all-expenses-paid scholarships to attend the Carolina Basketball Camp at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and the Wolfpack Women’s Basketball Academy at North Carolina State University in Raleigh. Both camps are typically held in June.

The overnight camps are held in the summer, and campers work closely with coaches and players to develop fundamental skills, helping them perform and excel both on and off the court.

Campers must:

 Be a rising sixth or seventh grader. This means the student should currently be in fifth or sixth grade.  Attend a school in the Cooperative service area.  Have permission from a parent or guardian to attend. An information sheet must be signed.  Provide their own transportation to and from camp. Winners will attend the camps courtesy of South River EMC. The Cooperative funds one scholarship to each camp.

Applications are scored on academics, extracurricular activities and an essay that must accompany the application. The application period runs from January 2 to March 31.

Eligible students interested in the scholarship can contact the Cooperative at 910.892.8071 or download an application from sremc.com/basketball-camps.