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Wake Electric’s Privette Posthumously Awarded Order of the Longleaf Pine

Late director’s family received the award on his behalf

On Dec. 8, former Wake Electric Director Rodney Privette was posthumously awarded the Order of the Long Leaf Pine. Since 1963, North Carolina’s governors have reserved the award as the highest honor for persons who have made significant contributions to the state and their communities through exemplary service and exceptional accomplishments.

Privette passed away unexpectedly in August. He had served on the Wake Electric Board of Directors since March 2016. The award was presented to Privette’s family by NC Senator Sarah Crawford and NC Representative Terence Everitt. Donnie Lawrence, current chief of the Rolesville Rural Fire Department, coordinated the presentation, which coincided with the annual meeting for the fire department.

“Rodney’s impact on our community is an inspiring example of leadership to everyone who knows him,” said Wake Electric Board President Suzy Morgan. “As a Rolesville native, Rodney’s community ties ran deep, and Wake Electric celebrates the mark he left on the cooperative as well as public safety and economic development in our area.”

In addition to serving on the Wake Electric Board of Directors, Privette had served as chief of the Rolesville Rural Fire Department since 1992 where he had begun as a volunteer firefighter in 1975. He also served on the Wake County Fire Commission, helped form the Rolesville Chamber of Commerce, served on the board of the Wake Forest Federal Savings & Loan and co-owned Privette Insurance Agency with his sister. He was also a devoted, lifelong member of the Rolesville Baptist Church.

“Rodney filled so many roles in service to his hometown,” said NC Senator Sarah Crawford, as quoted by The Wake Weekly. “And what I knew of Rodney from such a short time, and what I’ve learned since, is that he taught every single one of us what it means to live a life of devotion to others.”

“This prestigious award is a fitting way to recognize and honor Rodney’s legacy and impact on his community and our great state,” Morgan added. “We are proud to see one of our own being honored among North Carolina’s notables.”

(L to R) Privette’s family receiving the award were fiancée Susan Cashion; daughter Brandi Privette and her fiancé Kevin; Niki Privette and grandsons Carson, Hunter and Andrew, and son Coy Privette. NC Sen. Crawford and NC Rep. Everitt presented the award.

In his spare time, Privette would restore old cars, including a 1965 Plymouth Barracuda that was once owned by a U.S. Army soldier who died in Vietnam (“The Compassionate Collector,” May 2020, page 14).

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rural A fresh start for healthcare

Training the next generation of rural doctors

By Sarah Thompson

Before Cannon Memorial Hospital’s labor and delivery unit closed in 2015, Dr. Benjamin Gilmer delivered one of the last babies to be born in an Avery County hospital. The unit where his cousins were born is gone because it was no longer seen as cost-effective to provide obstetrical care in the county, Dr. Gilmer explains.

“We have had more labor and delivery closures per capita than any other region in the country,” Dr. Gilmer says. “This is bad for communities, bad for the economy and certainly bad for women who would like to deliver their child in their home communities.”

Dr. Gilmer is the medical director of the Rural Health Initiative and Rural Fellowship at the Mountain Area Health Education Center (MAHEC), the largest of nine area health education centers in the state, which address the supply, retention and quality of health professionals, particularly in rural communities. Before joining MAHEC, he lived and worked as a doctor in rural North Carolina. He believes that inspiring the next generation of doctors is the best way to help rural places not only survive, but attain health literacy and gain access to specialized doctors educated on social justice in health advocacy.

Counties in need The North Carolina Institute of Medicine describes primary care providers as “the entry point into the health care system.” Access to their care is associated with fewer health disparities and better health among various socioeconomic statuses. The target primary care provider to population ratio should be equal to roughly 6.6 providers per 10,000 patients, according to the Institute. This ratio symbolizes how access to providers improves overall health of communities and can prevent a diagnosis or injury from becoming a NC Primary Care Physicians 2021, by county Greater than recommended minimum of 6.67 per 10,000 patients Below the recommended minimum critical health issue. Yet many rural counties in North Carolina fall far short of this ratio (see map). The gap between access to health providers in rural versus urban counties is not just an inconvenience, it’s causing serious health disparities that doctors like Benjamin Gilmer want students to understand — and want to change.

Rural training Dr. Crystal Gaddy worked in rural healthcare systems for more than 18 years. She has witnessed its shortfalls firsthand. Today, she is an associate professor at Pfeiffer

University’s Master of Science in Occupational Therapy program in Stanly County, where she and other faculty echo the significant need for students to practice medicine in rural areas.

“We’re able to, along with other faculty, really teach and educate our students with the hopes that they will, at least initially or at sometime within their careers, serve those who are really underserved,” Dr. Gaddy says. “From the moment the students enter Pfeiffer’s Occupational Therapy Program, that is the main focus.”

Pfeiffer University’s graduate program in Occupational Therapy (OT) began about two years ago alongside their Physician Assistant (PA) Studies program. As their brandnew building started construction and faculty got together to discuss curriculums, rural health was always a part of the conversation. The most pressing issue discussed was the shortage of health providers in rural regions.

Assistant Professor of Physician Assistant Studies and Randolph EMC member Dale Patterson says that it is extremely difficult to keep providers in rural places. When he’s not at the university, Dale continues to provide clinical care once a week in his local county, Montgomery. At Pfeiffer, students learn about the need for their skills in rural areas, but also the unique opportunities that practicing and living in a rural community can bring.

“The more rural you get, the more difficult it is to retain providers over time,” Dale says. “It can be burdensome on someone over a long period of time if you’re the only provider in office.”

Students discover this for themselves during their required fieldwork. Both the OT and PA programs place students across the country, and the world, to work with health providers and experience what it means to serve and be a part of a community. Dr. Gaddy believes that rural fieldwork is where students get the chance to show off their creativity and critical thinking.

“The best place to be creative is within rural healthcare,” Dr. Gaddy says. “When you have access to everything in the world, you don’t have to critically think as hard. With our students — with us trying to push them within those fieldwork areas and those opportunities in places we call ‘emerging areas’ — it shows them that anything is possible.”

Universities and rural health organizations try to motivate students to practice in rural areas through scholarships, loan forgiveness and other incentives. When Dale was in school, he received a National Health Service Corps scholarship and advises his students to take advantage of those opportunities, which give them more financial freedom to serve communities in need.

Desiring the work Back in Western North Carolina, Dr. Gilmer works 60 to 80 hours a week trying to recruit the newest generation of doctors to practice in rural places. Over the past five years, they’ve placed approximately 30 doctors in western regions of the state. The Rural Health Initiative (RHI) has become the largest recruiter of the health professionals in the mountains and are busy looking to place more psychiatrists, general surgeons and obstetricians.

“Our ultimate goal is for every member of every rural community to have access to a primary care provider,” Dr. Gilmer says. “We want our students and doctors to desire work in rural areas.”

Like Pfeiffer, Dr. Gilmer advises students to look for avenues of support that can ease their transition into rural health systems. He explains the three pillars of support that RHI utilizes to attract and retain health professionals in western North Carolina. First, they talk with high school students to inspire them to give back to their community by becoming a rural care provider. Second, they recruit, train and support students through their schooling by providing scholarships, special training for rural care and connecting them with communities early on. Third, they support practices so that they feel well-capacitated and that they’re a part of a much larger mission.

Hope for the future The work is exhausting yet rewarding. Doctors and local citizens are dedicating their lives to advocate and save lives in rural communities because they know everyone deserves the best care, no matter where they live. These advocates of rural healthcare find solace in those they work with and in the changes they’re seeing in the eyes of their students, patients and communities.

“Everybody wants to give rural communities the health services they need. It’s apolitical,” Dr. Gilmer says. “It’s more than medicine, and we’re just trying to do our part.”

Dr. Benjamin Gilmer

Corey Nolen

Sarah Thompson was a Carolina Country editorial intern in 2022. She is currently pursuing a journalism degree from UNC Chapel Hill.

Alan Cradick Stephen Hayes

Cameron Art Museum

Marching Toward Freedom

Stephen Hayes honors Black history through sculpture

By Vanessa Infanzon

In 2019, the Cameron Art Museum approached Durham-resident and sculptor Stephen Hayes about memorializing the United States Colored Troops (USCT) who marched through Wilmington during the Civil War Battle of Forks Road in 1865. Stephen accepted the challenge to create the memorial.

“This is a super important monument,” Stephen says, a 39-year-old Duke University assistant professor of the Practice of Art, Art History and Visual Studies. “It will tell the history of a story that is untold.”

Stephen’s creation — “Boundless,” a life-size bronze statue of 11 African American men — was unveiled in November 2021 on the grounds where the Battle of Forks Road was fought. The permanent exhibit is also the focal point at the only park in the nation built to honor the United States Colored Troops and their fight for freedom.

“They will be here until the end of time,” Stephen says of the troops. “I use my artwork to change the narrative.”

In the early stages of developing sketches for the sculpture, Stephen immersed himself in the history of the battle by walking the site and meeting the United States Colored Troops reenactors from Battery B 2nd United States Colored Light Artillery, USCT 35th Regiment Tryon Palace New Bern, and the 5th USCT Company C. While in character, these men gave Stephen a history lesson explaining what it was like to march and what kinds of clothing and shoes were worn. These soldiers didn’t have the benefit of making the trek on horses.

Each soldier’s face is based on a real person. At Stephen’s request, the museum put out a call for descendants of the soldiers and reenactors to pose for the sculpture. Stephen casted their faces, using plaster gauze to capture the details in a mold which would later be filled with plaster. The hands were cast from another group of people, veterans and additional descendants of the soldiers.

“The bodies were made from mannequins, dressed in clothing from that time period,” Stephen explains. “I made the clothes flow in the direction of the movement pattern. Then I placed the heads on top of the bodies.”

Unlike most monuments, Stephen intentionally placed “Boundless” on the ground, not on a pedestal. He wants viewers to question how this monument speaks to ones they’ve seen mounted on a tall platform.

“A lot of my work is on the ground so people can be a part of the work,” Stephen says. “These guys marched on the ground. I wanted people to be face to face with my work. I didn’t want it to be on a pedestal so people have to look up and gawk at it.”

Once the plaster mold was ready, Stephen reached out to Carolina Bronze Sculpture, Inc., in Seagrove about casting the piece in bronze. The large multifigure casting was complex, says Ed Walker, president of Carolina Bronze. He and Stephen worked closely together.

“(Stephen) is a visionary,” Ed says. “He can create pieces that have strong statements about societal changes, especially about the plight of African American people. He’s highly respected in my book in his ability to convey those types of images so that people can view and experience his sculpture, and lead with a new sensibility about important social issues.”

Vanessa Infanzon moved to Charlotte for college and never left. When she’s not writing about business or travel, she’s paddle boarding on the Catawba River.

Four Ways to Be Prepared On the Road

Walt Brinker is helping others avoid vehicle breakdowns

By Rue Reynold

A “cheater bar” slipped over the end of a lug wrench provides much more leverage than a lug wrench alone. This method is much safer than standing on a lug wrench handle.

Walt Brinker, a member of South River EMC, is a veteran in Eastover with an extensive history of roadside assistance experience. He has provided over 2,000 assists, been featured on national and local media, and has authored the book “Roadside Survival” in an effort to empower as many as possible to avoid vehicle breakdowns. Walt also teaches Roadside Survival at Fayetteville Technical Community College.

He discusses many vehicle-related problems in his book, from the most common and frequent issues to those that are not so likely to happen, but drivers should know about just in case. Here are four of Walt’s many tips to help you get back on the road when the unexpected happens.

Always have access to your spare tire A flat tire or blowout can happen at any time, including freezing or blistering weather, so be prepared with a spare. If something prevents you from accessing your spare, such as a defective lock key or jammed hatchback, don’t wait to get the problem fixed. Make it a top priority. No access is the same as not having a spare tire. Some cars are also sold without spares, so thoroughly examine any car you’re considering before buying and taking a drive.

Carry a 12-volt air compressor Even if a tire is not in use, it will likely lose 1 to 2 PSI (pounds per square inch) each month. PSI refers to the minimum amount of air pressure needed to support your vehicle at its maximum load, and it’s common to find spare tires — which require 60 PSI to function properly — with low pressure. Keep a portable air compressor to help in a pinch.

Have a 12-volt portable jump starter battery Car batteries tend to die when you least expect it, and common causes are often those that don’t appear harmful, such as leaving your interior lights on or using the sound system while your car is parked or off. Your battery will drain even faster during extreme temperatures, so have a jumper battery pack on hand to revive your dead vehicle.

Maintain your tires regularly Many issues associated with tires develop due to a lack of maintenance. Getting your tires inspected and rotated around every 5,000 miles will give you a real-time analysis of the health and durability of your tires and allow the wheels to be balanced. Regular maintenance helps avoid issues while tending to your tires, such as rusted rims that prevents you from changing a tire.

Learn more Check out roadsidesurvival.com and “Roadside Survival” by Walt Brinker for in-depth explorations and low-tech solutions to all kinds of automobile breakdowns.

Rue Reynold is the editorial assistant for Carolina Country.

Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative February 2023, Vol. 54, No. 2 chec.coop

Three CHEC Board Seats up for Election

The board seats to be elected in 2023 are District 3 – Buxton, District 5 – Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo, and District at Large. The incumbent directors, John R. Hooper, Briggs McEwan and Richard A. Midgett, have indicated the interest in seeking re-election.

Any member of Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative, who is interested and qualified and would like consideration as a nominee for the board of directors, should submit their name and resume to the Committee on Nominations by the deadline of 5 p.m. Wednesday, Feb. 15, 2023.

For details regarding service on the CHEC board of directors, please contact Susan Flythe, general manager, at (252) 995-5616 or susanf@chec.coop.

DISTRICT 3 - BUXTON

John R. Hooper

John R. Hooper is a native of Hatteras Island and resident of Buxton and has been on the CHEC Board of Directors for more than 30 years. During his tenure, he has served as SecretaryTreasurer and Vice President and has earned the Credentialed Cooperative Director Certificate (CCD) from the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (NRECA).

Hooper is a graduate of East Carolina University with a bachelor’s degree in Industrial Technology. He is the owner and operator of Lighthouse View Motel and Cottages in Buxton. He has served on the boards of the Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce, Hatteras Island Business Association and the Dare County Visitors Bureau. He has also served as the elected Hatteras Island representative on the Dare County Board of Commissioners from 2000 to 2004.

Hooper is seeking re-election to the CHEC Board of Directors for District 3, and looks forward to continuing to be a part of a well-managed organization that achieves very high standards of member satisfaction.

DISTRICT 5 - RODANTHE, WAVES & SALVO

Briggs McEwan

Briggs McEwan has served on the CHEC Board of Directors for District 5 – Rodanthe, Waves & Salvo, since 2019. During his board tenure, McEwan has attended several conferences and training courses to increase his knowledge of the utility industry and the cooperative business model. As a result of completing this training, he has earned his Credentialed Cooperative Director (CCD) certificate by NRECA.

McEwan is originally from Richmond, VA and attended the Virginia Commonwealth University. He moved to Salvo in 1996 and has been a resident of Hatteras Island for 25 years. McEwan is the owner of Lisa’s Pizzeria in Rodanthe and the Village Conery in Salvo. He serves as President of the Chicamacomico Banks Fire Department and is a member of the Dare County Career and Technical Education Advisory Committee. He is an active member of the Outer Banks Chamber of Commerce and a past director for the Rodanthe, Waves, Salvo Civic Association. McEwan lives in Salvo with his wife Kristina, and their three children.

McEwan is seeking re-election to the CHEC Board of Directors for District 5.

DISTRICT AT LARGE Richard A. Midgett

Richard A. Midgett, a native of Hatteras Island and a resident of Hatteras village, joined the CHEC Board of Directors in 1995. He currently serves as President of the Board. Midgett attained the NRECA Credentialed Cooperative Director (CCD) Certification in 2005 and the Board Leadership Certification (BLC) in 2006 and was awarded the elite Director Gold status in 2016. He continues to further his knowledge of the industry by attending training courses and conferences each year.

Midgett has an associate of arts degree in Business Administration, a N.C. Broker’s license and is a GRI graduate of the Realtors Institute. He is broker of Midgett Realty’s Avon office. He is a member of the Hatteras Village Civic Association of which he served as president in the past. He has also previously served the community as a member of the Hatteras Volunteer Fire Department, the Legislative Committee for the N.C. Association of Realtors and as past chairman for the Hatteras Tax District.

Midgett is seeking re-election to the CHEC Board of Directors for District-at-Large.

Help Keep Winter Energy Costs from Freezing your Budget

Brr…it’s cold! The good news is we offer a number of services to help you manage your energy use and keep Jack Frost from putting a chill on you and your wallet during these cold winter months:

• Mobile App: This app lets you track your daily energy use from your phone to keep heating and energy-related costs in check. • Customer Service Portal: Members have unlimited access to view their account, make payments and view daily and historic use. • Prepay and Flexible Payment Options: We offer prepaid and budget billing services to help spread out your energy payments instead of having to pay the high costs that extreme weather brings at one time. • Energy Efficiency Rebates and Loans: If you need a new heat pump or home appliances, we offer rebates and loans to help offset their cost. You’ll also save money year-round through the increased energy efficiency these products offer.

For more information, visit chec.coop.

Photo by Randy Ratliff from 2015 Photo Contest

Neighbors Helping Neighbors

CHEC collected $44,073.60 from Operation Round-Up in 2022. These funds are dispersed by the Cape Hatteras Electric Foundation (CHEF) to individuals or families on Hatteras Island who are in financial crisis. CHEF also awards grants to local non-profit organizations. The Foundation is governed by a five person board who reviews applications for assistance monthly. CHEF dispersed $39,339.13 in 2022.

Thank you to all of our participating members for contributing to this important fund.

Senior Scholarship Packets due March 15

The 2023 CHEC senior scholarship applications have been delivered to Cape Hatteras Secondary School’s guidance office. Applications can also be picked up at our office in Buxton. The final due date for completed applications is Wednesday, March 15.

There are three scholarships available to Hatteras Island seniors planning to attend an accredited four-year college, two-year community college or technical/vocation school. Each scholarship will be worth $1,000 per semester, for up to eight semesters. Selected applicants will appear before the CHEC scholarship committee for a personal interview. Qualifying applicants will be notified of the time of their interview, which will take place in April.

Visit chec.coop/scholarships for more information.

Published by:

Cape Hatteras Electric Cooperative

PO Box 9, 47109 Light Plant Road, Buxton, NC 27920 Office Hours: 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Phone: 252-995-5616 Toll Free: 800-454-5616 Outage Report: 866-511-9862 Fax: 252-995-4088 chec.coop Board of Directors:

Richard A. (Richie) Midgett, president; John R. Hooper, vice president;

Dan G. Oden, Jr., secretary-treasurer;

Angela Conner Tawes; Briggs McEwan;

Bryan Mattingly; Tami J. Thompson Susan E. Flythe, executive vice president & general manager Laura Ertle, editor

Here Comes Breakfast for Dinner

Meals perfectly suited for sharing while destressing at dinnertime

Regular meals with loved ones encourage connections and conversations, which in turn can benefit mental and physical wellbeing. And these easy breakfast recipes can make for filling (and simple) dinner options.

—Family Features

American Heart Association

Southwestern Quinoa and Egg Breakfast Bowls This simple recipe makes for a light, healthy dinner option. ¼ cup uncooked quinoa, rinsed and drained 2 medium tomatoes, chopped (about 2 cups) 1 cup no-salt-added frozen corn, thawed ½ medium avocado, pitted and diced ¼ cup chopped green onions ½ cup chopped fresh cilantro (optional) 4 large eggs 1/8 teaspoon salt ¼ teaspoon pepper Nonstick cooking spray Red hot-pepper sauce, to taste (optional) Egg, Avocado and Black Bean Breakfast Burritos Unwind and relax with this colorful dish that will brighten spirits.

Nonstick cooking spray 11/3 cups liquid egg whites 1 can (15½-ounce) no-salt-added black beans, rinsed and drained 4 whole-wheat tortillas (6-inch, lowest sodium available) 2 medium avocados, sliced ¼ cup hot sauce or salsa (lowest sodium available, optional)

Lightly spray a large skillet with nonstick cooking spray. Heat over medium heat.

In skillet, stir egg whites constantly with rubber spatula to scramble. Cook until eggs are almost set. Add beans, stirring until combined and heated through.

Microwave tortillas on high 45 seconds. Transfer to work surface.

Spread egg mixture in center of each tortilla. Top with the avocado and hot sauce, if desired.

For each burrito, fold two sides of tortilla toward center. Starting from closest unfolded side, roll burrito toward remaining unfolded side to enclose filling. Transfer with seam side down to plates.

Yield: 4 servings

Cook quinoa according to package directions. Remove from heat.

Spoon quinoa into four bowls. Top each with tomatoes, corn, avocado, green onions and cilantro, if desired.

Lightly spray large skillet over medium-high heat with nonstick cooking spray. Crack eggs into skillet. Sprinkle eggs with salt and pepper. Cook, uncovered, 3–4 minutes, or until egg whites are set but yolks are still runny.

Using spatula, carefully transfer one egg sunny side up into each bowl. Sprinkle with hot sauce, if desired.

Yield: 4 servings

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