LOVE THE UTDOORS? BE SAFE OUT THERE
Two-thirds of lightning fatalities are associated with outdoor recreational activities.
Look up for power lines while fishing or sailing.
FACT: Fishing is the most common outdoor activity associated with lightning-related deaths.
Going for a hike?
If you hear thunder or see lightning, do not seek shelter under a tree.
Pay attention to weather forecasts before you go canoeing or boating. Get off the open water as soon as you hear thunder.
Do not use generators in enclosed areas. The same goes for grills, camping stoves or other small appliances that produce carbon monoxide.
Tent camping? Plan ahead and seek shelter in a hard-top vehicle or four-sided building during a storm or at the first sight of lightning.
5 WAYS to Reduce Use During Extreme Heat
During periods of extreme heat, the demand for electricity can skyrocket, placing additional strain on the grid.
By working together to lower our electricity use, we can reduce pressure on the grid.
1. Raise your thermostat setting a few degrees higher than usual. Every degree can reduce cooling energy consumption.
2. Cook with smaller appliances to save energy and reduce heat gain in the kitchen.
3. Keep blinds, curtains and shades closed during the hottest part of the day to block direct sunlight.
4. Use fans to circulate air, which can make you feel cooler without needing to lower the thermostat.
5. Shift activities that require a lot of energy consumption to off-peak hours when demand is lower.
5 Tips to Reduce Wildfire Risks
Wildfires are no longer confined to the western United States. Traditionally associated with dry, fire-prone regions like California, wildfires are now affecting areas in the Midwest and even parts of the Southeast.
This shift is driven by rising temperatures, prolonged droughts and changing weather patterns, which are creating conditions ripe for fires in regions that historically saw fewer of them. As a result, more communities are now facing growing threats from wildfires, prompting a need for broader awareness and preparedness nationwide.
As a Member of Carroll EMC, there are steps you can take to prevent wildfires:
Properly extinguish campfires. Always douse your campfire with water, stir the ashes and ensure everything is cool to the touch before leaving the area.
Don’t burn on windy days. Avoid outdoor burning when it’s windy or dry, as embers can easily spread and ignite surrounding areas.
Clear vegetation and debris. Maintain a defensible space around your home by removing dry leaves, dead branches and other flammable materials.
Use equipment safely. Tools like lawnmowers or chainsaws can spark fires. Use them during cooler times of the day and keep them in good working condition.
Follow local fire regulations. Always check for burn bans or restrictions in your area before burning anything or using open flames outdoors.
For more information on wildfire prevention and preparedness, visit redcross.org.
Centennial Farms Award Applications
Turn off any main road and you won’t have to travel very far before passing by working farmland. Look to your right, and you’ll see cows grazing their day away. Look to your left, and you’ll see hay bales lined neatly in a row. If you wander a few more miles down the road, you might begin to smell the thousands of chickens cooped up in their houses.
As a community, west Georgia is fortunate to be home to so many families that operate working farms despite a national decline. In recent years, many have had to say goodbye to their heritage due to financial constraints, competition or older farmers simply outpacing those who are younger.
To encourage the preservation of these properties that support the local and state economy and culture, the Historic Preservation Division of the Georgia Department of Community Affairs developed the Georgia Centennial Farm Program more than three decades ago. The program recognizes working farms that have continuously operated for at least 100 years, including those like the Rogers Family Farm in Heard County, which received a Centennial Farms Award in 2024. It was started in 1923 by Frank Rogers and is currently run by his greatgrandson and mayor of Ephesus, Denney Rogers.
For non-farmers, these wide-open spaces are likely in our peripheral during the morning and afternoon commute without much thought on the ins and outs of their operation. We don’t think about the people, who, for decades, have woken up before daybreak to feed the livestock or ride the fence line before heading to their other fulltime jobs. So, during your next commute, consider slowing down and admiring the hard work of your neighbors.
Georgia Centennial Farms Award applications will be accepted through June 16 and can be found online at dca.georgia.gov/communityassistance/historic-preservation/centennial-farms-program. The program is administered in part by Georgia EMC on behalf of the 41 electric cooperatives in Georgia, including Carroll EMC.
Unclaimed Capital Credits
What are capital credits?
As a not-for-profit electric cooperative, Carroll EMC returns excess operating revenue back to its Members in the form of capital credits. Carroll EMC is owned by the Members it serves. Once you become a Member of the cooperative and pay the $15 membership fee, you also become part owner. Capital credits represent each Member-owner’s share of Carroll EMC’s margins or operating revenue remaining after operating expenses. This is what sets us apart from investor-owned utilities.
The Board of Directors announces the retirement of funds from a specific set of years, and the amount a Member receives is calculated based on their use of electricity for those years. Eligible Members will receive their check after the Board of Directors have finalized financial conditions. Members receive their capital credits as a check in the mail, which can be cashed, deposited or applied as a credit toward their electric account.
What are unclaimed capital credits?
Unclaimed capital credits are simply those checks that have not been claimed by Members. The cooperative shares a list of Members whose checks were issued but returned undeliverable or have otherwise been unclaimed.
Carroll EMC is trying to locate former Members whose 2019 capital credits checks were issued but returned as undeliverable or have otherwise been unclaimed. Be sure to check the lists at carrollemc.com/capitalcredits to see if you are eligible to receive a patronage capital allocation. To claim a refund, contact us at (770) 832-3552. The last date to claim these funds is October 3, 2025.
Customer Spotlight
Veal Baptist Church
“Having SyncGlobal fiber internet, delivered on the Crossbeam network, has been a really good thing,” says Wes Boatman, Pastor of Veal Baptist Church in Bowdon. The church can keep members connected in ways they couldn’t before by livestreaming events and providing live updates on social media sites.
Church staff also sing the praises of Crossbeam and SyncGlobal staf f. “The customer service is of f the char ts. If world-class is good, then they are universal-clas s when compared to other companies.”
Not part of the Crossbeam family ?
ENERGY EFFICIENCY
TIP OF THE MONTH
Take advantage of the warmer weather to reduce home energy use. Avoid using your oven and use a grill instead. Not only will cooking outdoors eliminate the energy used to power the oven or stove, but it will also avoid raising the temperature inside your home, reducing the need for additional air conditioning.
You can also avoid using the oven with tasty no-bake recipes. Get creative in the kitchen and explore new ways to save energy.
Source: energy.gov
lef
teachers
and Heather
love being able to prepare their lessons from the churc and do “things on the fly.”
Check our website to see if service is available where you live!
From
t: Sunday school
Sabrina White
Marlow
155 N. Hwy 113
Carrollton, GA 30117
member.services@carrollemc.com carrollemc.com (770) 832-3552
PRESIDENT/CEO
Tim Martin
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Alvin Ginn, Chairman
Donnie Brannon, Vice Chairman
Ronnie Jordan, Secretary/Treasurer
Don DeFoor
Eddie Gore
Nan Philpot
Lynn Joyner
Emmett Harrod
EDITOR Kelly Jimenez WRITER Brittany Shadix
OFFICE HOURS
Carrollton
Monday through Friday
8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Buchanan
Monday and Tuesday
8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
24-HOUR OUTAGE LINE
To report a power outage, call (770) 832-3552, option 1.
Remember: If you have multiple accounts, you will need to enter your account number for that location.
provider and employer.
Office Closing
Carroll EMC offices will close Friday, July 4, in observance of Independence Day.
Please use the PaySite kiosks, mobile app, text-to-pay, website or automated phone payment system to make a payment during this time.
Carroll EMC Annual Meeting
Carroll EMC has personnel on standby 24/7, year-round. Even on holidays, Carroll EMC is prepared for storms and outages.
up for
bill by
discount, automated bank draft or time-of-use rate. Visit carrollemc.com/products-programs for more information. The blood drive will be held in the Robert D. Tisinger Community Center at the Carroll EMC office in Carrollton. Reservations for donation time slots are highly encouraged. Please sign up at redcross.org.