November/December 2016 Today in Mississippi
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Wishing you and your loved ones a season filled with warm moments and unforgettable memories.
Our offices will be closed (Photo courtesy of PRCC Public Relations)
Pearl River Community College students William Tyler Dubose of Forrest County and Parker Mathis of Oak Grove hold the ceremonial check from PRVEPA for the scholarships they and 113 other PRCC students received this fall. Directly behind them are PRCC President Dr. William Lewis, Association General Manager Randy Wallace, Patty Munn, board member with the Greater Pinebelt Community Foundation, which administers the funds, and Kurt Brautigam, member services manager. Overall, 217 community college students received scholarships this fall.
November 24 and 25 for Thanksgiving, December 23 and 26 for Christmas, and January 2 for New Year’s Day. Dispatchers will be on duty.
Crews now inspecting PRVEPA’s power poles We see them every day, but take them for granted. Utility poles form the backbone of Pearl River Valley Electric’s delivery system, and they reach into every corner of our 12-county service area. Poles must be sturdy and strong in order to support the weight of power, phone, and cable lines, and they must be able to withstand the effects of extreme winds and weather. Over the years, however, power poles can become susceptible to decay and pests. Poles that slowly deteriorate can fall or snap during high winds, resulting in a power outage. In addition, decayed poles can pose a safety hazard for linemen and the general public when decay goes undetected. For these reasons, Pearl River Valley Electric has developed a systematic inspection program so that every pole is inspected for decay or other damage on a regular inspection cycle. Poles that show signs of decay or aging are specially treated with environmentally safe preservatives to inhibit the decaying process and prevent further deterioration. Poles that are found unsafe are replaced. PRVEPA maintains approximately 5,900 miles of line and more than 100,000 power poles. The cost of replacing power poles can run into the thousands of dollars,
so PRVEPA must look for ways to extend the life of its poles as long as possible while replacing only those poles that have reached the end of their useful life. By addressing pole decay, PRVEPA can
the Association’s poles in October and will continue through December. OSMOSE crews will inspect and treat approximately 6,000 poles this year within the following areas and communities:
increase the average pole life by as much as 40 or more years, thus saving significant expense for the Association and our members. OSMOSE crews are in the field To assist in its pole inspection and maintenance program, PRVEPA has contracted with OSMOSE Utilities Services, Incorporated. A nationally recognized company, OSMOSE has been in the wood preserving business since the 1930s and has inspected and retreated poles for PRVEPA for over 30 years. OSMOSE personnel began inspecting
Columbia: Baylis Chapel, Brushy Creek, Enon, Highway 98 East, Prosperous Ridge, Tolar Cut-Off, Wesley Rd, Foxworth, Highway 98 between Foxworth & Columbia, Highway 587, Antioch, Highway 586, Fire Tower Rd, Kokomo, Highway 98 West, Shiloh, Holly Springs, Morgantown, Mt. Sinai, Pine Grove, Sauls Valley, Tilton, Red Bluff, White Bluff, Circle Bar, Darbun, Little Rock, Dan Stepney Housing, Edna, Hub, Lampton, Pine Burr, Russ Ford, Spring Cottage, Trading Post, Columbia Dialysis, Highway 98 Bypass, Townesquare Shopping Ct
Hattiesburg: Midway, Old Highway 24 West of Highway 589, Vesley Nursery, Dogwood Drive, Forest Hills, Green Hills Drive, Highway 11, Jervis Mims Rd, Lake Shore, Okahola, Richburg Rd, Ridgecrest Trailer Park, Sandy Run Rd, Sullivan Kilraine, Tatum Camp Rd all East of I-59 and South of Highway 98, Timberton, West Lake Manor, White Chapel Wiggins: Big Level, Dummy Line Rd, Highway 49, Inda, Ten Mile Church Rd, Woodland Rd Identifying OSMOSE Crews Pole inspection and treatment crews will have the OSMOSE logo on their clothing and vehicle doors, along with strobe lighting on top of their vehicles. Crew foremen will also have a letter of employment from PRVEPA if a member seeks more identification. In addition to inspecting poles at residences and along heavily traveled roads, OSMOSE employees are also out in the fields walking from pole to pole with their equipment. These inspections of our power poles will result in safer, more reliable electric service for all PRVEPA members. We appreciate your cooperation when OSMOSE personnel are working in your area.