October 2016
Our new name emphasizes cooperation that works for you ur name is changing and we have a new logo, but our mission remains the same: to provide services that help your local electric power association better serve you. Electric Power Associations of Mississippi is now Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi, or ECM. The new name more accurately reflects our nature as an association of the 26 electric cooperatives in Mississippi, each one owned and controlled by the people (members) who use its services. When rural Mississippians began organizing notfor-profit electric cooperatives in the 1930s, they soon realized that by working together they could operate more efficiently and keep members’ rates as low as possible. So in 1947, officials from the 11 electric cooperatives in operation at the time formed a statewide organization to obtain (and share the costs of) group insurance and to launch the statewide publication you now hold in your hands. As rural electrification spread across Mississippi and electric cooperatives grew in number, the statewide organization expanded to offer them more services. Today, ECM provides job safety training, emergency restoration coordination, an employee credit union, government relations services, communications and more for its member electric cooperatives. But how does all this benefit you, the electric power association member? It’s this simple: Your electric service is safer, more reliable and more affordable because electric power associations work together to achieve common goals. By sharing services through ECM, electric power associations save money, operate more efficiently, have well-trained employees and restore power faster during outages. They have a strong, unified and
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On the cover Shannon Catoire, a Coast Electric member living in Carriere, photographed a seagull making a few last calls before the sun drops below the horizon. Readers were challenged to photograph silhouettes for this month’s “Picture This” feature. See a sampling of their submissions on pages 14-15. Our next photo theme is Country Churches; details are on page 13.
respected voice in the state legislature and in Congress, a big advantage when some 1.8 million Mississippians are counting on you to protect the quality of their electric service. ECM staff members also work with their electric cooperative counterparts in other states to coordinate power restoration efforts during major outages. You may have seen this program My Opinion in action after Hurricane Michael Callahan Katrina, when thousands of Executive Vice President/CEO Electric Cooperatives electric cooperative workers of Mississippi came from other states to help us rebuild thousands of miles of power lines across the state. We meet regularly with emergency coordinators throughout the region to refine our emergency response plan and ensure cooperation that works to everyone’s advantage. With October being National Cooperative Month, I encourage you to take a moment to consider the benefits of your own cooperative membership. Your electric power association is a responsive, efficient provider of service. Everything about it is local: It is an important contributor to the local economy. It provides a wide range of employment opportunities for local residents. Its employees tend to be community volunteers who serve as youth coaches and support charitable drives. ECM’s new logo signifies the cooperation integral to the daily operations of these 26 electric power associations. Collectively, we distribute electricity to some 85 percent of Mississippi’s land mass. We are a powerful, positive force that works for the benefit of all our members.
Today in Mississippi OFFICERS Tim Smith - President Barry Rowland - First Vice President Randy Smith - Second Vice President Keith Hayward - Secretary/Treasurer
EDITORIAL STAFF Michael Callahan - CEO Ron Stewart - Sr. VP, Communications Mark Bridges - Manager, Support Services Debbie H. Stringer - Editor Elissa Fulton - Communications Specialist Trey Piel - Digital Media Manager Rickey McMillan - Graphics Specialist Linda Hutcherson - Administrative Assistant
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ON FACEBOOK Vol. 69 No. 10 EDITORIAL OFFICE & ADVERTISING 601-605-8600 Acceptance of advertising by Today in Mississippi does not imply endorsement of the advertised product or services by the publisher or Mississippi’s electric power associations. Product satisfaction and delivery responsibility lie solely with the advertiser. • National advertising representative: National Country Market, 800-626-1181 Circulation of this issue: 461,476 Non-member subscription price: $9.50 per year
The Official Publication of the Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi Today in Mississippi (ISSN 1052-2433) is published 11 times a year (Jan.-Nov.) by Electric Cooperatives of Mississippi Inc., P.O. Box 3300, Ridgeland, MS 39158-3300, or 665 Highland Colony Parkway, Ridgeland, MS 39157. Phone 601-605-8600. Periodical postage paid at Ridgeland, MS, and additional office. The publisher (and/or its agent) reserves the right to refuse or edit all advertising. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to: Today in Mississippi, P.O. Box 3300, Ridgeland, MS 39158-3300
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Our Homeplace
Creek beds in Mississippi can yield some unexpected finds, like this fossilized seashell. Go fossil hunting in north Mississippi with Walt Grayson on page 8. Photo: Walt Grayson
Mississippi is beautiful sunrises and brisk walks in the countryside. Going fishing, after a rain and a good cool breeze to settle the dust, in a bream bed to catch a nice supper. Making quilts for the winter. — Jocelyn Thornton, West Mississippi is the beautiful state where I was born and have lived my whole life. In the spring I love seeing the pink maples budding, violets growing and the dogwoods blooming. I love watching the butterflies, robins, bluebirds, quail and all God’s other creatures. I find such pleasure digging and planting my garden. Summertime finds me harvesting my vegetables, gathering polk salad leaves and eating fresh asparagus spears. Fall in Mississippi brings more beauty with all the different colors and cooler weather. On cold nights of winter I love sitting in front of my fireplace. We are occasionally treated to a snowfall, and I watch the redbirds searching for food. Mississippi is the place where I raised my five children. It is the wonderful state where I will finally rest in the 121-year-old church cemetery. The good earth of Mississippi already holds my parents, husband, sister, son, baby great-granddaughter and many other relatives and friends. Others may roam but I will never leave this beautiful Magnolia State. It is home sweet home to me. — Mrs. Gene Anderson, State Line Mississippi to me is the love of the people you meet as you travel through the state. If you break down beside the road, someone is willing to stop and help with a smile or kind word to cheer you on your way. The simple way of life as God intended it to be, helpful and always hopeful. — Connie Pitts, Morton
What’s Mississippi to you? What do you treasure most about life in our state? Send your thoughts to Today in Mississippi, P.O. Box 3300, Ridgeland, MS 39158, or to news@epaofms.com. Please keep your comments brief. Submissions are subject to editing for length and clarity.
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