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Wiregrass

Electric Cooperative

GREAT START

Operation Round Up awards scholarships to high school seniors

ALABAMA LIVING is delivered to some 420,000 Alabama families and businesses, which are members of 22 not-for-profit, consumer-owned, locally directed and taxpaying electric cooperatives. AREA cooperative member subscriptions are $3 a year; non-member subscriptions, $6. Alabama Living (USPS 029920) is published monthly by the Alabama Rural Electric Association of Cooperatives. Periodicals postage paid at Montgomery, Alabama, and at additional mailing office.

VOL. 69 NO. XX  JULY 2018

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POSTMASTER send forms 3579 to: Alabama Living, P.O. Box 244014 Montgomery, Alabama 36124-4014. ALABAMA RURAL ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION

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WEC’s Operation Round Up awards scholarships to local seniors.

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RECOGNITION

WEC honors linemen on Lineman Appreciation Day.

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Helping students

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9 Spotlight 26 Worth the drive 29 Around Alabama 36 Gardens 40 Outdoors 41 Fish & Game Forecast 46 Cook of the month 54 Snapshots ONLINE: alabamaliving.coop ON THE COVER Wicksburg High School’s Bailey Birdsong participates in senior walk at Wicksburg Elementary School. Birdsong was a recipient of an Operation Round Up scholarship. See story, Page 6.

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Electric cooperatives:

As American as the 4th of July Les Moreland, CEO Wiregrass Electric Cooperative

Board of Trustees John Clark, Jr. District 3 President Donna Parrish District 2 Vice-President Debra E. Baxley District 1 Secretary

Danny McNeil District 4

Tracy Reeder District 5

Kip Justice District 6

Donald Ray Wilks District 7

Greg McCullough District 8

David Winstead District 9

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Independence Day gives country farmer, they could “I don’t think it’s a us a day to reflect on what it build out a neighborhood coincidence that people with dozens of ratepayers. So, really means to be a citizen of living in rural America that farmer was left sharpenthe United States of America. Fireworks remind us of the batare some of the most ing his blades by hand and tles our nation has fought for chopping wood to heat his patriotic. We’re the freedom, while seeing our flag home. should bring to mind the unity The people of this backbone and bread of our country and the sacriarea came together and basket of the nation.” formed Wiregrass Electric fices of the original colonies who sought their independence from an empire. Cooperative to stand in the gap. To me, that’s In some places, patriotism and love of coun- a perfect example of the problem-solving and try may not be in fashion anymore. However, community-minded attitude that has made this that is not the case here in the Wiregrass. Driv- nation great. This cooperative has worked hard ing through our service area, I often see our flag ever since to deliver reliable, affordable electricity displayed proudly, and people still put their hand as a not-for-profit entity that is owned by our over their heart to say the Pledge of Allegiance. members. I don’t think it’s a coincidence that people livToday, we are continuing that mission by proing in rural America are some of the most patri- viding world-class electric service to our memotic. We’re the backbone and bread basket of the bers with an attitude of service and gratitude. nation. Our founding principles of hard work, We’re also addressing a new inequality that rural individual liberty and community responsibility Americans are facing: access to broadband interare embodied by the farmer, the country doctor, net. Through our partnership with Troy Cable, we the county schoolteacher and all the others living are working to bring fast, reliable internet to the and working in small towns and communities. Wiregrass. Our members deserve the same access It was that same spirit that gave birth to elec- to the life-changing power of the internet as anytric cooperatives. Cooperatives were created by one in a large city. the people of rural America who wanted the Rural America has been left behind in the life-changing benefits of electricity. People living broadband revolution, much like with electricin the Wiregrass knew what kind of innovations ity 80 years ago. And, like then, the people of this their friends and family in larger cities had access community will use a cooperative to solve the to, but they simply did not. For-profit companies problem. I’m proud to be part of that solution. I’m had no interest in rural America because the pop- proud to be an American and a member of Wireulation was too sparse for them to make money. grass Electric Cooperative. n With the materials it would take to serve one

We will be closed on July 4 for our employees to spend time with their families in honor of Independence Day. However, we will still be ready to respond to any outages that may occur.

We hope you have a wonderful Independence Day! www.alabamaliving.coop

WEC Service Area

THIS IS WHY ... Caleb Flippo, Apprentice Lineman

Contact Information Mailing address 509 N. State Hwy 167 P.O. Box 158, Hartford, AL 36344 Phone 1-800-239-4602 Toll Free Outage “Hotline” 1-888-4-MY-OUTAGE 1-888-469-6882 (24 hrs/day) Website www.wiregrass.coop Find us here:

Find Wiregrass Electric Co-op on Twitter (twitter. com/wec2), Facebook, Instagram and YouTube.

Payment Options BY MAIL Wiregrass Electric Cooperative, Inc. Department 1340, P.O. Box 2153 Birmingham, AL 35287-1340 WEBSITE Payments may be made 24 hrs/day by Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express and E-Check on our website at www.wiregrass.coop. PHONE PAYMENTS Payments may be made any time by dialing 1-800-239-4602. NIGHT DEPOSITORY Available at each office location. IN PERSON Mon. – Fri. 8 a.m. – 5 p.m. Payment kiosks also available 24/7 in all offices.

... I never take shortcuts.

Hartford 509 N. State Hwy. 167 • Hartford, AL 36344 Samson 13148 W. State Hwy. 52 • Samson, AL 36477 Ashford 1066 Ashford Highway • Ashford, AL 36312 Dothan 6167 Fortner St. • Dothan, AL 36305 For questions regarding sanitation service, call Houston County Sanitation Department at 334-677-4781 or Dothan City Sanitation at 334-615-3820.

Alabama Living

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Operation Round Up presented five scholarships at Wicksburg High School’s awards day. From left are WEC’s Manager of Communications and Public Relations Jennifer Ward, Katie Mcallister, Hunter Weeks, Saige McNeil, Jared Faulk, Bailey Birdsong and Operation Round Up board of trustees Vice President Susan Bailey.

Reaching dreams Operation Round Up awards scholarships to local students Hunter Weeks, a senior at Wicksburg High School, says the value of the help provided by Wiregrass Electric Cooperative during his high school career is immeasurable. As a junior, he was selected along with 10 other local students to attend the 2017 Montgomery Youth Tour, which included a visit to the state Capitol and other historic landmarks. A few weeks later, he was one of three finalists chosen to attend the Washington Youth Tour, where he visited the nation’s capital. Both trips gave him a chance to experience new things and to meet new people, 6 JULY 2018

and the honors also provided scholarship money. Now, as a senior, WEC is again helping Weeks by providing a $1,000 scholarship through the Operation Round Up Charitable Foundation. Weeks is one of 21 local students who received scholarships. “It’s monumental what Wiregrass Electric has done for me,” Weeks says. “The new people I have met, the places I have seen — they have really taught me what it means to be a part of the community and to be a part of something bigger and something that matters. This scholarship is just another example.”

Community focused

Since WEC was formed in the 1930s, the cooperative has made betterment of the communities it serves a priority, which is why in 2015, WEC formed the Operation Round Up Charitable Foundation. Operation Round Up is an innovative program designed to let members help themselves and the community by giving just pennies a month by rounding up their electric bills to the nearest whole dollar. Currently, about 85 percent of WEC members participate in this voluntary program. www.alabamaliving.coop

WEC’s Manager of Communications and Public Relations Jennifer Ward presented scholarships to Rehobeth High School’s Leah Grace Strickland, Trevor Adams and Kenleigh McCart.

WEC board Secretary Debra E. Baxley and Operation Round Up board Treasurer Rickey Moore presented a scholarship to Cottonwood High School’s Austin Whitehead.

The money, which is allocated by a board made up of WEC members, is used to help local churches, fire and police departments, and schools. It also provides scholarships for deserving high school seniors. This year, Operation Round Up awarded 20 traditional scholarships to college-bound high school seniors and home-school students who plan to attend an accredited two-year or four-year college, technical school, vocational school or continuing education institution Alabama. Operation Round Up also awarded a Alabama Living

Geneva County High School’s Emily Joiner, Ethan Greggs and Brea Murphy each received Operation Round Up scholarships.

Avery Nance of Geneva High School was presented an Operation Round Up scholarship by board member Everette Stewart.

$5,000 nontraditional scholarship, which goes to someone who is either trying to return to school, financially independent, has dependents other than a spouse or is a single parent. Emily Bell was this year’s nontraditional recipient. WEC feels these scholarships are an investment in making the region better in the years to come. “These scholarship recipients are the future,” says WEC Chief Operating Officer Brad Kimbro. “By our cooperative helping them get a great start to the next chapter of their lives, we are helping make the Wiregrass a better place to live.”

Wicksburg High School’s Bailey Birdsong, a scholarship recipient, says it takes a special person to contribute to a program like Operation Round Up. “I am so grateful that people are willing to participate in Operation Round Up,” Birdsong says. “A loving heart can help so many people. People don’t have to participate. But they do that because they can, and it’s going to help me and my family. I’m so thankful.”

Goal driven

Emmanuel Christian’s Carley Cook, who received a scholarship, grew up going JULY 2018 7

SCHOLARSHIP RECIPIENTS Emily Bell, Nontraditional recipient WEC’s Operation Round Up Foundation board member Delain Faulk and WEC board member David Winstead presented two Operation Round Up Foundation scholarships to Samson High School students Kaitlyn McKnight and Morgan Brown at their awards ceremony.

Leslie Glass, Ashford High School Austin Whitehead, Cottonwood High School Devin Simmons, Dothan High School Carley Cook, Emmanuel Christian School Ethan Greggs, Geneva High School Emily Joiner, Geneva High School Christian Avery Nance, Geneva High School

WEC’s Manager of Communications and Public Relations Jennifer Ward and Operation Round Up board President David Hall presented three scholarships to Slocomb High School’s Emily Tanton, Cameron Cotton and Hannah Phillips.

to Troy University football games and dreaming of one day being a student at the college. When she was a high school junior, she visited the college’s campus, and she again fell in love and knew she wanted to attend Troy. She also has a passion for sign language. Her uncle, who is legally deaf, inspired her to take a sign language class. Now, she plans to attend Troy and study sign language with the goal of becoming a sign language interpreter. “It makes me super thankful that people are willing to help kids like me reach their dreams,” Cook says. “When they called me and told me I got the scholarship, I didn’t even know what to do I was so excited. I actually got so excited that I accidentally hung up.” Operation Round Up Board President David Hall says the excitement the students have when they receive their scholarships is what makes it all worth it. “To go and see these kids’ faces and know that Wiregrass Electric Cooperative and Operation Round Up are going to have an impact on these kids’ lives in a positive way is what we’re after,” Hall says. “Some of the kids’ lives are greatly impacted by this because they may not have another opportunity if it weren’t for this scholarship. It’s such a great thing that our foundation is able to do.” n 8 JULY 2018

Brea Murphy, Geneva High School Trevor Adams, Rehobeth High School Kenleigh McCart, Rehobeth High School Leah Grace Strickland, Rehobeth High School Morgan Brown, Samson High School Kaitlyn McKnight, Samson High School Cameron Cotton, Slocomb High School Hannah Phillips, Slocomb High School Emily Tanton, Slocomb High School Bailey Birdsong, Wicksburg High School Jared Faulk, Wicksburg High School Katie Mcallister, Wicksburg High School Saige McNeil, Wicksburg High School Hunter Weeks, Wicksburg High School

www.alabamaliving.coop

WE ARE FAMILY

WEC honors linemen for their hard work and sacrifice

WEC lineman Britt Caldwell spends time with his 1-year-old son, Grady Mac Caldwell, at WEC’s Lineman Appreciation Day event.

Karlee Groves and her mother, Lacy, daughter and wife of journey lineman Bobby Groves enjoy lunch at WEC.

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WEC’s Stevie Sauls, Clint Hatcher and Chris Jones enjoy food and fellowship at WEC’s annual Lineman Appreciation Day event.

When Allen Langford first became a lineman at Wiregrass Electric, he wasn’t sure what to expect. He had worked for the city of Hartford, so he knew how to perform his duties, but this would be a new work environment. However, attending a WEC board of trustees meeting shortly after being hired eased his mind. Board member Donna Parrish, who he has known for most of his life, greeted him and made him feel welcome. He then discovered that he grew up with several of his fellow linemen. That’s when he realized Wiregrass Electric was more than just a place to work. It was a family. “This started out as just a job, but I fell in love with Wiregrass Electric,” Langford says. “You can’t beat working here, and it really is family oriented. Some companies may just say that, but WEC really means it.” That family atmosphere was on display on June 4 during WEC’s annual Lineman Appreciation Day, which honors WEC employees who work to bring each member reliable,

affordable electricity. The event is a part of the larger Alabama’s Lineman Appreciation Day established in 2014 by Alabama state legislators to honor the sacrifices electric linemen make. WEC provided lunch to the linemen and their families at the main office in Hartford, and community and state leaders were invited to give them the opportunity to thank linemen for all their efforts. Attendees included State Reps. Paul Lee, R-Dothan, and Donnie Chesteen, R-Geneva. Also, Houston County Commissioner Doug Sinquefield and Houston County Commission Chair Mark Culver were joined at the gathering by Chris Duke from the Geneva Regional Career Technical Center, Hal Edwards General Manager from WOOF and Scott Farmer with the South East Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission. The event was also well covered by local media members from Rickey Stokes News, WTVY News 4, WOOF Radio and The Geneva Reaper. www.alabamaliving.coop

State Rep. Paul Lee and Houston County Commissioner Doug Sinquefield talk with WEC board member Donna Parrish.

State Rep. Donnie Chesteen talks with WEC Chief Operating Officer Brad Kimbro.

“We celebrate our linemen every day, but this is a special day that we set aside to honor the great job they do and the sacrifices they and their families make,” says WEC Chief Operating Officer Brad Kimbro.

Life of linemen

Jeff Harper joined WEC 12 years ago. He started as a groundman, and then he worked his way up to becoming a lineman eight years ago. Before coming to WEC, he worked at Asplundh Construction in Dothan, where he helped to clear right of ways for power lines. He also helped clean up after storms. Through that job, he saw the work that electric linemen did. “Just being around them and seeing how they do their job made me want to do this,” Harper says. “I grew up on Wiregrass Electric’s system, so I knew some of the people working here, and I knew that they do whatever they can to keep the power on and get it back on.” Being a lineman isn’t always easy. They must work outside, regardless of heat, cold or rain. And they must often respond after hours when many people are at home with their families. Chad Sorrells has worked at WEC for 13 years. He started out as a groundman, and he is now a serviceman, which requires a large number of after-hours service calls. If a problem occurs in his service territory, he responds to the call no matter the time of day. “I know that it’s my job, and I’m trying to get the power back on as quick as I can,” Sorrells says. “Before I worked here, I took it for granted that the lights are supposed to be on. But there are Alabama Living

WEC board member Danny McNeil and Vice President of Engineering and Operations Jason Thrash talk with Hal Edwards, General Manager of WOOF.

a lot of moving parts, and many people don’t know what it takes to keep the power on. Trying to keep the power on or getting the power back on are what motivate me.” Another part of the job is responding after storms strike. In 2017, WEC sent 14 linemen to Florida to assist in restoring power after Hurricane Irma. Johnny Hudson, a foreman, was one of the linemen sent to help, and he believes helping during those times is one of the responsibilities of being a lineman. “You always feel good to go help,” Hudson says. “When you get down there and you see what’s happened, then you just want to do something to help the people feel better. If the power coming back on makes them feel better, you know you’ve done something.”

Safety first

Long hours, bad weather and the inherent risks associated with working with electricity are all part of a lineman’s job. As a result, WEC emphasizes safety. Since 2010, WEC has recorded only one lost-time accident, which means the cooperative has totaled nearly 1 million hours without such an incident. The linemen say that record is possible because everyone at WEC is committed to safety. Langford says anytime he has approached any of his superiors and needed a new tool or piece of equipment that could help him do his job safer, he has been given what he needs. “It means a lot that we have a work environment where people care as much as they do,” Langford says. n JULY 2018 51