May 2007 | Alabama Living

May has arrived and the weather invites us to get out in our yards, visit with our neighbors and take a deep breath to soak in the season.

The signs of spring are clear: School children are antsy for the end of the year, baseball and softball season are in full swing, and many of you are sneaking off to the coast.

May is National Electric Safety Month. Providing you with reliable electricity is our main goal here at Clarke-Washington EMC, but we also want to warn you of  its danger if it is not respected.

Here are some tips to help you stay safe during these warmer months:

• Never climb a tree if there is a power line near by. If the wind blows the wire against a branch, the electricity could travel through the tree and into you.
• Don’t fly a kite near power lines. If your kite snags on a power line, do not climb the pole or a nearby tree to retrieve it. Call your local electric provider.
• Keep radios and other electrical appliances at least 10 feet from a pool. If water splashes on them, it can conduct electricity. Remember water is a conductor!
• Call before you dig. Before you decide to landscape your yard, make sure there are no power lines or any other utility lines where you’ll be digging.

Our youth are very important to us at Clarke-Washington EMC. We are proud to expose them to opportunities that will challenge them to become better leaders and citizens of our future.

The Washington County Junior Livestock Association held their annual Steer and Heifer show and sale, Monday, April 2 at the 4-H Arena in Chatom. Twelve youth participated in the show and there was a good turnout of parents, friends and community supporters. Each winner received a cash prize and trophy.

In March, we sent Blake Odom and Dustin Odom, seniors at Fruitdale High School, to the annual Alabama Rural Electric Association Youth Tour in Montgomery. Youth Tour is a chance for rural youth to visit our State Capitol and its historical sites. They network with other rural Alabama students and learn about leadership, state government and their role with the rural electric cooperatives.

Relay for Life fundraising campaigns are ongoing here in our area. Thomasville and Grove Hill both had very successful campsite events and we expect nothing less from Jackson, on Friday, May 4, and Washington County, on Friday, May 11.

Thank you for responding to our Capital Credit Checks notice in April’s magazine. If your name was on the list and you have yet to call, please do so and receive your refund.

Stan Wilson
Manager/CEO