Grateful for electricity in the past, proud of present day progress November 2007 | Alabama Living Clyce and Helen Drinkard of the Liberty Community are proud of the system upgrades being made in their area.  When Clarke-Washington EMC set the first power pole in 1936, Clyce Drinkard was just 12 years old. He recalls the excitement several years later when power poles were set, lines connected and electricity soon arrived in his community of Pleasant Grove.  Mr. Drinkard was born 85 years ago this month, in Pleasant Grove, “way back in the woods,” he says.  He remembers walking 5 miles and crossing two creeks to get to the school house in the community of Liberty. When he was 11 years old his father died, and at 14 he quit school and began working at a saw mill to help support his family.  He joined the United States Army and served in World War II, then returned back to Liberty after his tour of duty. “I stole my wife (Helen) from Fulton and began working for Scotch Lumber,” said Mr. Drinkard laughing. This month the Drinkards will be married for 60 years. There are only a handful of people like the Drinkards who have seen the advancement that electricity has made and how it has improved life in rural Alabama first hand. They can clearly remember a lifestyle without electricity, compared to today when people in rural areas have the same conve-niences as people living within the city limits.    “We used kerosene lamps after we married for many years,” Mrs. Drinkard said. She recalls one of the first homes to have a television was Clyce’s brother who lived in Fulton. They would drive down to his house on Friday night and watch a television program or listen to the Grand Ole Opry on a battery radio.  The Drinkards are still grateful for the electricity that has improved their lives and are glad to see system upgrades being made in Liberty. “We are tickled to death to see this done,” said Mr. Drinkard.  “The system upgrades being made in Liberty will be from a single phase power line to a three phase power line,” said Steve Sheffield, Clarke-Washington EMC operations manager. “Upgrades will begin at the intersection of Sugar Creek Road and Old Highway 5 going south through Liberty toward Fulton for about 2 miles. ”Sheffield explained that upgrading power lines from a single-phase power line to a three-phase power line allows the improvement of voltage and balances the load better – ultimately improving the service of getting electricity to homes and businesses more efficiently. Mr. Drinkard retired as a road foreman for Scotch Lumber. “I know every pig trail in Clarke and Monroe County,” he said.  As the right-of-way crews began work in Liberty, Mr. Drinkard befriended crew foreman Ben Farmer with a handful of scuppernongs and coffee. Mr. Drinkard’s familiarity with the community and enthusiasm about the upgrades helped the crew as they worked in that area. As part of Clarke-Washington EMC’s maintenance work plan, several upgrades of power lines are planned in the future for different communities in the service area: Tallahatta Springs, Liberty, Fruitdale and in Escatawpa to Vinegar Bend.  Diversified Services Inc., an electric utility contractor, is completing these upgrades for Clarke-Washington EMC. They have already completed an upgrade in Tallahatta Springs.  These system upgrades will im-prove services by relocating lines, especially those that are located in wooded areas, and moving them onto a main road so our lineman can service these lines faster. The Drinkards’ home is just one of the many homes that will benefit from the system upgrades. We appreciate their positive and encouraging support as Clarke-Washington EMC works to improve the conveniences of that life we aim to reach for our members.