Two Local Students Win Trip to Washington, DC |
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Two local students, Noelani Holly and Addison Marcee, were selected as winners of Wood County Electric Co-op’s Essay contest, earning an all-expenses paid trip to Washington, D.C. this summer. They will join more than 150 Texas teens on Youth Tour, June 11-19, 2023.
Noelani is the 17-year-old daughter of Davion and Michelle Holly. She attends Van High School and is in 11th grade where she serves as the Secretary of the Student Council, and she is a varsity shotput athlete. She is also a Trio Upward Bound participant through Jarvis Christian College. She is a past participant of East Texas Rural Electric Youth Tour, and she was a participant in Delta Sigma Theta Sorority’s Delta Academy.
Addison is the 16-year-old daughter of Andy and Heather Marcee. She is in 11th grade at Quitman High School, where she participates in varsity softball, volleyball, basketball, powerlifting and cheerleading. Addison is also a member of the National Honor Society and the Key Club, she serves as the Historian of the Student Council, and she is President of the Anchor Club.
Youth Tour has been a Texas co-op tradition since 1965, when the state’s electric cooperatives banded together to present this unforgettable trip. Educating and mentoring youth fits with co-ops’ mission to empower and enrich the communities they serve, and this program is a prime example. Since inception, more than 4,400 Texans have taken part in Youth Tour, and most look back on it as the trip of a lifetime.
This year the students will begin their adventure in Austin, for a tour of the state Capitol and Bob Bullock Texas State History Museum before boarding a flight to Washington, DC. Once there, the itinerary is jam-packed with sightseeing of monuments and museums, and meaningful events including a wreath-laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and meeting with congressional representatives.
Trey Teaff, GM and CEO of WCEC said, “After Noelani’s and Addison’s week in Washington, they are bound to return home with a deeper understanding of our nation’s history and a wealth of experiences that will serve them for a lifetime. Our co-op remains invested in our youth and our community, and I’m looking forward to seeing the impact this trip will have on our delegates.”
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Notice: WCEC Election Committee To Meet |
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In January, per Article IV, Section 4.02, of Wood County Electric Cooperative’s bylaws, the board of directors appointed an elections committee, whose responsibility is to conduct any director’s election or vote of the members.
The process for nomination and election of directors is defined in Article IV, Section 4.03. This year the elections committee will make nominations for directors for districts 2, 3 and 7. Directors whose terms are expiring are Kenneth Langley, District 3, and Freddie Jones, District 7, and they have both filed to run. Further, there is an open position for District 2.
Article V, Section 6.05, of the bylaws outlines the two pathways for members to pursue placement on the ballot: written petition or appointment by the elections committee. Interested members in districts 2, 3 and 7 may call WCEC at (903) 763-2203 to request a candidate package to run for one of the three open seats. Completed packages must be returned no later than July 6.
The elections committee will meet at the cooperative office, 501 S. Main St., Quitman, at least 40 days prior to the annual meeting. The committee comprises the following members:
District 1 Glenn E. Morris
District 2 Bobby Rhea
District 3 Clarence Meiske
District 4 Carolyn Bryant
District 5 Beverly Waddleton
District 6 Judy Peoples
District 7 P.A. Geddie
Copies of the bylaws are available upon request by calling the cooperative at (903) 763-2203 and at wcec.org under the Resources tab at the bottom of the homepage. |
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WCEC SECURITY LIGHT REPAIRS ARE FREE,
WHEN REPORTED THE RIGHT WAY
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WCEC’s security lights are auto set to provide light from dusk until dawn. They are dependable and energy efficient, and WCEC will maintain the light fixture for as long as a member elects the service. We’ll replace bulbs and make repairs at no additional charge, provided calls for repair are made in the correct manner.
To report a broken or inoperable light, call the office during weekday working hours from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., and member services representatives will gladly put in a repair ticket. Alternatively, members can visit wcec.org anytime, and select the member services tab to report a service concern for a security light or any other issue.
Please only use the Power Outage Hotline, texting, or the outage reporting function on our App to report outages, not to report security light issues. An inoperable security light is not considered an emergency. We make these repairs during regular working hours as workloads permit, and usually within 5 working days.
Members that cause trucks to roll for a power outage when there’s not one will be charged a charged a $30.00 trip fee ($90.00 after hours and on weekends). That’s because members that misuse the outage reporting hotline for other things are redirecting services from where they are truly needed, and they could be delaying power restoration for others.
We work hard for you – and our goal is to always do that work efficiently. Our members help with that is appreciated.
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Efficiency Upgrades to Help You Save This Summer |
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Spring is a good time to tackle home upgrades and DIY projects. If you’re planning to make improvements to your home, consider upgrades that promote better efficiency.
Here are a few projects that can help you save energy and money––and increase the comfort of your home.
Installing a smart thermostat is one of the simplest ways to manage home energy use and keep summer bills in check. Smart thermostats are easy to install and allow you to control your heating and cooling system from your phone. You can purchase an ENERGY STAR®-certified smart thermostat for as low as $100, which can save you 8% on annual heating and cooling costs, about $50 per year. This upgrade will quickly pay for itself, and you’ll gain insight into better ways to heat and cool your home.
Speaking of smart, additional devices like smart LED bulbs also offer convenient control and help boost energy savings at home. With smart lighting, you can set a schedule for when and how your lights should be turned on or off. And the next time you head out to run errands and realize you left the lights on, all you have to do is turn them off through your phone. Smart lights come in a variety of shapes, colors and brightness levels––and you can purchase bulbs for indoor or outdoor use. Schedule outdoor smart lights to illuminate your home at night and when you’re out of town for better security.
While it’s not as trendy as incorporating smart technologies, sealing air leaks around your home is a simple, effective way to save energy and lower your bills. Applying new (or replacing old) weather stripping around doors and windows can instantly make your home more comfortable and reduce energy waste. Applying caulk to fill gaps can also improve the seal of your home. Caulk can be applied to a variety of areas, including windows, doors, bathtubs and sinks.
If your home feels too warm during summer (and too chilly during winter) even after you’ve sealed with weather stripping and caulk, your home may need additional insulation. Insulation is considered a more expensive efficiency upgrade; however, if your home is under-insulated, additional insulation can make a big impact on reducing energy use and costs. The cost of new insulation depends on a variety of factors like materials, size of the home and whether you use a contractor. Typically, the project costs can be recouped in a few years and your home will immediately feel more comfortable.
Of course, there are additional efficiency upgrades that can make a big impact on energy use, like replacing old appliances with ENERGY-STAR® models or replacing old, leaky windows with new, energy efficient windows.
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Safety Tip of the Month
Safe Digging Month
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Know BEFORE You Dig!
Safety is in your hands. One quick toll-free call, or online report at call811.com or texas811.org, before you dig will send utility companies out to mark buried cables, electric lines, and pipes with paint or flags. Knowing where the utilities are located ensures you don’t accidentally dig into them, causing life threatening and costly accidents. Preventing injuries is the top reason to call, but it’s also the law. Also, should you dig into any of these utilities, you’ll be liable for the cost of the repairs.
Making the call is not just for major construction jobs. Utilities should be marked when you are building a fence, planting a tree, installing a sprinkler system, or any other project that requires digging.
After your call, utilities will mark the lines within two business days. On average, between 7-8 utility operators are notified per request. That’s a lot of potential for disaster, so it’s better to play it safe and make the call.
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Energy Efficiency Tip of the Month |
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Landscaping this spring? Be sure to consider energy efficiency in your plans. Adding shade trees around your home can reduce surrounding air temperatures as much as 6 degrees. To block heat from the sun, plant deciduous trees around the south side of your home. Deciduous trees provide excellent shade during the summer and lose their leaves in the fall and winter months, allowing sunlight to warm your home.
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Wood County Electric Cooperative | 903-763-2203 | www.wcec.org |
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