sec reminds members to plug into safety...2018/05/05 · 18 |cooperative living | may 2018...

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18 | Cooperative Living | May 2018 Southside Electric Cooperative

SOUTHSIDE ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE1-800-552-2118

Outages Only: 1-866-878-5514

Central District/Hdqtrs. – CreweEastern District – DinwiddieNorthern District – PowhatanWestern District – Altavista

Office Hours: M-F, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.Website: www.sec.coop

President & CEOJeffrey S. Edwards

Local Pages EditorLauren A. Irby

Southside Electric Cooperative is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

SEC reminds members to Plug into Safety

In May, electric cooperatives across thecountry promote safety awareness tocoincide with National Electrical Safety

Month. Every year, thousands of accidentsoccur due to shock hazards, and SouthsideElectric Cooperative (SEC) is committedto educating the public about potentialelectrical dangers in the home.

In 2016, 475,500 structure fires(including residential fires) were reportedin the U.S., causing 2,950 deaths, 12,775injuries and $7.9 billion in propertydamage. According to the National FireProtection Association, a residential firewas reported every 90 seconds. Manyhome fires occur when electricalequipment is outdated or improperly used.

It is critical that members understandtheir homes’ electrical systems and thesafety concerns associated with the latest

residential technologies before bringingthem into their homes. With newertechnologies, such as solar panels, electricvehicles and more electrical gadgets in thehome, members should ensure they havean electrical system that’s compatible withthe increased load.

Through electrical safety awareness and education, we can all play a part inpreventing electrical hazards and injuriesin the future. Together, let’s plug into safetythis May.

What do the different-colored markingson the ground mean?

Utility color codes are used toidentify existing undergroundutilities in construction areas with

the intent of protecting them from damageduring excavation. This is done throughflags or a special spray paint, neither of which will cause long-term harm to your lawn.

The American Public Works Association (APWA) Uniform Color Codes fortemporary marking of underground utilities are listed below:

Red – Electric power lines, cables, conduit and lighting cablesOrange – Telecommunication, alarm or signal lines, cables or conduitYellow – Natural gas, oil, steam, petroleum or other gaseous or flammable materialGreen – Sewers and drain linesBlue – Potable (drinkable) waterPurple – Reclaimed water, irrigation and slurry linesWhite – Proposed excavation limits or route (area work will take place)

Always dig with CARE:

C – Call 811 Before You DigA – Allow required time for markingR – Respect and protect the marksE – Excavate carefully

Call Before You DigDial 811 in Virginia or 1-800-552-7001

www.sec.coop May 2018 | Cooperative Living | 19

STILL TIME TOSIGN UP!

To benefit the Southside Opportunity Fund

For more information regarding team entries, sponsorships and donations, please visit www.sof.coop,

email [email protected] or call 434-645-3185.

Friday, May 18, 2018The Manor Golf Club

872 Manor House Drive

Farmville, VA

Registration/Warm-up: 8:45 a.m. – 9:45 a.m.

Shotgun start: 10 a.m.

SEC Closed for Memorial Day

Southside Electric Cooperative offices will be closed on Monday,May 28, 2018, in observance of Memorial Day. All office locationswill reopen at 8 a.m. on Tuesday, May 29, 2018.


Above: Ten Tequilas poses withBarbara Luna for a photo at War Horses at Rose Bower inAppomattox County. Lunafounded the Thoroughbredretirement and rehabilitation farmin 2013. Left: All but one of the

Thoroughbreds at Luna’s farm rangefrom 8 to 18 years old. Most won $500,000or more in their racing careers. Below:Luna’s 28-acre farm includes pasture and apicturesque pond. Inset: Luna gives ColonelBart some affection. The 26-year-old horsewon 17 times on the track.

COMMUNITY PROFILE

Appomattox farm gives hometo retired ThoroughbredsBy Mark Thomas, Community Relations Coordinator

Growing up in New Jersey, Barbara Luna loved horses.She’d draw pictures of them. She read Misty of Chincoteague and “any book I

could find about horses.” She and her sister, Diane, took riding lessons. They’d goafter school during the week and after they’d finished their chores at home on Saturdays.Luna also gave riding lessons.

“I always wanted to have a horse,” says Luna, who now lives in Appomattox, one of the 18 counties served by Southside Electric Cooperative (SEC). Luna got her first horse, a former racer named Well Again, when she was 15.

At Cook College, part of RutgersUniversity, Luna earned a bachelor’s degreein animal science and then headed off tothe Bluegrass State for graduate studies atthe University of Kentucky. She hadthoughts of becoming an equineveterinarian, but tired of academics, shewas there less than a year. Luna, however,wasn’t tired of horses.

After college, Luna groomed, gallopedand trained horses at Monmouth ParkRacetrack in Oceanport, New Jersey. Shewas enamored by the fact that there were1,500 Thoroughbreds stabled in one place.Later, she researched and wrote articles forracing publications, and then worked as apaddock host and race commentator ontelevision for 15 years.

“Every time I tried to get away (fromthe racetrack), I couldn’t. I loved it.”

And, she loved the horses, their powerand elegance, and their dependence onsomeone for care.

“It’s just something about an animal thatbig that will allow you to share his space,”


she says. “They allow you to be a partof them.”

Now in Appomattox, Luna is combiningher love of horses and an interest in theCivil War. In 2013, she founded WarHorses at Rose Bower, sort of a retirementpasture and barn and rehabilitation centerfor Thoroughbreds who have finished theirracing careers. But not just retirement.Besides feeding and caring for them, Lunaworks to adopt the horses to new homesamong other things. Her nonprofitoperation, which is accredited by theThoroughbred Aftercare Alliance, islocated on a 28-acre farm on Route 24, fivemiles from the Appomattox Court HouseNational Historical Park. Luna managesthe park’s bookstore.

Sitting in the kitchen of her house, partof which dates back to 1820, Luna looksout the windows at some of the 11 horsesliving on the farm. It’s still winter, but thegrass is beginning to show some green.

Luna says older horses, ones that are 7or more and have had 70 or more starts onthe track, but are now finished racing, areknown as war horses. All of Luna’s horsesare geldings.

There’s 9-year-old Night Officer, whoran on the turf at Belmont Park in NewYork and made $700,000 in his career.Pennsylvania horse Banjo Picker, 18, mademore than $600,000. There’s 8-year-oldTen Tequilas, who raced in several statesand made it to Appomattox after surviving

last summer’s hurricanes in Puerto Rico.Writingonthewall, Wally for short, has hisown fan club and social media page. Hereceives shipments of cookies addressed tohim; Luna says his ego is bigger than herfarm. Appropriately, she has a horse namedMr. Appomattox, although he had hisname before arriving at Luna’s farm.

Luna’s horses range from 8 to 18 yearsold, except for Colonel Bart. He’s 26,winner of 17 races and Luna’s personalfavorite. She says most of her horsesearned $500,000 or more in their careers.

Looking after former racehorses isn’ttotally new for Luna. She was administratorof a program at the Philadelphia Park trackfor injured and non-competitive horses.She worked with groups, similar to WarHorses at Rose Bower, to find homes forthose horses.

She says there are many horses that areno longer wanted and need homes, whootherwise face possibly starving or goingto slaughter. She lists several reasons forthe large number of unwanted horses,including that the animals have becometoo expensive for their owners to feed andcare for or that they’ve become injured.She says parents get horses for theirchildren who outgrow them, and peopleget a horse wanting instant gratification, towin immediately, and it doesn’t happen.She says horses can live 30 or more years.

“I don’t know what the answer is tocaring for all of these horses out there,”

she says. But then she agrees that maybeshe is part of the answer.

“I can just do what I can. … I can’t takeevery horse that needs a home,” she says.“It’s better to help some, better than none.”She has taken in about 30 horses since thebusiness opened five years ago.

Luna is careful about adopting, wantingto make sure the horse is going to a goodhome and won’t have to be returned.Potential adopters complete an application,helping Luna know if they’ve ever had aThoroughbred and know how much it willcost to keep one. She checks references.With that done, the potential new ownercomes to her Appomattox farm to meetLuna. Adoption fees vary.

“I want them to be in a forever home oras close as forever can be,” she adds. “Idon’t want them to keep moving around.”

Luna says former Thoroughbreds can beshow horses, trail horses and therapyproviders. Luna would like to developtherapy programs for veterans and otherwomen using her steeds. She has a list ofladies interested in that program.

“Being with a horse one on one, it truly is therapy. You forget the bad dayyou’ve had.”

Luna supports her program withfundraising, grants, and donations fromowners and friends in the horse business.

And, with a lot of love.For more information, visit

www.warhorsesottbs.org.

Some of the Thoroughbreds at War Horses at Rose Bower lineup and head in for feeding. Luna has taken in 30 horses sinceshe opened. Inset: Mr. Appomattox lives at Barbara Luna’s farmon Route 24 near the historic park in Appomattox. He had hisname before arriving.


Commonwealth Games return this summerBy Mark Thomas, Community Relations Coordinator

This year’s Virginia CommonwealthGames will feature more than 50competitions, with almost all of

them taking place at Liberty Universityand in the Lynchburg area.

Events began in February and won’tconclude until December. However, themajority of the sports will be contestedJuly 27-29 with competitions in archery,baseball, basketball, chess, E-Games,gymnastics, karate, lacrosse, pickleball,powerlifting, rugby, sand volleyball, soccer,swimming, tennis, track and field, wrestlingand more. Of the more than 50 competitionsin this year’s Virginia CommonwealthGames, only three will be contestedoutside of the Lynchburg area.

Southside Electric Cooperative (SEC) is once again helping sponsor theCommonwealth Games, which promotehealthy, active living, a goal that SECsupports. The Cooperative urges itsmembers to consider participating in afavorite sport or heading to Lynchburg towatch the competitions, which are open toamateur athletes.

Modeled after the Olympics, this is the29th year of the Virginia CommonwealthGames and third in Lynchburg.

“We encourage all ages and abilities tojoin over 11,000 other athletes from acrossVirginia to participate in Virginia’sOlympics,” says Diane Williams, marketingdirector for Virginia Amateur Sports,which organizes the games. “It’s a wonderful

opportunity to compete on Division 1sports facilities at Liberty University, meetother athletes from across the state andenjoy all of the other festivities that are freeto the participants, like the athlete tailgateparty, parade and opening ceremonies. Thebeautiful city of Lynchburg and LibertyUniversity are ready to showcase thismarquee event.”

Opening ceremonies will be Friday, July27, at Liberty University’s football stadiumat 7 p.m. The public is invited.

The 2017 Virginia CommonwealthGames attracted a record 11,076 participants.The event also created a statewide economicimpact of more than $2.8 million. Sincemost of the sports were at Liberty and theLynchburg area, Central Virginia saw animpact of more than $2.6 million.

In August 2019, Liberty and Lynchburgwill host the State Games of Americafeaturing medal winners coming frommore than 30 other states to compete.

For more information about this year’s games, including a list of all of the sports, and to sign up, visitwww.commonwealthgames.org.

Retiring idle lines benefits SEC, membersBy Mark Thomas, Community Relations Coordinator

One of the jobs for Southside Electric Cooperative (SEC)employees is to build overhead and underground linesthat carry electricity to homes, farms and businesses

throughout the 18-county service territory.But, did you know that crews also take down lines and poles?

That happens when the wire is no longer needed to serveelectrical load or a member’s property. Those lines have become idle.

Keeping an eye on whether to retire or remove idle service is an ongoing and constant process, according to George Felts, the Cooperative’s vice president of engineering services. He saysexamples of when lines might be retired include for homes thathave been damaged by fire and not repaired, farm services thataren’t being used and commercial services that are no longer inbusiness or have been consolidated.

Felts adds there are several advantages for the Cooperative toremove inactive lines and poles. Doing so decreases SEC’soperating expenses, removes possible safety problems and getsrid of lines that could cause power outages on bigger parts of theelectrical system.

“As long as the line remains in place, the Cooperative has tomaintain the facility to a certain level of safety and operation toensure it is not a hazard to the community and not a hazard tocausing outages on the rest of the system,” Felts says. Althoughidle, Felts adds that the power infrastructure still incursmaintenance costs and property taxes, although no energy isbeing sold to cover the costs. He notes that other Cooperativemembers pay these costs through their rates.

And, since SEC borrows from the Rural Utilities Service (RUS) for projects, it must meet guidelines under that federal loanprogram, including to remove electrical infrastructure no longerbeing used.

Felts says members and SEC employees can identify lines thatshould be retired. After a line has been idle for more than threeyears, the engineering department visits the site to determine ifthe service will be restored later or should be removed.Employees in SEC’s operations department remove the lines andpoles as part of their regular construction work, returning allsalvageable materials to one of the Cooperative’s warehouses.Poles can be left for the member if he or she signs a waiver.

Cooperative members incur no costs for line retirements.


Meet Another SEC Member:

J.D. Puckett

Staunton River in June. They are alsoactive at Falling River Baptist Church.

Back home, Puckett will keep farmingbeef cattle on his 160 acres and makingfurniture for the family. One of his currentprojects is a rocking chair for his newgreat-grandchild. Puckett also likesrestoring antique tractors. The oldest in hiscollection of eight is an Allis-Chalmersfrom 1944.

Two retirements after longtime jobs, butyou get the idea that J.D. Puckett won’tever totally retire. He wants to continuehelping his community.

This article is part of a continuing seriesto recognize SEC members for theircontributions to the community or somethingthat makes them unique. Readers are invitedto suggest members to be featured byemailing [email protected].

By Mark Thomas, Community Relations Coordinator

J.D. Puckett has retired for a second time.

After leaving teaching following 33 years and beginning a 20-year run

on the Campbell County Board ofSupervisors, the 76-year-old Narunaresident left local government service atthe start of 2018, saying it was the righttime. He remembers when he first ranpromising Nona, his wife of 52 years, thathe would serve only eight years.

“That didn’t work,” he adds with a smile.

Puckett, however, isn’t planning to gettoo comfortable in the rocking recliner inhis family room. He has some plans tohelp his community and wants to spendmore time with family.

“Family is one thing that’s important tous,” says Puckett. He and Nona have twochildren, four grandchildren and a great-grandchild arriving this month.

The Pucketts have been SouthsideElectric Cooperative (SEC) members since 1969. They are part of the MemberAdvocacy Committee, a Cooperativeinitiative to enhance communicationbetween the company and themembership.

On a recent Friday afternoon, afterspending the morning loading cows for abuyer, Puckett sits down in his recliner totalk about serving in local government.He’s still wearing cowboy boots from hismorning chores.

After retiring from teaching agricultureat his alma mater, William Campbell HighSchool, his brother-in-law suggestedPuckett run for the Brookneal District seat on the Campbell County Board ofSupervisors. The brother-in-law, MelvinElder, helped line up a contingent to cometo Puckett’s house and persuade himto run.

“It floored me to no end,” the CampbellCounty native says. In his first run againsttwo opponents, Puckett notes he collected56 percent of the vote and won the seat.He was re-elected four times.

Looking back at hisservice, Puckett says craftingan annual budget wasalways a challenge. Anothertough issue was the landapplication of biosolids. Heremembers supervisors hadto park in a specific area atRustburg High School onthe night of a public hearingabout the issue. Supervisorswere escorted into and outof the building by thesheriff’s office. The issue wasapproved. He adds thatsome farmers still usebiosolids to fertilize theirland, but more use wood ashfrom the power plant inAltavista. One thing he’sproud of supporting iscreation of several turninglanes on Route 501.

Puckett says he enjoyedserving on the Board ofSupervisors, especially providinginformation and solving problems for constituents.

“The little things make a difference,”says Puckett, who laughed that there were a few nights driving home frommeetings when he wondered why he got involved.

Puckett and Nona, who he lovingly calls a “fantastic lady,” founded theCampbell County Heritage Festival, a one-day event to bring people to thecounty and remind them of yesteryear.The festival features old-time arts andcrafts, educational and historicaldemonstrations, music and more. Thisyear’s 10th annual event will be held atWilliam Campbell High School, likely inOctober. Part of it will take place in apavilion that Puckett worked to see built,not just for the festival, but for thecommunity. For more information, checkout the festival’s Facebook page.

The Pucketts will help with this year’sfestival and continue working on the LongIsland Ruritan Club’s Fun Float Day on the

J.D. Puckett shows off one of his restored antique tractors,this one a 1952 Case VAS. Puckett has eight in his collection.


Upcoming EventsSmith Mountain Lake Business Expo:Moneta, May 4, 11 a.m.-4 p.m.www.visitsmithmountainlake.com

Heart of Virginia Festival: Downtown Farmville, May 5, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.www.heartofvirginia.org

Smith Mountain Lake Brews & Tunes Festival:Moneta, May 5, 1-7 p.m.www.visitsmithmountainlake.com

Gaff-n-Go Lineman’s & Equipment Operator’s Rodeo: Doswell, May 11-12,times vary. www.gaff-n-go.com

Amelia Day Festival: Amelia Courthouse Square, May 12, 9:30 a.m.-4 p.m.www.ameliadayfestival.com

Lunenburg County Chamber of Commerce presents the “Little Roy &Lizzy Show”: Kenbridge Community Center Auditorium, May 12, 7 p.m.

MayFest: Buckingham, May 12, 10 a.m.-2 p.m.www.leewaysidevillage.com

Mother’s Day Tea at Avoca: Altavista, May 13, 1:30-4:30 p.m.www.avocamuseum.org

Spring Job Fair: Bedford, May 16, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. www.bedfordareachamber.com

Central Virginia Bluegrass Festival: Amelia Family Campground, May 17-19,times vary. www.ameliafamilycampground.com

Southside Opportunity Fund Golf Classic: Farmville, May 18, 10 a.m.www.sof.coop

Crewe Homecoming Festival: Downtown Crewe, May 18-19, times vary.www.townofcrewe.com

Powhatan County Fair: Powhatan Fair Grounds, May 18-20, times vary.www.powhatanfair.org

Village Vibe: Village Meadow, Powhatan, May 19, 7-10 p.m.www.powhatanchamber.org

TGIF: Altavista, May 25, 6-9 p.m.www.altavistachamber.com

Memorial Day Commemoration at Pamplin Historical Park:Petersburg, May 28, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.www.discoverdinwiddie.com

Relay For Life: Various times and locations. SEC proudly supports Relay For Life and the fight against cancer by sponsoring Relays across our service territory.www.relayforlife.org


Change Habits to Beat the PeakBy Derrill Holly

As warmer weather sets in, our thoughts on keeping thehouse comfortable switch from heating to cooling. But astemperatures rise and air conditioners are switched on,

looking for ways to improve energy efficiency at home can helpyou and Southside Electric Cooperative (SEC) reduce demand,saving energy and money.

Making small adjustments in when, where and how you useelectricity won’t only help control your energy costs, but it can alsohelp keep temperatures in your home more pleasant on sultry days.

Housework HiatusAvoiding peak energy costs is a good reason to put some chores

on hold, at least until power demand dips. Consider some of thejobs one kilowatt-hour (kwh) of electricity can do before you use it:

Wash three loads of laundry•

Complete one dryer cycle•

Vacuum rugs in two average homes•

Iron five shirts•

Run three cycles in a loaded dishwasher•

All of these activities can be done outside of peak demandperiods, also known as peak hours.

Love 78Your heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system

or heat pump can play a huge part in controlling your energy useyear-round, even if family comfort is a top priority.

At 78 degrees, most people are comfortable outside, so why notindoors? Most people aren’t sensitive enough to notice much of adifference in air temperature whether the thermostat is set at 73 orraised to 78. But the closer your air conditioner or heat pumpsetting is to the outdoor temperature, the less your unit will run.

Each degree of temperature difference represents a percentage ofthe total cooling load. That means that when temperatures are inthe high 80s, you could reduce your cooling demand by 10 to 15percent for each degree above 75 degrees.

Fans offer an economical alternative to air conditioning on milddays and they can pitch in for comfort as temperatures climb. Thekey is evaporative cooling. At lower settings, a little air blowingacross a room helps to bring down humidity levels.

When used in conjunction with your cooling system, set ceilingfans to blow air downward instead of pulling warmer air upwardto get the most value in your cooling zone. Table and ceiling fanswill offer more comfort if used to circulate air through areas whereyou are most active. You’ll get a wind-chill effect that will makeyou feel just a little cooler.

Central air conditioning can use as much as one kwh ofelectricity for each 12-minute cycle of cooling. A ceiling fan canoperate for about 13 hours on the same amount of electricity, whilea floor or table fan, depending on size, might run for 10 hours perkwh of power. Turn off fans when you leave a room, because theycool people, not space.

Kitchen comfortWhen it comes to heat and humidity, changing your kitchen

activities presents a wellspring of opportunities to reduce yourhousehold energy demand throughout the day.

Your stove represents the modern hearth, and all the things thatmake the kitchen a favorite gathering place in winter can helpsend your electric meter into overdrive from late spring throughearly fall.

According to researchers at North Carolina State University, inRaleigh, cooking dinner for a family of four on an electric rangereleases about 20 ounces of water vapor into the air, and thatamount can triple with a gas range.

Appliances on your countertops or stashed in your pantry couldkeep you cooler and use less energy. Microwaves use about 60percent as much energy as full-size ovens, and a toaster oven orinduction cooker consumes about half as much power. Becausethey are generally designed to heat food more efficiently in lessspace, the surface areas available for heating are smaller, reducingwaste-heat surfaces and keeping kitchens cooler.

Derrill Holly writes on cooperative issues for the National Rural ElectricCooperative Association, the Arlington, Virginia-based service arm of thenation’s 900-plus consumer-owned, not-for-profit electric cooperatives.

sec reminds members to plug into safety...2018/05/05 · 18 |cooperative living | may 2018...

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