Ronnie Bates of Laurens Elected to LOEMC Board

Laurens County resident Ronnie Bates won election to the Little Ocmulgee EMC Board of Directors in voting held November 10 at the LOEMC annual meeting in Alamo.

Bates was one of two candidates vying for the District 1 seat on the board. His opponent was Dee Cullen III. Also, up for reelection last week were board members George Best, District 2 (Telfair/ Dodge counties), and Benny Evans, District 3 ( Wheeler/ Montgomery counties). They were unopposed.

The 83rd annual meeting of the members of the LOEMC was held at the Wheeler County Recreation Department and was a drive-through event.

Bates has owned B& S Industrial Contractors since 1998. He also owns Bates Equipment Rental & Supply and has been working in the construction/ welding field for over 35 years. He has been a member of LOEMC since 1988. Bates is married to Mandy Bates and the couple has four children and two grandchildren.

He joins a board consisting of Carey Locke, president, from Wheeler County; Jim Knight, vice president, from Telfair County; Benny Evans, secretary-treasurer from Wheeler County; LaRue Fountain, assistant secretary- treasurer, from Laurens County; and members, George Best from Telfair County, Fred Gilder from Laurens County, Jimmy Grimes from Wheeler County, and Wesley Yawn, Telfair County.

LOEMC is headquartered in Alamo and serves Wheeler and Telfair counties, as well as part of Montgomery, Laurens and Dodge counties.