LOEMC Holds 86th Annual Meeting in Alamo

Members of the Little Ocmulgee Electric Membership Cooperative (LOEMC) filled the Stapleton Auditorium in Alamo on November 13, as the cooperative marked its 86th anniversary during the annual meeting.

It was the first annual meeting held face-to-face since the COVID 19 pandemic prevented in-person gatherings during which time the cooperative held drive-through meetings at the Wheeler County Recreation Department.

General Manager Lewis Sheffield welcomed attendees and thanked the linemen who helped to get the area back on line following the devastation of Hurricane Helene which struck the area on September 27. He said an additional 600 linemen were brought in to assist local crews. LOEMC serves an area including Wheeler, Telfair, Dodge, Montgomery and Laurens counties.

Sheffield provided highlights of the cooperative’s financial report for the years ending December 31, 2023, and December 31, 2022, and members received copies of the annual report as a handout. Sheffield announced that the cooperative would be sending rebates to its members. “We are happy to announce our Board’s continued commitment to Members’ economic participation through the retirement and return of $271, 299 in capital credits this year to the membership,” Sheffield stated.

During the meeting, the membership voted on three candidates for the LOEMC Board: Ronnie Bates, District 1 (Laurens County); George Best, District 2, (Telfair/Dodge counties); and Benny Evans, District 3, (Wheeler/ Montgomery counties). Evans serves as the Board’s Secretary-Treasurer. All three were affirmed for new three-year terms on the Board.

Other Board members include President Carey Locke of Wheeler County; Vice President Jim Knight of Telfair County; Assistant Secretary-Treasurer LaRue Fountain of Laurens County; Jimmy Grimes of Wheeler County; Chris Milton of Laurens County; and Wesley Yawn of Telfair County.

Sheffield and President Locke honored several employees who collectively represented 190 years of committed service: • Jason Crawford, Jerry Edge, Ronnie Harrelson and Teresa Lawrence, 30 years • Tammy Hinson, 25

years

• John Yawn, 20 years • Shelby Holland, 15

years

• Johnathan Brown and Erica York, 5 years.

Highlights of the annual meeting included entertainment by the New Day gospel group, and distribution of almost 80 door prizes.

LOEMC EMPLOYEES RECOGNIZED – General Manager Lewis Sheffield, left, and Presi dent Carey Locke, center, congratulate employees who collectively represented 190 years of committed service to the LOEMC. The individuals in the picture are Erica York, Jerry Edge, Robbie Harrelson, Teresa Lawrence, and Tammy Hinson. Not shown are Jason Crawford, John Yawn, Shelby Holland, and Johnathan Brown who were out in the field working and unable to attend the meeting.

VENDORS — Several area companies and organizations passed out information and gifts to meeting attendees at their booths inside the Stapleton auditorium.

ALAMO ATTORNEY Russell Clark, who has served as the LOEMC’s legal counsel for the past three decades, officially begins the 86th annual meeting of the cooperative.