Rural Missouri - February 2012 - (Page 4)

C O M M E N T S The day the Internet came on “Devoted to the rural way of life” February 2012 Volume 64 / Number 2 Jim McCarty, editor jmccarty@ruralmissouri.coop Jason Jenkins, managing editor jjenkins@ruralmissouri.coop Heather Berry, associate editor hberry@ruralmissouri.coop Kyle Spradley, field editor kspradley@ruralmissouri.coop Megan Schibi, editorial assistant mschibi@ruralmissouri.coop Mary Davis, production manager mdavis@ruralmissouri.coop Angie Jones Dusty Weter Co-op page designers L Co-Mo Electric ‘lights up’ its broadband project ongtime members of electric cooperatives might remember with fondness the “day the lights came on.” For those who once lived wthout electricity, that event was a life-changing experience. For some members of central Missouri’s Co-Mo Electric Cooperative, a comparable event took place just days before Christmas as the cooperative’s Co-Mo Comm subsidiary activated its long-awaited broadband network for the first subscribers. “This is truly a historic day,” said Co-Mo Manager Ken Johnson, recognizing the significance of the event. “These first few pilot-project subscribers are now connected to the future.” Co-Mo began exploring the possibility of building a fiber-to-the-home network in 2009 after numerous requests from its members. The cooperative attempted to secure funding under the federal stimulus program but was not approved. During the application process, the cooperative received hundreds of letters from its members who were desperate for high-speed Internet service. Undaunted, the cooperative moved forward on a pilot project designed to test whether building a high-speed fiber optic network was feasible. The business plan required a committment from a minimum number of subscribers before the network could be built. What happened perfectly mirrored activities in the 1930s that led to the creation of the first electric cooperatives. Members and employees went door to door begging their neighbors to come on board. Then, two local banks offered to pay all or a portion of the installation fee for subscribers. The threshold for subscribers was easily met, and work on the project started in the fall of 2011. Georgia-based Atlantic Engineering Group had the fiber strung in two months. Two areas were selected for the pilot project, one south of Syracuse and the other in the Laurie/Sunrise Beach area, due to their proximity to the co-op’s two offices. The demographic makeup of residents in those areas also will provide Co-Mo with valuable data that will help it decide if the network should be expanded to all of its members. “It’s been amazing to watch something go from dream to reality,” said Co-Mo Connect Project Manager Randy Klindt. “To turn on the service for subscribers and have them benefit from one of the fastest networks in the state and country, it’s very rewarding.” USPS 473-000 ISSN 0164-8578 Copyright 2012, Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives. Call for reprint rights. Rural Missouri is published monthly by the Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives. Barry Hart, executive vice president. Individual subscription rate: $9 per year or $21 for three years, taxes and postage included. Group rate for members of participating RECs $3.99, taxes and postage included. Delivery as specified by subscriber. If not specified, delivery will be by periodical class mail at subscriber’s expense. Periodical Class postage paid at Jefferson City, MO, and additional mailing offices. photo courtesy of John Agliata, Co-Mo Electric Workers team up to install fiber-optic line on poles for Co-Mo Electric. The first subscribers are now receiving high-speed Internet service from the central Missouri electric co-op. www.ruralmissouri.coop Find us on www.facebook.com/ruralmissouri Postmasters: Send address changes to Rural Missouri, P.O. Box 1645, Jefferson City, MO 65102. Subscribers: Report change of address to your local cooperative. Do not send change of address to Rural Missouri. Advertising standards: Advertising published in Rural Missouri is accepted on the premise that the merchandise and services offered are accurately described and sold to customers at the advertised price. Rural Missouri and Missouri’s electric cooperatives do not endorse any products or services advertised herein. Advertising that does not conform to these standards or that is deceptive or misleading is never knowingly accepted by this publication. Advertising information: mdavis@ruralmissouri.coop 573-659-3400 National Advertising Representative: National Country Market; 611 S. Congress St., Suite 504; Austin, TX 78704 573-659-3400 Member, Missouri Association of Publications and Missouri Press Association P.O. Box 1645 Jefferson City, MO 65102 573-659-3423 info@ruralmissouri.coop Rural Missouri Sorrell new manager at M&A Power T he board of directors at M&A Electric Power Cooperative has named Daryl Sorrell as the new manager of the Poplar Bluffbased transmission cooperative. Sorrell, who was born and raised in Doniphan, was the power cooperative’s manager of finance before being named to his new position. He is a graduate of Southwest Missouri State University (now Missouri State University) where he received a degree in accounting. He also is a graduate of Doniphan High School and was raised on a farm in western Ripley County. The new manager is a certified public accountant. He worked for 23 years in various finance and managerial positions before joining M&A Electric as general accountant in 2006. He and his wife, MaryJo, enjoy raising and training AKC registered beagles and fishing for smallmouth bass in Current River. He has two children, James and Amy. Sorrell replaces John Farris, who served as M&A Electric’s manager since 2001. Before that, Farris was Black River Electric Cooperative’s manager for 18 years. He began his rural electric career as a groundman for the cooperative. He became system engineer in 1968 and also served as manager of operations and assistant manager. Missouri’s electric cooperatives congratulate Sorrell on his new role and wish Farris all the best in his retirement. Daryl Sorrell 4 WWW.RURALMISSOURI.COOP http://www.ruralmissouri.coop http://www.facebook.com/ruralmissouri http://WWW.RURALMISSOURI.COOP

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Rural Missouri - February 2012

Rural Missouri - February 2012
Table of Contents
Comments
Columns
Better together
Outdoors
A plague of enmity
Out of the Way Eats
Rink redemption
Hearth and Home
News Briefs
Radio revivalist
If the shoe fits
Marketplace
Around Missouri
Mr. Aviation
Neighbors
Just4Kids

Rural Missouri - February 2012