Rural Missouri - October 2024 - 5

Missouri
RURAL
Volume 77 | OCTOBER 2024 | Number 10
EDITORIAL STAFF:
Sara Schafer, editor
sschafer@ruralmissouri.coop
Jim McCarty, editor emeritus
jmccarty@ruralmissouri.coop
Paul Newton, managing editor
pnewton@ruralmissouri.coop
Ricki Spargo, social media editor
rspargo@ruralmissouri.coop
Megan Backes, creative director
mbackes@ruralmissouri.coop
Angie Jones-Wheeler, associate editor
ajones@ruralmissouri.coop
Mike Sutherland, VP communications
msutherland@amec.coop
ADVERTISING:
Mary Davis, production manager
mdavis@ruralmissouri.coop
CONTACT:
Rural Missouri
2722 E. McCarty St., Jefferson City, MO 65101
573-659-3423 info@ruralmissouri.coop
Postmasters: Send address changes to Rural
Missouri, 2722 E. McCarty St., Jefferson City,
MO 65101. 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.
The acceptance of all advertising shall be in
the sole discretion of the editor.
Rural Missouri (ISSN 0164-8578) (USPS
473-000) is published monthly by the
Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives,
2722 E. McCarty Street, Jefferson City, MO
65101, Caleb Jones, CEO/executive vice
president. Individual subscription rate: $12
per year or $25 for three years, taxes and
postage included. Group rate for members
of participating RECs $0.96, plus taxes and
postage, paid from equity accruing to the
member. 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
Association of Missouri Electric Cooperatives.
Call for reprint rights.
Circulation of this issue: 589,499
RM | PERSPECTIVES
Routine maintenance
by Caleb Jones | cjones@amec.coop
A
s a kid, nothing struck fear
in my heart like a trip to
the dentist. The uncomfortable
chair, swishing some
mint-flavored liquid and spitting
it in a weird little sink - I didn't
like any of it. Plus, that gosh awful
sound of whatever power tool they
used was enough to make me sick
to my stomach. Once I was so nervous
about being in the chair that
I actually tried to convince my dentist
to not give me a Novocain shot
before a filling, which didn't work
out how I anticipated.
I wish I could say my fear of the
dentist improved as I grew older. It
didn't. They say public speaking is
one of the worst fears most people
have, but I would get up in front of
a crowd every day if it meant I could
miss a dentist appointment.
It wasn't until much later that I
realized those regular visits to the
dentist had a real purpose other
than some kind of corporal punishment.
The key to avoiding the
dreaded drill was not in avoiding
the dentist altogether, but in regular
cleanings. It was this routine maintenance
that kept my teeth healthy
and free from cavities. While the
process is still something I dread, I
know that enduring a little discomfort
now will save me from a lot of
pain down the road.
My last near-death experience at
my dentist made me think of some
of the right-of-way work performed
by our electric cooperatives. Just
as regular dental cleanings prevent
cavities, the " cleaning " of the right
of way where your electric lines run
ensures the lights stay on for you
and your neighbors. The analogy
might seem a bit unusual, but the
principle is the same - preventive
maintenance is essential to avoid
bigger problems later on.
This past year, I faced a similar
dilemma on my farm when an
oak tree began growing too close
to my electric line. I'd always liked
that tree; it had been a part of our
I hate dental work, but luckily my dentist,
Misty Williams at Summit Dental, forces me
to understand these visits are necessary.
home's landscape for years. But as
much as I enjoyed that tree, I enjoy
reliable electricity even more. The
thought of losing power was much
worse than losing a tree. So, when
the folks from Boone Electric came
by this summer, the tree had to go.
No one, least of all the electric
co-op employees who maintain our
rights of way, wants to cut down
your trees. Co-ops are required to
document that every piece of equipment
and every foot of power lines
are a safe distance from trees and
other vegetation. The wrong tree in
the wrong place is a hazard, especially
to power lines. But, when it
comes down to choosing between
keeping a tree and ensuring reliable
electricity, the choice is clear.
Just like with my teeth, a little
routine maintenance - whether it's
dental cleaning or tree trimming -
goes a long way in preventing bigger
issues. It's not always pleasant, but
it's absolutely necessary to keep the
lights on and our daily lives running
smoothly.
Caleb Jones is the executive vice
president and CEO of Missouri Electric
Cooperatives. He is a member of
Boone Electric Cooperative.
OCTOBER 2024 | RURALMISSOURI.COOP 5
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Rural Missouri - October 2024

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