By allowing ads to appear on this site, you support the local businesses who, in turn, support great journalism.
SSEMC linemen win first place in country-wide rodeo
Placeholder Image
Snapping Shoals EMC's linemen took home the top co-op prize at the 2009 International Lineman's Rodeo in Kansas City, Mo., recently. Each year, the rodeo brings together linemen from around the world to compete in timed events that mirror the kinds of challenges they face daily. Contestants must climb poles, change insulators, reconfigure fiberglass arms and complete a simulated rescue of an injured co-worker, all while racing against the clock.

"These are situations that (our linemen) get into every day," says Victor Hurst, vice president of line services at Snapping Shoals. "(The events) require so much thinking on your feet that it helps us keep our standards high in every area."

As top-placing contestants at the statewide event held in May, the SSEMC linemen earned the opportunity to attend the annual competition in Kansas City. Making the 850-mile drive, linemen Chris Harper, Byron Burke, Melvin Brake, Keith Garner and Don Ritchey funded their trip to Kansas City by raising money with a golf tournament and through donations from co-workers. The team of Harper, Burke and Brake won first place out of 23 teams from across the country in the Co-op Division. The team won second place overall among 153 teams and took fourth place in a Mystery Event, which was replacing a bad lightning arrestor.

Ritchey was the team's coach while Garner served as a judge.

"These competitions contribute to how well they're able to do their jobs," says Hurst. "They promote safety, efficiency, teamwork and quality standards."

Snapping Shoals Electric Membership Corporation is a consumer-owned electric cooperative providing electric service to approximately 95,000 homes and businesses in an eight-county area. Most of the utility's service area is in Newton, Rockdale and Henry counties. Portions of DeKalb, Butts, Walton, Morgan and Jasper counties are also included. The company's headquarters is on Brown Bridge Road in Newton County.


April 3 crash kills two young adults, injures third
Newton County Sheriff Car---WEB

NEWTON COUNTY — Around 10 a.m. on Thursday, a head-on collision on Highway 212 left two young adults dead and a third hospitalized.

Joe Navarro, 21, was driving the vehicle and Breanna Smith, 18, was in the passenger seat. Katie New, 20, sat between them.

According to the Newton County Sheriff’s Office, the vehicle lost control while going around a curve and crossed the centerline, where it collided head-on with a box truck. The crash report shows that their vehicle traveled another hundred feet after impact before coming to a stop. It spun, ended up facing the opposite direction on the shoulder of the opposite lane.

Navarro and Smith were pronounced dead at the scene of the accident. New was airlifted to Grady Hospital. Her current condition is not known. 

Navarro, Smith and New were not believed to be wearing seatbelts when the collision occurred.

The driver of the box truck was not reported to have suffered any injuries.

This is an ongoing story. The News will post updates as they are made available.