This past week, over 2000 public power companies across the country celebrated Public Power Week, an event designed to raise awareness of the benefits of public utilities.
Greenwood Utilities hosted its own festivities in town, including an electrical safety fair, an employee picnic and a scholarship breakfast with U.S. Sen. Trent Lott.
"I think people know the value of Greenwood Utilities, but Public Power Week is a way to spotlight what we do in the community," said Jean Cadney, the business development specialist at Greenwood Utilities.
General manager Dudley McBee said the American Public Power Association has hosted Public Power Week for 21 years, but this is only the third year Greenwood Utilities has participated.
The electrical safety fair, held in Whittington Park, served as the kick-off for the week's events. Elementary school students from Bankston, Davis, Pillow, St. Francis, Threadgill and W.C. Williams learned about how to stay safe around power lines and other electrical hazards.
The students were treated to equipment demonstrations, bucket truck rides, a visit from McGruff the Crime Dog and Smokey the Bear and food and drinks provided by the Greenwood Market Place, the Coca Cola Bottling Co. and Ed Bullard.
The employee picnic, held at Clerico Park, was the first-ever company-wide event Greenwood Utilities has hosted since its founding in 1904. During the event, employees were recognized for their years of service, including several who have served for over 35 years.
"That says a lot about our company," McBee said.
The picnic also offered games, inflatables and bucket truck rides for the children, and food prepared by Charles Reeves, Jeff Reeves and D'wayne Jordan.
During the breakfast, held at The Alluvian, Lott (R-Miss.) praised Greenwood Utilities' commitment to the local community and spoke of the benefits of public power in general.
Cadney credited Bill Crump and Viking Range Corp. for making Senator Lott's visit possible.
"Viking went out of their way to get him here," she said.
The first Public Power Week scholarships, sponsored by the Bank of Commerce, Planter's Bank and State Bank and Trust, were presented to Baker Boler and Amanda Sturniola at the breakfast. Both students wrote winning essays about the benefits of municipal utilities.
Other participants in the essay contest included Courtney Brown, Lauren Griggs, Bridget Hardwick, Ron Homolick, Domonique Johnson, Samantha Smith, Yasmine Stanley and Jalissa Williams.
