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THE JACKSON HERALD
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 13, 2018
VOLUNTEERS IN BOLIVIA
The 11-man volunteer linemen team from Carroll EMC, Cobb EMC, Coweta-Fayette EMC, Flint Energies
and Jackson EMC pose with the local villagers at the celebration when they turned on the lights for the
first time.
Four EMC lineman volunteer in Bolivia
OIL PORTRAITS UNVEILED
Portraits of Braselton’s mayors were unveiled
in late April. The portrait painter, Neal Dunlap
Hughs, is shown here with Mayor Bill Orr.
Four Jackson EMC linemen joined a volunteer team,
sponsored by the NRECA International Foundation,
which traveled to Bolivia to bring electricity to two
remote villages in the Andes Mountains.
Jackson EMC partnered with Carroll EMC. Cobb EMC,
Coweta-Fayette EMC and Flint Energies to send a total of
11 linemen to build nine miles of line. Their work brought
electricity to the agricultural villages of San Isidro and
Murmutani, which had waited 10 years for access.
Gary Davis and Chris Wallace, journeyman linemen
from Jackson EMC's Gwinnett district, and Greg Angel
and Tommy Minish, from the cooperative’s Neese dis
trict, were members of the team who brought light to 38
families.
The most significant challenge they faced was the high
altitude, which made the team concerned about complet
ing the assignment.
“You walked 10-15 feet and had to stop and catch your
breath, so trying to climb a pole made it even harder at
13,000 feet above sea level,” Davis said.
Minish said it was harder than expected.
“It took us about four days to adjust to the altitude,”
Minish said.
Without modern equipment, the linemen walked pole to
pole in hard terrain, often on the side of mountains.
“Their way of building lines is different; it’s really an
old way,” Angel said. “So we had to step back in time.”
Minish added it was “primitive work, back to the roots
of line work.”
“We didn’t have enough tools and it was all by-hand,”
he said.
After overcoming the initial challenges, the team fin
ished the job a day early.
“You put 11 linemen together for the first time, in high
altitude, without the modern equipment we have at Jack-
son EMC, and it was remarkable what we were able to
accomplish,” said Angel.
Wallace added the local villagers were “very happy to
see us and they were very excited and eager to help.”
Since they didn’t have a bucket truck or a cable puller,
the villagers helped pull wire.
“One of my strongest memories is of a woman carry
ing a toddler on her back pulling wire up the side of the
mountain where we were struggling just to walk,” said
Minish.
Wallace explained his favorite memory of a 72-year-old
man who farmed in the village his whole life.
“He walked circles around everybody; he literally ran
everywhere. He was so excited to work with us,” Wallace
said.
After the villagers turned on the lights for the first time,
they created a special celebration and presented the volun
teer team with leis and sprinkled confetti on their heads,
which is a traditional symbol of abundance.
Finally, they gave each lineman a hand-made alpaca
wool hat.
“They will be able to grow and improve their commu
nities,” Minish said. “It reunited families. Children were
living in the city with relatives because they didn’t have
electricity to see their school work. Getting lights to these
villages enabled the families to live together now.”
Davis added it “feels good” to be a part of a company
“making a difference.”
This project was made possible by NRECA Internation
al, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) charitable organization, whose
mission is to increase individual and community access
to electricity in all parts of the world.
Chateau Elan dish
among ‘100 Plates
Locals Love’
A dish at marc — a new restaurant at Braselton’s
Chateau Elan — is among the Georgia Department of
Economic Development’s Tourism Division’s “100 Plates
Locals Love” for 2018.
The Brasstown beef bistro filet with Gen. Tso Brussels
Sprouts made the list.
“Typically, I’m not a huge fan of Brussels sprouts, but
oh my word, these are amazing,” Emily T. said in the
announcement. “Brasstown Beef in general is so delish,
and this filet was everything.”
Since the inaugural issue of “Georgia Eats,” Georgia
Tourism has designated the “100 Plates Locals Love” as
a way to provide visitors with locally sourced sugges
tions. Nominations from around the state are gathered via
ExploreGeorgia.org and evaluated by a panel of judges
who curate the list down to the final designees. The list
has been likened to recommendations that Georgians
would share with family and friends, and it has received
rave reviews from visitors as well as restaurant owners.
View the full “100 Plates Locals Love” list online at
ExploreGeoriga.org.
HELPS PULL WIRE
A local villager helps pull wires while carrying her
child on her back.
Braselton
unveils its five
mayors ’ portraits
Portraits of Braselton’s mayors were unveiled
in late April.
Mayor Bill Orr unveiled the oil portraits of all
five mayors at a reception.
“We envisioned this tribute during our planning
for the town’s centennial in 2016-17 so this work
reflects more than a year in the making,” said Orr.
“We commissioned an accomplished portraitist,
Neal Dunlap Hughs of Gainesville, for the oil
paintings. It’s our pleasure to unveil these and
share with the community.”
The five mayors are William Henry Braselton,
James Lewis Braselton, Henry Edward Braselton,
Pat Graham and Bill Orr.
The portraits hang in the Police and Municipal
Court Building just outside the town council
chambers.
Last year, we welcomed 4,479 babies into the world at Northeast Georgia Medical Center. That
means we have 4,479 new reasons to celebrate this Father’s Day. We are honored to be a part of
such a special milestone and hope you'll choose us for yours.
Learn more about our doctors,
childbirth classes and locations
at nghs.com/labor-delivery
Northeast Georgia Medical Center
GAINESVILLE | BRASELTON
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