On Sunday, Dec. 3, nine linemen of Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas embarked on a mission to Guatemala to deliver electricity to 197 rural Guatemalans in 38 villages.
According to a release from Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas, the residents have never had electric service, so this year they will be able to celebrate Christmas in a special way.
The communities included in the project are located in Alta Verapaz, which is situated in the north central part of Guatemala.
Vernon “Buddy” Hasten, president/CEO of the Electric Cooperatives of Arkansas states, “During the mission, electric cooperative linemen from Arkansas will work with electric cooperative linemen from Colorado and Oklahoma to provide service drops to residents in the 38 villages and also complete the internal wiring within the homes of villagers. Once this project is complete, Arkansas electric linemen will have assisted more than 2,300 rural Bolivians and Guatemalans receive electrical service.”
Arkansas linemen and their respective cooperatives participating in the three-week mission project are: Dylan Rupe with C&L Electric of Star City; Clint McNeely with First Electric of Jacksonville; Jay Jones with North Arkansas Electric of Salem; Chase Hathorn and Bryar Burks with Ozarks Electric of Fayetteville; Steve Howard and Jamie Reeves with Petit Jean Electric of Clinton; Todd Spakes and Alex Wright with Southwest Arkansas Electric of Texarkana; and William Thompson with Arkansas Electric Cooperative Corporation of Little Rock.
The linemen of the project, deemed “Operation Razorback,” told spokesperson Rob Roedel the work is humbling, and it is heartwarming to assist the villagers in receiving the gift of electricity.
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