Thursday, January 24, 2013
Community | Obits | Editorial & Columnists | Society | Sports | Education | Classified Ads | Calendar of Events | Features | Newsbriefs | Legals | Archives | Subscriptions | New Photo Gallery
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Thursday, January 24, 2013 |
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Community | Obits | Editorial & Columnists | Society | Sports | Education | Classified Ads | Calendar of Events | Features | Newsbriefs | Legals | Archives | Subscriptions | New Photo Gallery |
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Fielder’s Choice Thanks to HSUD crew All eyes and lots of conversation turned to the weather last week. It started with flooding and carried over to ice and even a bit of snow. Your South Reporter crew kept on plugging away on the job – knowing your newspaper had to go to press. We looked around downtown Tuesday afternoon, Jan. 15, and most folks were gone, except for us. If snow and ice have to hit, we prefer Thursday or Friday. But personally, I’d prefer it not come at all. The Burlesons experienced a couple of electricity outages – one of less than 30 minutes and the other for almost eight hours. We’re thankful to the Holly Springs Utility Department for their response and work. Pam, Erin and I were at home Tuesday night, Jan. 15, when were heard a “pop” and the house went pitch dark. Pam called HSUD. It was bedtime, very cold outside and we suddenly had no heat. We decided to go downstairs, light the gas logs and sleep down there – just in case. We got situated, but in less than 30 minutes our electricity was restored. It was wonderful. I got to move back to my upstairs bed, instead of sleeping on the futon. The next morning, I got to the office around 7:45 to check on things. Later that morning, about 10 a.m., I went home to take a shower. Just as I was finishing my shower, I heard another “pop” and the lights went out – again. I sent a text to Pam, who again called HSUD. Electric department crews were very busy on this day, no doubt, with various outages – the bulk in the Potts Camp area, according to manager Don Hollingsworth. I rode back by the house after my Rotary Club lunch – still no electricity. Pam got home about 2 p.m. – still no electricity. But that downstairs fireplace was doing a superb job of heating the entire house. We were patient, knowing HSUD workers were doing their best to get to us. Later that afternoon, I made a call or two, just checking. As it turns out, the damage was behind our house, in the woods, where a limb filled with ice had fallen and knocked down the line. But even after dark, HSUD workers arrived and started attacking the problem. I asked, “Think you can solve this tonight?” “We’re planning on it,” was the response. It was obvious they were tired. No telling how long they’d been awake and working to restore electricity in other areas. This outage only affected a few houses on our street – not everyone living on the street. They used spotlights and flashlights and walked through the backyard and the woods on a bitter cold evening and in, I guess, a couple of hours had our electricity back on at about 8:15 p.m. There has been a lot in the newspaper about the utility department. These folks take a lot of criticism but not a lot of praise. But after seeing these guys work on back-to-back nights last week, I, for one, appreciate them. Their tasks, when weather-related problems such as these arrive, are tough. Yet they keep on keeping on – striving as best they can to restore electricity to everyone as soon as possible. From the Burlesons, “Thank you, HSUD.” |
    
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Holly Springs, MS 38635
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