PAGES C6-7: Co-Mo lineman to retire after 42 yearsPAGE C2: Com

puter courses to be offered at VersaillesPA

GE C

7: S

alutin

g ou

r Vet

eran

s

November 2015

Co-Mo Country

A feature section of Rural Missouri magazine

We’re teaming with local school districts to bring our communities computer training courses. Yes, we bring life-changing fiber-to-the-home technology to the area, but we also want to make sure you know how to use that technology. This month and next month the Versailles School District will be offering several courses on computers. In November, two courses will be held.

Those classes are: Introduction to the Cloud – Learn to use Google Tools and take full advantage of the cloud: Google Drive, Docs, Calendar, Gmail, and more. Use the cloud to back up and store important files and photos. Share and collaborate with col-leagues and friends. Minimum 6 students, maximum 20 students. (2 nights – maximum 2 hours each ses-sion).

Introduction to Microsoft Word: This class will introduce students to the Word program and is intend-ed for people who want to learn how to use Word to create different types of word processed documents. Students will learn how to create, format, print and save Word documents. Tasks include text editing, cut, copy, and paste; spelling and grammar tools. Students will also learn how to work with document views and print options. Tasks include character, paragraph and

document formatting; using styles; setting tabs; in-denting paragraphs; and using numbers and bullets. The student will also learn how to work with head-ers, footers and section breaks. Students taking this class must have a working knowledge of Windows 7 operating system. Minimum 6 students, maximum 20 students. (3 nights – maximum 2 hours each session).

A course will also be offered in December:Introduction to Microsoft PowerPoint: This class

will introduce students to the PowerPoint program and is intended for people who want to learn how to use PowerPoint to create different types of presentations. Students will learn how to customize and manipulate settings to get more impressive presentations. Stu-dents taking this class must have a working knowledge of Windows 7 operating system. Students will need to bring a flash drive with them to class. Minimum 6 stu-dents, maximum 20 students. (3 nights – maximum 2 hours each session)

Dates and times are to be determined. If you’re interested please call (573) 378 4231. Follow us on Facbeook for updates on these courses: www.face-book.com/comoelectric. You will be eligible for a one-time $20 credit on your Co-Mo Connect account for completing one of these courses.

Ken JohnsonGeneral Manager

The holiday season is upon us, it’s time to give thanks

Can you believe it? We are entering the holiday season. It seems like just yesterday we were getting ready for annual meeting. Where did the year go?

Each year, as we enter the month of November and holiday activities fill up calendars, I like to take a minute and look back at what we’ve ac-complished and be thankful for it. After all, Thanksgiving is right around the corner.

I, like you, am a member of this electric cooperative. There’s nothing better than this business model. The cooperative way is unique and has stood the test of time.

Our principles are what define us: voluntary and open membership; demo-cratic member control, member economic par-ticipation; autonomy and independence; cooperation among cooperatives; con-cern for our community; and education, training and in-formation. This organization is as dedicated to its found-ing principles as it was the day it was formed.

I’m also thankful for you, our membership. With-out you, this cooperative couldn’t exist. Not only do we have a unique, diverse membership, we also have a very caring membership. Through our Operation Round Up program, more than $60,000 has been contributed by members this year who choose to take part in the program. Now that’s something to be thankful for! These funds go to help out our members and community organiza-tions in need.

Not only is this a caring membership, but it’s also an understanding membership. I’m thankful that you’ve been patient and understanding as we work together to build out our fiber-to-the-home project. There’s light at the end of the tunnel. By the time you read this column, our entire service territory will be eligible to sign up.

There’s one more group of people I’m thankful for and that’s our employees. Our team has swelled to 110 and each of those individu-als has an essential part in making this organization run smooth. This group of people are some of the hardest workers I know. Our mission is to provide affordable, reliable and safe electricity, but we also aim to improve your quality of life. These are tasks that our team takes very seriously. As the leader of this organization, it’s nice to know that it’s in capable hands.

Last but certainly not least, I’m thankful for our veterans. Elsewhere in this newsletter, you’ll read a little bit about the veterans that work for you at Co-Mo Electric and Co-Mo Connect.

We have a lot to be thankful for here at Co-Mo. Join me this month and take a minute to be thankful for everything that makes life great here in rural central Missouri. About

the coverAfter 42 years of service, lineman Fred Franken will retire this month. Read more about his career on pages C6-7.

c o - m o . c o o p • P a g e C 2

Always Soft Water ConditionersP.O. Box 873, Camdenton(573)346-19191 Dozen 5 Micron Sediment Filters @ $27.60. 200lbs. FREE salt with installation of an Always Soft Water Conditioner.

Doug’s Chem-Dry Carpet Care810 Rabbit Run Rd., Jefferson City(573)635-106510% off carpet cleaning services. Minimum charges may apply.

H & R Block736 N. State Hwy. 5, Camdenton(573)346-7878$15 off any federal tax return.

Jim Lewis Tire & Wheel Inc.1300 MO Blvd., Jefferson City(573)636-9223$5 discount off of each new tire purchased.

Main Street Music Hall5845 Hwy. 54/Mailing:1048 Main St., Osage Beach(573)348-9500$2 off the regular priced adult ticket for a regular season show (April 24th-October 31st).

Niangua River Oasis Inc.171 NRO Rd., Lebanon

(417)532-633310% off canoes, rafts, & kayaks.

ACE Automative955 Hwy 42, Osage Beach573-302-144110% off

Candlewood Suites3514 Amazonas, Jefferson City(573)634-882210% off our best flexible or standard rate.

Downtown Café116 W. Moniteau St., Tipton(660)433-240010% off.

Sun and Fun Resort Wear213 N. Main/P.O. Box 1128, Laurie(573)374-622610% off.

Westlake Aquatic Center134 N. Fairgrounds Rd., Laurie(573)374-737010% off one year membership for individual or family.

Budget Blinds of the OzarksP.O. Box 853, Sunrise Beach(573)374-0330FREE in-home consultation and additional

10% off any existing sale prices.

Central Missouri Community Credit Union3120 W. 10th St., Sedalia(660)826-6922$5 deposit to new members account. Union membership eligibility required.

Jiffy Lube2259 Bagnell Dam, Lake Ozark(573)365-505415% off Signature service.

Road Runner Heating & Cooling, Inc.6632 Old Route 5, Camdenton(573)873-530015% off service calls.

Sound Performance1310 Indiana Ave., Columbia(573)874-920315% off regular prices.

Alliant Bank510 Ryan St., Boonville(660)882-9555First box of checks FREE when opening a new checking account.

DEALSMONTH

of the

For more details and a full list of deals, see www.co-mo.coop

The CooperativeDIFFERENCE

For the members of Co-Mo Electric

Partnering with local schools to

offer computer ED

Not only is this a caring membership, but it’s also an understanding membership. I’m thank-ful that you’ve been pa-tient and understanding as we work together to build out our fiber-to-the-home project. There’s light at the end of the tunnel. By the time you read this column, our en-tire service territory will be eligible to sign up.

Name: Curtis Simmons

Job Title: Subscriber Sup-port Representative

Years with Co-op: 3 months

Favorite Part of Your Job: I like helping our members and subscribers solve their problems and getting people who are exicted to receive Co-Mo Connect services scheduled for instal-lation.

Favorite food: Cheeseburgers

Job before Co-Mo: Tipton Times newspaper.

RepoRt an outage Call (800) 781-0157, Press

“1” for Outage24 hours a day

Before calling:• Check breakers and fuses• Check with your neighbors

to see if they have power• When calling please give

the following information:• Your name• Your seven-digit Co-Mo

account number

opeRation Round up

Fund DisbursementsOrganization/Agency $631,682.96Individual/Family $481.659.06Scholarship $482,629.99

Co-Mo’s Mission Co-Mo Electric Cooperative exists to fulfill our Members’ needs for superior

electric and related services at fair and reasonable prices and support our communities through economic, civic and educational opportunities.

c o - m o . c o o p • P a g e C 3

Do you know where in Co-Mo Country this is?

This is a Co-Mo Country scene. If you know where it is, send your answer by November 1 with your name, address, phone number and e-mail address. All correct answers will be put in a drawing for a $25 credit on your electric bill. By e-mail: rcorne-lius@co-mo.coop; By mail: Where in Co-Mo Country? P.O. Box 220 Tipton, MO 65081.

The winner of the September contest who correctly guessed the photo at right was from the Marvin sign on Hwy 52 between Versailles and Eldon was Joe Martin of Tipton.

co-Mo history

The Rural Electrification Administration was started in 1939 by order of President Franklin Roosevelt. It was abol-ished in a massive reorganization if the Department of Agriculture in 1994 and its responsibilities were transferred to a new agency, the Rural Utility Service.

Meet the Co-Mo CRew

Your choice can make a differenceChoose to round your monthly bill up to the next full dollar. That spare change will go to meet the needs of families right here in our community. For details, see co-mo.coop/OperationRoundUp.aspx

Yes! I want to help. Sign me up. 4(Name)

(Address, City)

(Co-Mo Electric Account Number)

(Signature)

Clip and send to Co-Mo Electric Cooperative, Operation Round Up, P.O. Box 220, Tipton, MO 65081

c o - m o . c o o p • P a g e C 4

The complexities of the EPA’s power planThe Environmental Protection Agency’s regulation to limit

greenhouse gas emissions from power plants will have a big impact in Missouri labeled the “Clean Power Plan,” it aims to reduce nationwide carbon dioxide emissions from power plants by 32 percent below levels recorded in 2005.

Missouri’s goal will be a more than 37 percent reduction. And Co-Mo Electric, along with other electric cooperatives in Mis-souri, will have to work with other utilities in the state in partner-ship with the Department of Natural Resources to achieve this reduction.

More than likely, power plants, especially those that use coal, will be forced to shut down before they have been fully paid for. In these situations, electric co-op members will have to continue paying for a power plant that no longer operates while also paying for electricity.

What does that mean for you, our members? Unfortunately, it probably will mean higher electricity bills.

But we’re still crunching the numbers. The Clean Power Plan is an extremely complex and far-reaching regulation. In fact, it’s probably the single most complex regulation co-ops have ever confronted.

The rule affects cooperatives and their members more than

other sectors of the utility industry. This is because coopera-tives are unique among utilities.

As you know, we are a not-for-profit organization that pro-vides electricity to more than 30,000 member-owners across

central Missouri. We don’t have investors who can foot the bill for expensive new plants or equipment for which we haven’t budgeted.

Co-Mo Electric is more than just poles and lines. We look out for our members every day.

Co-ops do a lot more than provide electricity. We want to improve our communities. We offer scholarships to dozens of high school students. Through Operation Round Up, a volun-tary program that rounds up your monthly bill to the next dollar, we’ve distributed more than $60,000 this year to local causes in need.

We have this same concern for community when it comes to regulations and other policy changes that will increase the cost of electricity. Some folks may not notice an extra $10 added to their bill, but many others are already struggling to get by.

The potential cost increase is why we’ve been so engaged on this issue. That’s the root of our concern because we’re ulti-mately concerned about our members.

We’re keeping up the fight and working for legislative and le-gal solutions in partnership with co-ops from around the coun-try. Our top concern remains providing you, our members, with safe, affordable and reliable electricity.

CO-OP NATIONPOWERING COMMUNITIES,EMPOWERING MEMBERS

It’s getting to be that time of year again. It’s Novem-ber and temperatures are about to drop. In Missouri, it can be 55 degrees one day and 20 the next. That’s why it’s important to get prepared. Start thinking about how to avoid high bills now, instead of two months from now.

Frigid temperatures can cause heating systems to work over time, and since heating and cooling can make up nearly half of your electric bill, you may expe-rience sticker shock when you open that bill. Instead of waiting until after a potentially high bill is in your mailbox, be proactive. There are things you can do now to help ensure you are managing your energy use and spending less.

These simple steps can help you manage your use: • Wrap exposed pipes and water heaters that are in

unconditioned spaces. • Make sure to change your air filter once a month.• Keep drapes closed at night and keep those that

don’t get direct sunlight closed during the day, too. • Keep the fireplace damper closed when it is not in

use. Keeping it open can bring cold air into the room. • Caulk around the fireplace hearth, and caulk or

weather strip around doors and windows. • Log on to your SmartHub account to keep up with

your use. If we’ve had a few days of colder tempera-tures, see how you can try to save on days that are milder.

• Dress for the weather, even if you are inside. Wearing proper clothing like long sleeves and pants, or wrapping up in a cozy blanket will help combat the temptation of bumping up the thermostat.

So, when temperatures fall this winter and you hear your weatherman talking about bringing in pets and plants, take the steps above to help manage your use.

Using the tips above can certainly help you manage your energy use, but your bill may still be higher than normal in winter months. Why?

“It’s the small things you do and changes you make that add up and make the biggest difference,” said Tom Hulse, Co-Mo Electric’s energy services advisor. “We don’t want you to have to suffer through these

high bill periods.”• The weather makes a big impact on electric bills,

accounting for nearly half of your bill. • Even those with the most efficient HVAC systems

will see more use in extreme weather. • When extreme cold temperatures hit, our heaters

work overtime. • For example, even if you set your thermostat to

our recommended 68 degrees in the winter, when it is 19 degrees outside, your system has to work hard to make up that 49-degree difference.

• Your heater works harder and cycles on and off more often, making your use much higher. That means your bill will be much higher.

• Remember, there is value in comfort. For us to be comfortable in our homes, our heaters are going to work harder, but it may be worth the additional cost to you.

Additional tips: • Call Co-Mo Electric and see what kinds of options

might be right for you. • Speak to our energy management expert. He can

help you understand how weather and your use pat-terns affect your bill.

Don’t forget, your electric cooperative offers rebates and energy audits. We offer rebates on energy star air conditioners, certain water heaters, dual fuel heat pumps and ground source heat pumps.

For example, you can get $50 for a new, energy efficient water heater or you could receive up to $850 per ton for a ground source heat pump with a closed loop. All appliances must be pre-qualified in order to receive a rebate.

“Each year our members take advantage of our re-bate program,” said Hulse. “Thousands of dollars are saved each year with our rebate program.”

We also have an energy audit program. For more information on all of our great energy management tools, please visit: http://www.co-mo.coop/rebates/. You can also give us a call at 800-781-0157 or contact us by email at thulse@co-mo.coop.

Don’t let winter chills lead to higher than normal bills

When it comes to your home’s HVAC system, are you suf-fering from the Goldilocks Syndrome? Perhaps your system is too big or too small – or maybe it’s just right. A Department of Energy study shows that most HVAC systems don’t run as ef-ficiently as they could because they are not installed correctly or they are the wrong size. This translates to not having the comfort level you are seeking and over-paying on your utility bills – all the more reason to determine the right size system for your home.

According to Terry Townsend, president of the American So-ciety of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), “oversizing is common in commercial as well as residential applications because contractors use the rule-of-thumb sizing – a load calculation based on square footage.”

Unfortunately, this type of simple calculation is outdated, which could cost you money.

Is your unit too big?Why is an oversized system problematic for the average

homeowner? Heating and cooling account for more than half of the energy use in a typical U.S. home. So, if your HVAC unit is too big, it means that it may be “short cycling,” or constantly turning off and on.

When the unit runs in short bursts, it will not run long enough to eliminate all of the humidity in your home. If you are in a warmer climate and rely on the air conditioning mode, it could mean a short-cycling system leaves more moisture in the air, making your home feel sticky and warm; this can also lead to growth of mold and mildew.

Heating and cooling in short bursts results in uneven tem-peratures and hot or cold spots in your home. Lastly, the unit’s parts wear down prematurely.

Or is it too small?On the other hand, if your HVAC equipment is too small, you

have a different problem – the unit is constantly running in order to try to keep up with demand. This also means that your space is never heated or cooled adequately, and you have unneces-sarily high energy bills.

To size right, choose the right energy professional So, how can you ensure that you get the right size HVAC sys-

tem for your home? There are several factors to consider, but it all starts with choosing the right professional energy partner. Co-Mo Electric can help you determine the correct size and/or recommend a knowledgeable and licensed HVAC professional. Together, we can find the HVAC system that’s the perfect fit for your home.

It’s the season for giving thanks for all that we have, and unfortunately for some the season for taking advantage of others. It seems to me that around Thanksgiving and Christmas the temptation to scam people runs high. Maybe be-cause people are so giving this time of year those who prey on others be-lieve they can do so more readily.

S u b s c r i b e r s have been prey to scams and other nuisances ever since the Internet first transmitted data. I don’t know how they do it, but it didn’t take long for scammers to prey on our sub-scribers with offers they claimed were from Co-Mo.

We received calls and emails from sub-scribers reporting scammers were calling or making boxes pop up in web brows-ers. We appreciate the heads up on these scams. It allows us the opportunity to pass

the information to our customer service and subscriber support representatives to let customers know these calls and pop-ups are not from us.

We will never ask for payment in a phone call or email. The emails and phone calls from us clearly announce we are Co-Mo and that a bill is due. We will never ask for money through phone calls or emails. That’s one of the big differences as to whether it’s a scam. We also do not share your information outside the Co-Mo world.

Some of our phone subscribers have re-

ported receiving a phone call and the caller id shows it’s coming from their own phone number. This, too is a scam.

One little tidbit I learned during the Co-Mo Connect proj-ect is that when you change pro-viders (whether it be land lines or cell phone numbers) those subscribers who had registered with the Missouri and National No-Call lists need to register again. The number for the Missouri No-Call list is 866-

662-2551 and for the National No-Call list is 888-382-1222.

Don’t be a victim this season. Protect yourself everywhere you go and in ev-erything you do. Remember, if something sounds too good to be true, it probably is!

Have a blessed Thanksgiving. Time to go, the phone is ringing!

c o - m o . c o o p • P a g e C 5

The Safety Corner

When cold temperatures return, many turn to space heaters and electric blankets to stay warm. Co-Mo Electric reminds our members to make sure to use these devices with caution in order to keep homes and families safe.

“When winter temperatures get frigid, elec-tric blankets and space heaters are very helpful in helping many stay warm. However, they can also cause fires if they are not used with care,” explains Jimmy Jester, the co-op’s safety co-ordinator.

According to a National Fire Protection Asso-ciation study, in 2010 space heaters accounted for 32 percent of the 57,100 reported home fires and 80 percent of deaths caused by home heating equipment.

Don’t become a part of these statistics. Begin by checking space heaters and electric blan-kets before use. Cords should not be frayed, brittle, or cracked. Always remember to turn off space heaters and electric blankets when not in use. Never leave one of these devices on unat-tended or after going to bed.

Other guidelines for the safe operations of space heaters include:

- Many fires start when flammable products are placed too close to heating devices, such as space heaters. Space heaters should be kept at least 3 feet from blankets, clothing, pa-per and other flammables.

- Place space heaters out of high-traffic ar-eas and on a level, hard, non-flammable floor surface — NOT on carpets, furniture or coun-tertops.

- Do not attempt to warm your entire home using only space heaters. Space heaters are useful in small areas, such as a study or living room. However, if you need to keep large areas warm, your home heating system will do the job more efficiently.

- Plug space heaters directly into the outlet, and never use an extension cord.

For the safe use of electric blankets, Safe Electricity offers the following additional tips:

- Only use electric blankets with an auto-matic shut off designed to prevent the blanket from overheating.

- Pets should never be allowed to sleep on top of electric blankets.

- Electric blanket wires should never be bent or tucked under a mattress.

- Replace old or damaged electric blankets. The blanket should not have any charred or dark areas.

Energy Efficiency

Tip of the Monthwith Tom HulseEnergy Services

Advisor

TM

O Jimmy JesterSafety Coordinator

Be on the lookout for phone scams

MemberMember2with Cathy SinclairCustomer Service Representative

We will never ask for payment in a phone call or email. The emails and phone calls from us clearly announce we are Co-Mo and that a bill is due. We will never ask for money through phone calls or emails.

If you’re using space heaters, do it safely

The outage isn’t too widespread, but it’s big enough that the trio has to work all night.

“This was the first time I had ever worked all night,” Franken, a 42-year lineman, says.

Things were different back then. The co-op owned very few bucket trucks - one to be exact - when Franken started work at Co-Mo in May of 1973. There weren’t fault finders or high tech computer programs that helped identify outage areas.

“We had old spotlights and we drove and walked out the line,” Franken said of that night in Golden Beach. “I was on the spotlight and I remember being tired, it was hard to stay awake.”

That night in Golden Beach was the first night Franken worked all night to restore power for Co-Mo Electric members, but it cer-tainly wouldn’t be his last.

In the last 42 years, it’s safe to say Franken has spent hun-dreds of nights away from home working to get the lights back on for Co-Mo members.

All of that will come to an end on Monday, Nov. 30, as Franken enters a new chapter of his life: retirement.

**********

Franken grew up on a farm outside of Tipton. He knew he wanted to do something with agriculture but he wasn’t sure he’d stick around these parts.

After he graduated high school, he decided he’d go to State Fair Community College and get some sort of agriculture degree. Always one for work, he decided he’d get a part-time job at Co-Mo Electric Cooperative before school started.

“They were hiring summer help, some college kids,” he said. “We were digging holes by hand.”

Once school started, the summer help left, but Franken stayed behind.

“One week I had classes Monday, Wednesday, Friday and the next week I had classes Tuesday and Thursday,” he recalls. “On the days I didn’t have class, I asked if I could work. So, all the other guys left and I stayed on.”

As school started, Franken decided it was time to start thinking seriously about his future.

“They had some guy come speak to us from Ag co-op,” he said. “After you got your two year degree, they would hire you. He started telling us if we came to work for them, we’d have to clean

out grain bins and all that sorta stuff. I already had my degree in cleaning out grain bins, I learned that when I was 11 or 12 years old.

“When I woke up in the morning and came to work at Co-Mo, digging holes by hand, I looked more forward to that than going to school,” he said.

That was that. Franken was going to work at Co-Mo, at least for his forseeable future.

“I came to work and I didn’t have any idea what I was going to do,” he said. “I hopped in an old panel truck, with two other guys, college-aged guys. We headed to the Lake of the Ozarks and that’s how I found out what I was going to do for a living.”

A year later and Franken had earned himself a fulltime position and the rest is as they say… history.

**********A lot has changed since Franken began work at Co-Mo more

than four decades ago. Co-Mo’s gone from having just one bucket truck to having

more than 20. Franken has lived through those changes. “I remember working with Kenny Baker and he ran the bucket

truck,” he said. “What he could do with that truck was simply amazing. We just didn’t have near the tools we have today.”

Digger trucks back then were unheard of. Instead, dynamite was used to dig holes.

“You can’t even get dynamite anymore,” he said. “It was totally different. Carry a little battery in your pocket, set it off and that was it.”

The advancements in technology and improvements in tools

c o - m o . c o o p • P a g e C 6

Co-Mo Electric Cooperative’s MissionCo-Mo Electric Cooperative exists to fulfill our Members’ needs for superior electric and related services at fair and

reasonable prices and support our communities through economic, civic and educational opportunities.

Looking back at 42 years of serviceAfter 42 years of service to Co-Mo’s member-owners, Fred Franken will retire this month. Franken began his career in May of 1973.

It’s the 1970s, a hot summer day leads to thunderstorms across Co-Mo’s service territory. Outage calls are beginning to ring in. A young Fred Franken hops in a truck with Kenny Baker and Darryl Schmidt and heads to the Golden Beach area.

c o - m o . c o o p • P a g e C 7

What we valuePlace the interest of our Members above all others’

Keep our members, the public and ourselves safe

Demonstrate integrity and honesty beyond reproach

Maintain a high level of financial stewardship

Treat everyone with courtesy and respect

Adhere to the 7 Cooperative Principles

Stay informed co-mo.cooptwitter.com/comoelectricfacebook.com/comoelectric

have made it much easier to locate outages. “Back then, unless someone specifically told you where a line

was down or where a tree was on a line, you’d try the breaker,” he said. “If it didn’t hold, you’d have to drive or walk it off and try to isolate the problem.”

**********After marrying his wife Carol in 1977, Franken decided it was

time to bid an apprentice lineman position. Franken says he began loving life as a lineman.“Whenever a storm hit, it was almost like an adrenaline rush,”

he said. Franken says that adrenaline comes from knowing members

are out of power and the need to get the lights back on. Staying awake for hours on end, an activity that used to be hard on him, got easier.

“For some reason, as I got older, it just got easier to stay awake all night,” he said.

That skill came in handy in 2013, when winter storm Rocky hit.

“It wasn’t like an ice storm,” he said. “It wasn’t the total destruc-tion of the ice storm in the bootheel. Just walking was hard, that snow was so heavy and deep. Walking in it, you almost thought you were going to die, it would wear you out that much.”

Franken says Rocky was much worse than any ice storm he’d ever worked.

“You start hearing numbers like 20,000 people out of lights it

makes you think, ‘man’,” he said. “We’ve had ice storms before, but nothing like that. Eventually the ice melts and you can drive and walk. It wasn’t like this.

“We worked all night the first night, then worked all the next day,” he said. “I knew everyone was working, but I didn’t know the scope of it. I called in to see what we were doing next, and they said we were going to work another night. At that point, you know our members are without power and you’re just working as quick as you can, because you know people are cold.”

And off they went again, another night of work. Eventually, after several days power was restored. Looking back on Rocky, Franken says it took a little of his energy.

“After that ordeal, I probably started to think about retirement,” he said. “It took some of my energy away from me.”

**********Franken says he’s looking forward to retirement, but it’s a little

bittersweet. He says he will miss the relationships he’s made with his fellow linemen and he’ll also miss Co-Mo’s membership.

“When I had my old area, I got to know people,” he said. “I al-ways tried to keep every situation as positive as possible. I think I will really miss the mornings, when we all show up and get ready for the day.”

Franken has been offered other jobs in the past, but never re-ally wanted to leave the cooperative way of business.

Whether he knows it or not, after 42 years at Co-Mo, Franken has made an impact.

“I never really got to work side-by-side with Fred,” says Rob-bie Hirst, Co-Mo’s line superintendent and 24-year veteran of the work force. “However, I do know that he took his job very seriously. He always answered the calls after hours and put his time in restoring power back to our members. You could count on Fred to be there. I would have to say that Fred lived his job, cherished his friendships and made Co-Mo proud.”

That commitment to service was seen by all of Franken’s co-workers.

“I can honestly say that one of the things that sticks out in my mind is that no matter the time of day or day of the week, if he was in town, he would always answer his phone to come in to work an outage,” said Nancy Bookout, who works on the co-op’s dispatch desk. “It was always about the members power being restored.”

Bookout, who has worked with Franken for the last 42 years, says she will miss his humor and dedication to Co-Mo’s mem-bers.

As for retirement, Fred says it’s all about spending time with family, but he doesn’t know exactly what he’s going to do without a job. Maybe, he’ll just get another one.

“I really don’t know what I’m going to do,” he said. “Hopefully, I may get a part-time job, maybe going to work. I would like to spend, at least a week or two, just seeing what it’s like. By that time, I will probably be bored out of my mind.”

Saluting our VeteransIn honor of Veterans Day, we will be closed on Wednesday, Nov. 11. Take a minute to meet some of the Veterans that are now serving you in a different capacity. We thank all of those who served our country.

Matt Schubert75th Ranger Regiment, Army

Co-Mo Connect Project Coordinator

Brittney BoydMilitary Police, Army

Co-Mo Connect Subscriber Support

Justin VoglerMilitary Police, Army

Co-Mo Electric Lineman

Tim ThoenenSupply, Armorer & Truck Driver, Army

Co-Mo Electric Lineman

Sid HawksWheel Vehicle Mechanic, ArmyCo-Mo Electric, Shop Assistant

Jim HuffMissouri National Guard

Co-Mo Electric Storeroom Man

Shawn McDonaldRadioman School & Electricity, Navy

Co-Mo Electric Lineman

Zach AmosStryker Infantry Carrier Driver, Army

Co-Mo Electric, Grounds & Maintenance

co-mo.n e t • Page C8Inside Co-Mo ConnectKeeping your bills affordable is hard workThe work that goes on behind the scenes isn’t always easy

Our goal is to provide you, our member-sub-scribers, with reliable and affordable broadband internet, phone and television service. You may see our crews out and about building and main-taining fiber lines to bring reliable, state of the art service to our rural area. However, you may not see what we do behind the scenes, keeping your television service af-fordable.

One of our main pri-orities is to manage your monthly bill by fighting against excessive network fee increases from large, powerful media conglom-erates.

That’s one of the tricky parts of our job. We know you want a good value and you want to keep your channels. So, when networks demand huge fee increases, we work to get the best offerings at the very best price. That’s what helps keep your bill as low as possible.

“We want our subscribers to know that we’re not just haphazardly increasing television bills,” said Randy Klindt, Co-Mo Connect’s general manager. “Any increase you may see on the tele-vision portion of your bill is simply just cost that’s being passed to our consumers from the big net-works. Thankfully, we haven’t had to do much of that, because we have a good team in place that fights the big guys.”

Sometimes these contract negotiations can get ugly. At times, the networks will pull the plug on their signal, causing a blackout of that chan-nel on your television.

“When we’re negotiating, we ask those net-works not to pull the plug and hold the channel hostage,” Klindt said. “They are hoping to get

you to put the pressure on us to agree to their higher network fees. However, that’s not the way we want to do business. We want the networks to offer their shows to you on your terms, not on their terms.”

Unfortunately, the same goes for our local broadcast stations. Yes, it’s true, you would get

these stations for free if you didn’t have our service and you just had an antenna.

However, because we are a local service provider, these stations demand fees. When contracts are up for renewal these stations have been known to demand significant in-creases in fees. When increas-es like this take place, we’re forced to pass that expense to you or lose the channel.

“Because we’re a local, hometown business, we are invested in our members and subscribers,” Klindt said. “We do everything we can to make sure this doesn’t happen.”

At the end of this year, our contracts with our local stations are expiring. Undoubtedly, these stations will attempt to in-crease their fees. We’re working to make sure that doesn’t happen.

So, what can you do? “While we’re in the process of renegotiating

these contracts, it wouldn’t hurt if we had a little support from our subscribers,” Klindt said. “If our subscribers could find a spare minute in their busy schedules to contact these local stations and let them know we don’t want increased fees, that would be great.”

Know that we’re doing everything in our power to avoid adjustments to your monthly payments. Join us in the fight to keep television fees down. Visit: www.tvonmyside.com.

WhyFIBER?

A look at three technologies shows why Connect’s is best

DSLA Digital Subscriber Line connection uses the existing copper wire of your phone line to deliver Internet access. While not as fast as cable, this type of connection is much faster than dial-up. One critical factor with DSL is the distance between your home or office residence and the provider’s central office. The further you are from the main line, the weaker the signal, and the slower the connection.

CableCable uses the coaxial cable that con-nects to your TV set. In contrast to DSL, the quality of a cable connec-tion does not depend on distance. However, unlike DSL, which runs on a dedicated line, cable connections are typically shared among your neigh-bors, making it a slightly less secure option and one whose speed suffers during peak times. As far as speed goes, cable access range from about 3 to 10 mbps, which is about three to four times faster than DSL.

Co-Mo Connect FiberFiber optic technology is able to trans-mit data much faster over greater distances. Because the conductor is glass and cannot generate electricity, fiber is immune to all sorts of interfer-ence. This means that it can come in direct contact with high-voltage electri-cal equipment, power lines and light-ning, all while still putting out a supe-rior performance. Because fiber optic cables cost less to maintain, the price for service tends to be much less than cable and very competitive with DSL. The major downside to fiber is that ser-vice is only available in a few markets, but guess what? That’s not a problem for you in Co-Mo Country!

When we’re negotiating, we ask those net-works not to pull the plug and hold the channel hostage.

(L-R) Co-Mo Connect’s Office Supervisor Hayley Cleveland and Office Manager Barbie Petree are dedicated to keeping Co-Mo Connect’s service reliable and affordable. Work goes on all the time, behind the scenes, to keep your Co-Mo Connect bill affordable. One of our main priorities is to manage your monthly bill by fighting against excessive network fee increases from large, powerful media conglomerates. Learn more by visiting www.tvonmyside.com.