Champion Students

Students solving problems
Paintsville

The Johnson County Community Problem Solving Team was recognized in August’s Kentucky Living local section of Big Sandy Rural Electric Co-op, based in Paintsville.

The team won grand champion this summer in La Crosse, Wisconsin, where it competed in the 2010 International Problem Solving Competition.

The team of eight Johnson County middle and high school students tackled the problem of easing the transition of foster children into foster care. The team called itself The Silent Angels, and researched the issue with area foster care services. It collected personal items for children, developed programs to increase the number of foster parents, and created a Web site: www.staff.johnson.kyschools.us/schools/jchs/silentangels.

The team is coached by Pamela Burton, coordinator of Gifted and Talented Services, Johnson County Schools.

Energy efficient cause
Liberty

Three Kentucky electric co-ops helped Casey County High School students build an energy-efficient house to be sold to a local church to sell to a low-income family. Each year, students, under the guidance of teacher Garland Whitis, build a home to Touchstone Energy Home standards. Once the home is sold, it is moved from the high school in Liberty to the buyer’s property. The co-ops helping this year were Inter-County Energy Co-op based in Danville, South Kentucky Rural Electric Co-op based in Somerset, and Taylor County Rural Electric Co-op based in Campbellsville.

Historic trailer makeover
West Liberty

This spring, Licking Valley Rural Electric Co-op mechanic Russell Burgett began restoring an old “hot-line” trailer purchased by Licking Valley Co-op based in West Liberty. The piece of co-op history was restored for the co-op’s annual meeting this summer.

Larry Easterling, Licking Valley Rural Electric Co-op general superintendent, used the trailer for the last time before it was taken out of use. He remembers the first time he used the trailer in 1969.