Photo Contributed
Danny Kelley, Carroll Electric Construction Manager, recently accepted an award he earned for Carroll Electric Cooperative.  His photo, “Help from Above,” won a second place award of merit for best photo in the National Rural Electric Cooperative Association’s (NRECA) Spotlight on Excellence for outstanding achievement in cooperative communication.

A brief recollection of events that occurred following the January 2009 ice storm will cause cold chills to rush down the spines of cooperative employees, not to mention memories of hardships endured by members of Carroll Electric as they struggled to function without electricity.  Mr. Kelley’s primary responsibilities during the weeks of rebuilding electric service to over 56,000 Carroll Electric customers was to navigate the helicopter pilot over the heavily damaged power lines.  Damage assessments from the air proved to be a major factor in getting power back on for all 11 counties in just 17 days.

While doing field inspection of work completed in Newton County, Danny snapped the picturesque landscape of the Mt. Judea valley after borrowed linemen from Kansas had just replaced a pole on a power line serving the valley and beyond.  Kelley remarked, “What can’t be seen in the photo is the 800-foot steep drop off just feet from the base of the pole.  Their pole top view is one these flatlanders will remember for a long time!” 

This ice storm was touted as the most devastating natural disaster northern Arkansas and southern Missouri had seen in over 30 years.  Congratulations Danny for capturing a moment of triumph during an extremely difficult and challenging time for the members and employees of Carroll Electric Cooperative.