Two teams of Southern Pioneer Linemen departed for Binger, OK. on Friday, October 30, to assist with power restoration efforts after a severe ice storm left many without essential electricity. Southern Pioneer’s crews worked alongside crews from CKenergy and many other crews from across the state of Kansas over the course of a week.

Medicine Lodge’s crew included Tavis MacDonald, line foreman; Jordan Webster, journeyman lineman; Scott Hull, journeyman lineman and Garrett Randels, apprentice lineman.

Liberal’s crew included Rueben Archuleta, crew foreman; Nick Schwindt, journeyman lineman; Ryon Fischer, journeyman lineman; Travis Rhine, journeyman lineman and John Dealy, apprentice lineman.

Additionally, each crew took a foreman’s pick up, digger derrick, pole trailer, 55’ bucket and 37’ service bucket.

Southern Pioneer is excited to announce the dates for the Washington, D.C. “Government in Action” Youth Tour (June 14-21, 2021) and Steamboat Springs, Colorado Cooperative Youth Leadership Camp (July 16-22, 2021).  Southern Pioneer Electric’s event coordinator, Dee Longoria, looks forward to the program each year. “Meeting these students and getting to know them is always a fun time,” she said. “In an effort to continue improving our Youth Tour program, changes to the application and interview processes have been made for the 2021 programs.”

For the 2021 programs, students selected for interviews will do so via videoconference. “We want to make sure we are doing everything in our power to keep our students, judges and employees safe,” Longoria said. The application features a new writing prompt and a “Student in Good Standing” form, to be submitted with each student’s application.

High School sophomores and juniors, throughout Southern Pioneer Electric’s service territory, may now apply for these once-in-a-lifetime trips by clicking here. Applications for the 2021 Youth Tour must be submitted prior to the deadline, October 21, 2020. Questions about Youth Tour, the application, and interview process may be directed to Dee Longoria (dlongoria@pioneerelectric.coop).

Due to the rise in community cases of COVID-19 and the recent suggestion from the KDHE, Southern Pioneer Electric will be postponing this year’s Splash Bash at the Adventure Bay Water Park, in Liberal, on July 11. We are discussing our options with Adventure Bay Water Park and will provide more information once available. The well-being of our communities is important to us and we feel that this is best course of action within these current circumstances. Our sincerest apologies; thank you for your understanding.