Wednesday, February 11th Cale & Karen went out to Nolin

RECC to visit with the Breakfast Crew and 200+ Linemen. Their stories were incredible and it is our hope that through these pictures we will be able to put a face to the folks that have and are continuing to get your power back on.

Cale gets his portable radio set on Big Cat 105.5 so he and Karen can begin their broadcast. Cale & Karen arrived at Nolin RECC at roughly 5:30am and were excited to be surrounded by the men and women who were making such a terrible time bearable. TV crews were also on hand to put a face to all the people making the restoration efforts.

Cale's first order of business was to speak with VP of System Operations Vince Heuser. Vince has been instrumental in keeping the public aware of the number of homes still without power as well as in the coordination of the crews from in and out of town. The days have been long and sleep virtually nonexistent.
From his account, many of the trucks were encountering downed polls, numerous lines ripped from power polls as well as substation and other damages due to the overwhelming amount of ice, rain and snow that hit the area over such a brief amount of time. Rugged terrain and melting snow and ice made the way for trucks virtually impossible. Yet, the crews pressed on.
Back to the interview. Vince began to tell Cale their next plan of action. By the weekend, February 9th, he was hopeful that everyone would again have power. Meanwhile, Karen got busy with the camera and made some new friends...
The food was fresh and hot - provided by Lori and Steve Fulkerson, owners of Back Home Restaurant and Country Store.  That's something any hungry man can appreciate, especially 200+ Linemen getting ready to put themselves into harms way on a freezing cold day for the sake of the job and the lives it touches at the other end! Robert, top right, made his way into the Nolin RECC conference room and chose to let others eat before making himself a plate.  To the left,  a foreman and his Crew from Mississippi.
YUMMY!  What a spread they put on...and they've been doing it for the entire time these guys have been needing food.

Meet Shirley...right ...and his teammate who's name I did not get that day.  These two along with other crew members are in our area from Mississippi!  I couldn't resist. I had to meet this man Shirley!  Was this his last name?  First name?? Turns out it didn't matter after all. 

Everyone just called him...

Yeah, Squirley! He and his crew had sacrificed their warm beds in Mississippi to make their way into our frozen neighborhoods to help. They were Linemen, service tech's, right of way workers and mechanics. A breed of people I have quickly learned are crazy. In love with what they do and ALL about helping people.  They just wanted to get the power back on.  I was a bit concerned about how they were dressed. Squirely even said he felt like his ear had frozen off the day before! How did they keep warm?!  They just kept moving and didn't think about it. 

I guess I'll never be able to MAN UP to that.
Meet Hardtop (or was it Hardball)? I asked what was up with a name like that. Everyone pointed at someone else to tell me the story. The foreman finally said it had something to do with not wanting to get out into the sticks but to remain on the hardtop.  I think I got that right.  Feel free to email me Hardtop if I messed that story up. He is another one of Mississippi's finest! Shy, sweet and a wee bit embarrassed that I even asked about his nick name.  Meet David Akin...
Wondering why his trusty crew just threw him to the media wolves.

David pondering over whom he should fire for such an injustice. 

Shirley maybe...he looks guilty.
Too late...on the air we go.  Cale and David talk about the crew from Mississippi! What their daily routines were like and how they were being treated during their stay in KY.  All reports were good and they said KY has been one of their best stays on the job yet. Off to work they were once again though, so Cale and David said their respective goodbyes.
The face of our Mississippi boys! I also had the chance to take photos of some of the other sweet people from other parts of Mississippi, Columbus & Cleveland Ohio, and North Carolina. I wish I could have cultivated a better relationship with them all but here are a few of their faces so you will know who's on your side until the job is DONE.

A Table FULL of snacks for the crews to take out on the road with them so when they felt hungry, they could eat something until they were done with their 16 - 18 hour day.

Vince gets up to brief the crews and give them their days assignments.

Everyone has pretty much eaten but a few stragglers remain...

Kyle from Pioneer Electric out of Alabama tries to listen in from the back of the room.  Elizabeth Donatelli from WAVE 3 TV gets ready to talk to more of the crews. (Red Shirt to the left of Kyle)

Robert finally gets some hot vittles while some of the crews begin to leave.
Nolin Crews keep the coffee, juices, milk and condiments coming for hungry folks.

Michelle Rogers serves another hungry customer who's more

interested in a shot of vitamin C. 

Cale & Me (Karen) are really working hard to keep folks abreast of the conditions facing the crews and all those still without power. Of course, a free yummy Breakfast from Back Home was great incentive!
Karen slides over to welcome in her chair, Elizabeth Donatelli of Wave 3 TV.  Elizabeth shares with the Big Cat listeners some of the stories and facts she's learned while having breakfast with the crews. Cale...IS IN LOVE!

No seriously, Cale performed a great interview and managed

only to drool upon Elizabeth's departure! :-)

Elizabeth gets caught up in the moment with Karen...
Thanks Elizabeth for your valuable input. You're a peach lady.

Meet John Lutz! A Nolin employee for the past 30 years. On a normal day, John is what you would call a Staking Technician. Today, after he has a hearty breakfast, he will become a Bird Dog. Someone who takes folks from out of town and shows them where things are at like lines and poles. In other words, he gets to go first into the unknown to brief the crews of what's ahead...

kinda like an electricity scout.
Thanks for the interview John...Enjoy. Back Home put on a great spread!  Thanks Lori & Steve.  These guys rightly appreciated all you have done! Me, Cale and Cat did too.
Back Home's Steve Fulkerson poses with the Big Cat.  We love you Steve & Lori!
Cale chats another interview with one of Nolin's finest...Tiffany Snodgrass.  Tiffany gave Cale a detailed account of how the company decides where they go and when. What the prioritization process entailed and more.  Great job Tiff!
Allison Coffey...part of the crew that lead the way in feeding the men...snags herself a little something long after the crews were on the streets.

Finally, Michelle wrestles down a bit to eat along with her comrades.  What an enormous undertaking this was.  Thanks to Nolin RECC for inviting us over to put a face to the people that are restoring our power. For the folks

I was unable to speak with...THANK YOU and

GOD BLESS YOU ALL and your precious families.
These are some of the pictures shared with us from the crews out on the road. We want to share your pics and stories too.  Click here and send them to me!
Help is on the way!  Hold on!  Call if you have power but someone right next to you does not.  Now Linemen are getting to spotty areas and your phone calls are imperative in finding isolated cases.  Thank You for your patience and be safe.
Send in your photos and stories.  We love you and pray you are all okay.