How many times did you change your mind about what you wanted to be when you grew up? Jackson EMC co-workers gave eighth graders a few more options to think about during the recent career fair for Commerce, Jefferson and Jackson County schools. Representing JEMC were Steve Chambers, director of job training & safety; Chad Hemphill, Jefferson corporate journeyman lineman; Latreace Sankey, community relations representative; Lisa Whitmire, help desk analyst; Daniel Wofford, Jefferson corporate journeyman lineman; and Steve Yeatts, director of general accounting.

Cardiac Arrest: Crimes of the Heart

The arrest warrant said it all, "You are hereby commanded…to come before this court to answer to the charge of having an electrifying personality." And so Wanda S. Scott, Neese customer service representative, entered the Madison County courthouse and found herself facing Judge Heartless. True to his name, he pronounced her guilty and off to jail she went, raising $300 for the American Heart Association.

Scott actually did go to the courthouse, but it was a mock jail she entered and costume prison suit she wore to have her picture taken.

To get her out of jail, family, friends and co-workers contributed her bail funds. The American Heart Association staged the fundraiser for money that will be used for community education, service projects and research.

Bikers Roll for Atlanta Ride for Kids

JEMC motorcyclists joined more than 1,000 riders to participate in Ride for Kids®, a program to fund finding the cause of and cure for pediatric brain tumors. The riders' entry fees, sponsored by JEMC, and their individual donations helped the Atlanta event raise $209,000.

Accompanied by a police escort, the riders started at North Point Mall in Alpharetta and ended in Dawsonville. Robert Akin, Gainesville residential sales representative, Jacob Benton, lineman apprentice in Corporate E & O, Steve Chambers, Jefferson Corporate job training and safety director, Daniel Matthews, retired system control coordinator, and Stanley Morris, Jefferson Corporate right of way crew leader, took part.

"While I enjoy the camaraderie among the cyclists, we’re actually helping out the kids," said Robert Akin who rides a Harley Davidson. "It could be my kid or yours one day with this problem."

Ride for Kids was started in Atlanta in 1984 by a newspaper executive and motorcyclist in response to a friend whose child was stricken with a brain tumor, said Philip Failyer, Jefferson Corporate programmer operator and a member of the Honda Rider's Club of America, which also participated in the event.