Lamar Light Plant Opens Annual Scholarship Program

The Lamar Utility Board went through a light agenda on Tuesday, January 24^th.   Members were given wind turbine data for 2016 by Light Plant Superintendent, Houssin Hourieh, noting that Lamar’s three wind turbine generated 10,343.02 megawatts of electricity with is about 537.26 more than what was generated in 2015.  This performance is in light of Turbine Two being off-line for two months while a failed gearbox was being replaced.  Hourieh said that when the turbines were put into production in 2003, 2010 had been the most productive year for the array, followed by 2008 and the third best year has been 2012.  He also noted that the Light Plant is accepting applications for a qualified lineman.

Scholarship applications are now being accepted by the Board for the 2017/2018 program. Every year the Lamar Utilities Board and the Arkansas River Power Authority jointly provide a $1,000 scholarship award to a graduating high school senior from Lamar, McClave, and Wiley High Schools. To be eligible, a student must be a high school senior residing with a family receiving electric service from Lamar Light and Power. Applicants may download the latest application from the utilities board website or call 336-7456 for additional details.  Each year a theme is selected for a written presentation from the applicants, usually pertaining to some form of impact utilities have on our lives.  This year’s topic is:  “Lamar Light and Power is a public owned utility.  Discuss the Advantages of having a public owned utility in the community.”  The deadline is Friday, April 21^st.

Regarding Main Street renovations along Main Street, Hourieh said it was his understanding that CDOT would be responsible for taking down the street lights, one of the first phases of the project. “We will keep them here for spares,” he explained noting that they would be placed in an area near Suetrak as well as the lift station.  He said the old lights will be used to replace the ones that remain standing and which remain outside the renovation area.  The new lights are a single bulb LED and the poles will be arched over from the sidewalk, pointing down on the highway.

By Russ Baldwin