Boone Electric workers assist in Gustav cleanup

COLUMBIA — Four journeymen linemen from Boone Electric Cooperative left Columbia to travel to Greenwell Springs, La., to assist with power restoration following Hurricane Gustav, according to Vicki Kemna, manager of human resources and communication for Boone Electric Cooperative.

The four will be working in conjunction with Dixie Electric Membership Corporation in various parishes to replace and set electric poles, replace and re-string electrical wire and clean brush and debris from power lines.

Boone Electric Cooperative sent the workers to help with cleanup following hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Workers were also dispatched to help restore power outages following ice storms in South Dakota, Kemna said.

Of the 18 journeymen linemen at Boone Electric Cooperative, 13 volunteered to head to Louisiana, Kemna said.

The four are expected to be gone for 10 days. If they are needed for additional time, Boone Electric Cooperative is prepared to send replacements and bring the four back so they can return to work in Columbia, Kemna said.

Boone Electric Cooperative and 28 other Missouri electric cooperatives will be sending a total of 123 workers and 68 trucks, including Central Missouri Electric Cooperative in Sedalia, Co-Mo Electric Cooperative in Tipton and Consolidated Electric Cooperative in Mexico, Mo., Kemna said.