Planned Power Outage for McEwen, Houston County Area

Humphreys County educator recognized for her service

(August 6, 2025 – Waverly, TN) — Meriwether Lewis Electric Cooperative celebrated McEwen High School teacher Tanya Tidwell for being selected as the Humphreys County Teacher of the Year. MLEC District Manager Junior Breeden (right) presented Tidwell (left) a monetary award and gift from MLEC for her accomplishment.

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Houston County educators recognized for their service

Pictured from left to right: MLEC District Manager Jeff Rye, Erin Elementary School’s David Brown, Tennessee Ridge Elementary School’s Emily Moore, Houston County Middle School’s Cameron Chadwick, Houston County High School’s Ronnie Kinkennon and MLEC Member Service Representative Gina Bush.

(August 7, 2025 – Erin, TN) — Meriwether Lewis Electric Cooperative celebrated Houston County High School’s Ronnie Kinkennon, Houston County Middle School’s Cameron Chadwick, Erin Elementary School’s David Brown and Tennessee Ridge Elementary School’s Emily Moore for being selected as the Houston County Teachers of the Year. MLEC District Manager Jeff Rye and Member Service Representative Gina Bush presented each teacher a monetary award and gift from MLEC for their accomplishment.

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Hickman County educator recognized for service

(August 6, 2025 – Centerville, TN) — Meriwether Lewis Electric Cooperative celebrated Hickman County Middle School teacher Christie Carter for being selected as the Hickman County Teacher of the Year. MLEC District Manager Matt Chessor (left) and Director of Schools John Mullins (right) presented Carter with a monetary award and gift from MLEC for her accomplishment.

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Trimming set to begin in Hickman County

(August 5, 2025 – Centerville, TN) – Meriwether Lewis Electric Cooperative will begin right-of -way trimming in Hickman County on August 11 as a part of its ongoing commitment to system reliability.

Two dedicated crews will be working across Hickman County. The first crew will start on Highway 100 from the Hilltop Substation. Their route includes areas such as Johnson Mine Road, Fantasy Drive, Brown Hollow Road, Highway 7, Primm Springs and Locust Creek. The second crew will start on Highway 230 and trim Hassell Creek, Totty’s Bend, Highway 50 and the Shady Grove area. Their work will continue into next year.

At the same time, right-of-way maintenance continues in Humphreys County until the end of the year. Once each crew completes their respective area, they will shift efforts to Perry County.

 “Vegetation management is critical to improving service and reducing outages for our members,” said MLEC President and CEO Keith Carnahan. “Every moment matters, and maintaining our system helps ensure safe, low-cost, reliable power.”

MLEC thanks members in advance for their patience as crews work safely and efficiently. Members may visit mlec.com or social media for updates.   

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MLEC shares August 29 Deadline

(August 1, 2025) — Meriwether Lewis Electric Cooperative is now accepting applications for its annual Adopt-A-School Grant program. Local educators have until August 29, 2025, to apply for a chance to receive a $1,000 classroom grant available in each MLEC-served county.

Open to kindergarten through 12th-grade teachers and principals, the grants can be used to support classroom needs, enhance lesson plans, or fund unique educational projects that directly benefit students. Applications are available at local schools and online at mlec.com/school-programs. Paper or digital copies should be submitted to MLEC Member Services by the August 29 deadline.

“Teachers shape our future members every single day, and MLEC is proud to stand beside them,” said MLEC President and CEO Keith Carnahan. “Through the Adopt-A-School Grant, we’re helping create brighter paths for students across our communities. It’s one more way MLEC lives our purpose of delivering access to a better tomorrow.”                                                                                                

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Hickman County Rescue Squad and Centerville VFD each receive $1500

Pictured above from left to right: Centerville Volunteer Firefighters Jonathan Dysinger, Ethan Shadowens, Matthew Wright, Ian Hammon, MLEC Board Director Johnnie Ruth Elrod, Board Director Wayne Qualls, Fire Chief Al Baltz, Board Director Zack Hutchens, Kyle Labore, Fire Captain Gregg Johnston, Greg Mobley, and Marvin Dorton.

(July 31, 2025) – At Meriwether Lewis, service goes beyond providing reliable power. It’s about empowering people and programs that make our communities stronger. That’s why MLEC has donated $1500 each to the Hickman County Rescue Squad and the Centerville Volunteer Fire Department to strengthen emergency readiness.

“In April, the MLEC Hilltop Substation caught fire, and our local emergency crews were first to arrive on scene, risking their safety to protect our employees and allowing us to restore service as quickly as possible,” MLEC President and CEO Keith Carnahan said.

“Their dedication is nothing short of heroic. Supporting the Hickman County Rescue Squad and Centerville Volunteer Fire Department is more than a donation. It is a way to say thank you for the countless hours they spend preparing for moments that matter most.”

Pictured above from left to right: MLEC Board Directors Johnnie Ruth Elrod, Zach Hutchens and Wayne Qualls with Hickman County Rescue Squad Chief David McMeen and Reporter Amy McMeen.

These individuals are more than volunteers. They are essential partners in community safety and emergency preparedness. Their commitment to training, maintaining equipment, and responding at a moment’s notice makes a measurable difference in critical situations.

Meriwether Lewis Electric Cooperative is proud to support the Centerville Volunteer Fire Department and Hickman Rescue Squad as they continue to protect and serve our communities with professionalism and dedication.

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MLEC contributes funds to local 4-H organization

(July 8, 2025 – Erin, TN) – MLEC put co-op principle, concern for community, to action by supporting Houston County 4-H and the Houston County Beef Show. To aid in their efforts in serving area residents, each organization was presented with $500. Pictured: Houston County UT Extension Agent III Laurie Rollins (left) with MLEC Board Director Sam Fussell (right).

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MLEC contributes funds to local service organizations

(July 8, 2025 – Hohenwald, TN) – MLEC put co-op principle, concern for community, to action by supporting local service organizations. To aid in their efforts in serving area residents, each organization was presented with $500.

Pictured left to right is MLEC Board Director Dr. Jeff Peery, Melinda Warren representing the Senior Center, Felicia Stewart representing Hope Hohenwald, Robbie Hooks with Hohenwald Order of Police, Jamie English representing the Lewis County Food Bank, and MLEC Board Director Bill Webb.

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Six students spent a week in DC at the Washington Youth Tour

(July 9, 2025 – Centerville, TN) – Six high school juniors and one teacher from Meriwether Lewis Electric Cooperative’s service area recently represented their communities and the cooperative spirit during the 2025 Washington Youth Tour.

From June 14–20, these students joined over 130 of their peers from across Tennessee for a once-in-a-lifetime leadership and learning experience in the nation’s capital.

Representing MLEC were:

• Mary Mitra, Hickman County High School
• Fisher Sutton, Houston County High School
• Geena Caprio, Lewis County High School
• Ryan Lynch, McEwen High School
• Marian Callicott, Waverly Central High School
• Rhonda Ledbetter, Perry County High School (Overall winner of MLEC’s Washington Youth Tour Short Story Writing Contest)
• Kennedi Bates, Perry County High School English Teacher

Pictured from left to right: MLEC Communications Coordinator Benjamin Armstrong, Waverly Central High School delegate Marian Callicott, Houston County High School delegate Fisher Sutton, Hickman County High School delegate Mary Mitra, McEwen High School delegate Ryan Lynch, Perry County High School delegate, Rhonda Ledbetter, Perry County High School teacher Kennedi Bates, Lewis County High School delegate Geena Caprio and MLEC Employee and Member Services Assistant Holly McKennon.

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MLEC Communications Coordinator Benjamin Armstrong and Employee and Member Services Assistant Holly McKennon served as chaperones during the weeklong trip. The students explored American history, government and the impact of rural electric cooperatives.

“At MLEC, we believe in investing in the next generation of leaders,” President and CEO Keith Carnahan said. “The Washington Youth Tour isn’t just a trip, but a powerful experience that helps young people understand the value of community, civic duty, and public service. We’re proud to support these students as they grow into the voices and visionaries of tomorrow.”

They toured Monticello, the historic home of Thomas Jefferson. Students explored the Smithsonian Museums, the International Spy Museum, and the National Zoo. They reflected at the several monuments, Ford’s Theatre, and the Holocaust Memorial Museum. Delegates cruised the Potomac River, attended Youth Day at the Gaylord National Resort and met Tennessee congressional representatives before touring the U.S. Capitol. Delegate Ryan Lynch was also selected to participate in the wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier alongside three other WYT delegates from Tennessee.

MLEC’s delegates earned their spots through the cooperative’s Washington Youth Tour Short Story Contest, where students responded to the theme “Energizing Every Moment.” The prompt encouraged participants to reflect on how electric cooperatives provide safe, reliable power and build strong, connected communities.

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TVA and MLEC are conducting maintenance to improve reliability

(June 25, 2025 – McEwen, TN) Meriwether Lewis and the Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) will perform essential maintenance at the McEwen Substation early Sunday, June 29, requiring a planned power outage for members in the affected service area.

The outage will begin at 12:01 a.m. and last until approximately 5:00 a.m. This outage follows substation issues identified earlier this week. In response, TVA and MLEC are acting swiftly to make repairs and ensure continued reliability for members. Choosing the early morning hours minimizes disruption and takes advantage of the coolest part of the day.

The impacted area is essentially all of McEwen, including everything north of McEwen to Highway 70 towards Erin, south to Bold Springs Road, Highway 230 and Tumbling Creek, east to the Dickson County line, and west to Gorman.

Some parts of Houston County will also be impacted. These are Judy Branch Road, Harvey Road, AJ Dalton Road, and part of Highway 231.

A full map of areas is listed below (click to enlarge) and will also be shared on social media. In the event of inclement weather, the outage will be postponed. Updates will be posted to MLEC social media.

To help prepare, MLEC encourages members to follow a few simple tips:

• Keep the refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible. Consider adding ice packs to extend cool temperatures.
• Charge your cell phone and other essential devices before the outage begins.

For questions or concerns, please contact your local MLEC office or visit mlec.com.

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