Lengthy power outage demands review
The recent power outage in Columbus became a power outrage for some Duke Energy customers who were left without electricity for days.
Duke hasn’t exactly apologized for leaving customers in the dark here for longer than anywhere else in its Indiana territory, even as other areas sustained more extensive damage. But the utility did submit a letter to the editor published on this page a few days ago that detailed a difficult power restoration process and thanked customers for their patience.
A couple of days after that in The Republic’s Around Town section, a commenter gave Duke an onion for that thank you. The commenter noted the sentiment did nothing to replace their spoiled groceries. Fair point. Spoiled groceries were an expensive aggravator for which Duke will not reimburse ratepayers, so we suspect the commenter spoke for a good number of people who had to toss the contents of their fridges and freezers. But for some people in our community, a prolonged power outage could be more than an out-of-pocket inconvenience. It could be a matter of life or death.
While the thank-you letter was a nice gesture, as a public utility with a duty to ratepayers, Duke owes Columbus a thorough and transparent review of its performance here after the May 21 storm. Several hundred homes were left without power for days, even after Duke had restored electricity elsewhere throughout its Indiana territory. Duke should explain to its public the specific steps it is taking to improve its Columbus infrastructure as needed and the utility’s response the next time a damaging storm rolls through.
Help a food bank, if you can
Once again, our region’s food banks are straining to meet a surging need that is only expected to increase.
As The Republic’s Andy East reported this week, enhanced SNAP food-assistance benefits for people of modest means that were extended during the pandemic ended at the end of May. They will have less money for food just as prices are soaring at historic levels.
About 7% of households in Bartholomew County qualify for SNAP. Many more, though, earn too much for assistance but not enough to afford food, rent, utilities and other basics of life. Food banks are there to help.
Love Chapel’s food pantry helped almost 7,000 people in April — the highest monthly figure ever, director Kelly Daugherty told East. Daugherty expects that number to rise as benefits are reduced and food prices continue to climb. Other food banks are seeing the same. They’re doing what they always do — helping those most in need survive.
But they cannot do it without your help. If you can, please consider supporting a local food bank as a volunteer or with monetary donations. To find a local food bank, visit feedingamerica.org.
Kudos to 2 BCSC teachers
Well-earned honors were bestowed this week on two veteran educators in Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp, as The Republic’s Jana Wiersema reported.
Amy Elsbury, a fifth-grade teacher at Rockcreek Elementary School, and Jill Garris, a physical education teacher at CSA Lincoln and Fodrea, received the 2022 William and Sally Hanley Excellence in Teaching Award, which is administered through the Heritage Fund — the Community Foundation of Bartholomew County.
Elsbury has taught for 30 years, 28 at Rockcreek, while Garris has been teaching 15 years, all in BCSC. Nominated by their principals, they also had to receive letters of support from parents, colleagues and students.
“When you find out that your principal had to nominate you and other people had to write letters of recommendation, I’m just kind of in awe that people would do that for me,” Garris said.
Teachers don’t do what they do for the recognition. It’s a calling. And Elsbury said with pride that her daughter-in-law and her son’s fiancee also are teachers.
“They’ll keep doing this after I don’t do it anymore,” Elsbury said. “When my son gets married this fall, there’ll be old Mrs. Elsbury in fifth grade and young Mrs. Elsbury in kindergarten. So the Mrs. Elsbury tradition will continue out here.”
Sounds like a winner.
