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On Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026, at 9 a.m. Central, Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative members received a text from 833-417-5291. We encourage our members to save this number in their phones so that our messages are less likely to appear as spam or unknown. You may receive text notifications about important...
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GCEC Partners With Waller Elementary

Gulf Coast Electric Cooperative (GCEC) visited Waller Elementary School in Youngstown September 3.

The day began with a flag-raising ceremony in which GCEC employees climbed a power pole to the national anthem and placed the American flag at the top of the pole.

After the ceremony, classes took turns visiting the co-op’s liveline safety demonstration trailer. Built by GCEC employees, the trailer features working electrical equipment.

The presentation began with an overview of the safety equipment linemen are required to wear. Linemen then demonstrated what happens when squirrels and a ladder make contact with an energized line. An energized car door offers a powerful lesson on why you do not walk up and attempt to help someone in a car that has energized lines on it.

After learning that most of the classrooms at Waller Elementary lost their classroom flags during Hurricane Michael, the co-op wanted to help. GCEC representatives revisited the school on September 15 and donated 28 classroom-sized American flags, along with brackets, so that every classroom now has a flag for the morning pledge.

From bottom, Reis Nelson, Kyle Kelley, Brett Robertson, Ron Groom and Taylor Hammack climb a power pole and place an American flag at the top during the flag raising ceremony.

Pictured with students who will enjoy new flags in their classrooms are, back row from left, GCEC Vice President of Marketing and Communications Kristin Douglas, Waller Elementary School Principal Gina McNally, GCEC District III Group 2 Trustee and Board President Jimmy Black—who also is the physical education teacher at the school—and GCEC Communications Specialist Sunny Brown.

Brennis Smith uses a hot dog to demonstrate why you don’t grab the handle of a vehicle with a downed power line on it.