Clarke-Washington EMC’s, Sarah Turner is Alabama’s Cooperative Communicator of the Year
Sarah Turner, communications specialist at Clarke-Washington EMC, was named the Darryl Gates Cooperative Communicator of the Year during the recent Alabama Rural Electric Association’s Communications Conference.
In presenting the award, judge Donna Abernathy, a nationally recognized award-winning writer and editor from Tennessee, praised Turner for “her skill and knowledge as a graphic designer, digital communicator, videographer, writer/editor and event promoter – all in a day’s work for a cooperative communicator.” She said she earned “this reviewer’s respect for a job well done in many categories, demonstrating a breadth of skill.”
Turner has been the communications specialist at Clarke-Washington EMC since graduating from the University of West Alabama in 2018. She has a bachelor’s degree in integrated marketing communication and is responsible for the co-op’s communications and public relations programs including print and social media. She also won awards for Best Wild Card for an entry titled “The Light,” and Best Video for a video she created celebrating linemen. The winning entries are posted on the co-op’s website at cwemc.com.
“We are so proud of Sarah and her accomplishments as our communications specialist,” says Clarke-Washington EMC General Manager Steve Sheffield. “She has amazing design talent and just a warm, fun personality that makes her so successful in the communications field.” CWEMC is a member-owned electric cooperative serving members in Clarke, Washington, Wilcox and Monroe counties.
The award is named for the late Darryl Gates who was editor of Alabama Living magazine for 30 years before his death in 2012.
Jubilee Festival of Arts wins Tourism event award
The Jubilee Festival of Arts, which features art, music and local cuisine along the oak-lined streets of Olde Town Daphne, was awarded the 2022 State of Alabama Tourism Event of the Year Award at the Alabama Governor’s Conference on Tourism in Auburn.
The festival features more than 140 local and regional artists. The festival also features the Jubilee Market for local food makers as well as entertainment, delicious food and Kids Art.
The 34th annual festival will be held Oct. 15-16 in Lott Park in Daphne. For more, visit thejubileefestival.com
Wetumpka festival highlights wildlife, local arts
Downtown Wetumpka has already been in the spotlight thanks to HGTV’s “Home Town Takeover” show. Now, the city will welcome locals as well as visitors for the first Wetumpka Wildlife Arts Festival, with several activities scheduled for this fall.
The Kelly Fitzpatrick Memorial Gallery will partner with the Smoot Harris family and the city to present the festival, which will offer a series of educational classes, children’s activities, live music, art exhibitions, vendors, sporting dog demonstrations and presentations from such award-winning artisans as chef Chris Hastings, artist Sue Key, Dirk Walker, Jim Denney, woodcarver John David Foote and Wildrose Kennels.
The series celebration will take place intermittently through Nov. 17, with the premier daylong event from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Nov. 5 on the banks of the Coosa River. The “Art Gone Wild” exhibition will be displayed at The Kelly at 124 Company St. for the duration of the series. Visit thekelly.org for more information.
Whereville, Alabama
Identify and place this Alabama landmark and you could win $25! Winner is chosen at random from all correct entries. Multiple entries from the same person will be disqualified. Send your answer with your name, address and the name of your rural electric cooperative, if applicable. The winner and answer will be announced in the November issue.
Submit by email: [email protected], or by mail: Whereville, P.O. Box 244014, Montgomery, AL 36124.
Do you like finding interesting or unusual landmarks? Contribute a photo you took for an upcoming issue! Remember, all readers whose photos are chosen also win $25!
September’s answer: This structure, in Gilbertown in Choctaw County, was built in 1922 by Seventh Day Adventists, who later built a new church and sold this one to First United Pentecostals in 1969. The building was sold to Debra Cooper in 1997 and remains privately owned. (Photo and information courtesy of RuralSWAlabama.org; other info courtesy of Ronald Bradley Cooper.) The randomly drawn correct guess winner is Charlotte Stewart of Black Warrior EMC.
