Ozark Border voter registration opens

Voting is about to begin for Ozark Border Electric Cooperative’s district leadership. The annual meeting registration forms were mailed on Monday so members can choose their voting location.

Four board member will be elected, with the winners’ names being announced during the annual meeting Aug. 9 at OBEC headquarters, 3281 S. Westwood Blvd., Poplar Bluff.

The nine candidates on the ballot include five named by the cooperative board of directors’ nominating committee, as well as four who petitioned to be included on the ballot. Those selected by the committee are District 1 Dewayne Ligons of Ellsinore, District 2 Gary Melton of Poplar Bluff, District 3 Bill Crawford and Larry Kimbrow, both of Poplar Bluff, and District 4 Chad Parker of Campbell.

Ligons, Melton, Crawford and Parker are incumbents.

Candidates who petitioned for a spot on the ballot are: District 2, Dennis “Boots” LeGrand and Tod Spradley, both of Poplar Bluff; District 3, Lee Wright and Donna Sue Ashcraft Fincher, both of Qulin.

The annual membership meeting offers multiple places for voting and members may bring their forms to one of the sites to register and vote. The registration forms allows each member to vote for board of director candidates and to be included in the drawing for attendance prizes.

Voting and registration will be in advance of the annual meeting. The dates and sites are:

• 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Monday, Aug. 5, walk-in voting at the Malden office, 19968 State Highway J.

• 9 a.m–3 p.m. Tuesday, Aug. 6, walk-in voting at the Puxico office, 21838 State Highway 51.

• 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 7, walk-in voting at the Van Buren office, 106 Commercial Drive.

• 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 8, walk-in voting at the Doniphan office, 554 Bridge St.

• 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9, drive-in voting at the Poplar Bluff Office, 3281 S. Westwood Blvd.

The business meeting will be at 2:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 9, at OBEC headquarters.

Regardless of which date or location a member participates, they will be able to register for the meeting, vote, receive a registration gift, and be included in a prize drawing at the end of registration on Aug. 9. This drawing, along with the business meeting, will be broadcast via Facebook live starting at 2:20 p.m.

All members registering will also receive a $10 bill credit.