POWERGRAMS

5 Crew Lineman Adam Brasher; Dadeville Apprentice Lineman Paul Chayka; Selma Distribution Specialist Allen Kendrick; and Montgomery Offi ce FSR Kyle Lawrence. SAVING LIVES AND FAMILIES, IN MORE WAYS THAN ONE Shanon Graham was 16 and a ending Glencoe High School when he became a junior fi reman for Glencoe Fire Department. Two years later, Graham took the exam to be a professional fi refi ghter, but instead went to work at Alabama Power, where he is a master technician for the Utility Fleet at Anniston Crew Headquarters. It's not unusual for Graham to spend weekends and a er-work hours fi ghting fi res. For example, instead of relaxing at home one Saturday night, he took a 10:30 p.m. call to extinguish a vehicle fi re: a car had burst into fl ames on Old Highway 431 in Glencoe. "We run so many fi res and wrecks. We do about 900 calls a year, with medical and fi re," said Graham, a fi re lieutenant for 20 years. "I a end to quite a few calls each month. Whenever I'm available and not at the power company, I try to help. It's a full-time job." Graham is a certifi ed 160 fi refi ghter, which signifi es he completed 160 hours of training through the Alabama Fire College and Personnel Standards Commission in less than 24 months. "I do medical calls, too," said Graham, who earned his medic license in 2000. "If someone calls in with a heart a ack, I go. I'm a fi rst responder now. We do a lot of extraction of vehicles and help mentor the younger guys, instructing them on what to do to avoid ge ing hurt. We've got to be as safe as possible all the time, just like we do at Alabama Power." Graham's 24 years volunteering with Glencoe Fire Department goes beyond lifesaving. He helps organize and takes part in the department's annual Christmas for Kids program to benefi t Etowah County children. Teaming up with his wife, Kristie, Graham raises as much as $12,000 a year through cooking events. He spends about 25 Saturdays a year traveling the Southeast to competitions. "Kristie and I compete in barbecue and steak competitions," Graham said. On May 9, the couple raised $3,500 in a steak cook-off at Glencoe City Park to fund Christmas for Kids. "Just being able to help my community means a lot to me," Graham said. "Everybody should be involved somehow, and that's what I've tried to do. I've always enjoyed it." HELPING OTHERS IS FAMILY AFFAIR For Plant Farley Information Technology Manager Phillip Moman, fi refi ghting is a family aff air. Moman Philip Moman (center) and sons Parker (left) and Gaither are volunteer fi refi ghters. (Photo courtesy Philip Moman)

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