Marietta Power won several awards at the American Public Power Association's (APPA) eighth annual Public Power Lineworkers' Rodeo, held in Indianapolis, Indiana, and the Georgia Linemans' Rodeo, held in Perry, Georgia.

APPA rodeo

Sixty-two journeyman lineworker teams and 70 apprentices competed in the Eighth Annual Public Power Lineworkers’ Rodeo 2008, a national event at Indianapolis Motor Speedway.

Marietta Power had one journeyman team representing us this year. A journeyman lineworker has more than four years of experience. Each journeyman team has two climbers and a ground person. Journeymen compete in five timed events: 600-amp switch-out, cross arm change-out, hurt man rescue, alley arm change-out, and cut-out change-out. Events are judged based on safety, work practices, neatness, ability, equipment handling, and timely event completion. All safety rules established by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the APPA Safety Manual are observed during the events.

There are two levels of competition within the rodeos -- journeyman and apprentice. The journeyman teams consist of three members -- two climbers and a ground person -- and can include an optional alternate. A qualified journeyman has more than four years of experience within the electric utility trade. An apprentice lineworker has four or fewer years of experience.

The awards honor lineworkers' expertise, and the events are judged based upon safety, work practices, neatness, ability, equipment handling, and timely event completion. All safety rules established by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and the APPA Safety Manual were observed during events.

APPA Winners

Marietta Power Team 106 members Nick Sawyer, Barry Dillard and Trinity Broome, coached by Bobby Watson, won 5th place in the 'Overall' category of the journeyman events and 2nd place in the Alley Arm Change-out.

Georgia Linemans' Rodeo Winners

Five apprentices – Dan Ammons, Matt Davis, Joseph Pitts, Jason Ravan and Justin Sinyard – competed individually against a total of 106 apprentices and brought home a total of nine awards including 1st and 2nd place overall in the Municipal Division.

Two Marietta Power teams – Nick Sawyer, Barry Dillard and Trinity Broome; Jason Rodriguez, Tyler Copeland and Stephen Zirpoli – competed in rodeo events and brought home a total of eight awards, while competing against 39 other teams.

Apprentice Municipal Division

Overall Municipal Division

1st - Jason Ravan

2nd - Justin Sinyard

Written Test

1st - Justin Sinyard

Obstacle Course

1st - Jason Ravan

3rd - Matt Davis

Insulator Change

1st - Justin Sinyard

2nd - Matt Davis

3rd - Jason Ravan

Hurt man Rescue

1st - Jason Ravan

Journeyman Teams

Overall Journeyman Municipal Division

1st - Nick Sawyer, Barry Dillard and Trinity Broome

2nd - Rodriguez, Tyler Copeland and Stephen Zirpoli

12 kv Post Insulator Change

1st - Nick Sawyer, Barry Dillard and Trinity Broome

3rd - Rodriguez, Tyler Copeland and Stephen Zirpoli

3-Phase Insulator Change

1st - Nick, Barry and Trinity

4 kv Cutout Installation and Jumper Removal

2nd - Nick Sawyer, Barry Dillard and Trinity Broome

Hurt Man Rescue

1st - Rodriguez, Tyler Copeland and Stephen Zirpoli

2nd - Nick Sawyer, Barry Dillard and Trinity Broome

For more information, call Marietta Power at 770-794-5150.