Local high school students were in Washington, D.C., during the annual “Youth to Washington” Tour, June 10-17. Alex Thompson of Augusta, Heather Reynolds of Liberty, and Henry Moellring of Fowler represented Adams Electric Cooperative. Reed Bentzinger of Mendon and Lauren Whan of Camp Point represented Adams Telephone Co-Operative. This event, sponsored by the electric and telephone cooperatives of Illinois, began in the late 1950s to introduce rural youths to our democratic form of government and cooperatives.

The students met with Congressman Aaron Schock and were among 74 rural Illinois youth leaders selected for the trip. The Illinois students joined 1,500 young leaders from across the country. In addition to the Capitol, they also visited Arlington National Cemetery, the Washington National Cathedral, several Smithsonian Museums, the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, the World War II Memorial, the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia, the National Archives, the Newseum and a number of other historical sites.

Adams Electric Cooperative is a member of Touchstone Energy^Ò — an alliance of more than 720 local, consumer-owned electric utilities around the country. Adams Electric Cooperative is committed to providing superior service based on four core principles: integrity, accountability, innovation and commitment to community. The co-op serves more than 8,500 members over 2,226 miles of line in parts of Adams, Brown, Hancock, McDonough, Pike and Schuyler counties. For more information, visit www.adamselectric.coop.

Adams Telephone Co-Operative serves more than 3,300 members throughout Adams, Brown, Hancock, McDonough, Pike and Schuyler counties. Beginning with telephone service in 1952, the Cooperative has evolved into a full-scale telecommunications company, offering telephone, video, Internet, and cellular phone services to West Central Illinois and Northeast Missouri. For more information, visit www.adams.net.