We recognize many heroes in our community — police officers, sheriff's deputies, firefighters, EMTs, doctors and ER nurses, and of course our wonderful military members — but we fail to think of our utility technicians who respond, whenever we have a gas or electrical issue.
One evening this week, my husband Jim told me that while he was working in the yard next to the gas meter, he smelled gas and thought I should call the gas company. He said he only smelled it when the water heater or heater was running.
I went outside, but apparently wasn't close enough to the meter, and could smell nothing.
But since Jim smelled it, I called Okaloosa Gas after dark, after hours on a rainy evening.
The lady I spoke with took my information and relayed it to a technician and told me that someone would be out within 45 minutes. I was working in the office and heard the truck drive up and went outside.
Jim soon joined the technician who, indeed, found a gas leak at the meter.
He fixed the leak and went on his way.
Having a gas leak is no laughing matter, and I am grateful to the technician and Okaloosa Gas for sending him out.
Last year, the lights in my office kept dimming and Gulf Power sent a technician on a Saturday night. I told them we could wait until Monday, but they insisted on checking it out.
Unfortunately, a lug on our meter was bad, so we called an electrician and had it repaired Monday morning. Thank goodness we know an honest electrician.
I am grateful to the men and women who work for our utility companies. They come out and make sure we are safe, even when it is inconvenient for them — dark, wet and raining.
When we had all the hurricanes here a few years ago, we saw other utility companies coming to be of assistance to us and, when Katrina came, our utility companies went to help them.
Hats off to you; thank you for your dedication — and job well done.
Janice Lynn Crose, a retired accountant, lives in Crestview with her husband, Jim; her two rescue collies, Shane and Jasmine; and two cats, Kathryn and Prince Valiant.
This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: CROSE: This is for Okaloosa County's hard-working unsung heroes