Linda Daugherty is a big fan of South Central Power Company Co. and not just because of the Ohio electric cooperative’s reliable service.
Just before the December holidays, Tristen Helterbrand, meter technician from the Lancaster-based co-op, provided a safe haven for the member’s 10-year-old grandson, Brayden Amburgey. The boy was locked outside his house after school on a bitterly cold and windy day.
“Brayden was thinking on his feet,” Daugherty said. “He saw the logo on the truck and figured it was someone he could ask for help.”
Helterbrand had just finished a job near Greenfield and was in his truck, completing paperwork.
“There was a line of bushes by the driveway, and this kid just comes out of nowhere,” he said. “He was crying. He was upset.”
After rolling down the window, Helterbrand tried to calm down Amburgey. The meter tech learned that the boy’s school had a two-hour early dismissal for Christmas break, and no one was home when the bus dropped him off. Somehow, the message got lost between the school and the grandparents.
“He was in his pajamas because it was pajama day at school. I can’t imagine how cold he was” despite wearing a winter coat, Helterbrand said.
Helterbrand invited the boy to sit in his truck and offered to call his parents, who were out of town, and then his grandparents. “But he didn’t know their numbers. I looked them up in the mapping system and found them.”
“I didn’t answer at first because I didn’t recognize the number,” Daugherty said. “When he called several times, I picked up and Brayden said, ‘Where are you?’ I was upset, but Tristen kept saying it would be OK.”
Because the boy was still worried, Helterbrand had to think fast about distracting him until Daugherty arrived about 30 minutes later. Inside the warm truck, they talked about video games, sports and history, the boy’s favorite subject in school.
“I liked talking to him and trying to make conversation, but I don’t play video games much anymore,” Helterbrand said. “I just kind of nodded and asked him questions. It felt good to help a kid out. He was a nice little boy who panicked.”
The next day, Daugherty called the co-op to commend the meter technician. “Everything went wrong that day, but then everything went so right,” she said. “Tristen went above and beyond. I was struck by his compassion to look out for Brayden. He didn’t have to do that, but we’re very grateful that he did.”
Metering Supervisor John Darnell praised Helterbrand for his initiative, adding, “it’s the co-op way. I’ve been here 28 years, and it’s more of a family than a job.”
Victoria A. Rocha is a staff writer for NRECA.