POSSUM HOLLER, Ky. – Two weeks after an ice storm of historical proportions left over 750,000 Kentucky households without electricity, many in this hamlet of 49 in the west-central part of the state are wondering why they now have electricity at all.

Founded in 1811, Possum Holler has never been part of the electricity grid, a fact not lost on locals who were dumbstruck when utility crews came through the area last Friday to erect poles and wire.

“I had no idea what they were doin’” said Lemma McLane, 28, a lifelong resident of neighboring Skunk Crossing. “I mean, I seen trucks before when my uncle took me on a date to the tractor pull in Paducah a few years back, but I never imagined they’d come here,” said Mc Lane.

Apparently, she isn’t alone in her amazement.

Moonshine, an economic staple of the area, is not dependent upon electricity.

Mayor Jeb Damron was in total awe as trucks came into the small town to install electric lines. “We had no idea what they was planning’ on puttin’ in,” said Damron.  “We weren’t gonna argue with ‘em,’ he said, “but we wish they’d have called us before comin’ to town.”

Late Wednesday, Possum Holler was still scrambling to figure out how to deal with the new-fangled invention. Once locals spotted utility trucks moving into the area, a city council meeting was convened to make plans on dealing with the addition of electricity to the impoverished hamlet.

“Hopefully, we’ll figure out a way to connect to the grid” said Mayor Damron in a media interview. “If not, I guess we’ll make do without it, just like we’ve always done.”

Originally posted 2009-02-17 20:06:01. Republished by Blog Post Promoter