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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 10, 2005

CONTACT: Dan Dasho, 
Director of Columbia Water and Light
or
Connie Kacprowicz
Communications Specialist
Office - (573) 874-7325

Columbia lineworker fatally injured
									
	(COLUMBIA, MO) - Columbia Water and Light Lineworker Steve Ebert
passed away after being electrocuted on Friday, June 10, at 8:51 a.m. in
Independence, Mo., while helping restore electric service to the
storm-damaged area. While the crew was replacing a damaged pole, the
boom truck came in contact with a 13,000-volt power line.  Ebert was
reaching into the storage bins on the truck when it came in contact with
the line. Another Columbia Water and Light employee on the crew, Charles
Schouten, was treated and released.
	The Columbia Water and Light crew was sent to Independence to
help restore power through a Mutual Aid Agreement with the Missouri
Association of Municipal Utilities. The Mutual Aid Agreement allows
utilities sustaining damage to request personnel, equipment and
materials from other participating utilities. Independence Power and
Light requested electric crews and equipment to help repair damaged
electric lines from a storm that hit Independence on Wednesday night.
Eleven Water and Light employees reported to work in Independence on
Thursday, June 9.  
	Director of Water and Light Dan Dasho says, "We go about our
daily work here at Water and Light sometimes forgetting that our
employees are putting their lives on the line every time they come to
work. Servicing electric lines is a dangerous business.  Steve Ebert
lost his life going beyond the normal call of duty; he was helping
another community in its time of need. It is a sad day at Columbia Water
and Light. I want to extend my condolences to Steve's family and
friends during this difficult time."
	City Manager Raymond Beck says, "This comes as a shock to our
outstanding, dedicated workforce that serves the city 24 hours a day,
seven days a week. On behalf of the city, I to want to express my
sympathies to the family, friends and fellow employees of Steve
Ebert."
	Steve Ebert began working for Columbia Water and Light as a
temporary laborer in the Water and Light storeroom on Aug. 23, 1993. He
was hired as a meter reader on Jan. 18, 1994. Ebert was then promoted to
an apprentice lineworker on Sept. 19, 1994. After he completed the
apprentice lineworker program, he was promoted to a lineworker on Dec.
8, 1998. Ebert, age 33, resided in Clark, Mo., with his wife and three
children.
	Charles Schouten, age 30, is an apprentice lineworker for
Columbia Water and Light and has been employed by the utility since July
31, 2000.

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