Nespelem Valley Electric Cooperative, Inc., is getting ready for its annual meeting in a year full of challenges.

The utility, which delivers electric power to rural areas on the Colville Indian Reservation and in Okanogan and Ferry counties, lost many poles and miles of line in the current wildfires that have burned large swaths of its service area and its customers’ assets; it had explored, but later decided against, a merger with another utility; and it just hired a new general manager who started on the job Sept. 8.

Members can meet him and vote on their representation on the board of trustees at the meeting.

The board has invited all members of the cooperative to its 76th annual meeting at the Nespelem School on Oct. 2, starting at 5 p.m. with dinner and social time. The meeting will begin at 7 p.m.

Three positions for the Board of Trustees are up for election at the meeting. The candidates are:

District 2

Cindy Corpe (incumbent)

Jim Maher

District 4

Dorothy Palmer (incumbent)

District 7

Ron Heath

Fred Young

(Incumbent is not running.)