Our Employees Reflect the “Giving Back” Spirit of the NCTC Service Spirit

Greg Ballou is a line technician at NCTC, with an eight-year working commitment. We asked him to share what it is that speaks out for NCTC and his belief in what he does to make our service distinct.
“Being a local company is very important to me,” Greg said. “It helps support the local economy, and I feel good knowing I work for a company that puts so much time and resources back into my community.”
Greg also puts his own time and resources into the community, coaching NCTC’s Little League and basketball as well as serving on the Little League board of directors and being an active member of Long Creek Missionary Baptist Church.
Greg and his wife, Heather Jones Ballou, have two children: Kelton, 11 and Kadence, 6.

Broadband Makes a Difference To Local Healthcare

A community hospital is essential to the quality of rural living,and the NCTC broadband network is forming the fiber-optic pulse of closer reach.It is impossible to calculate the effects of the proximity of help when you need it. “Because I am from here, I can tell you that a local hospital is more than an option. It is a lifesaver,” says Gary Bean, IT Director at Macon County General Hospital. Gary likes technology. It all comes natural to him! He can put computers back together and knows how to make technology work at the level of need. He was one of NCTC’s very first DSL/Internet customers years ago. He references this generation that has never known what it is to not be connected with a computer, and he knows how even the smallest steps to technology through broadband can change reality for someone in the emergency room! It often does.

“Technology is big today. Because of our broadband connections, we can send patient information to Vanderbilt Hospital or Tri-Star hospitals, our current partners in telemedicine. Doctors can now take a computer pad in hand, hold it next to the patient and through our connection of broadband the physicians at other hospitals can see what the patient is experiencing. Images can be enlarged and studied all at one time. Imaging technology is one way we expand the emergency room’s capabilities when needed. Every minute counts in an emergency room,”Gary believes.

“With broadband, people can live the quiet, rural life and still get the medical attention of a metro facility while keeping their personal physician at hand! Our horizons are expanded by broadband,” Gary comments.

For more on Macon County General Hospital
For more on The Medical Center in Scottsville

4-H Goals Sound A Lot Like Broadband Goals!

Brooklyn McClard and Jade Ellis are just two of the many youth who have been impacted by 4-H in our service area. They both are thriving in their individual interests of sheep showing, lamb projects and public speaking. Through technology they stay connected with 4-H friends they meet from many other places, preview livestock they consider buying via the Internet, and are already reaching out to universities who share their 4-H interest.
“I’m very proud of Brooklyn, she sees her sheep projects as part of her achievements. The 4-H reward is more than awards she has won; she is with a great group of people who inspire each other,” says Melanie Ellis, her mother and an NCTC associate.
“We think the public speaking Jade is learning in 4-H is helping her learn how to build confidence and stand up like a leader. She enjoys meeting 4-H kids. They have many things in common,” believes Jeff Ellis, Jade’s Dad. Jeff is also an NCTC Associate.
For more on 4-H
Great 4-H recipes
Watch a video on a recent 4-H Sheep Expo, where a Macon County 4-Her is highlighted.

August VOD Movies

Soldiers of Fortune (R) Available 8/3/12
Hunger Games (PG-13) Available 8/18/12
Chimpanzee (G) Available 8/21/12
The Lorax (PG) Available 8/21/12
Battleship (PG-13) Available 8/28/12
See a movie review from Common Sense Media to help you determine if The Hunger Games is for your children/family. It includes great family discussion points as well.