HAWKINS, Texas (March 19, 2024) – The City of Hawkins soon will have improved radio communication among Wood County law enforcement and emergency responders thanks to support from the American Electric Power Foundation (AEP Foundation).

The AEP Foundation, at the recommendation of Southwestern Electric Power Company (SWEPCO), recently gifted the city $15,000 to complete a $35,000 project to repair a 100-foot radio broadcast tower behind the police department and upgrade fire and police communication devices.

City police and fire departments for years have had issues communicating with the Wood County Sheriff’s Office dispatch during emergency situations, said Hawkins Police Chief Guy McKee. He said there is little to no communication capability within the Hawkins Independent School District campus and nearby Jarvis Christian College.

“These upgrades are vital to keeping our young people and community safe,” McKee said.

Work is expected to begin in next few months.

“We understand the importance of safety in our industry and are proud to assist with the enhancement of emergency communication capabilities in Hawkins and improvement of overall public safety in the region,” said SWEPCO External Affairs Manager Mark Robinson. “These repairs and upgrades to the radio tower and communication devices will better equip emergency responders to coordinate and respond to critical situations effectively.”

Hawkins is located 20 miles north of Tyler, Texas. It is home to Jarvis Christian College, a historically black institution of higher learning, and was designated as the “Pancake Capital of Texas” by the Texas Legislature in 1995.

About Southwestern Electric Power Co. (SWEPCO) 

We deliver safe, reliable and affordable power to more than half a million homes and businesses in Arkansas, Louisiana and Texas. Our 1,400 employees power today’s necessities and inspire tomorrow’s possibilities. You’ll see us improving communities, promoting sustainability and building grid resiliency throughout our territory, spanning more than 25,000 distribution line miles. Our work in energy efficiency has been repeatedly recognized by the U.S. Department of Energy, which honored us as an ENERGY STAR® 2023 Partner of the Year for Sustained Excellence. We recognize that innovative approaches to workforce development are necessary to effectively recruit qualified, diverse talent in today’s competitive labor market and this includes a commitment to building a diverse and skilled workforce through partnerships to grow the talent pipeline. We’re proud to be named Texas Workforce Commission’s 2023 Employer of Excellence and to receive the 2023 Curt Eysink Excellence in Workplace Development award from the Louisiana Community and Technical College System. Because we produce and deliver one of the most powerful forces on earth, we keep the safety and well-being of our customers and employees at the forefront, always. We are proud of the Million Work Hours Safety Award from the Arkansas Department of Labor Licensing and Arkansas Workers' Compensation Commission on behalf of our Flint Creek Power Plant for working 4 million hours without a lost-time accident. We believe we can deliver reliable electricity while protecting the environment. Our work to support habitat conservation was recently recognized by the Wildlife Habitat Council Conservation (WHC) who awarded us a Silver Certification for supporting sustainable ecosystems at our Eagle Watch Nature Trail. SWEPCO is an American Electric Power (Nasdaq: AEP) company. SWEPCO’s headquarters are in Shreveport, LA. News releases and other information about SWEPCO can be found at SWEPCO.com. Connect with us by following Facebook.com/SWEPCO, Twitter.com/SWEPCOnews, Instagram.com/swepco, Youtube.com/SWEPCOtv and LinkedIn.com/company/swepco.  

About American Electric Power Foundation (AEP Foundation) 

The American Electric Power Foundation is funded by American Electric Power (Nasdaq: AEP) and its operating subsidiaries. The Foundation provides a permanent, ongoing resource for charitable initiatives involving higher dollar values and multi-year commitments in the communities served by AEP and initiatives outside of AEP’s 11- state service area. The Foundation focuses on improving lives through education from early childhood through higher education in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math; by meeting basic needs for emergency shelter, affordable housing and the elimination of hunger; and championing social justice. Other Foundation support may be offered to protect the environment, promote healthcare and safety, and enrich life through art, music and cultural heritage.