La Plata Electric Association recently announced that Riley Christensen, Michael Messier and Ty Mortensen have completed the four-year lineman apprenticeship program and received their journeyman lineman certification. The certification qualifies them to be responsible for construction and maintenance of electric-power-distribution lines and facilities.
Christensen is from Monte Vista and is the fourth generation of journeyman linemen in his family.
Messier is from Del Norte, attended Fort Lewis College, and worked as a meter reader at San Luis Valley Rural Electric and a contractor in Craig before he was accepted into the lineman program.
Mortensen is the grandson of the business owners of former Durango restaurant Lori’s Family Dining and grew up in Alamosa. He is also an Eagle Scout with the Boy Scouts of America.
The lineman apprenticeship program is sanctioned by the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and Department of Labor. It includes 8,000 hours of mentored, on-the-job training and three years of scholastic study.
For more information, call 247-5786 or visit www.lpea.coop.
