GLADES ELECTRIC COOPERATIVE OFFERS $500 BOUNTY FOR MARIJUANA GROW HOUSES

Glades Electric Cooperative Inc. is placing a $500 bounty on illegal
grow operations, which steal electricity and cost the company and its
members thousands of dollars every month.

Paul McGehee, business development manager, said, "It is time to take
a stand against the thieves that pollute our society with their
illegal crop and cost our citizens hundreds of thousands of dollars,
and that is precisely what one GEC member did."

McGehee said a phone call made by a member to their trustee directly
led to the discovery of an illegal grow operation so large that early
estimates put the dollar value of stolen electricity at close to
$50,000 and yielded a crop of more than 100 plants.

"For their diligence and civic-mindedness, the alert member will
receive a $500 cash reward and, we would hope, the gratitude of the
other members of Glades Electric Cooperative from whom this
electricity and money was stolen," McGehee said.

"Glades Electric Cooperative certainly appreciates the member's
efforts, as we do all of our honest and law-abiding members, and wants
to extend the incentive for helping stamp out these illegal ventures."

As a result, GEC has instituted the following: If a member suspects an
illegal grow operation in GEC's service area, contact the Power
Diversion Team Hotline at (863) 946-6229. If the hotline is busy,
information can be taken in Moore Haven at (800) 226-4024, Okeechobee
at (800) 226-4023, or Lake Placid at (800) 226-4025. Any member of the
general public that provides Glades Electric Cooperative, Inc.
information that directly leads to the discovery of an illegal grow
operation will be paid a $500 cash reward. The identity of the
informing citizen will be kept strictly confidential.

The member noted several suspicious things:

- The residence was maintained as if occupied, but there was never
anyone home during the day.

- There were children's toys present in the yard, but no children were
ever observed.

- There was no trash ever placed on the curb for pickup.

- There was late night traffic in and out of the property.

- The air conditioner ran continuously.

- There were numerous power "blinks."

"At Glades Electric Cooperative, we are proud to be 'Neighbors Working
for Neighbors' and want to encourage all of our members to adopt the
same philosophy.

"Let us all strive to be good citizens and look out for our fellow
'neighbor'," McGehee said.