Annual safety award goes to MEA line clearing specialist

Special to the Frontiersman

MAT-SU — Bill Jardel, a 25-year MEA employee, was at work this past July trimming trees on an MEA electric line right-of-way near Trapper Creek. While working, Jardel heard a woman shout “no” and call out a girl’s name.

Initially he paid no attention to the ongoing commotion, but became more interested as the shouting mounted to screams. Sensing something was really wrong with what he was hearing, Jardel dropped his tools and raced to the sounds on a nearby road. There he saw an empty stroller. Searching for the source of the commotion and shouting, he ran down a side road and encountered a woman holding a baby “like a football” over her head with a large dog viciously barking and lunging and jumping at the woman and baby. Jardel raced toward the confrontation attempting to get between the dog and the woman and child. The dog quickly turned on Jardel and charged him. Jardel flailed at the out-of-control animal with his MEA hard hat. The dog jumped at him in an attack, Jardel punched the attacking animal, knocking it back on its haunches defending the woman and baby. He continued to kick and punch the animal until the dog turned tail and fled.

Returning to the distraught woman and crying baby, Jardel made sure they were OK and escorted them to the stroller and sent them on their way.

He returned to his work and related the encounter to his partner and the MEA member-customer in whose area they were clearing. The member said he thought he knew who owned the dog and jumped in his vehicle and sped off to check out the owner situation.

Jardel and his partner collected their tools and equipment and headed off to the next job. He never heard if the animal was found, but was confident that the attacked woman and baby were not injured.

MEA General Manager Joe Griffith presented Mr. Jardel with the MEA annual Safety Award at a gathering of senior MEA staff and line clearing personnel early this month. Griffith said he applauds the quick thinking and bravery of Jardel and that such acts bring great credit to MEA’s employees. Further, he probably saved the woman and baby from harm. Griffith said he is proud to have employees like Jardel working for the utility.