December 5, 2007

FOR RELEASE: December 10, 2007
CONTACT:
Karen P. Powell, Public Relations Director
336-982-3800, ext. 6117
e-mail: Karen.powell@skyline.org

Ann Clark, Ashe County Government
336-219-2531
e-mail: aclark@ashecountygov.com

New Telephone Numbers Announced for Several Ashe County Government Offices

WEST JEFFERSON, N.C. -- Due to a change of local telecommunications service providers, several Ashe County Government offices are getting new telephone numbers. This conversion of service is scheduled for the week of December 10, and the new numbers will be in effect beginning Monday, December 17. 

"Our goal is to make this transition of service as smooth as possible and to make the public aware of these number changes in advance of the cutover so they will have immediate access to services provided by these local agencies," said Dan McMillan, Ashe County Manager.

Multiple offices in the courthouse complex, as well as other county offices located in other areas of the county, will receive new, seven-digit telephone numbers as a result of this service change. "There are a few offices that will not see a change in telephone number, but most will," said McMillan.   

SkyBest Communications, Inc., a subsidiary of SkyLine Membership Corporation, is the new telephone service provider.  Both SkyBest and SkyLine included a special laminated insert in the December 1, 2007 billing statement to their Ashe County customer base which lists the new county government telephone numbers.  Area residents who received the special insert are encouraged to keep the insert near their phone to reference the new contact numbers.  Additional copies of the insert are available at SkyLine/SkyBest's Customer Service Center on Hwy. 194 North in West Jefferson and at all county office locations.

The new telephone numbers also will be reflected in the new 2007-08 edition of SkyLine Membership Corporation's regional telephone directory, which is scheduled to be distributed in
late December.  All Ashe County Government telephone numbers will be listed in bold under the heading of Ashe County Government in the White Pages section. 

McMillan announced that the county's Web site, www.ashecountygov.com, will include a listing of new telephone numbers for those county offices affected by the service change.

A copy of the bill insert which lists these local government offices' new telephone numbers is provided as a sidebar to this article. Residents who may continue to dial the old telephone number to any of these offices should hear a recording with the new assigned number for a period of six months.

For more information, please contact Ann Clark at the County Administration Office at 219-2501 before December 14.  After that time, you may reach her at 846-5501.