AREA PHONE CALLS DISRUPTED

A disruption in Jackson and Cape Girardeau-to-Jackson telephone service that began Thursday afternoon continued into the late evening.

Telephone service for some Jackson customers and for Cape Girardeau callers phoning Jackson was disrupted beginning about 4 p.m. Thursday, according to a Southwestern Bell official.

Some Jackson customers who called long distance or wanted to call outside of the Jackson exchange could not. Cape Girardeau customers who tried to call into Jackson were met by a recorded message saying their call could not be completed.

Donna Burk, community relations manager for the company in Cape Girardeau, said the problem was in the Jackson central office switch. She said local calling in Jackson was not affected.

Company officials said they thought the problem was solved by 5 p.m. But the Cape Girardeau County Sheriff's Department reported trouble was still occurring with its phone service at 9 p.m.

Some calls from Cape Girardeau to Jackson Thursday night -- a non-toll call -- were met with a recorded message saying to dial 1 and the area code first. Callers who did so were connected.

Later callers from Cape Girardeau to Jackson heard a recorded message reporting telephone company facility trouble. Some calls spontaneously disconnected.