ASK JACKSON

The Southeast Missourian asked people how they depend on their telephone service. Local service has progressed far beyond the first telephone line that was installed in Missouri between Jackson and Cape Girardeau in 1877. The line assisted Jackson merchants in conveying orders to the warehouses on the Cape Girardeau waterfront.

Kay Frank: "We call our son at college in Quincy, Ill., about four times a week, so it can get expensive. Also our daughter calls her boyfriend a lot in St. Louis, but for that we have a package plan that saves us a lot of money."

Charlie Glueck: "It seems like our phone at home is busy most of the day. Our long-distance bill is about $75 a month, since we have one in college and relatives out of state. We have Call Waiting which is very helpful when you have teenagers."

Gloria Slinkard: "We don't make many long-distance calls now, but soon my son and daughter will be moving out of state. I will probably make more calls to them. I have Caller ID which helps you know who is calling before you answer."

Denny Overy: "All my relatives live in St. Louis, so I have a calling package which costs five dollars a month, and then all my long-distance calls are 10 cents a minute. I also have Call Waiting because I have two teen-age boys at home."

Donald Darnell: "I call family members long-distance about once a month. They live in Illinois and Indiana. I have Caller ID and I love it. When we are out of the house, we can see who called when we get back. Most of the time we call them right back."