MORE PHONES MARK JACKSON'S GROWTH

Community growth can sometimes manifest itself where you least expect it. Such was the case in Jackson recently when a new telephone prefix surfaced.

City officials questioned phone numbers beginning with 204 when people began listing it on their utility start-up forms. It turned out, with no fanfare, the city had earned its second telephone prefix in June.

Southwestern Bell officials called the need for a new 3-digit phone prefix a very positive sign for any community. It seems Jackson was running out of numbers in the familiar 243 exchange due to the city's prosperity.

Residential growth is certainly flourishing in Jackson with a number of new subdivisions under construction. The Jackson public school enrollment will likely top 4,000 by the end of the year, even though earlier studies had indicated it wouldn't happen until the year 2000. Now, school officials anticipate enrollment will reach 4,700 by 1999.

About 10,000 telephone numbers are available within any telephone exchange, but blocks of those are set aside for cellular or pager customers. This new telephone prefix is just another reminder that Jackson is on the grow.