Second Quarter 2002

New Area Code (479) for Northwest Arkansas

New Area Code (479) for Northwest Arkansas

A new area code for northwest Arkansas is in use now. It's 479. The new area code does not apply to NATCO exchanges. Boone and Marion Counties remain in the 870 area code.

The transition period when callers should begin using the 479 area code started January 19 and will end July 20 when all calls to the region must be dialed with the 479 area code. At that date, the incorrect use of the 479 or 501 area code will route the call to a recorded message or you could reach the wrong number, then your call will have to be placed again.

The 479 area includes Eureka Springs, Bentonville, Siloam Springs, Rogers, Springdale, Fayetteville, Fort Smith, Dardanelle, Russellville, Atkins, Booneville, Danville, and Mena.

Businesses throughout the state are advised to check with their telecommunications equipment vendors to see that their equipment is programmed to send and receive calls from and to the 479 area code. All telephone customers are encouraged to reprogram residential and business voice, speed, and auto-dial services on telephones and fax machines before July 20th.

NATCO Welcomes New Internet Customers

Quick Class for New Customers Angela McCune, Internet specialist at BJM, gives Carol A. Stevens, a new Internet customer, free personal instruction on using the Internet.

In January, when one area Internet service provider went out of business, our phones began to ring from Internet customers needing service. NATCO Technologies extended our usual offer (picking up existing contracts upon disconnection from a competitor) to those who were suddenly
left without Internet service.

NATCO Tech was able to take on many new Internet customers all at one time because, as Vice President Steven Sanders Jr. said, "NATCO has equipment that will meet more than our current needs. So, we welcomed many new customers without significant problems."

In addition, when NATCO Tech made the decision to offer service to the former Superior Internet customers, NATCO Tech immediately ordered more equipment and backbone support, Sanders explained. "I want to thank everyone in Internet service, dispatch, and customer service for working hard to resolve the minor problems that developed with a heavier load of Internet traffic."

FREE Mousepads! NATCO Tech Internet customers may pick up a free mousepad at NATCO or Brooks-Jeffrey Marketing. The mousepads list all the Internet Technical Support telephone numbers.

All the new equipment has been installed now, and all customers should be receiving excellent service. If you have any Internet service problems, please call the help numbers in your area. Those numbers are:

•Flippin (870) 453-8822
•Yellville (870) 449-5087
•Mountain Home (870) 425-7325
•Customer Service 1-800-775-6682

Brooks-Jeffrey Marketing, Inc., NATCO's Internet partner in the Mountain Home area, is giving each new customer an introductory Internet Quick Class at their offices at 19 Medical Plaza in Mountain Home (off Hospital Drive). If new customers are receiving busy signals when trying to login, or are dropped from an Internet connection, call NATCO immediately, so Internet technicians can resolve the problems with continuing, free over-the-phone technical support. To the new customers, we say, "Welcome and, enjoy your Web surfing with us."

Pictured (center) is Dr. Eddie Dry, project director, with South Shore Foundation Trustees Dr. Ed Coulter and Jodie Jeffrey-Sanders.

Omaha Students Win Top National Award

Water Ecology Project Students Were Interviewed on KTLO/KCTT Radio Show Omaha High School students in the EAST program were guests recently for an interview on the KTLO/KCTT radio show "The Talk of the Town." Shown in the studio with radio show hostess Brenda Nelson (far left) are: Omaha Superintendent David Land and students Becky Brondel, Kayla Blevins, Anna Mendenhall, and Keshia Koehn.

Omaha High School students in the EAST program (Environmental and Spatial Technology)

won first place in their division in national competition for a community project to test water wells for contaminants. Judging took place at the Third Annual EAST Partnership Conference held in late February in Little Rock. Approximately 2,000 attended the event from 150 schools around the country. Omaha is a third-year EAST school.

The Omaha EAST students said they started the water ecology project because of all the livestock and poultry raising in their area. Working with the Boone County Health Department, they learned how to test and disinfect wells, then obtained funding of $10,000 from the Arkansas Department of Education and $6,300 from South Shore Foundation to do well testing for residents who requested it.

Part of the project was creating training videos to help property owners test their own wells. Equipment needed can be borrowed from the county health department.

Bill Dirst, facilitator, said seven Omaha students presented their project report for the judges, then two students made a presentation to the EAST conference. They received a laptop computer and plaque as prizes. "They brought home the top prize," said Dirst. Among the judges' comments were: "good problem solving skills," "stunning amount of work to collect this data," and "very thorough job."

Omaha Superintendent David Land said he is always happy to see students recognized for their hard work, but is especially excited for the EAST students. "This project was student-directed and allowed them to design and create their own learning environment. Not only was this a great learning experience for our students, it benefited the community by their efforts." Winners in other divisions were: Keihei Charter School "Windmills" (first year); Fountain Lake High School (Ark.) "Golf Course Emergency Response Plan" (second year); Lead Hill High School (Ark.) "Bull Shoals Lake Visitor Center" (more than three years); University of Arkansas at Little Rock "The Virtual State Capitol" (outstanding college project). The Overall Best of Show winner was Maui High School, "Skin Cancer Awareness."

The British Are Coming - To Soccer Camp

   A Challenger British Soccer Camp is coming to Flippin this summer. South Shore Soccer Association (SSSA) has teamed up with British Soccer to offer a week-long camp August 5-9, 2002, at Hickey Park. The camp will cover individual skill development, game related techniques, tactical awareness and development and coached match play.

Their philosophy of age and ability-specific training with maximum participation aims to develop players and take them to the next level, SSSA said. For more information, please call (870) 449-4264 or e-mail sssoccerassn@hotmail.com

Referees Needed
Soccer is the fastest growing sport in the area, but the referee program is not growing at the same pace, so the need for soccer referees is now critical.

Frank Shrake, the SSSA referees' assigner, is looking for people over the age of 13 who will commit to attending a 16-hour entry level soccer referee certification clinic for the necessary training. Frank is appealing to the teams in the SSSA to have one or two parents or friends join the referee program.

"Did I mention that certified referees get paid?" Shrake asked. The cost to attend the clinic is paid for by the SSSA. Shrake said soccer is not difficult to referee, and anyone concerned about health or age as a reason not to referee should speak with him about it or any board member for details. Shrake's phone number is 435-6360.

SSSA Board Meets Monthly
SSSA board meets at 6 p.m. the second Monday of every month at Flippin City Hall. Everyone is invited to attend. If you have questions or are interested in participating as a player, coach, volunteer, or referee, please contact David Duckworth (870) 453-7772.

New Faces at NATCO

Cathy Curl Callen, receptionist, answers the telephone and accepts payments at the front desk. Cathy has worked for more than 20 years in retail business, including managing and operating a fur salon.

Linda Lucy has joined NATCO as administrative assistant to Business Office Manager Steve Smith. She worked for CenturyTel in Mountain Home for 16 years. Linda is a 1980 graduate of Mountain Home High School and attended the University of Arkansas studying accounting. Starting with CenturyTel as a dispatcher/assigner in the repair department, she has been administrative assistant to the area division manager for 11 years.

Monica Renee Osborn, customer service representative, will handle all types of customer inquiries including telephone, long distance, and Internet services. Monica, a 1995 graduate of Flippin High School, attended ASUMH studying accounting, computer technology, and literature. She was previously employed at Capital Mercury Apparel for five years.

Melissa Weaver, office assistant, has eight years of customer service experience and also works as a backup customer service representative. She was previously employed by Staffmark and Wal-Mart. A graduate of Gainesville (Mo.) High School in 1991, Mrs. Weaver attended Southwest Missouri State University for a year as a business major.

Dr. Sanders Attends Technology Conferences

     Dr. Steven G. Sanders attended the Internet Telephony Conference and Expo in Miami in February and the IN-IP World Forum in Orlando in March representing NATCO Communications.

"NATCO Communications is interested in advances in all IP telephony technology," Dr. Sanders said. "Attending these events is an efficient way for me to see all the systems as well as meet with the companies marketing the services," he said.

Speakers discussed such topics as establishing next generation enterprise telephony systems which combine the best of PBX, networking, and Internet; case studies of next generation communications strategy; and the future of Internet telephony. The conference and expo was organized by Technology Marketing Corporation of Norwalk, Conn., a publisher of magazines about Internet telephony and communications.

The IN-IP World Forum dealt with technological changes affecting enhanced telephone features, such as Caller ID and many others, all known as intelligent network services.

Steve Smith Joins NATCO as Business Manager

NATCO recently welcomed Steven L. Smith to NATCO as business office manager. Smith had previously worked as Mountain Home division manager at CenturyTel for 11 years. Steven G. Sanders, president and general manager of NATCO, said he was very pleased to announce that Smith joined NATCO. Smith's duties include data processing, accounting, customer service, sales and marketing.

"I am very excited to be at NATCO," said Smith. "I look forward to helping the employees provide the excellent service that NATCO customers expect."

Smith graduated from high school in Shawnee, Okla. He worked with Century Telephone Co. at Monroe, La. in the engineering department of the corporate office, then handled the firm's efforts with the Rural Utility Services and contract administration for 10 years before coming to the Mountain Home Division. The division includes Mountain Home, Hardy, Pocahontas, and Monette, and has 90,000 access lines.

Professionally, Smith recently completed a term as president of the Arkansas Telecommunications Association. In the community, Smith serves on the Mountain Home Planning Commission, was a member of the 911 Advisory Committee, and served as a director of the Mountain Home Area Chamber of Commerce.

Harrison Progress Edition Features NATCO

The Harrison Daily Times recently featured NATCO in an article. "NATCO offers big-city features to remote area" was the headline on the progress edition article in its Sold on Success section (G).

The special edition, entitled "2002 Times Tomorrow," contained 100 pages in 10 sections and was published Feb. 25, 2002. An editorial in that day's newspaper said of the special edition, "We've always referred to this as the progress edition, but it's more of a testimony to why people choose to live and work here."

Steven G. Sanders Sr. and Steven Sanders Jr. are pictured along with the article which discusses the 50th anniversary year of the company, background information about the father and son management team, the company's high-tech telephone and Internet services, and information about the South Shore.

Thanks, Harrison Daily Times, for putting your spotlight on NATCO.

Jim and Kathy Johnson

Cookbooks, basset hounds, bass fishing, and brochures. What do these items have in common? They're on Enterprise Printing's Web site: www.enterpriseprintingweb.com. Jim and Kathy Johnson of Bull Shoals have operated their business here since 1979, focusing on quality printing. Two years ago, they added a Web site for customers.

"I was skeptical," says the printer and journalist, Jim, but he is now glad they got talked into it. Kathy says, "Customers appreciate a Web site with a personal touch."

Kathy handles e-mail and Internet-based correspondence, which is designed to save time: bid requests, order forms, credit reference applications. Many things that consume considerable time when handled in person can be streamlined on the Web site.

Custom cookbooks are a specialty of Enterprise Printing and are proven winners for clubs and organizations, restaurants locally, across Arkansas and the nation. The Web site shows binding colors available and the forms needed to start a cookbook project.

Basset hounds? Dudley, one of their three basset mascots, is shown on the home page with Kathy. Bass fishing? Jim wishes he were on Bull Shoals Lake almost all the time, so he jokingly added a nighttime photo of bass fishing to the company history page.

Jim and Kathy enjoy working with staff members who form their second family, but all are serious about the quality of printing they produce. The Web site contains photographs of past color printing jobs - on the printing services page. Other samples include stationery, business cards, brochures, advertising flyers, and a summer camp memory book.

Full-color printing is done in-house at Enterprise bringing the advantages of quick turn-around service and affordable prices on short-run, full-color jobs. Enterprise also does a lot of one-color printing, including business forms for area companies.

With their Web site, Jim and Kathy are able to introduce themselves, explain how they handle a project, encourage those with an idea for a project - but perhaps no experience - to contact them for tips on how to get started. Kathy will follow up and discuss design using text on disk from the customer. On some projects, Jim contributes writing, drawing upon his education and experience in the newspaper field in both Illinois and Arkansas.

Enterprise Printing uses the best equipment to reach their goal of being a standout printer in their geographical area. When they thought about a Web site, they wanted it to be complete and high quality, too. Brooks-Jeffrey Marketing, Inc. designed and built the Web site. For any business owner contemplating a Web site, the Johnsons' advice is, "Take a hard look at it. It might be beneficial."

Enterprise Printing is located in Bull Shoals at 606 Bull Shoals Dam Blvd., telephone (870) 449-4571, or on the Web, www.enterpriseprintingweb.com.

Internet Customers Thank Lorene & Jessica

Thanks, Lorene...Early this year, many Internet users turned to NATCO Tech when their ISP closed. We were - to put it mildly - busy. Lorene James, a NATCO Internet Services Representative, earned special praise from a customer, Janice Donaldson of Mountain Home. A portion of Mrs. Donaldson's thank-you note follows.

"On Jan. 16, 2002, I was having difficulty switching my computer service from Superior Internet to NATCO...Lorene took me step by step through the transfer procedure. I am a new computer user and Lorene was so very patient with me and the explanations that she gave were so simple to follow (and believe me, they had to be). Thank you again very much, Lorene."

Thanks, Jessica...A Pyatt couple greatly complimented NATCO Customer Service Representative Jessica Kimball, in a thank-you note to NATCO, for helping them resolve a problem with their long distance carrier.

Jessica was praised as more than an ordinary customer service representative. "If not for her patience, kindness, and understanding, I don't think I could have resolved my bill," wrote Mr. & Mrs. Paul Majesty. The customers' calling card had been stolen and Jessica assisted them in getting the resulting problems resolved.

Thank you, Lorene and Jessica, from NATCO, too, for doing your job in such an outstanding manner.

On the Road Again...With Prizes

NATCO and Brooks-Jeffrey Marketing staff members worked at the Baxter Regional Medical Center Health Fair in March. There were two winners of free Internet service for three months, Mike Sledge of Flippin and Pat Watts of Mountain Home, both existing customers. Shown in the photo are Mark Morris, Julie Casey, and Angela McCune.

Online Yellow Pages Include Advertisers

    Business Owners! You may profit from the World Wide Web without realizing it.
Check to see if your business is already on our newly improved Online Yellow Pages. Go to www.natcotech.com/yellowpages/ yellowpages.cfm.

If your company advertises in the Ozark Regional Directory yellow pages (NATCO and Yelcot phone book), you have already received a complimentary listing in the Online Yellow Pages on the NATCO Web site. Your listing is in the same category as in the phone book. Customers can instantly find your business alphabetically, by category, or by name.

Your online listing is free until Sept. 2002, when a new phone directory is published.

Here's even more good news for businesses and their customers. If you did not have an ad in the yellow pages of the Ozark Regional Directory, you can still receive a free Online Yellow Pages listing until September. Just call NATCO at 1-800-775-6682 to provide NATCO the information for your listing.

Coming this fall will be special offers for Web and traditional yellow pages advertising for those who have purchased yellow page ads in the Ozark Regional Directory. Businesses choosing to advertise only online will also have a low-cost package available.

To be sure you receive details of these upcoming advertising packages, call NATCO now to be contacted when the details become available. We expect that customers with or without Web sites will want to participate in NATCO's Online Yellow Pages.

NATCO is pleased to be the first local phone company to provide an online version of our yellow pages.

Questions From NATCO Tech E-News.

     Q. How Do I Check E-Mail When Away From Home?

A. We're excited to introduce a new free service you've been asking for: Web-based e-mail. This system allows you to check your e-mail when out of town. To use it, go to https://webmail.natcotech.com. The system is great for out of town use, but we do not recommend its use for everyday. Please be aware there are differences between our regular e-mail and the web-based e-mail service. Instructions can be found at www.natcotech.com/ webmail.htm. If you have any questions about this service, please call NATCO
at 1-800-775-6682 or e-mail us at custserv@natcotech.com.

Q. How Can I Protect My Computer From Viruses & Worms?

A. Download anti-virus software and use it frequently! If you are not protected by up-to-date anti-virus software, you can become infected without your knowledge and without any action on your part. When you look for anti-virus software, try Symantec Norton Anti-Virus, McAfee Anti-Virus, Trend Micro PC-Cillin. For additional help check out NATCO's Technical Support Bulletin Board at www.natcotech.com/bboard.htm.

Q. Does NATCO Tech Support Web-TV?

A. Yes - You can become a NATCO Tech Internet customer using Web TV.
Larry May, Internet Services Supervisor, explains that a customer subscribes to NATCO Internet $19.95 service, then pays a reduced monthly fee to Web TV because Web TV does not furnish a local access number in this area. May said he believes the cost Web TV charges is about $10 per month, but he encourages anyone interested to check the actual costs with Web TV.

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Going to Great Heights to Help

Norman Erickson climbed about 80 feet up the tower to bring better service to NATCO customers across Bull Shoals Lake. He installed microwave units to enhance the quality and reliability of telephone and Internet service. To properly install the units, they had to be attached near the top of the new tower extension. Thanks go to Norman for climbing the tower and installing them.

 

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Russ Woodman Systems Administrator

John Russell "Russ" Woodman is NATCO's systems administrator. Woodman relocated from the Northeast where he acquired 10 years of experience in a similar position for Burrelle's Information Services. Woodman is responsible for setup, programming and maintenance of NATCO's ISP-related (Internet Service Provider) network and computer hardware and services.

Accepting the position at NATCO allowed Woodman to work for a smaller company and to be away from "the frozen northern Maine." He formerly resided at Presque Isle, Maine.

Woodman studied both education and technical topics in college at the University of New Hampshire and the University of Maine at Fort Kent, then worked in computer/technical positions. He belongs to several professional organizations, including SAGE (Systems Administrators Guild), USENIX, and ARRL (American Radio/Relay League).

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Youth Leadership Team at NATCO

     Students of the South Shore - Marion County Leadership Team spent their monthly half-day session together at NATCO March 12 becoming better informed about telecommunications technology. All are in the ninth grade in Marion County high schools.

Students were able to learn about telephone technology on a tour of the Central Office. They viewed NATCO's wide array of jobs in a PowerPoint presentation by Vice President Steven Sanders Jr. and received information about careers at NATCO. Several NATCO employees representing different departments spoke about what they do at work each day. Employees taking part were Larry May, David Carson, and Doug Smith.

Internet Services Supervisor Larry May explained and demonstrated the high-speed Internet services available through NATCO. Students tried out DSL and ISDN and saw a video conference demonstration, all in the NATCO Computer Demo Room.

NATCO staff members joined the ninth graders and the adult sponsors of the group for lunch, which was catered to the NATCO building.

Students taking part were from Flippin, Yellville-Summit, and Bruno-Pyatt schools.

NATCO VP Steven Sanders Jr. discussed the NATCO careers and answered questions.	Doug Smith, NATCO Resident Engineer, explains the duties of his job at NATCO.
Leadership students try out the high-speed Internet connections.
Network Services Supervisor Travis Sullivan shows students the Central Office.
South Shore Foundation Trustee Jodie Jeffrey-Sanders explains how grants from the foundation support community interests.	Leadership students enjoy lunch compliments of NATCO.

On NATCO's Web site - www.southshore.com/useful.htm, many sites of interest are linked for easy access. Various subjects and sources of information are listed and updated frequently.

www.southshore.com

South Shore's Web site features tourism, relocation, and business information for communities in or near the south shore of Bull Shoals Lake. The site includes driving tours, a calendar of events, maps, online yellow page links, and news from the South Shore Foundation, the charitable foundation funded by NATCO.

www.natconet.com

NATCO's Web site features NATCO News online, current news
about the telephone company, and detailed information on the
digital services offered.
At www.natcotech.com/newsletter, you can find our electronic newsletter for Internet customers.

Medical

The Human Brain
Virtual Hospital displays each component of the brain, our 'three-pound universe'at
www.vh.org

Around the World

America - In Memoriam
Visit memorials to national leaders & veterans at www.nationalgeographic.com/americanplaces

Maps To Go
Download and print high-resolution maps from National Geographic at
www.nationalgeographic.com/maps

Today's Photo
A new inspiring photo every day at www.nationalgeographic.com/photography/today

Games
Online Jigsaw Puzzles
Test your skills with jigsaw puzzles at www.jigsawland.com