Spring Art Contest Announced for Youth 14 and Under

SkyLine, in affiliation with Telcom Insurance Group(TIG), is pleased to announce TIG’s 9th Annual SpringArt Contest, which is open to children of SkyLine-SkyBest customers.

The contest’s theme this year is “Bullying Preventionand Me” and welcomes art entries from children ages 14and under in three categories (under 8, 8 to 11, and 11to 14). All entries must be on a flat medium no largerthan 8.5” x 11” and must represent some element ofshowing how one could Prevent Bullying and PromoteAcceptance. The back of the picture must include: contestant’s name, parent/guardian’s name, age, andcompany represented (SkyLine-SkyBest).

There are three top prizes for each category: $100 for first place; $75 for second place and $50 for

CONTINUED ON PAGE 2

APRIL 2013

118056

Published monthly for customers of SkyLine Membership Corporation and SkyBest Communications

www.SkyLine.orgwww.SkyBest.com

Need to Contact Us?

CUSTOMER SERVICELOCAL

118TOLL-FREE

1-800-759-2226

REPAIR SERVICE, 24/7LOCAL

611TOLL-FREE

1-877-475-9546

Additional Local Repair Service Numbers:

ALLEGHANY

372-4444ASHE

982-3111AVERY

898-9250WATAUGA

297-4811JOHNSON

739-4500

INTERNET TECH SUPPORT, 24/7

TOLL-FREE

1-866-759-7591WORTH NOTING: Monday, April 8

Application Deadline for N.C. CooperativeLeadership Conferenceand Foundation for

Rural Service Youth Tour

Friday, April 19Boone Expo at Boone

Mall10a.m.–5p.m.

STAFF:Jimmy Blevins

Chief Executive Officer

Kim ShepherdExecutive Director of Customer

Operations

Mandy WallsCustomer Service Manager

Karen P. PowellPublic Relations Administrator

& Editor

SkyLine will be among many local businesses featured at some areaevents this spring, including the Boone Business Expo at Boone Mall onApril 19. Check the Worth Noting section for more details. Pictured hereat last year’s Boone Expo are representatives of SkyLine fielding questions

and sharing information on SkyLine’s latest products and services.

New CallTree ServiceHave you heard about our latest new service?

CallTree is an automated messaging service that can deliver phone calls, emails and even text messages. Idealfor schools, churches, small businesses, restaurants and other organizations, it allows you to turn your landlinephone into a powerful messaging service. The servicegives subscribers the ability to schedule automated messages for things like:

• Meeting reminders• Weather cancellations• Service changes and outages• Appointment reminders• Non-pay reminders• Marketing & promotions

Pricing for this convenient service includes a one-time$25 activation fee and starts at $9.95 per month for up to250 contacts. For 251 to 1,000 contacts, the cost permonth is $19.95. Long-distance calls will incur additionalcharges.

To find out more or to sign up, please call your localSkyLine Customer Service Center at 118.

Auction & Annual WalkAmerican Heart Association

Events ScheduledSkyLine will provide the phone bank for

the annual Ashe Heart Auction at Family Central on Wednesday, April 3. This is one

of the local chapter’s largest fund-raising events for theyear, as businesses and individuals from across the countycontribute numerous auction items for bid.

Local radio station WKSK will provide live coverageof the event throughout the day. You can tune in on yourradio dial or through SkyBest TV (Channel 680). HeartAuction volunteers will welcome calls for bids on scoresof items, and the public is welcome to come out to Family Central to see firsthand the items available for bid, including some tasty home-baked goods.

Additionally, SkyLine employees are manning a team again this year to support the American Heart Association’s Heart Walk, scheduled for Saturday, August 24, at the 1904 Courthouse in Jefferson. Teammembers are planning fund-raising activities, includingtheir annual raffle, which will feature many great prizes.Tickets are $1 each or six for $5 and can be purchased at SkyLine’s West Jefferson Customer Service Center.

For more information, contact your local SkyLine Customer Service Center at 118.

Directory Corrections/OmissionsDirectory Listing CorrectionsAmy G. Brown, CPA PC 828-898-76074501 Tynecastle Highway, Banner ElkBrown, Amy G., CPA PC 828-898-76074501 Tynecastle Highway, Banner Elk

Directory Listing OmissionsG. Dillon Culbreth, Surveyor 336-385-277511719 NC Highway 88 West, Creston

Yellow Pages Listing OmissionsB Young Real Estate 828-898-48881484 Tynecastle Highway, Banner ElkBanner Elk Properties 828-898-48881484 Tynecastle Highway, Banner ElkSouthern Style Hair Salon 336-384-40409211 NC Highway 194 North, Lansing

Utilities Commission Announces Increase for

Telecommunications RelayService Surcharge

In late January, the N.C. Utilities Commis-sion authorized an increase in the monthlyTelecommunications Relay Service (TRS) sur-charge from $0.11 per month to $0.14 per ac-cess line, per month. The increase takes effectApril 1, 2013.

According to the Commission, the increasewas made to maintain adequate funding for theDivision of Services for the Deaf and Hard ofHearing (DSDHH), including the Telecommuni-cations Resource Program (TRP) and the Re-gional Resource Centers with DSDHH.

TRP is a program within the N.C. Depart-ment of Health and Human Resources consist-ing of a telecommunications relay service thatenables persons with hearing, speech and vi-sion impairments to communicate with othersby telephone and an equipment distributionprogram. Regional Resource Centers provide awide spectrum of services including advocacy,consultation, workshops and training on a widevariety of topics pertaining to hearing loss;communication support; information and refer-ral services; assistance with selection, applica-tion for and set-up of equipment, training andtechnical assistance as part of the equipmentdistribution service; and outreach regardingavailable resources.

The regional center that serves N.C. coun-ties in SkyLine’s service area (Alleghany, Ashe,Avery and Watauga) is located in Morganton(Toll-Free Voice: 1-800-999-8915; Toll-Free TTY:1-800-205-9920). To learn more about TRS, visitthe Division of Services for the Deaf and theHard of Hearing website at http://www.ncd-hhs.gov/dsdhh/.

April is National Safe Digging MonthEach year, lives are endangered,

money and time are wasted and propertyis destroyed because individuals fail to follow safe dig-ging practices.

The “One-Call” system, which is free to the excavator as well as the homeowner, helps those whodig comply with the safety rules and regulations of theconstruction industry.

In a typical neighborhood, a complex web of utilitylines are buried under lawns, sidewalks and driveways.When digging, one wrong move might cause the com-munity of residents to be cut off from heat, electricity,telephones, water, 911 calls and other vital services.When you make the free call to the One-Call Center,the One-Call staff notifies their member utilities to markthe ground with color-coded paint. After the utilities aremarked in your work area, you have taken the first stepto avoid damage or injury.

In fact, North Carolina state law requires homeowners, contractors and excavators to contact the One-Call Center at least two business days beforedigging. “Taking care where you dig with a shovel orbackhoe can not only prevent damage to undergroundutilities, but the potential loss of life as well," saysBrantley Davis, an Outside Plant Engineer with SkyLineand the chairman of the Ashe County Utility Coordinat-ing Committee.

The "Dig Safely" campaign is the centerpiece of theNorth Carolina Utility Notification Center's efforts to increase public awareness of North Carolina excavationlaws and safe digging practices.

The North Carolina One Call Center provides a toll-free telephone number, 8-1-1, to help reduce damagesto underground facilities, thereby reducing the loss ofservice to the public and the loss of time and money toexcavators, utilities and taxpayers.

And, our Shady Valley customers also can contactthe Tennessee One-Call Center by dialing 8-1-1 fromtheir homes or businesses located in the 739 telephoneexchange.

When you contact the One Call System, you willneed the following information when you call:

• County and town

• Location of work – street address

• Nearest cross street

• Area to be marked

• Date and time of excavation or digging

• Type of work

• Your name and number or the contractor’s contact information

So, be safe, not sorry: Know what’s below…Call before you dig…Dial 811.

SPRING ART CONTEST CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

third place. All entries must be accompanied by an entrance form(which is available through our websites: www.skyline.org orwww.skybest.com). Entries must be received at the Telcom office in Maryland by April 19, 2013.

For additional contest informa-tion, including rules and where tosend entries, please visit our websiteor call SkyLine at 1-800-759-2226.

Recipe of the Month

Cherry ButtermilkPound CakeIngredients:1 cup shortening2 1/2 cups sugar3 eggs2 1/2 cups plain flour1/4 teaspoon salt1/4 teaspoon soda1 cup buttermilk1 teaspoon lemon extract1 small jar maraschino cherries, drained

Instructions:Cream shortening and sugar untilfluffy. Add eggs one at a time,beating well after each. Sift dry ingredients together and add alternately with buttermilk. Stir incherries and lemon extract. Pourinto greased and floured tube pan.Bake at 350 degrees for one houror until cake tests done.

Recipe submitted by Donna Harless Jones of Ashe County