ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Wednesday, April 2, 1997 TAG: 9704020015
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: PULASKI
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER THE ROANOKE TIMES
Pulaski County is being wired to give its citizens Internet access. Now it needs volunteers to train them.
Residents of Pulaski County now have access to computers that can provide driving lessons for the information superhighway.
The Pulaski County Internet Connection Committee is using a grant it secured from the state's Center for Innovative Technology to make computers available at no charge to the public.
Two of the computers are already up and running in the Pulaski County Public Library in Pulaski and the Free Memorial Library in Dublin.
Others are planned for the second floor of the Pulaski Municipal Building, the Pulaski Senior Center, the Fairlawn Fire Department building, the Pulaski County Courthouse, the Dublin Town Hall and another location to be designated in the south side of the county.
Petitions are now being circulated asking Bell Atlantic to begin Internet service in the county.
The petitions are posted at the Steer House Restaurant, Golden Corral, Sears, 2 Thumbs Up, Pulaski County YMCA, Frank's Video, Pulaski County Public Library, and the Pulaski office of Rep. Rick Boucher, D-Abingdon.
It will take 2,000 signatures to get the service. Signing a petition does not obligate anyone to subscribe, once the service is available.
The committee also needs volunteers to help train Pulaski County citizens in the use of these computers.
Anyone who volunteers as a trainer will get 10 hours of free training on using the Internet, and be asked to train at least 10 others. In this way, the training will continue to spread throughout the county.
Volunteers must first have an account with an Internet provider. Training classes will be held at the Southwest Virginia Governor's School on the Pulaski County High School campus near Dublin.
People interested in volunteering for the training can get information by calling John Wenrich at the Governor's School between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. at 674-1980.
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