[May 24, 2013] Winston-Salem Journal, N.C., Ask SAM column Tweet May 24, 2013 (Winston-Salem Journal - McClatchy-Tribune Information Services via COMTEX) -- Q: All this week, I have been trying to call the Forsyth County Food Stamp office at (336) 703-3800 with a recorded response that they are experiencing large call volumes and to try again later. I've also tried calling the main Social Services number at (336) 703-3400 to no avail. I need to speak to my case worker. --L.C. Answer: SAM ran into the same messages on both lines when we called them on Thursday afternoon. Melinda Hartley, the Forsyth County Department of Social Services TEAM Division Director, said that the department tested the 3400 phone line and discovered what appears to be a problem with the line, which they are checking on. The DSS call center has been experiencing a large number of calls lately, she confirmed; it covers not only Food and Nutrition Services but also Family and Children's Medicaid, Work First, and other programs. According to their records, they had 48 calls abandoned the day you wrote in to SAM about your problem. They are checking the 3800 phone line for problems as well. Hartley said that she would have someone get in touch with you directly, since you gave us your contact information. For other people who are having a problem getting through, there is an additional telephone number that rings into their call center at (336) 703-3803. That line is answered by the same staff that answers the 3800 line. If there is a problem with the other phone lines, that may help; but if call volume is still high, you may not be able to get an answer there, either. "In the near future we expect to expand our staffing in the call center," Hartley said. "In the meantime, I am going to have these two telephone lines checked. If customers have access to the internet they can always go on line and submit a question to us and we will respond to them via computer or telephone." That website is at forsyth.cc/DSS/, and you can then click on the "Contact Us" button on the right side of the screen. Q: In Sherwood Forest, all the power poles have been marked by Duke Energy for over a year -- some to be replaced, some needing work. It is obvious much repair is needed, but when will it happen --D.K. Answer: Duke Energy is responsible for maintaining more than three million wooden poles across the Carolinas, according to Jimmy Flythe, a spokesman for the company. "This requires routine inspections," he said in an email to SAM. "Any issue we find that presents an immediate or near-term safety or reliability concern is repaired as soon as possible. Most of the work identified is general maintenance and is scheduled to be done at a later date. "The specific poles your reader mentions are scheduled for maintenance or replacement beginning this summer." MORE MUSIC SAM has heard about another summer music series coming up, this one a community concert series called "Hungry For Music." It will be held June 23 to 27 at Burkhead United Methodist Church, 5250 Silas Creek Parkway, beginning each evening at 7 p.m. The concerts are free and open to the public. Donations of produce, canned goods and money to support local hunger ministries will be accepted. ___ (c)2013 Winston-Salem Journal (Winston Salem, N.C.) Visit Winston-Salem Journal (Winston Salem, N.C.) at www2.journalnow.com Distributed by MCT Information Services [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ]