By next year, ToledoTel will have connected all of its 2,300 customers with high-speed Internet that would be envied by cities many times the size of Toledo.
The effort to expand Fiber to Home service has been ongoing for years, but officials at the company say the end is in sight.
The expansion will provide many more options for workers, students and residents of South Lewis County.
ToledoTel’s approach has been one geared toward satisfying the needs of the future. Connections are being made to parcels regardless of whether there are currently occupants.
It’s a forward-thinking move that, by some estimates, can add as much as $5,000 in value to a home.
“We’re not picking winners or losers here; we’re providing gigabit fiber capacity to 100 percent of our service territory,” COO Dale Merten told The Chronicle this week.
Residents of the company’s coverage area are fortunate to have a locally-based enterprise providing such a cutting-edge service. In a community with as large a rural population as Lewis County, it would be nice to see larger companies follow suit.
Sasquatch Appeal
Winlock councilors might see some rolling eyes and sideways stares after today’s story detailing potential plans for a museum featuring information on Bigfoot.
Elected officials are wise to consider the idea, though. Winlock continues to chart a course to the future, battling departures of businesses and empty storefronts. For better or worse, Sasquatch lore is prevalent in our corner of the country, and if there is economic opportunity to be had from the interest, the Egg City would be smart to at least hear out the possibilities.
It appears city leaders are doing just that. It’s worth a conversation, regardless of how ludicrous many might find the notion.
Fire Help
On Tuesday, we noted Eastern Washington efforts to donate goods to wildfire victims. There are now several ways to drop off donations locally (see complete details on page Main 14).
Supplies can be dropped off at Lewis County Fire District 2’s station at 150 N. Second St. in Toledo, Fire District 3’s station at 137 E. Main St. in Mossyrock, Fire District 5’s station at 115 E. Washington St. in Napavine, the Chehalis Fire Department at 455 N. Park St. in Chehalis and Fire District 14’s station at 9978 U.S. Highway 12 in Randle.
Cash donations and gift cards can be sent to the Salvation Army at P.O. Box 488, Centralia, WA., 98531, or at 303 N. Gold St. in Centralia and should be marked “Washington fires.”
