25 years ago

Public Service Commissioner Jay Blossman said Tuesday during a press conference that 985 will be the new telephone area code for southeast Louisiana.

The new long-distance prefix, which will replace the current 504 area code, has been assigned to St. Tammany and Washington parishes and portions of Tangipahoa Parish. New Orleans and the surrounding south shore area will retain the current 504 area code.

Permissive dialing of the new area code will begin sometime in October and will be in effect for six months. That means telephone users may use either the new area code or the old number for the six-month duration.

Reasons for the new number are varied. Blossman said the proliferation of cellular telephone service, beepers, and internet lines have eaten up the numbers allowe

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