REEVES, Louisiana - A small village in southwest Louisiana is finally getting its wish: to rid itself of a telephone prefix often associated with the devil or the Antichrist.
Starting this month, residents and businesses can change the first three digits of their phone numbers from 666 to 749. Mayor Scott Walker said he has made the change on his phone.
"It's been a 40-year battle" he said, counting at least four failed attempts.
Reeves has three churches - two Bible and one Baptist - and fewer than 450 homes. "This boils down to, this is a very, very religious community," Walker said.
It all began with Revelation 13:18 in the Bible: "This calls for wisdom: let him who has understanding reckon the number of the beast, for it is a human number, its number is six hundred and sixty-six."
The beast is also known as the Antichrist, according to some apocalyptic theories.
"It's been a black eye for our town, a stigma," Walker said. "I don't think it's anything bad on us, just an image."
The mayor said he worked with the phone company, CenturyTel, and the state Public Service Commission among others to make the change.
"This is a good town. ... We're good Christian people," Walker said.
Starting this month, residents and businesses can change the first three digits of their phone numbers from 666 to 749. Mayor Scott Walker said he has made the change on his phone.
"It's been a 40-year battle" he said, counting at least four failed attempts.
Reeves has three churches - two Bible and one Baptist - and fewer than 450 homes. "This boils down to, this is a very, very religious community," Walker said.
It all began with Revelation 13:18 in the Bible: "This calls for wisdom: let him who has understanding reckon the number of the beast, for it is a human number, its number is six hundred and sixty-six."
The beast is also known as the Antichrist, according to some apocalyptic theories.
"It's been a black eye for our town, a stigma," Walker said. "I don't think it's anything bad on us, just an image."
The mayor said he worked with the phone company, CenturyTel, and the state Public Service Commission among others to make the change.
"This is a good town. ... We're good Christian people," Walker said.
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