An apparent problem with the Qwest phone company is affecting the 911 service in Vinton.

"We get the calls but we cannot hear the caller," said a woman a the Benton County Sheriff's Office. Qwest technicians are expected to arrive soon to fix the problem, she said. 

The spokeswoman at the Sheriff's Office said nobody had called from a cell phone Friday to see if 911 calls made by cell phones are affected.

If the 911 number is not working, residents should call the Sheriff's office at 472-2337, and press 1 to speak to an operator about the nature of the problem.