Poor cell phone reception means some local people can't hear you now.

People in Pendleton County are trying to get another cell phone tower installed to fix the problem, but county officials are facing challenges as they try to get better wireless coverage.

Melanie Hensler drives from Baltimore to visit family in Sugar Grove several times a year.

But as soon as she starts to get close, "No Service" is all she sees on her phone.

"I'll try to make a couple phone calls to some family to say, 'Hey, I'm on my way. Just to let you know if I don't make it you'll have to come and find me,'" says Hensler.

People in Pendleton County say even their current service is spotty. They say better cell phone service is not about convenience but necessity.

Alan Thomas runs Great Valu Foods in Franklin. When delivery trucks break down, drivers have no way of letting him know.

"Overtime comes in to play plus the extra hours needed to get the work done," says Thomas.

But for cell phone companies, it can be very costly to put up a tower, especially considering they'd serve only about 8,000 residents in Pendleton County.

That's why County Commission President Robert Armentrout is trying to get some federal help.

"Well, there's a lot of pluses to living in a rural area, but there's a lot of disadvantages too, you know. One of the disadvantages being that we do not have cell service throughout the county," says Armentrout.

Armentrout is gathering letters and other items to deliver to Congresswoman Shelley Moore Capito in the hope that the federal government can help.

Emergency management director Curtis Crigler says the county's had issues when responding to truck accidents.

"Very easily in remote locations either on the Shenandoah or the Allegheny mountains. And communications is always a problem," says Crigler.

Hensler says she's had a few emergency situations during her visits to Pendleton County.

"This day and age, it seems like you're afraid to get out and walk because of strangers. And if someone were to stop and help you, you'd be a little hesitant on letting them help you," says Hensler.

The county is still taking input from local business people and others affected. County officials plan to submit letters and other materials to Congresswoman Capito within two weeks.