Computer skills are so important today. Nearly all occupations these days require employees to have at least some computer skills and many job announcements include specific software skills applicants should possess. Due to this need, the Warren County Extension Service is hosting computer instructional classes one day per month.

For information

To find out more about the Warren County Extension Service’s computer classes, call 601-636-5442.

Dr. John Giesemann, computer specialist with the Mississippi State University Extension Service, has agreed to travel to Vicksburg monthly to conduct hands-on computer classes in a lab format. The classes are taught in the Extension office conference room. Giesemann provides laptop computers loaded with Microsoft Windows XP operating systems and Microsoft Office 2007. Most of the courses he offers teach participants various programs within Microsoft Office, such as Word, Excel and Power Point. Other computer-related skills are also available.

Offered are:

* Microsoft Word — Intro to Word, Graphics in Word, Advanced Graphics in Word, Tables in Word, Other Stuff in Word, Merge in Word.

* Microsoft Excel — Intro to Excel, Data Management 1 in Excel, Data Management 2 in Excel, Pivot Tables in Excel, Advanced Functions in Excel, Macros in Excel.

* Microsoft Power Point — Intro to Power Point, Advanced Power Point, Photos in Power Point, Photo Albums in Power Point.

* Others — Intro to the Internet, Intro to E-mail, Selecting Digital Cameras, Using Digital Cameras, Editing Digital Photos, Adobe Photoshop Elements, and File and Folder Management.

Cost is $20 per day and includes either a full-day session or two half-day sessions. For example, Giesemann will teach both Intro to Power Point and Photos in Power Point — each are half-day sessions — May 12. Don’t sign up for the May class, though. It’s already full. Giesemann requests that we limit participation to 12. The type of instruction he provides requires considerable one-on-one interaction.

Reminders: First Tuesday Gardening Series with Extension Horticulture Agent Donna Beliech, Turf Care Basics, Tuesday, noon to 1 p.m., Extension conference room; Logger Education Core Class for Professional Loggers’ Certification, Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Extension conference room, $90.

John C. Coccaro is county Extension director. Write to him at 1100-C Grove St., Vicksburg, MS 39180 or call 601-636-5442. E-mail him at jcoccaro@ext.msstate.edu