Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, April 8, 1993 TAG: 9304080008
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Ray Reed
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
4 LITTLE HOURS FOR ROANOKE
Q: I'm a student at William Byrd Middle School. We have to make up snow days during what should be spring break. Roanoke made up their days on Saturday. In the county we have to go the whole day on makeup days and in the city they get out two hours early. Does that seem fair? T.R.A: Hmmm. Writing an acceptable essay on this question calls for research, so we checked up on the city and county school calendars, including the snow changes.
One woman in the city schools whom I asked for the information called me "young man" three times. It was a blast from the past - no teacher has done that since 1966. Thanks, ma'am.
Here are the pertinent facts: Roanoke County schools closed five days because of weather, three of them after the March blizzard.
City schools closed four days for weather, two from the blizzard.
The county already made up one snow day. The rest will be made up April 13-16, Tuesday through Friday - the spring break.
The city has two more days to make up - on Friday and on May 31, a Monday. Both will be full days. Roanoke already has made up two days on Saturdays.
But hey, six days is a long week. Take it from me; we had a dozen of those in 1960 in Floyd County and it seemed like they'd never end.
The point is: Your city friends give up a holiday and two Saturdays but gain four hours; you give up four days of spring break.
Are the four hours large?
A city student would say "Oh, big deal," meaning NOT. A county student might reply "Oh, barf," meaning yes.
Final Four in '94
Q: I'd like to find out where next year's Final Four will be played and how I can get tickets. L.S., Buchanan
A: That'll be Charlotte, N.C., April 2 and 4 - a mere commuter trip for this region's dedicated fans.
To order tickets: send $66 (for one) or $131 (for two) in a check made out to NCAA Final Four. This gets you into all three games.
Mail to NCAA Final Four, c/o United Missouri Bank of Kansas City, N.A., P.O. Box 1994, Kansas City, Mo. 64141.
Include name, address, city, state, zip and phone number.
If you'd rather not commit the money up front, you can get an application form by writing 1994 Final Four Tickets, 6201 College Blvd., Overland Park, Kansas 66211-2422, or call 900-646-1994 to get an application.
U.S. 460's 2-lane segment
Q: Why is the Virginia Department of Transportation not widening two miles of U.S. 460 west of Salem? It's two-lane road for a couple of miles with four lanes on both ends. N.N., Roanoke
A: There's a widening project under way out to the west corporate limits of Salem.
There are no plans at all for widening the next two miles - not even in the six-year plan for highways.
Why not? Apparently there isn't much pressure for it, either from people in the area or from traffic volume on an all-day basis.
Industrial shift-change times can produce traffic in this area, but unless congestion is prolonged it's usually handled by traffic signals.
Got a question about something that might affect other people too? Something you've come across and wondered about? Give us a call at 981-3118. Maybe we can find the answer.