ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, April 13, 1997 TAG: 9704140022
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-4 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
CHRISTIANSBURG
New trash facility?
A private trash hauler wants to build a refuse collection and transfer station behind the Lowe's and Grand Piano stores on Laurel Street. However, some local officials are concerned that Bob Underwood's proposal won't fit at the Marketplace, the New River Valley's largest retail center. It will be up to the Christiansburg Town Council and Planning Commission to decide the issue, beginning with a public hearing on Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. in Christiansburg's Town Hall. Published in the April 5 Current.
MONTGOMERY COUNTY
Tax increase approved
Montgomery County's real estate tax rate will rise from 70 to 72 cents per $100 of assessed value. The county Board of Supervisors voted 4-3 to approve the tax increase as part of a $77.28-million budget for the 1997-98 fiscal year. It's the county's third tax increase since 1991. County schools will receive $1.6 million more than last year as part of their $52.9 million budget, which is by far the largest chunk of the county's overall budget. Published in Wednesday's Current.
PULASKI COUNTY
School budget confrontation
A sort of stare-down occurred April 7 during a joint meeting of Pulaski County's School Board and Board of Supervisors. School officials concede that the $2.3 million increase in local funds they want as part of their 1997-98 budget would force a whopping 23-cent real estate tax increase. They say schools need the money, and the threat of a large tax increase is the only way to seize the public's attention. The supervisors replied that they'll have no choice but to begin cutting the school budget during work sessions on Monday and April 21. Both of those meetings will be held at 7 p.m. in the county office building. Published in Wednesday's Current.
GILES COUNTY
Rezoning attracts crowd
The future of a 126-acre tract of rural land near Giles County High School drew a large crowd of Giles County citizens to a public hearing April 3. The land's owner, Ted Johnson Jr., is seeking to rezone the land for residential or business use. Johnson answers questions about the possibility of the site being used for a new Wal-Mart by saying, "I will pursue business." The county Board of Supervisors is expected to vote on the issue next month. Published in the April 5 Current.
RADFORD
City pondering tax increase
Radford City Council will hold a public hearing Monday at 7:30 p.m. at the Municipal Building on a proposed $50 million budget for the 1996-97 fiscal year. Council members, under pressure to fund major capital improvements, have voted to advertise a 3-cent real estate tax increase that would raise the city's rate to 71 cents per $100 assessed value. Council is also considering cost-of-living and step increases that would give most city employees a 4 percent pay increase. Published in Tuesday's Current.
VIRGINIA TECH
Administrator returns
Bob Martin, director of the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine's teaching hospital, returned to work April 7. Martin was paralyzed from his chest to his toes when he fell 20 feet from a tree stand and broke his back while hunting last November. Martin retained movement in his arms and hands. Although his rehabilitation isn't completed, he says support from friends, family and his religious faith has strengthened his recovery. Published in Tuesday's Current.
Football player penalized
Walter Ford lost an appeal of his earlier shoplifting conviction Wednesday and was sentenced to additional jail time and a stiffer fine in the process. Ford, 21, of Hampton, is serving 30 days in jail and will pay a $500 for stealing $190 worth of Tech sweat shirts from the University Bookstore in December. A wide receiver, Ford was originally dismissed from Tech's football team but had been reinstated for spring practice. Officials said they will investigate Ford's claim that other football players had also stolen items from the bookstore. Published in Thursday's Roanoke Times.
RADFORD UNIVERSITY
Family offers reward
The cause of a February 1996 apartment house fire that killed Radford University senior Christopher T. Mirch was never determined. His family thinks the fire was no accident. They announced a $1,000 reward for information that will identify and convict an arsonist. Authorities maintain there's no evidence that the fire was intentionally set. Published in Thursday's Current.
For electronic versions of these and many other stories, see the New River Current and Roanoke Times on line. http://www.roanoke.com/nrvhome/nrvindex.html
LENGTH: Long : 101 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: ALAN KIM/THE ROANOKE TIMES. Bob Martin will work one dayby CNBper week at the Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary
Medicine as he continues his rehabilitation from a fall that left
him partially paralyzed.