Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, January 14, 1992 TAG: 9201140208
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
KEEPING UP TO DATE ON THINGS
It is Dec. 4, 1990. Gov. Doug Wilder stuns the free world by suggesting a pilot program that would allow private liquor sales in Virginia.It is Dec. 5, 1990. Never mind, says Gov. Doug Wilder, stunning the free world by asking the General Assembly not to consider his proposal after all. As it turns out, the governor's son and some of the governor's chums stand to make quite a few dollars if liquor sales go private. Once reminded of this fine point, the governor suggests that the issue be taken up some time after he leaves office.
It is Jan. 8, 1991. Gov. Wilder stuns the free world by releasing his 1992-94 budget. Included is a pilot program to privatize liquor stores.
So disoriented was the governor by his own barnstorming presidential bid and free-world-stunning decision to dismantle the Wilder machine that he lost track of time and thought his gubernatorial term had expired.
It is Jan. 8, 1991.
The governor releases a $28 billion state budget, sprawling over 162 pages.
Given a choice between reading a state budget and being crushed by mounds of igneous rock, most citizens opt for the rocks.
Yet within a day, hundreds of people are in Wytheville, yearning to get a crack at the microphone for a whack at their analysis of the spending plan. Hundreds more in Falls Church. In Norfolk. On Monday, in Richmond.
Who are these people? Have they read the budget? How did they read the budget in a day? Or by yesterday even? I didn't get my copy yet. Did you?
It is Dec. 15, 1991. The 7-Eleven store at Brambleton and Brandon in Southwest Roanoke - the oldest 7-Eleven in the valley - closes. Business is off, the underground gasoline tanks are too risky and the lease is expiring.
It is Jan. 13, 1992. In the same building opens the Sonic Food Mart, a convenience store. Privately owned. No gas. Back to basics. A lesson lurks here.
It is May 20, 1990. As of today, recycling in Vinton is mandatory. The world eyes the program warily.
It is Jan. 10, 1992. The figures are in on Vinton.
In 1989, the town hauled 3,730 tons of garbage to the regional landfill.
In 1990, the town hauled 2,962 tons of garbage to the dump.
In 1991, the town dumped 2,752 tons of garbage.
Notice a trend?
Still not convinced?
Last year, Vinton recycled about 527 tons of waste, selling it for $3,354.
More important than what Vinton earned is what Vinton didn't spend - $10,267 in dumping fees at the landfill. Those 527 tons of recyclables never did make it to the landfill.
It is Jan. 10, 1992. Dewey Broughman of Buchanan throws his hat into the presidential race.
His platform: Build a monorail system on the median strip of all interstate highways. While the system's under construction, traffic is routed to adjacent highways, such as U.S. 11, juicing up the local economy and prompting the renovation of all those beat-up old hotels and restaurants.
Dewey for president.
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