Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, June 3, 1993 TAG: 9306030500
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: ED KOHINKE SR.
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
An uninformed reader might have gathered that the training center is a county project being championed by me. Actually it is a Virginia Department of Transportation (state) project that will be set up and operated under the auspices of VDOT's Salem resident engineer, Jeff Echols, and the land that may be used for it is owned by the state (Virginia Tech).
Since the Catawba Valley is an area quite capably represented in the General Assembly by Sen. Malfourd "Bo" Trumbo and Del. Richard Cranwell - and since VDOT and Virginia Tech are state-level entities - comments, concerns, complaints and questions about this project not adequately addressed by VDOT or Virginia Tech would, I am sure, be more than adequately addressed by these two gentlemen.
Granted, I think the project is a good idea, and have stated so publicly. The largest number of complaints I receive from my constituents district-wide are transportation-related: pavement quality, brush-cutting, signs, drainage, traffic signals, curbing, street lights, bridges, etc. Further, the largest number of these complaints come from the Catawba Valley.
However, I have the least amount of control over road problems. The county staff and I work very closely with VDOT to get things done. A show of support for putting this training center in Catawba - something VDOT could do with or without my "blessing" - is our way of strengthening the bridges (no pun intended) between Roanoke County and VDOT. And, it will bring a small, unobtrusive piece of VDOT into an area that is long overdue for better road care.
Stated another way, I believe the overall impact of this project on the Catawba Valley will be negligible, the rough equivalent of a small-farm operation. At the same time, I see the condition of roads in that area improving as time goes by.
Finally, an uninformed reader also might have gotten some wrong ideas about the Ruritan from Trethewey's commentary. The Ruritan is not meant to be a "forum" for public issues, and any votes taken on an issue are for the purpose of assessing public opinion only.
As a member of the Catawba Ruritan, as well as the one who represents the area on the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors, I invited Trethewey and VDOT representatives to one of our meetings to exchange information. Over the years, I have found Ruritan membership to be very informed and articulate on issues, and that their collective opinion very closely reflects that of the community in general. However, I never take theirs as the only or final word on any given issue.
Additionally, the Ruritan allows women into its membership, but the Catawba Club has no female members at this time, simply because none has applied. The women observed by Trethewey in the kitchen are members of local churches who prepare meals for our monthly meetings, as a fund-raiser for groups within these churches.
Yes, we pay for our meals. No, we don't relegate women to the kitchen. In fact, some of my best opinions and input come from these and other women who live in the Catawba Valley, many of whom are active in politics, civic affairs and other community activities.
Ed Kohinke Sr. of Roanoke County represents the Catawba District on the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors.
by CNB