
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, June 24, 1993                   TAG: 9306240490
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A12   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

CIVIC CENTER SCREWED UP - AGAIN

ON JUNE 11, our daughter arrived home from Northside High School graduation practice at the Roanoke Civic Center to inform us that there would be very little parking for the Northside and William Byrd High School graduation ceremonies due to a Jehovah's Witnesses convention of approximately 8,000 people.

Needless to say we were very angry that again the civic center had overbooked. I immediately called Bob Chapman, the civic center's manager, which was a total waste of time.

The school provided shuttle-bus service from Northside, which was nice. But who really wanted to ride the Big Yellow Cheese Wagon on graduation day?

I think it is time for Roanoke County schools to switch to the Salem Civic Center or have graduations at the football stadium as back in the old days. If it rains, carry an umbrella. If the county schools had to pay for the use of the civic center, they should get a refund for this big screw-up.

Better luck next year, Northside High School graduates. BECKY PADGETT ROANOKE

by CNB