Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, August 23, 1993 TAG: 9308230101
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Although Hollyfields Golf Club isn't known as the toughest in the Roanoke area, conditions on the Bent Mountain course have gotten a bit more hazardous in the past few weeks.
The new obstacle is a stray black Labrador retriever who fetches golf balls.
"He's such a nice dog, you don't know what to do," said Hollyfields regular Mark Donihe, who was hacking around the course one recent morning. "I hit a drive out into the fairway, and here he comes running back with my ball. He'd make somebody a great pet, but he doesn't belong on a golf course."
Club owner Sally Hollyfield said the dog's been hanging around for a few weeks, and she doesn't know what to do with him.
"We'd like to take him, but we already have a dog," she said. "I don't think he'd work out around here anyway."
Doggie drive-up
They turn up two-by-two at the drive-up window at First Union bank's Williamson Road branch.
Customer in the driver's seat. Dog riding shotgun.
Sure, what bank doesn't slip a lollipop into the drawer for a child? But how many keep a box of Milk Bones on hand for the canine companions of its customers?
It's not a policy from the bank's employee handbook. But Milk Bones for dogs is the gospel according to Deborah Allen-Swain, a regular teller at the drive-up window.
"People tell me their dogs actually seem to know they're coming here as soon as they make the turn off the road," she says. Sometimes she can hear them barking in anticipation. "I'm sure it beats the heck out of a trip to the vet."
Skipping school
Those who reserved seats last week to hear Roanoke School Superintendent E. Wayne Harris speak about his vision for the city's school system were left in the dark when the event was postponed without warning.
The Jefferson Club, in consultation with Harris, put off the event because of "poor turnout, poor response," catering director Linda Fisher said.
Only 22 people reserved seats for the club's Aug. 16 business forum, at which Harris was to deliver a speech titled "School Daze/The Vision: Preparing Students for the 21st Century," Fisher said.
Normally, about 100 people attend the forum, she said.
Fisher attributed the low response to schedule conflicts and the fact that two-thirds of the club's membership hail from Roanoke County. Between 25 and 30 people told her they could not attend because of vacation plans, she said.
Harris, who took over as superintendent of the city's school system July 1, will reschedule, Fisher said.
by CNB