Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, September 13, 1993 TAG: 9309130047
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Roanoke Vice Mayor Bev Fitzpatrick Jr. and the Virginia Museum of Transportation are looking for Roanoke's old streetcars. The museum already has one, but it was damaged in the flood of 1985.
It would like to have another, but doesn't know where to find one.
That's where Fitzpatrick, a longtime museum board member, comes in. He's appealing to anyone who knows the location of a trolley to let him or the museum know. The trolley needn't be in cherry condition - it can be in a barn, used as a chicken house or even occupied by people. He just wants to look at it and perhaps arrange to have it transported downtown.
Fitzpatrick's motive is more than simple display of a historical artifact. For years, museum supporters have suggested a trolley to convey tourists and citizens from the museum to the City Market. To have an indigenous trolley for the task would make the city unusual, possibly even unique. With the mayor and others touting a linear park to link the two sites, this is a good time to get rolling, he says.
"We just want to get a feel if people out there know of any," he says. "There may be 10 stuck back in the woods somewhere, and we're just trying to charge some memories and see."
For that matter, they'd like also to inspect old Roanoke city buses, if you know where they might find some. The museum's number is 342-5670, or you can call Fitzpatrick at 342-2383.
Fighting the power line
Constituents of Del. Richard Cranwell, D-Vinton, found a letter in their mail last week inviting them to rally with him Tuesday in Richmond. The purpose: To urge Appalachian Power Co. to find alternatives to its proposed 765,000-volt line, which would run through his district.
Cranwell, who is up for re-election, previously was quiet on the controversial project.
"This is our final chance to make ourselves heard on this vital issue," Cranwell wrote in his letter, which had a drawing of a giant utility tower with a slash through it.
The State Corporation Commission will hold a public hearing on the line Tuesday in Richmond.
Meanwhile, Apco announced the signing of a memorandum of understanding with the National Wild Turkey Federation last week. Wild turkeys soon may be flocking to power line corridors as Apco and the federation work together to turn the areas into attractive habitats for turkeys and other wildlife.
They voted with their feet
Richlands High School may not repeat as Group AA state football champions, but fans can count on two things when the Blue Tornadoes take the field this year.
One, players will be wearing regulation cleats.
Two, the cleats were not bought in Roanoke.
The Blue Tornadoes no longer buy athletic gear from CMT Sporting Goods in Roanoke because of the "cleat controversy" that arose from Salem's protest of its 17-7 loss to Richlands in the semifinal game last year.
Salem was bolstered by a CMT sales representative who produced a receipt showing that Richlands bought the three-quarter-inch cleats - which are illegal - three days before the game. Salem claimed the extra-long cleats gave Richlands players better traction on the muddy field.
Richlands kept its state championship but found a new equipment supplier in Bristol.
"We didn't feel like the cleat thing was handled in a businesslike manner, so we took our business elsewhere," Richlands Athletic Director Tom Rife said.
A CMT spokesman had no comment.
`Take me to your leader'
Randy Newberry, a hang-glider pilot from Bland visiting the Central and West Caucasus region of Russia this month as part of an international hang-gliding exchange program, once thought he'd flown on an even longer journey.
That day, a farmer watched open-mouthed as the winged glider brought the helmeted and goggled Newberry to the ground in a field north of Wytheville.
When Newberry asked the farmer his location, the farmer replied, "Earth."
by CNB