Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, October 12, 1993 TAG: 9310150382
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A6 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
I bet losing the income from those 20,797 jobs would be a major blow to the county's economic health, even if county residents don't see it that way. In fact, since they can ``stand alone,'' derive all your taxes from the 12,490 people who live and work in the county. All the other 29,757 workers can go elsewhere for jobs.
Of course, they go elsewhere for jobs because Roanoke County can't seem to generate any industrial development. Dare I mention Allied Signal, the county's one and only major announcement in the past five years, and it didn't materialize! How can the county exist without the city when the city created 4,843 new jobs compared to 511 in the county, Salem and Botetourt combined between September 1988 and September 1992?
Why don't we put up toll gates at all entrances to the city and county? Let county residents pay a toll to the city for working there, shopping at the market, attending an event at the Civic Center or a museum or play at Center in the Square. In turn, I'm sure city residents would gladly pay a toll to the county for working there or attending ... Excuse me - I was going to say museum, play, etc., but I can't honestly think of any major cultural spots in the county.
Ignorance is not bliss - it's dangerous!
MARY L. THOMAS
GOODVIEW
When preachers make up rules
THE OCT. 1 article by staff writer Lon Wagner, "Gallimore not swayed by divorce," makes me wonder why no other preacher or minister in or around the Roanoke Valley has written any letter of rebuttal to Gallimore's belief on this subject.
You will recall that Jim Jones and David Koresh made up their own rules as to Scripture interpretation, and we all know what happened to them and their flocks of faithful followers.
What next with Gallimore? Maybe he wants to have a little harem of teeny- bopper wives and let his highly gullible church congregation support them through their tithes and offerings? Or maybe he will want to bring in rattlesnakes and copperheads for the usual Saturday night service and tell his followers that "the Bible says" playing with snakes in service is not hazardous to your health.
RON PENLAND
WYTHEVILLE
Radford schools have earned kudos
REGARDING the Sept. 15 letter to the editor by Rachel L. Brewer (``In Radford, `teaching for the tests''') in which the opinionated writer condemned Radford city schools:
Radford schools are entitled to show off test scores because we've earned it. Since this is my 10th year in these schools, I've not felt any pressure whatsoever to conform or to work below or above my ability. In fact, the schools provide and encourage many outlets of creativity and individuality, such as Odyssey of the Mind, Macc, sports, band and many other extracurricular and exploratory activities. Teachers have always shown agreat desire to have students excel by giving help in their classes.
Since the writer is in college, some time has obviously passed since she was here. In that time, many things may have changed. The high school and middle school have adopted an in-school suspension system where students guilty of misconduct stay in suspension all day but still keep up with class and homework. All schools are severe on violators of rules.
As for conformity, I do not agree with the school on sending students home for dying their hair, but I refuse to believe they encourage conformity in their students. The teachers enthusiastically encourage individuality in projects, assignments and other work. We do not come to school to express our individualism, but to learn to express ourselves in an intelligent and informed manner.
I admire the writer's willingness to share her opinion, but one wonders why she wrote since she's past high school now. I'm sorry she holds such a grudge.
Please don't judge Radford High School by the views of one disgruntled student who has an axe to grind. There are hundreds of successful and happy students and graduates of this high school who, not unlike myself, think their school to be the best in the world and the years spent here to be the best of their lives.
EMILY KING RADFORD
Affordable homes are needed here
THOSE who care about Roanoke Valley's future should speak up in support of the Boone, Boone & Loeb proposal to build a new housing development in the Cotton Hill area of the county.
Boone is proposing to build affordable homes, attractive to a wide variety of people and important to the valley's ability to attract new industry. I've heard rumors that Equitable Life Assurance Society in the '70s and Volvo of North America in the '80s chose Greensboro over Roanoke because they perceived Greensboro to have a more adequate supply of new homes for their new personnel.
Wake up and smell the roses. The third time is the charm.
HARRY SCHWARZ
ROANOKE
Beyer has worked for this region
I'M ASKING Southwest Virginians to cast their votes in support of Don Beyer for lieutenant governor. In 20 years in the state Senate, I've served under five different lieutenant governors and Beyer is top-notch. He's a very likeable and personable individual. But beyond that, he's smart and a hard worker to boot.
Beyer is not a lawyer, but a businessman who knows that the commonwealth's future economic strength lies in fostering a healthy business climate. While carrying out his duties over the past four years, he has diligently worked to create new jobs by promoting this state to new industries and by assisting companies already here. I've been particularly impressed by his enthusiastic championing of the need for better economic times for Southwest Virginia.
He is not an extremist and, unlike his opponent, does not believe that government should intrude in the most personal of family decisions. I believe his pro-choice views are in line with the mainstream of those who reside in our state. Further, Beyer has demonstrated a commitment to Virginia's women and children through new laws that make it easier to find and collect child-support payments from deadbeat parents, by fighting for stronger laws to go after sex offenders, and by developing a pilot program designed to get people off welfare and into the work force.
Not to make light of his other qualifications, but he's the son of an Army officer who was also an old-time NASCAR driver!
MADISON E. MARYE
State Senator, 39th District
SHAWSVILLE
\ For city's sake, re-elect Cranwell
THIS LETTER of support may seem strange to some, but I'm writing to urge the re-election of Del. Richard Cranwell to the Virginia House of Delegates.
Although I have some areas of disagreement with Cranwell as far as local- government structures are concerned, he has gone to bat for citizens of Southwest Virginia on many occasions. Now is not the time to replace him with someone of little or no experience in areas of utmost importance to the citizens of this part of our state.
It is, however, time to re-elect Dels. Cranwell, Thomas and Woodrum with the full expectations that they will turn their much-needed attention to the plights of our states' core cities, such as Roanoke, and make the necessary changes to assure the successful growth of our urban areas into the 21st century.
JAMES G. HARVEY II
Member, Roanoke City Council
ROANOKE
Terry dodged 2-for-1 issue
MARY SUE Terry for Virginia's governor? Well, let's just have a memory check here.
In 1992, during the ``two-for-one'' pension controversy, concerned citizens approached Sen. Brandon Bell to intercede on the citizens' behalf to obtain a ruling on this matter from then-Attorney General Mary Sue Terry. Guess what. She declined. No doubt, Ms. Terry's political aspirations were already in motion and she didn't want to do anything at that time to rock the boat. Mayor Bowers took it upon himself to hire a Richmond law firm to buy the opinion that was wanted, and with taxpayers' money.
If Ms. Terry couldn't work for us then, will she work for us now?
BETTE N. GILLESPIE
ROANOKE
For Wilder, the end's in sight
IN THE OCT. 7 Associated Press article in the Roanoke Times & World-News, Gov. Douglas Wilder stated that the one-term limit for Virginia governors needs to be extended to either two four-year terms or one six-year term.
Although I must agree with the governor that the Virginia Constitution needs change to allow for longer terms, isn't it nice that this latest term will not be extended beyond this year?
RANDY TURNER
ROANOKE
by CNB