Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, October 27, 1993 TAG: 9310270182
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Medium
Pulaski Town Council on Tuesday night approved a $29,250 loan to Charles and Joyce Travis to buy and renovate the building at 84 W. Main St. The money will come from an Urban Development Action Grant fund maintained by the town for business starts or expansions.
Council approved another $34,052 loan from the development fund to Deborrah J. Jonas and Gordon D. Jonas, who operate the Colony of Virginia store on Main Street. They plan to buy and renovate two other properties, at 61 and 59 W. Main St. The Wythe County couple plans to set up an antiques and collectibles business and lease space to a law practice.
Deborrah Jonas moved her store to downtown Pulaski from near Fort Chiswell off Interstate 81-77. Her husband, a coach at Fort Chiswell High School, joins her at the store on weekends.
Both couples will borrow amounts matching their loans from NationsBank.
In other business, council heard renewed complaints from citizens about Norfolk Southern Corp. trains sounding horns while going through town.
Pulaski, like many communities with NS rail lines from Roanoke to Abingdon, has an ordinance prohibiting the sounding of train horns "except when reasonably necessary in the judgment of the train operator" for safety.
Mary Lee Duncan told council she saw no way an engineer could have safety concerns all the way through Pulaski. "I don't know if they're doing this just to be malicious or what, but it has increased."
"Would it not be possible to have a citizen's arrest?" asked William B. Sanders Jr., although he said he had no plans to try to stop a train. The maximum fine under state law would be $10.
Mayor Gary Hancock said he and other town officials would seek a meeting with NS executives in Roanoke.
"I think the only answer is for us to go down and talk to them face to face. The letter-writing hasn't solved the problem," he said.
by CNB