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

DATE: THURSDAY, December 30, 1993                   TAG: 9312300260
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

FOX TO BOOST SIGNAL BEFORE NFL GAMES

A: Yes, says Stan Marinoff, vice president and general manager.

A new transmitter and new antenna are expected to come on line Feb. 2 (Groundhog Day) or thereabouts, he said.

The two Fox stations, Channels 21 and 27, will have 7 million watts of power between them, and that's probably the most power in Virginia, Marinoff said.

Because the cable system picks up Fox's signal via the airwaves, cable customers should see an improvement in their pictures, Marinoff said. Cox Cable in Roanoke already is getting a good signal, though, he said.

Separating water, sewer

Q: If the city of Roanoke is going to raise its sewer rates, is there any way to monitor the sewer flow other than through water consumption? During the summer, I estimate that 25 to 30 percent of my water use is for the garden or washing cars and never enters the sewerage system. I dislike paying for a service I don't use. J.L., Roanoke

A: There is a way to separate your irrigation from household use - if it's worth $100 of plumbing and a trail of paper work.

You'll need to apply for a short-term, revokable permit for a special water meter. Then you'll need a plumber to hook it up, said Kit Kiser, the city's director of utilities and operations.

Kiser's office can take back the permit in case of a drought or other water shortage.

He said people sometimes get a secondary meter when they've just seeded a new lawn.

Kiser also said this water often makes its way into the sewer system anyway, through cracked pipes or leaky basements.

Reclaiming mined land

Q: There is mining activity east of Interstate 81 near Arcadia in Botetourt County. Will these hills be replanted with trees, or left bare - which is very unsightly. B.L., Roanoke

A: Stone cliffs - called vertical highwalls in mining terminology - can be left unplanted when the mining's finished.

Surrounding areas have to be replanted for a new use, which usually means grass or trees will be put in to control drainage and condition the land for a future use.

That's the word from the state Mines, Minerals and Energy Deparment.

Highwalls, which often remain after mining machines extract minerals - limestone in this case - are difficult to replant.

Sometimes, though, pits left from these operations fill with water naturally and can be used for recreation or water supply.

Also, these highwalls aren't much different from some of those cut for I-81's passage, most notably at Buffalo Creek or on Christiansburg Mountain.

Got a question about something that may affect other people too? Something you've come across and wondered about? Give us a call at 981-3118. Maybe we can find the answer.