Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, January 23, 1994 TAG: 9401240240
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
My experience as a local driver has taught me to slow way down, even if the light at Southgate Drive is green. It changes so quickly. I have had several near misses there; the last one was too close. A truck and trailer with a horse in the back cannot just slam on its brakes the way a car can. The truck risks locking the brakes and jack-knifing, or throwing the horse around (to its knees) from the sudden lurch. This does not make happy or safe equine campers, and the drivers also suffer from white knuckles.
A very simple solution would be to lengthen the duration of the yellow caution light at that corner. Considering that U.S. 460 is a main thoroughfare and that trucks (the big kind) also use that route, it is surprising other major accidents have not happened at that intersection.
Would the town, or whoever controls such things, please lengthen the duration of the yellow light at that intersection? Accidents will be avoided in the future if this is done.
Wendy Gavin Gregg
Blacksburg
Weddle didn't declare candidacy
A few days ago your paper incorrectly reported that former Republican congressional candidate Gary Weddle was announcing plans to run for the 39th District State Senate seat currently held by Madison Marye, who will be up for re-election in 1995. Mr. Weddle did not declare his candidacy, rather he was announcing that he would not seek re-election to Radford's City Council nor would he be a candidate for Congress in 1994. I am troubled by the tone of the headline for this article. The Roanoke Times & World-News should spend more time reporting the facts instead of attempting to generate controversy between Mr. Weddle and the current state senator over a possible challenge in 1995.
When asked, Mr. Weddle said he was in the process of forming a committee to explore the possibility of a state Senate campaign, but he did not announce any decision to run. I thought it was very irresponsible to suggest anything else. Mr. Weddle has served the Radford community honorably and we need more people like him in our state and federal governments, but don't promote the fight until the boxers sign the contract.
One thing is for sure, any elected representative who would admit to taking advice from an Uncle Confucius, as Senator Marye did when commenting on Mr. Weddle's press conference, clearly demonstrates why they need to be replaced. Should that person be Gary Weddle remains to be seen.
James Oliver,
Chairman,
Radford University College Republicans
Radford\
Editor's Note: The newspaper ran a clarification on the story's headline in the next day's edition, saying Weddle was setting up an exploratory committee to consider a bid in 1995.
We should be proud of Tech
Southwest Virginia should be pleased with the recent appointments of two Virginia Tech stalwarts to prominent education positions. Gov. George Allen demonstrated wisdom in the appointment of Tech's dean of students, Beverly Sgro, as secretary of education. Equal wisdom and good sense was shown when Virginia Tech's Board of Visitors appointed Paul Torgersen as its 14th president. These two selections, in addition to the appointment of William Bosher, an opponent of outcome-based education, as superintendent of public instruction offer a refreshing glimpse of the future of pre-school through graduate school education in Virginia. Congratulations to all three!
Arnold Saari
Blacksburg
by CNB