Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, February 14, 1994 TAG: 9402140017
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The White House came within an ace last week of scheduling a presidential visit to Roanoke on Tuesday.
For about 12 hours, in fact, a Roanoke stop officially was penciled in as "tentative" on President Clinton's public schedule - part of a planned Southern swing to promote his health-care plan.
But then, the White House, juggling demands on the president's time, decided to scrap the proposed trip altogether.
Why Roanoke? Mostly because it's got an airport big enough Clinton to handle the presidential jet and was a convenient stopover on the way to other cities in the South, says a spokesman for Rep. Rick Boucher, D-Abingdon, whose office was involved in some of the planning for the trip.
In fact, the most curious thing about the almost-visit may not be that Clinton was thinking about coming to Roanoke, but who knew - and who didn't.
Turns out that Western Virginia's two Democratic congressmen - Boucher and L.F. Payne, D-Nelson County - were in on the planning. Boucher was pushing hard for it, his spokesman says. But Payne, an early Clinton booster in Virginia, might not have been, especially now that he's got opposition this fall. Being perceived as too close to Clinton could be a liability in his conservative district.
Oddly though, the office of Virginia's lone Democratic senator, Charles Robb, was caught off-guard when reporters started calling about the trip.
Also out of the loop: Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Roanoke. But that's not as surprising. Roanoke may be in his district, but he is in the other party.
\ Have bear, will travel
Students from Donna Loan's reading program at Boiling Springs Elementary School near Covington traveled across the United States vicariously through a bear - Paddington Bear.
Alleghany Regional Hospital Auxiliary Volunteers donated the stuffed toy. Amtrak then provided Paddington, a popular children's story character, with tickets for a six-week cross-country train trip.
His luggage? A letter explaining the students' studies of the 50 states, and a notebook, where Paddington's fellow passengers could scribe their travel thoughts and adventures.
Since returning from his journey, the students have been taking in the stories and messages left in Paddington's journal. A retired Royal Canadian mounted policeman advised the children "to work, play and study hard." Another family told the story of their trip to Glacier National Park in Montana.
The students have been corresponding with those who left their addresses in the journal, and enthusiasm to study other states in the union has increased. "Each person left many memories," Loan said. ". . . We hope they know that they will all be in our hearts for sharing in this learning experience."
Next year, Loan hopes to send Paddington on another journey, to visit the countries of the world.
\ Do what I say, not what I do
Where politicians send their children to school has become news, and an issue in some campaigns.
President Clinton was criticized by some for sending his daughter, Chelsea, to a fashionable private school rather than public school in Washington. Virginia Gov. George Allen and his wife, Susan, have enrolled their daughter in a public school in Henrico County instead of a public school in Richmond.
"School choice" is expected to be an issue in many congressional campaigns this fall. Under that proposal, parents would get vouchers to help pay for their children to attend the school of their choice - public, private or parochial.
A survey shows many congressional opponents of school choice send their children to private schools.
The survey by the Heritage Foundation found that 44 percent of senators and 30 percent of representatives have their children in private schools, despite widespread opposition in Congress to extending the same school choice to the public.
Allyson Tucker, manager of the Heritage's Center for Education Policy, said that's a stark contrast to the 10 percent of children nationwide who attend private schools.
\ Virginia is for old-fashioned lovers
If there are couples out there planning weddings in May, they might be interested in having a pioneer-style ceremony in a historic setting as part of the 25th anniversary of the "Virginia Is for Lovers" tourism theme.
The catch is that either the bride or bridegroom must be a Tazewell County native.
Historic Crab Orchard Museum in Tazewell County is planning a May 14 day of public activities including the wedding, for which it will furnish pre-1850s wedding attire. Marriage prospects should contact the museum at 988-6755 before March.
by CNB