Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, February 16, 1994 TAG: 9402160336
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A10 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
The restoration of our grand old lady, Hotel Roanoke, and the establishment of the yet-unnamed conference center have come about under McComas' leadership and fervent support, and it seems so very appropriate to name the center in his memory. Education was his game, and his brief tenure at Tech - cut short by cancer - was surely his finest hour!
McComas and I were classmates at West Virginia University and graduated together, but we didn't come to know each other until he came to my other alma mater, Virginia Tech. I had the honor to serve as an assistant professor at Tech many years ago and also to do graduate work there. I've watched with great interest as McComas arrived with a broom and large shovel, cleaned up the athletic mess and made many improvements, despite the incredible belt-tightening and budget cuts dictated by economic problems in the commonwealth.
Perhaps his greatest tribute comes from students, faculty members and alumni who came to respect and to love him.
HAROLD P. CRICKENBERGER
ROANOKE
Don't pick route for one city
AFTER READING the Jan. 31 news article by staff writer Greg Edwards, ``Interstate's intrastate rivals,'' I feel better informed on the proposed Interstate 73, especially with the map of the potential corridors.
I'd be selfish if I didn't admit that I'd like to see either the existing I-77 route used or the U.S. 460/100/52 route, as I'm a business owner who'd benefit from either of these roads. But I'm also a taxpayer who's extremely tired of seeing the government spend money foolishly.
How much money was originally spent by the government to select the original route that had to go to the city of Winston-Salem? Just by looking at the map, one can clearly see that the most direct route would be using I-77 and then merging with U.S. 52. Before any more suggestions or proposals are made, officials need to drive these routes. I'm sure they'll find that the one least congested, least populated and easiest to expand without having to purchase land and uproot people is I-77.
If I-73 is clearly thought out, it will be seen as a road from point A to point B. Yes, you'll get overnight traffic that will benefit some (gas stations, motels, restaurants, etc.), but how many will stay for their vacation? I'll support with a few thousand dollars signs for an existing road, but I'll fight millions or billions of dollars to reroute this road to an already populated, congested area.
Roanoke's already a prosperous city, so why not look at the map and let progress come to another area? Our representatives shouldn't be so quick to try to benefit just one city, town, etc., but the people of their state, and they should not spend our money foolishly.
KRISTIN WHITE
FANCY GAP
Freedoms on line with tax proposal
BEFORE we lose more of our freedoms, we as taxpayers must stand tall and speak out for our God-given rights. I'm against more taxes imposed on me. It doesn't make good sense to raise cigarette taxes.
It's the matter of my freedom of choice. Some may think to heck with smokers; they deserve higher taxes. Well, it will affect all Americans with the loss of 274,000 American jobs in tobacco farming, manufacturing and sales. Less taxes, in the long run, less revenue.
Who can understand this new health-care policy anyway? Only Clinton and his so-called liberals.
Smokers didn't cause problems in the system. It's unfair to single out one group and force us to pay more. I come in contact with hundreds of people each week where I work. Ninety percent smoke and are against this new policy, but aren't aware of the dangers of losing our freedom of choice.
With this extreme cigarette tax, the government is trying to regulate my personal behavior. Today, it's smoking. Next, they'll try to tell us how much we must weigh, regulate our cholesterol levels, control our leisure activities, deny our rights to freedom of speech and control our religions. How much more will they try to do to our free America?
MARIE B. ALEXANDER
TROUTVILLE
Vouchers benefit disadvantaged kids
I TAKE issue with Al Wilson, chairman of the Roanoke City Democratic Committee, with regard to his Jan. 20 letter to the editor, ``Bell's no friend of public schools.'' It's clear that Wilson, and in fact the Democratic Party, are out of step with the people. Bell's proposal would merely allow school vouchers for disadvantaged schoolchildren at local option. Does Wilson fear the people's decision, or is the fact that these vouchers will be available to disadvantaged children the source of his opposition?
Bell's proposal would allow disadvantaged children to take advantage of an opportunity that's currently reserved for the upper class. Indeed, President Clinton's chosen a private school for his child. Should Wilson's position that school vouchers aren't a friend of public education be true, he'd have a more than ample opportunity to convince the populous prior to any ultimate decision.
WILLIAM H. FRALIN JR.
Chairman, Roanoke City
Republican Committee
ROANOKE
by CNB