Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, February 24, 1994 TAG: 9402240318
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: E-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
I want to encourage registered voters in Roanoke to vote March 1 in the Democratic primary. I also encourage you to join me in supporting Nelson Harris as a candidate for Roanoke City Council.
A native of Roanoke, Harris chose to return to Roanoke to serve his community after graduating college. As a member of the Roanoke School Board, he is committed to bettering the lives of economically disadvantaged children and youth in our community. A startling 50 percent of all city school children are considered economically disadvantaged. Harris acted on that statistic by fostering a lower student-nurse ratio so that more children can receive basic health care at school.
Harris has responded to the needs of the city's residents by volunteering his time to many community-oriented groups. He is involved as an active member of the Roanoke Mental Health Association where he has worked on health and poverty issues affecting city children. He is also involved in two neighborhood groups - the Greater Raleigh Court Civic League, his home community, and the Ridgewood Park Neighborhood League, the community of the church he pastors. Harris recognizes the importance of safe, stable communities for our children.
Please vote March 1 to place Nelson Harris on the ballot for Roanoke City Council.\ Sincerely,\ Anita Bevins-Kernan\ Roanoke\ \ Dear Neighbors:
I am trying to contact any ex-member or anyone with information about former members of the 249th Engineer Combat Battalion that was formed at Camp Bowie, Texas in 1943.
The object is to collect and share current addresses, receive a newsletter, information on a reunion, etc. Please write me at P.O. Box 3134, Staunton, Va. 24402-3134 or call me at (703) 886-6941.\ Sincerely, Irmin C. Magruder Staunton\ \ Dear Neighbors:
I realize that the newspaper can't give a balanced account of the most recent SPCA controversy when the board members are bound by their position as employers to withhold details, but the employees can say anything they choose. I would just like to explain my reasons for applauding the actions of the board.
My husband and I successfully adopted two humans but were refused permission to adopt a dog from the SPCA because we had one registered dog we planned to breed. No matter that we had spayed all of the other pets we owned and they were healthy and in their teens and that we did plan to spay the cute mutt we wanted to adopt.
We were treated with arrogance as if we were irresponsible people who wanted to exploit and sell puppies from THEIR dog and they were the only ones who truly loved and tried to take care of animals.
If part of the mission of the SPCA is to match unwanted pets with loving homes, the staff there needs to respect and care for people as well as the animals. The previous staff was quite protective of the animals, but protective against the very people who could love the animals and save their lives.
When staff are more interested in coercing people than finding adequate homes for the animals, I believe the SPCA animals deserve new caretakers who care more about the animals than causes.\ Sincerely,\ Penny Finn\ Fincastle
by CNB