Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, May 3, 1994 TAG: 9405030120
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-6 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: By PAUL DELLINGER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Medium
The earlier limit had been $6,300. The extra money, if needed, will go toward additional entertainers, minting commemorative coins in observance of the dedication, and gifts in recognition of key people who have been involved in the station's restoration. The recommendation will be presented to council at its next meeting, May 17. Approval is likely.
New performers will include the Jack Tale Players from Ferrum College and Sierra, a musical group to perform during the morning.
The Cimmaron country music group will be the main performer during the day.
Also scheduled are the Confederate Cloggers from Christiansburg, the Omega IV bluegrass group, Dixieland Jazz, contemporary music from One Shot Deal, story-teller and guitarist Chris White, and a drama group.
The renovation of the former depot, donated to the town by the Norfolk Southern Corp., has spanned several years. It will serve as both a community center and visitors' center, with one part of the linear New River Trail State Park extended to end at the station.
The building will also serve as the new offices for the Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce, now housed in the town Municipal Building. The offices are to be moved prior to June 11.
``They can move in now. The town's ready for them,'' Town Manager Tom Combiths told the Finance Committee.
The entertainment groups will be performing at the station, in Jackson Park and the Old Courthouse building during the day. Councilman Nick Glenn suggested making preparations for large tents to be erected in some of those areas to protect bands and audiences in case of rain.
Glenn also made the motion to boost the budget to $9,000, after Councilman Roy D'Ardenne suggested setting such a sum rather than having the dedication planners come back to the committee each time another expense needed to be covered.
A steam train excursion from Roanoke to Glade Spring and back is also planned for June 11, although many of its passengers are expected to get off at the Pulaski stop for the day of activities surrounding the afternoon dedication program.
Combiths said ticket sales locally are going well. A total of 150 tickets were provided to Pulaski last Friday morning and, by that afternoon, most had been sold.
Ticket sales at the Roanoke end also are brisk, he said, so all 700 seats on the train may be filled. Pulaski will get back 10 percent of the proceeds on all tickets sold locally. They are available at Martin's Pharmacy on Main Street.
The town also will recoup some of its investment from arts and crafts people paying fees for their displays.
In other business, committee members told Combiths they preferred night meetings this year to work on the 1994-95 town budget rather than the traditional early morning budget meetings of previous years.
by CNB