Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, May 19, 1994 TAG: 9405190129
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-6 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: New River Valley bureau
DATELINE: PULASKI LENGTH: Medium
Schrader resigned from council after Tuesday night's meeting, with two years left on his term. Council appointed Johnston, whom Schrader replaced when he was first elected to the governing body in 1988, to complete the term.
Schrader was re-elected in 1992. A former reporter at the Southwest Times in Pulaski, he returned to work there about 10 months ago. He indicated then that he would probably resign from council, but continued serving until this week.
Johnston is a 12-year veteran of council.
After spending 25 years as principal of Critzer Elementary School in Pulaski, Johnston moved to the administrative offices of the Pulaski County School Board as business and finance officer for a year. He took advantage of the state's one-time early retirement offer a few years ago.
Johnston has served for more than a decade on the Peppers Ferry Wastewater Treatment Authority which handles wastewater for the town. Severe winter weather and aging sewer lines contributed to the town's using a greater share of water in the past year than is allowed under its contract with the authority.
``Pulaski was always a very important part of the Peppers Ferry authority,'' Johnston said. He thought some council members believed he could help the town in working out its water and sewer problems and that might be one reason he was chosen.
He said he had enjoyed his previous council service but ``I know I can't enjoy those early morning meetings as much as I used to.'' He will have his first one at 7 a.m. Friday, a budget session.
Mayor Gary Hancock called Schrader ``an outstanding public servant. ... He tried to look at the problems of the average citizen and make sure we were doing something about them.''
Hancock said he realized Schrader was concerned about possible conflicts between his job and serving on council but ``I felt that those concerns paled by comparison'' to Schrader's work on council. Schrader and his wife, Doris, also had been delaying activities they wanted to carry out at First Pentecostal Holiness Church where he is secretary and a trustee.
Alma Holston, another council member, said Schrader's knowledge of the town's history had been valuable to council.
``I have enjoyed it. There are times when I wish someone else were sitting up here. That goes with the territory,'' Schrader said.
Schrader said he will sit through future council meetings in the chairs reserved for press - not regularly, but occasionally.
The departure leaves Vice Mayor W.R. ``Rocky'' Schrader as the only Schrader on council. The two are not related.
\ From Reporter's Notebook of May 31, 1994
And speaking of missteps, a belated ``Getting It Right'': Because of a reporter's error (mine), the article about J.R.'s resignation incorrectly stated that he and Vice Mayor W.H. ``Rocky'' Schrader are not related. I've since learned they are cousins. Which shows reporters can remain aloof and still make mistakes.
Memo: see note at end of story