Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, June 6, 1994 TAG: 9406060134
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: CURRENT4 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
CHRISTIANSBURG - A three-month bicycle ride to promote Habitat for Humanity International will start June 15 in Christiansburg and end in Oregon.
Cyclist Bo Turner is planning the trek to include a stop in Wythe County on the first day. Other Virginia stops will include Meadowview and the Breaks Interstate Park.
At the end of his first day of biking, Turner will attend a 7 p.m. reception at the Rural Retreat Community Center and talk about his venture. It will be the first of a series of planned evening talks during his trip.
He also plans to visit churches and other organizations on Sundays and talk about the mission of Habitat for Humanity to provide housing for those in need.
Turner, who has been a preacher, writer and counselor, recently retired at age 60 from teaching. He decided to celebrate his retirement with the cross-country ride to raise awareness of Habitat for Humanity.
He hopes to end his ride in September at Florence, Ore.
Information about the project and how to contribute to it is available by calling the Rev. Vaughn Earl Hartsell, president of the Wythe County Habitat for Humanity, at 637-4340. All funds raised by the ride are to go to Habitat for Humanity.
Work plan approved
WYTHEVILLE - The Wythe County Joint Industrial Development Authority has approved a 1994-95 work plan including communications with other economic development agencies such as the New Century Council.
IDA Executive Director Benny Burkett said the council covers the region from the New River Valley to the Roanoke Valley, but that he knew Ed Whitmore, an economic development specialist working with it. ``In fact, I've gotten some ideas from him already.''
Wytheville Community College President William Snyder, an IDA board member, said there had once been discussion about including Wythe County in the New Century Council coverage area. While that did not happen with the initial organization, he said, what happens in the council region will affect Wythe, so the liaison is a good idea.
Pete Miller had resigned from the IDA prior to last week's meeting, citing personal concerns that could lead to a conflict of interest. Richard Phillippi was appointed to succeed Miller and attended Tuesday's meeting.
Activities were announced for Industry Appreciation Day July 14, including a golf tournament at the Wytheville Golf Club and picnic at Elizabeth Brown Memorial Park.
Burkett reported that all the necessary data for state recertification of Wythe County for industry has been submitted to the Department of Economic Development. An announcement of recertification approval is anticipated soon.
Wythe playground
WYTHEVILLE - A similar project in Blacksburg gave a Wythe County group the idea of having children design their own playground.
Donna Burgess, one of those involved in the Wythe project, said it was a year ago that a group of parents had driven to Blacksburg to see what had been done.
``We were so impressed. We thought, if Blacksburg could do it, so could we,'' she said.
The result was a visit to elementary schools throughout the county last month by an architect who took down ideas from children and incorporated them into playground plans.
``The children gave their ideas of what they wanted in their perfect playground,'' said Kelly Sisti. Ideas included forts, castles, swings, tree houses, trampolines, slides, a Statue of Liberty replica, and a candy store, she said.
Another idea was a math tunnel, with arithmetic problems on the sides in such a way that children must go all the way through to reach the answers, she said. That's how creative the children were.
The playground is to be built in the county-owned Ager Recreation Park in October. Arlene Crockett said the five-day process will require at least 1,000 volunteers, not only for labor but for assistance ranging from food preparation to watching children. It will give people all over the county the chance to participate, she said.
``There's just a number of areas in which everybody can get involved,'' she said. Further information is available by calling Burgess at 228-7866, Sisti at 228-7414 or Crockett at 228-8298.
Meanwhile, a drive to raise the $55,000 needed for construction will get under way.
by CNB