Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, July 10, 1994 TAG: 9407110176
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Recently, the Community Services Board announced that it was mainstreaming 10 workshop students with Down syndrome or similar conditions.
Being as the board didn't explain in the scientific journals how they achieved this miraculous effect, I suggest an outside auditor to find out what is going on.
Howard R. Johnson
Blacksburg
Costs of demolition should go into repairs
At the public hearing on Christiansburg's budget, questions were raised about three buildings to be demolished on East Main Street. Mayor Harold Linkous indicated these buildings could be purchased if someone wanted to buy them. We should ask for a "stay of execution" for these structures. With work, they can have a bright future.
Town Council has laid the groundwork for destroying substantial buildings from our town. Occupants were required to leave so these structures can be demolished to provide more parking space.
Once gone, they can never be replaced. The 1910 cornice reminds us that they don't build buildings like this anymore. More importantly, their loss establishes the real possibility that other buildings will not be maintained, will fall into decay and also be demolished. Such destruction need not continue.
Let your Town Council know what you think about these buildings. Council would be wise to invest "demolition costs" in new roofs, put some people to work, and stem the tide of further decay. People sentenced to community service could clean interiors so that new uses of the structures would seem probable. Council could advertise the potential of this real estate.
These buildings establish a unique character for our town. With creative hard work, they can become useful centers for commerce, public administration and housing.
John Hess
Christiansburg
Pet-adoption rules require neutering
The Humane Society of Montgomery County would like to reconfirm how we handle pet adoptions.
All adoptions are handled at our shelter. To comply with state law, we require certain documentation before anyone can adopt an animal. These procedures include ensuring that the animal will be spayed or neutered upon reaching 6 months of age. These procedures apply to all Humane Society animals, whether in the shelter or in foster care.
Due to our limited capacity, we do maintain a list of individuals who have animals they want to give up, and we do refer people seeking a certain type of animal to the appropriate individual. However, these are not Humane Society animals. People who adopt them must realize they are adopting from a private individual, not our organization.
Also, be assured we do not offer for adoption or sell animals in front of stores in the local area.
We wish we could help every abandoned, abused or unwanted animal in Montgomery County, but we simply do not have the resources. We appreciate the support we receive, but the best support we can get is for people to have their cats and dogs spayed or neutered.
Ron Brown,
President, Humane Society of Montgomery County
by CNB