Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, August 24, 1994 TAG: 9408240038
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: By RICK LINDQUIST STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: RADFORD LENGTH: Medium
As Jeffries anticipated the prospect of "thousands of people" in Bisset Park to see popular country singer Hal Ketchum and the band Blackwater for free, Butler said later he worried about crowd control and parking if the festival succeeds as Jeffries envisions.
Blackwater opens for Ketchum Sept. 24 at 6 p.m. Ketchum will take the stage around 8 p.m.
The police department - normally 26 officers strong - is now down by three people, he said. Monday night's presentation was the first detailed look Butler had had of plans for Septemberfest, sponsored by Main Street Radford. "We'll just have to do the best we can with what we've got," he said Tuesday.
Jeffries said Septemberfest not only includes a Friday evening jazz session in the West End and the concerts in Bisset Park, but live entertainment and family-oriented activities - including a chili cookoff, vendors, crafts, historical exhibits and food - along a blocked-off section of Norwood Street between Tyler and Third avenues.
A bicycle fun ride and an antique car show also are on the program.
City Council approved temporary street closings to accommodate the festival.
Councilman Bill Yerrick, who's also on the Chamber of Commerce Board, suggested that council lead the way in merging various events "spread across the calendar" into one major annual event, perhaps similar to Abingdon's Highland Festival. Other city celebrations include Independence Day and Riverfest during July and the New River Ramble in late September.
Yerrick said Tuesday he hopes "to put turf issues aside" and generate dialogue to develop a festival - probably in the fall after students return - that would run for several days and attract tourists.
Yerrick and Councilwoman Polly Corn also expressed concern that not everyone was getting the word about Septemberfest, especially on the Radford University campus where Yerrick is Telecommunications Director. Jeffries said Main Street Radford is working to involve student organizations in Septemberfest planning.
In what could be more work for the police, council approved a recommendation by Corn to have Police Chief A.C. Earles come up with a plan to have city police mount "a crusade" to check cars for city stickers. Corn suggested police roadblocks to "stop every car" to promote compliance. However, City Attorney John Spiers warned that police could not check stickers on cars parked on private property "unless they think there's criminal activity."
"I can see a request for six more police officers because that's what it will take," said Councilman David Worrell, who went along with his colleagues to support Corn's motion.
Corn said she continues to get calls about delinquent taxes from people who want to know what council is doing to collect them. City personal property taxes must be paid before a city vehicle decal may be issued.
In other business, Council:
Approved a modified contract with Virginia Election Services, Inc.
Concurred with action by the state Compensation Board to spend a total of $730 to buy a fax machine for the City Treasurer's office
by CNB