Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, November 6, 1994 TAG: 9411070021
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
A recent School Board decision, however, has created some skepticism within the business community as to the School Board's sincerity in this cooperative effort. This summer, the School Board planned a September retreat to discuss the controversial "school climate" survey, the performance of the superintendent and other issues. The meeting was held at the Omni Hotel in Charlottesville and attended by the superintendent, all nine School Board members, four central office staff members, the clerk of the School Board and a Virginia Tech professor. The approximate $2,000 cost - to date - of the retreat included $947.06 for lodging, $669.90 for meals and audio-visual charges and $263.21 for mileage reimbursement and vehicle expenses.
If a retreat was necessary - and there is some doubt of its true value for use by governmental agencies - it could have been held in Montgomery County. Attendance would have been made more convenient for local residents and most of the $2,000 could have been saved and or applied to the purchase of instructional materials or supplies. Is it prudent to assist Charlottesville's economy at the expense of the Montgomery County taxpayer or to deprive Montgomery County businesses of the opportunity to provide similar services?
The money spent was a small percentage of the total school budget, but taking money out of the local economy, putting it into the pockets of another community, is counterproductive to improving relationships between the school system and local businesses.
It is hoped that the School Board and the administration will adopt a "charity begins at home" philosophy for any future outing.
Arnold J. Saari
Blacksburg
Constitutional change will benefit voters
The ballot Nov. 8 will include three proposed amendments to the Virginia Constitution. Of these, Question No.2 will revise voter registration procedures to 1) allow registration by mail and 2) eliminate the requirement for canceling your registration if you have not voted in four years.
The National Voter Registration Act passed by Congress in 1993 requires that states must provide a number of options for voter registration for all federal elections, including registration by mail. The act also prohibits states from canceling registration for federal elections because of failure to vote.
To resolve the conflicts between federal and state laws, and to allow people who have registered by mail to vote in state and local as well as federal elections, Virginia must change its constitution. If not, the state will be forced to maintain two separate voter registration lists, one for people registered only for federal elections and a second for those registered to vote in all elections. This system would be expensive for state and local governments and very confusing for voters.
Voting is a fundamental right in a democracy. It should be made as easy and convenient as possible.
The League of Women Voters urges you to vote Yes on Question No.2.
Mary Swiger, president, League of Women Voters
Blacksburg
Lady Hokies need their fans at games
I want to encourage all folks in the New River Valley to get out to the Cassell [Coliseum] and support the Lady Hokie basketball team this year. This year's team can win it all, but fan support is very important. The Cassell should be packed for every home game, as the team plays a great schedule.
The players spend hours working hard to prepare for the upcoming season, so I know it's heart-breaking to walk on the court and find just a handful of fans. The team has an excellent coaching staff that goes that extra mile to make our team the best.
May I also express a thank you to members of the Diamond Club who work so hard to support Lady Hokie basketball.
May this be the best year ever. Have a great season.
Charles W. Hall
Pearisburg
Bring animal control into 20th century
On Sunday night, Oct.23, a harmless, untamed animal was killed by a high-powered rifle in the hands of a Montgomery County animal control officer.
The mother goat and her two kids had wandered from a farm onto the shoulder of the U.S. 460 bypass. A Blacksburg police officer and subsequently a Montgomery County control officer were called out. The animal control officer said the only thing he could do would be to kill the animals before they strayed onto the highway and possibly caused an accident. The Blacksburg police officer, in an effort to save the animals, called a volunteer organization to seek help. The organization was told that the animal control officer would wait five minutes for them to arrive.
When the volunteers arrived, the animals had climbed a steep bank beside the highway. The volunteers discovered the mother goat had been shot; they were able to save the two babies.
I would like to commend the Blacksburg police officer who had the compassion to look for alternatives, for the two babies surely should have been killed since there was no way that the animal control officer and the police officer could have captured them by themselves.
To my amazement I learned that the animal control officers have no way of controlling animals except by deadly force. These officers are not given the basic tools for doing their job - namely, tranquilizer guns and the sedatives that go with them. I learned that the three animal control officers have just one tranquilizer gun, but that it cannot be used since the county has never sent them to classes to learn how to use the sedatives. An officer would have to go to the pound to get the gun, then find a veterinarian to give him the proper dose needed to load the gun. Obviously there isn't time to do these things - hence the needless destruction of animals. I can't help wondering if, instead of a goat, it had been a $50,000 race horse, whether the outcome would have been the same.
Every animal control organization that I've ever heard of equips its officers with guns and tranquilizers so they can do their job - controlling animals.
What do we need to do to bring Montgomery County into this century? The small amount of money it would take to equip these people could be raised through donations if Montgomery County doesn't have the funds to outfit these officers properly.
Ann Cummings
Blacksburg
by CNB