Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: MONDAY, January 2, 1995                   TAG: 9501030060
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

WAITRESS PICKS UP CHECK

Debbie Stanley had accused John Peroulas, the owner of Charcoal Steak House, of sexual harassment in July 1993, during the first jury trial in the Roanoke area for such a case.

A jury in U.S. District Court in Roanoke awarded her $75,000, but the wheels of justice turned slowly. Peroulas appealed and lost in October, and on Dec. 27, he wrote a check to Stanley.

Stanley, who now waits on tables at a restaurant in Newport, N.C., picked up the check on Thursday from her Roanoke attorney, Terry Grimes.

The check, which included interest, came to just less than $85,000, Grimes said.

Witnesses testified during the trial that more than half a dozen waitresses at the Williamson Road restaurant were subjected to sexual comments and groped by Peroulas, dating back to at least 1988.

Parents' pledge

Roanoke School Superintendent Wayne Harris is getting strong support for his effort to keep schools safe and free of guns and drugs.

Nearly 2,200 parents of middle- and high school students have signed pledges to support a new student-conduct code that has tough penalties for drugs, weapons and violence on school property.

About 6,000 students are enrolled in the city's middle and high schools. Thirty-seven percent of the parents have signed the pledge.

The pledges still are coming in. Parents cannot be forced to sign them, but school administrators are hoping that more will do so.

School officials consulted with students, teachers, parents and administrators in drafting the code.