Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, January 12, 1995 TAG: 9501120077
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY REEDE
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
F.D., Vinton
A: The basic requirements for a lottery director, apparently, are that the director be of a political persuasion acceptable to the governor and honest enough to clear a state police background investigation.
State law sets the standards for a lottery director's honesty and integrity and the basic job requirements. Education and job experience aren't mentioned in the law - 58.1-4006 in the state code.
However, Virginia has had two lottery directors, and both are lawyers. Ken Thorson, the first director, was an assistant attorney general for 12 years before Democratic Gov. Gerald Baliles appointed him in 1988.
The job responsibilities, beyond the usual administrative matters and making sure ticket agents follow the rules, apparently are most challenging in the areas of advertising and being aware of the games' fine points.
Kyle, who recently succeeded Thorson as director and turned down Gov. George Allen's offer of a 22 percent pay raise from about $95,000 to $114,000 a year, has a law degree plus master's degrees in English and business administration.
She had been a lawyer with CSX Corp., a transportation giant, for 13 years. She's also married to a lawyer in one of Richmond's biggest law firms.
Kyle took a pay cut to come to the lottery job; the offered pay raise was intended to compensate her for that cut. She turned it down after an outcry by state employees and Democrats. Allen has proposed an average 2.25 percent pay increase for state employees.
New traffic lights
Q: Traffic is really heavy on Rutgers Street at the Kroger and Lowe's stores. Can we get a traffic light there?
L.P., Roanoke
A: Traffic volume is high enough to qualify for a light at Rutgers Street and Towne Square Boulevard, but other intersections rank higher on the priority list.
Based on traffic volume, 14 Roanoke intersections qualify for new signal lights. Rutgers at Towne Square ranks 10th.
The bond issue approved by Roanoke voters last fall included money for traffic lights at four or five intersections. The one with top priority is Hollins Road at Old Mountain Road.
City traffic engineers also are considering these intersections for new signals: Hershberger Road at Westside Boulevard, Bennington Street at Riverland Road, Brambleton Avenue at Overland Road, Plantation Road at Preston Avenue, and the Main-Elm-Ferdinand intersection at the north end of Wasena Bridge.
Decisions are based not only on traffic, but also on an intersection's configuration, proximity to schools, speed, number of lanes and sight distance.
Got a question about something that might affect other people, too? Something you've come across and wondered about? Give us a call at 981-3118. Maybe we can find the answer.
by CNB