Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, January 17, 1995 TAG: 9501170136
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY REED
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
K.T., Radford
A: The Lottery Board and lottery director share the power to approve new games, but the director has more clout.
The state code instructs the director to confer with the board, but report to the governor. The board advises and recommends, but it cannot veto or modify the director's decisions.
Bottom line: The board can't act unless the director approves.
According to lottery officials, ideas for new games are developed by a marketing department and presented to the director, who requests the board's approval.
The board approved the twice-a-day drawings for Pick 3 and Pick 4. They'll start Jan. 30 at 2 p.m. and 10:58 p.m. The afternoon drawings will be broadcast on radio, and the night drawings will be shown on television during 11 p.m. newscasts.
This adds 12 drawings a week, bringing the total to 30 per week for the four kinds of lottery games.
News of the daytime drawings has circulated for several weeks among ticket vendors and their regular customers.
A lottery spokeswoman made the usual observation that people who dislike the games are not compelled to play; however, new drawings are expected to increase revenue, which is the lottery's purpose.
This is the second increase in drawings recently. In November, Cash 5 went from two drawings per week to four.
At the same time, Pick 3 and Pick 4 drawings moved from 7:28 p.m. to 10:58. Lottery officials cited some players' preference for daytime action in adding the 2 p.m. drawing.
Bridge safety
Q: Does the Virginia Department of Transportation require fencing on bridges these days? A screen fence was put on the Fifth Street bridge over the rail yard in Roanoke a few days ago, and tourists no longer can shoot pictures of trains from there.
B.C., Roanoke
A: The bridge fencing is a safety measure demanded by the railroad.
Three groups had a voice in the Fifth Street bridge issue.
The city apparently preferred that the screen be left off for aesthetic reasons. Norfolk Southern, though, requires fencing along any bridge over its tracks that has a pedestrian sidewalk. The Transportation Department went along with the railroad's policy.
The fence deters pedestrians from throwing objects onto trains or tracks.
``There have been instances where crew members were injured by objects thrown off bridges, and certainly instances where rail equipment and freight were damaged,'' an NS spokesman said.
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