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

DATE: THURSDAY, January 19, 1995                   TAG: 9501190086
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-8   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

AROUND NEW RIVER

CHRISTIANSBURG - All farmers complying with the conservation provision of the 1985 Farm Bill are eligible for catastrophic crop insurance through the Consolidated Farm Service Agency for a $50 processing fee per crop.

The insurance will compensate farmers for crop yield losses greater than 50 percent at a payment rate of 60 percent of the expected market price.

For more information, call 382-3961 in Montgomery County or 921-3051 in Giles County.

Newsman at Tech

BLACKSBURG - Newsman Ed Gordon of Black Entertainment Television speaks Monday, Jan. 23, 7:30 p.m., in the Recital Salon, Squires Student Center, Virginia Tech. Admission is free.

Gordon is the news anchor for Black Entertainment Television and the host of "Lead Story" and "A Conversation with Ed Gordon." His appearance is part of Black History Month observances at Virginia Tech.

For more information, call Karen Poe, 231-7500.

Have water tested

RADFORD - Area residents whose springs or drinking water wells were covered by recent flooding should disinfect their water and have it tested before using it, advises Dr. D. Craig Smith, acting director of the New River Health District.

Owners can disinfect wells and springs themselves, Smith said:

Pour a solution of one quart of liquid laundry bleach to three gallons of clean water into the spring box or well casing, then make sure the solution thoroughly wets the casing and pump lines.

Open all faucets - one at a time - until a chlorine odor is noted. Then, close faucets and let the treated water stand in the pipes for at least twelve hours.

Open the faucets and flush out the lines until the chlorine odor disappears.

For more information, call the local health department and ask for environmental health: Montgomery County, 381-7114; Pulaski County, 994-0165; Radford, 831-5774; Giles County, 921-2891 and Floyd County, 745-2141.