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

DATE: SUNDAY, January 22, 1995                   TAG: 9501240030
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Long

AN INSTITUTION BY ANY OTHER NAME...

We would like to make a modest proposal that seems compatible with current thinking in Richmond on how to handle both higher education and prisons. We suggest putting a big fence around the state's colleges and universities and calling them prisons. The immediate benefit to the colleges and universities would be an increase to the base budget for the first time in several years as each prisoner ($20,000 plus) is worth more than four times as much as each student ($5,000 plus) to the state agency. It would save the state $2billion in prison construction costs. In fact, that savings could be put toward a tax cut.

Instead of emphasizing literacy, the new system could emphasize litter. The areas surrounding the present campuses could be cleaned to the point of spotlessness. Instead of building pride by winning football and basketball games, pride could be built by which campus could be the cleanest.

The present trend indicates the need for changes in career preparation. Instead of professors, we will only need prison guards. Instead of training accountants, we could train embezzlers. Instead of training doctors to save lives, we could train prisoners to take lives. Instead of training teachers, we could train prison guards. Instead of training mechanical engineers, we could train license plate makers. Instead of training agriculturalists who produce food, we could train thieves who steal food. Instead of training lawyers as lawmakers, we could train prisoners as lawbreakers. If you believe this proposal has merit, please let the governor and members of the state legislature know as soon as possible.

John and Sharen Hillison

Blacksburg

Small businesses look to Allen

I am putting my neck on the chopping block with this letter.

Of course Gov. Allen's budget cuts are going to affect my children, my local library and some senior citizens. These people are all a part of my life. I care for them and love them.

They also belong to my community, to this state. Therefore, they cannot expect to be exempt from the changes Gov. Allen is proposing now to undo a massive tangle of bureaucratic financial nightmares.

The owners of small businesses cannot be expected to keep bearing the weight of supporting state employees indefinitely. When you are self-employed and run a small business, there is no such thing as "comp" or free medical and dental insurance. There is no sick leave. Period.

Carla Sleight

Christiansburg

Nursing care is needed

I would like to respond to an article in the Saturday, Jan. 14, Current about the request to lift the moratorium on building a nursing home at Warm Hearth.

I know, firsthand, that the need is there. Despite my efforts to care for my husband at home with the assistance of home health nursing care, it became impossible. As a result, he is now in a nursing home in Roanoke.

I am grateful to have found this place for him, but it requires me to drive to Roanoke and back each week. It is always an emotional time, which makes it a difficult task for a senior citizen to undertake.

Warm Hearth Village wants to build a facility that would care for its residents near their families and friends. There is a growing need for nursing homes throughout the country - not just in Montgomery County - so it is important that the House of Delegates recognize this fact and vote to lift the moratorium.

Wilma Murray

Blacksburg

Spay Day U.S.A. needs your help

We have a way to pay $1 today in public funds that will save $18 in taxpayer money 10 years from now. And doing so will help alleviate a problem that has become a horrible and tragic burden for Montgomery County and the entire country.

Between 14 million and 17 million dogs and cats - about one-quarter of all domestic animals in this country - are euthanized each year because there are simply not enough good homes for them. This situation has a simple answer. Responsible citizens can spay or neuter their pets, and the problem will disappear.

Our community will be participating in "Spay Day U.S.A." on Feb. 28, part of a national effort sponsored by the Doris Day Animal League, to have dogs and cats spayed and neutered. Everyone can help either by having his or her own pet spayed or neutered, or by sponsoring someone else's dog or cat.

Volunteers are needed, and Montgomery County residents can sign up now to join "Spay Day U.S.A." and save lives. Information is available from: Doris Day Animal League, 227 Massachusetts Ave. N.E., Suite 100, Washington, D.C. 20002 or (202)546-1761.

The Montgomery County Humane Society is supporting "Spay Day USA." We hope other Montgomery County citizens do as well.

Julie Ligon

Spay/neuter program directory,

Montgomery County Humane Society

Blacksburg

Christmas Store was record breaker

On behalf of the board of the Montgomery County Christmas Store, we would like to thank members of our community who made the 1994 store so successful. With the generous support of individuals, businesses, churches, service organizations, schools and universities in our community, we were able to serve a record number - 1,375 - of families.

Thank you for your generosity, and we look forward to working with you in 1995.

Mary Childress

Sandy Randolph

Jan Brown

Carolyn Carson

1994 Christmas Store

Blacksburg

by CNB