Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, January 23, 1995 TAG: 9501230001
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Carl ``Lee'' Stroop used to help out around the Roanoke house of Marvin Coon. Stroop made some extra money. Coon made a friend.
Ed Bindas didn't even know Stroop. But he had heard how Stroop and four others were gunned down in an Old Southwest Roanoke carriage house early New Year's Day. Then he read about Stroop's burial at the city cemetery at Coyner Springs, his grave bearing only a number.
``I thought it's sad, here's an individual who left this world and no one paid him any mind,'' Bindas said.
Coon already had decided to remember his friend by placing a headstone at his grave. A caretaker at the cemetery put Coon and Bindas in touch with each other.
The men paid a total of $78.38 for a simple cement plaque bearing Stroop's name, the year of his birth and the date of his death. Within three weeks, the stone should be in place.
Cracking the whip
Here's more evidence that Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Roanoke, is in tight with the new House Republican leadership: He's been named one of the GOP's 35 ``assistant majority whips.''
As an assistant whip, it will be Goodlatte's job to make sure House Republicans from Virginia and Maryland toe the party line on issues important to the leadership - and generally keep track of what issues those delegations are interested in.
Goodlatte says his new position will enable him to ``play a larger role in passing the key components of the Contract With America. As a whip, I will have a unique opportunity to advocate and influence passage of such key bills as the balanced budget amendment, term limits, a revised crime bill and many more good pieces of legislation.''
By the way, Goodlatte also has a new office on Capitol Hill - 123 Cannon House Office Building, Washington, D.C. 20515. His phone number (202-225-5431) and fax number (202-225-9681) and e-mail address (talk2bobhr.house.gov) remain the same.
Performing his civic duty
Even the top educator in Roanoke can't escape jury duty.
Just like other citizens, School Superintendent Wayne Harris has to serve when he is called for jury duty in Roanoke Circuit Court.
Even if he could avoid it, Harris said, he wouldn't because he believes that everyone has a civic responsibility to serve on juries.
Harris missed a public hearing on his proposed school budget last week because he was on the jury in a case that wasn't finished until 7 p.m.
For the next month, he must be available for jury service. He must check daily with the Circuit Court Clerk's Office to see if he is needed.
by CNB