Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, February 19, 1995 TAG: 9502200025
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-8 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
WYTHEVILLE - Capt. Ken Paul Jr. has become the new commander of the 4th State Police Division with headquarters a few miles east of Wytheville.
The division covers 15 Southwest Virginia counties from Giles, Pulaski and Carroll on west to Lee.
Paul has been with the state police for 25 years. He worked as a sergeant for two years in Lee and Wise counties, and served for the past seven years as a lieutenant commanding the state police aviation unit in Chesterfield County.
The division has had four commanders since early 1992 when Capt. Thomas Flanary, who had been the commander since 1987, died of a heart attack. He was succeeded in April 1993, by Art King who returned to Richmond in 1994 to head the communications unit of the bureau of administrative and support services. King was followed by Larry Bowman, who retired this year. Paul became the new commander Thursday.
`Cops Fast' grants
WYTHEVILLE - Law enforcement agencies will be among those benefiting from grants issued under the U.S. Department of Justice ``Cops Fast'' program to increase the number of officers.
Grants include $56,700 to the Wythe County Sheriff's Office, $55,000 to the city of Galax, and the following town police departments: $72,000 to Wytheville, $45,000 to Rural Retreat, $66,000 to Pulaski, $65,000 to Blacksburg and $53,000 to Christiansburg.
The number of officers in Virginia is to increase by 92 under the grants. The federal funding represents up to 75 percent of the total salaries and benefits for each officer for three years, for a maximum of $75,000 per officer. The grants are part of the federal 1994 crime bill.
Teachers seek raise
WYTHEVILLE - Wythe County teachers are seeking a 5 percent pay increase for classroom and 6 percent for support personnel in the 1995-96 budget.
Wythe County Education Association President Gary Collins asked the board earlier this month to leave the 21 pay scale steps, continue working to make the salary scale more equitable, add a personal leave day, maintain current insurance contributions and explore basic dental coverage.
Other speakers on the budget asked that the School Board include improved agricultural facilities at Rural Retreat High School, upgraded lighting at Rural Retreat and Fort Chiswell High School football fields, improvements in the Rural Retreat sports track, the construction of two tennis courts at Rural Retreat, and the upgrading of equipment at the Wythe County Vocational School.
Writing class
WYTHEVILLE - Blue Ridge Books will host a six-session weekly writing class taught by Liza Field starting March 5.
The class will meet from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. on Sundays, with a possible alternate class Monday nights if there is enough interest.
Field has taught writing at the University of Michigan, Wytheville Community College and elsewhere. Her work has been published in many journals and magazines, and been heard on public radio and even the British Broadcasting Co.
The course fee is $65 which covers tuition and all materials. Enrollment is limited to 12 people, so early registration is recommended. People can register or obtain more information by calling 228-8303.
Chautauqua deadline
WYTHEVILLE - The deadline for entries in the Wytheville Chautauqua Festival's 1995 Creative Writing Contest is April 22.
Nearly $700 in prize money will be awarded for essays, poetry and short-story entries in adult, high school and middle school categories. The awards will be presented during the festival June 23, its Creative Writing Day.
Contest guidelines are available by writing Creative Writing Contest, P.O. Box 586, Wytheville, Va. 24382. Entries should be sent to the same address. Further information is available by calling Dan Jones, contest chairman, at 228-5541, extension 235, or (800) 468-1195.
Grant workshops
MARION - The Virginia Commission for the Arts will hold a series of grant application workshops across the state, the closest to the New River Valley area being from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Lincoln Inn Ballroom at 107 E. Main St. in Marion.
The workshop will offer information about the commission's grant award programs for an April 3 submission deadline, covering application, review and funding procedures. It is free and no pre-registration is required.
by CNB