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

DATE: THURSDAY, March 9, 1995                   TAG: 9503090043
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: RAY REED
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

STUFFED BIRD WON'T FLY ANY EARLIER

Q: There are four mailboxes outside the Crystal Springs Post Office, and one is labeled for early bird collection. Everyone puts all their mail in that box, and occasionally it's so full someone could reach in and take out mail. I've talked to people at the post office about this, but nothing has changed.

M.L., Roanoke

A: Overfilled mailboxes are caused as much by people's habits as by postal schedules.

A couple of factors contribute to the overstuffing you noticed. Of the four mailboxes at this site, only one has the early bird label. It's also the first box in the row.

People are attracted to that box because it's first in the cluster and because of the perception that early bird mail is processed earlier.

The fact is, though, all the boxes at an early bird site are emptied at the same times, around 3 p.m. and again after 5, said Gary Irish, who manages collections. Customers don't need to stuff the single box to get the early bird processing.

To deal with these human tendencies, the post office has ordered a jumbo-size mailbox for the South Roanoke station, Irish said. He hopes it'll be there in a couple of months.

Another jumbo mailbox will go in at the Cave Spring Post Office, joining one that's already there, Irish said.

Irregular fountain

Q: A bunch of us were talking about the fountain at Victory Stadium. It seems we never see it working. Why was it put there, and are we ever going to see it run again?

C.K., Roanoke

A: The fountain was built as an object of beauty in the mid-'60s when Roanoke was getting a brand-new interstate spur (Interstate 581), a new hospital (Community) and an addition at Roanoke Memorial.

In an expression of civic pride, leaders set out to enhance the city's image with a $45,000 fountain with colored lights, similar to one in New Orleans.

A fund-raising effort by a garden club, headed by Mrs. E. Paul Hayes and aided immensely by contractor Wiley Jackson, started in the early '60s.

In 1966, the $60,000 fountain (inflation had struck) was turned on at halftime of a Fleming-Jefferson football game.

Spray from the 60-foot tower of water proved unwelcome at stadium events, though, so the fountain is turned off when something's going on.

It has been turned off a great deal since then because of winter weather and various malfunctions.

Water also has leaked into the electrical system.

The colored lights are on the agenda for rewiring this spring, said Nelson Jackson, the city's manager of building maintenance.

Jackson said your question was the first call he has had, probably because people have grown accustomed to the fountain's being turned off.

The fountain also is part of the consultant's study the city's doing on Victory Stadium's future.

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