Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, June 11, 1995 TAG: 9506300104
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
In the May 12 issue of the New River Current, Seth Williamson gives an account of various candidates for public office in Floyd County. Several of the supervisor candidates have chosen the household fee for solid waste management as a political issue. They don't like the fee! Indeed, what's to like about a fee or any transfer of wealth to a government entity?
After reading Williamson's article, it occurred to me that we may have some magicians running for supervisor who will make this waste management fee disappear. Magic notwithstanding, the $6 per month household fee could be replaced by a 15 percent increase in real estate tax or a 58 percent increase in the personal property tax.
I take issue with some remarks attributed to supervisor candidate Gary E. Gillespie. Gillespie is quoted as saying the household fee was ``hasty'' and in need of ``more research.'' This is far from describing how the fee came to be. Two boards of supervisors that I served on have faced up to the reality of drastically increased waste management costs as mandated by state and federal law. These two boards debated the household fee and other means of financing increased waste management costs. Every source of county revenue was evaluated . The only approach not seriously considered was breaking the law. A child born at the beginning of this debate would have been ready for grade school by the time the household fee was enacted!
The worst thing about leaving political office is the worry that your successors won't care enough or work hard enough. If Gary Gillespie is elected supervisor, I hope he will attend his responsibilities with less haste and more research than he has used thus far in his political campaign. What's to like about a household fee? Of the various revenue sources available to Floyd County, fee for service is, in my opinion, the only honest one.
Howard Dickerson
Willis
Radford workers bring puppy home
I am often reminded of how much I love living in the city of Radford, but no more so than the rainy morning of Friday, June 2.
My 5-year-old made his usual mistake of letting his puppy, Gracie, out when he opened the front door.
On a normal day when this happens, Gracie checks on everyone in our quiet neighborhood and returns home for a nap. On this occasion she was not so lucky. Upon returning home, Gracie was hit by a car and ran away. We all searched the area but found no trace of our poor pup.
One phone call and two hours of searching by Radford Animal Warden Fran Havens and our Gracie was returned to us, bruised but OK.
Our heartfelt thanks go out to Havens and the Radford Police dispatchers. You've brought a smile back to my son's face and shown a level of care and commitment to the citizens of Radford that is unequaled.
Once again, a big thank you from all of us.
Patricia, Randy, Daniel and Stuart Harrison and Gracie
Radford
Family thankful for support
To our friends, neighbors, area churches, staff and physicians of Pulaski Community Hospital, Surgical Services Department of Radford Community Hospital and everyone who offered support: We would like to thank you for all acts of kindness shown to our family during Bill's accident and hospitalization in North Carolina.
We appreciate your prayers, phone calls, visits, words of encouragement and support. Although these few words cannot say it, in the way we would like them to, we hope you will know the many thoughts behind our thanks to you.
William ``Bill'' Holmes, Zebbie Holmes and W.O. Holmes Jr.
Pulaski
by CNB