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

DATE: FRIDAY, June 16, 1995                   TAG: 9506170013
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-12   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

JOHNSON'S FOUR-MINUTE ULTIMATUM

IN MAY 1992, my grandfather had a heart attack and died. He lived within two minutes of a Roanoke County fire-and-rescue department building. However, workers there didn't respond to my family's call for help. Some 20 to 30 minutes later, the next closest station did respond, but it was too late.

In a public-speaking class that I took in 1992, I wrote a paper called the ``Career vs. Volunteer System in Roanoke County.'' I spoke to Bob Johnson, a member of the Board of Supervisors, who told me that the volunteers did a fine job. I brought up the subject of my grandfather, and the lack of response in his case. Johnson told me that he had heard about the incident. He said, ``If we live long enough, we are all eventually going to meet our maker.'' I thought his comment was uncalled for, but I dropped it at the time.

In your May 21 Horizon section article ``Too late,'' Johnson was quoted as saying that ``expectations should differ for more remote locations.'' He was also quoted as saying: ``On the other hand, if you aren't at my home within four minutes you have a serious problem. I can guarantee you that.''

What makes his family any more important than mine? I suggest Johnson heed his own words when saying there better be someone at his house within four minutes. If no one responds, maybe it's because it's time for him to meet his maker. And if that isn't acceptable to him, then he needs to do something about the problem before illness strikes him or someone close to him.

KATHY P. CHITWOOD

ROANOKE

Smith's career was important to women

A FEW months ago you placed the death notice of a two-time Nobel Prize winner on page 8, and now the death of Margaret Chase Smith on page 3 of the May 30 Virginia section (``Margaret Chase Smith, longtime legislator, dies'').

It's important to women in the United States that Smith was the first woman to serve in both the House and Senate. Plus she was one of the most powerful and respected figures in Congress.

AUGUSTA SILVA

RADFORD

Don't discount power-line support

THIS NEWSPAPER ran an article (June 2, ``Stacks and stacks of letters pour in'') on Appalachian Power Co.'s proposed 765,000-volt Wyoming-Cloverdale power line and letters to the U.S. Forest Service about the project. Is it a balanced article when five opposing letters and only one favoring construction are quoted? The trend of one-sided reporting is still alive and well.

The Coalition for Energy and Economic Revitalization - made up of 477 business, labor and civic groups in West Virginia and Virginia representing more than 272,000 people - supports construction of this power line. This group wasn't mentioned at all in the article.

Has this newspaper considered what will happen if the line isn't built? If you have, I haven't seen any articles about the subject.

What will happen to our environment when a shortage of electricity becomes a reality? Sewage-treatment facilities will not be able to operate properly, resulting in raw sewage going into rivers and streams. Public-water systems will not be able to provide clean, safe drinking water.

It's time to make sure all information gets into the computer concerning this project. In the vast majority of reporting, the media and Forest Service have overlooked the largest group involved in the project. Whether this is intentional or unintentional, the record speaks for itself. This newspaper needs to cover both sides of the issue, not just the one that's more sensational.

DAVID N. JOHNSON

CEER member

Business Manager, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers

ROANOKE

Sidewalk Art Show has its own sponsor

REGARDING the June 6 article ``Show must slog on'':

The article reads as a tribute to Festival in the Park, giving its board credit for all activities, including the Sidewalk Art Show. This show isn't organized by the festival board, but by Docent Guild members as a fund-raiser for the Art Museum of Western Virginia. This is the reason the festival doesn't receive any funds from the artists; they come to support the museum.

This year's show was chaired by Jobil Cole, who had the support of 60 volunteers from the guild, the Young Art Patrons, and the museum staff. The show was successful. It didn't ``slog on'' but attracted quality crowds, and raised funds for the museum that will be used for the community's education programs.

Our thanks to the artists who support the show and make it a success. The Sidewalk Art Show is the foundation upon which Festival in the Park was originally developed. The docents and artists enjoy creating a successful show that is shared with the festival.

ROSE MARIE JONES

President, Docent Guild

ROANOKE

by CNB