ROANOKE TIMES

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

DATE: FRIDAY, July 14, 1995                   TAG: 9507150003
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-12   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Long


BEDFORD CITIZENS WILL JUDGE MERGER

WHY DOES The Roanoke Times continue to talk down to citizens of Bedford city and county? Your July 7 editorial (`` ... and now a county, soon a city?'') attempted to tell citizens what to think by stating that consolidating the city and county would be a step backward. It implied that thousands of citizens who signed the petition for consolidation are stupid or were duped.

Education, welfare, crime, drugs and seeing our great country become something demands more and more of our hard-earned money. The real answer to these problems is for citizens to become involved. I know many who are educating themselves on how those in whom we place our trust are, for the most part, more concerned with getting elected or re-elected. Del. Steve Newman of Lynchburg has gotten into the process, and now your newspaper has come out with this editorial.

Consolidation may be good for the city and county. One reason is that it will facilitate long-term planning for growth.

This region, not just the Bedford area, needs stability. Where will your children find good-paying jobs? Will you be able to pay for all services that are required? Where will your children get the kind of education they need to raise their children? The stability needed for them to have a better life isn't here now. Who will ensure that the way of life you now enjoy will be here in 10 years? Who will be left to pay the rising cost of government?

I know some would say that growth has been the problem. Well, folks, it's here, and most likely would have happened without Smith Mountain Lake being built. The Blue Ridge mountains are enough of an attraction to bring growth.

Consolidation may or may not be the answer, but I urge residents to take an active part in what goes on. If you want to keep the quality of life we enjoy today, become involved. Don't let someone else tell you what is good for this area. Talk to your friends, neighbors and elected officials. Get a copy of the consolidation agreement. Make up your own mind.

I haven't, at this time, decided if consolidation is good or bad. But when the time comes for me to vote, I'll know why I voted the way I did.

THOMAS E. FOSTER

GOODE

Do Birchers know left from right?

YOUR July 3 photograph accompanying the front-page article concerning the John Birch Society (``State's Birchers flexing muscles'') reveals a flag of the United States of America in what I was taught as a child to be an incorrect position.

``Correct use of the flag'' showed many ways in which the Stars and Stripes might be correctly displayed, and warned against incorrect positioning of our country's revered emblem.

The photograph herein referred to shows ``Old Glory'' spread forth from right to left, whereas ``correctness'' would place the field of blue to the left, with the red and white stripes reaching to the right.

Ironic it seems that the U.S. flag is being used in this instance as a decorative motif on the facade of the American Opinion Book Store with two ``patriotic'' John Birchers proudly standing before it. In my opinion, this is an incorrect portrayal of our country's flag.

NATALIE R. LEMON

ROANOKE

Thanks for the good news

THANK YOU for putting some articles on the front page that weren't about murder, rape or disaster. I refer to the July 3 article (``Brother's unselfish act of giving brings siblings closer'') about the successful kidney transplant that the Davis family was able to complete, and the July 5 article (``Historic space linkup ends'') about the Russian and American astronauts' joint venture in space.

Continuous hammering of bad news unfortunately numbs our humanity. It's refreshing to read some feel-good news that helps us remember that there are other things transpiring in the world besides those that create heartache and outrage.

Thank you for letting your readers see another side of the news on occasion. Personally, I would like to see more of it each day!

LYLE WIMMER

ROANOKE

The fabrication of a beauty queen

REGARDING the Miss Virginia scandal (July 6 article, ``Miss Virginia's achievements called into question,'' and July 7 article, ``Miss Virginia calls achievement mistakes unintentional''):

Miss Virginia can put anything on her profile sheet because ``she believes it in her heart''? The ``beauty'' pageants are already a sham and a disgrace to women.

I thought pageants had taken on a new form whereby candidates choose a platform they are interested in supporting. It's apparent the Miss Virginia Pageant's new platform is: ``Lie, we don't care. You're just representing Virginia.'' What a farce!

KAREN ROBERTSON

SALEM

Still fit after all these years

THANKS TO Parade magazine in your July 2 newspaper for the picture of Artie Levin. I see he's still going as strong as he was years ago when he did the exercise show on WDBJ-TV on which my husband, Irving Sharp, very beautifully furnished the music. Keep going, Levin.

MARY LEE SHARP

ROANOKE

The political bashes are really trashy

WHAT IS wrong with this picture? The article (``Taxpayers funding '96 conventions'' from the Los Angeles Times) in your July 4 newspaper states that those two short-term bashes will cost you, me and our neighbors ``more than $80 million.'' This is a bash very few of us are invited to.

In your July 2 Horizon section, another article is titled, ``It's trashy, it's disgraceful, it's your capital.'' No one can be found, hardly, to cut the grass; the trash is piling up; we knew about the toilet paper already.

The truly disgraceful trashy thing is spending $80 million on two conventions, which accomplish nothing that couldn't be accomplished by a much simpler state-balloting system. To spend that kind of money while the nation's capital falls into disrepair is unconscionable. It's beyond understanding. This picture truly is in need of restoration.

JANE PRICE

VINTON

Not all deserve disaster-relief funds

VIRGINIA HAD a great loss of life and property due to the recent rains. To all who are suffering and in need, money from the state and federal governments will be a great help. I don't believe those living on Timberlake Drive deserve any of this money.

I'm very upset that Rep. L.F. Payne almost promised them money to rebuild. There are people who really need help to restore their homes and businesses. It shouldn't go to a few who just want to sit on their verandas and look out on the water.

MARY SUMMERS

ROANOKE

Gun law may set fashion trend

AS I strolled down Main Street in Christiansburg recently, I encountered an acquaintance who was wearing a Mackinaw and perspiring profusely in the 80-degree heat. Out of curiosity, I asked him if he were ill. No, but he said that a concealed-weapons law had been passed. And for it to be concealed, it has to be out of sight. So, while they are processing his application for a permit, he thought he would get used to wearing his coat.

So if you happen to see people wearing a winter coat on Aug. 15 with a bulge beneath their left armpits, you will know they received their permits.

GARY K. SPENCE

CHRISTIANSBURG



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