Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, July 31, 1995 TAG: 9507310098
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C3 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
King Solomon seemed to be enjoying himself at a birthday party July 22 at the Science Museum of Western Virginia in Roanoke.
The museum's 2-foot-long green iguana was roaming a bit on the floor during the party for a local woman's 20th birthday, according to Melinda Milan, the museum's assistant director.
That's when the birthday girl got more than a birthday kiss from King Solomon.
"He decided he liked her," Milan says, "and climbed up on her lap and proceeded to bite her neck."
The bite wasn't deep, Milan said. It was, "for lack of a better term, a gnaw mark."
Milan declined to release the victim's name.
Museum employees cleaned and disinfected the wound and, to be on the safe side, advised her to go to the hospital. She returned from the hospital later that day and completed her tour of the museum. Last week, she stopped by the museum and dropped off the hospital bill.
Milan said the museum has continued to check with the woman. The bite is healing and "she understands it was just an accident."
Milan believes the iguana got excited the way a dog or cat might get overwrought when a lot of people show up at its home.
The museum realizes it was a mistake on the handler's part to allow Solomon to move freely like that among the public, Milan said. "That has been taken into account and won't happen again."
But Milan doesn't think King Solomon has a violent nature. He has been with the museum for two years or more and "that's the first time he's ever done that."
Come on by
School Superintendent Wayne Harris wants Roanoke residents to see what city schools are really like. He hopes they will follow his lead and make unannounced visits to schools.
Don't listen to what you hear about the schools, Harris told the Roanoke Rotary Club last week.
He invited club members to go to the schools, talk with principals, teachers, students, and see what is going on.
"Come and see us. Don't come alone. Bring a neighbor with you," he told the group. "See what is happening for yourself."
Harris said he made more than 200 visits in the past year.
"I want to know what is happening and to improve communications with the schools," he said.
One club member asked Harris why the city's school enrollment has decreased even though its population has remained about the same.
During the 1950s, Roanoke's enrollment was about 18,000. Now, the city has 12,850 students.
Harris said Roanoke's population is getting older, with fewer adults of child-bearing age.
"We are not attracting that many young people who are of the age to have children in school," he said.
The city's enrollment increased by 40 in the past year, he said.
Petey want a cracker?
The cockatiel flap continues. After reading a recent story about the flight of Tweety the cockatiel, a mighty talented bird who can whistle the theme to ``The Andy Griffith Show,'' Barbara Wright phoned in to report her missing cockatiel, Petey.
Petey has been on the lam for nearly a month. But Wright is certain someone will find him. Or at least hear from him.
If ``Star Search'' has a cockatiel competition, Petey would be its grand prize winner.
Among Petey's repertoire: ``The Dukes of Hazzard'' theme song, usually followed by ``Charge!'' ``Dixie'' and ``Shortnin' Bread.''
Petey also does a mean ``Here kitty, kitty, kitty'' that is so realistic Barbara has found stray cats hanging from his cage on a regular basis.
Petey may be hard to find, though, because his other talents include imitations of real birds. Yes, Petey can do a whippoorwill, cardinal and rooster.
If you hear ``The Dukes of Hazzard'' theme song coming from a tree in your back yard, Wright says to give her a call at 362-2116.
Petey was last seen in a tree in Bentley Park off of Peters Creek Road.
``For all I know, he's still up there,'' she says. ``Maybe he's just pretending to be a cardinal.''
Cut rate
Lewis-Gale Hospital in Salem has been trying to encourage insurance companies to allow women more than one day in the hospital after giving birth by offering the companies a $2,800 flat cost for an uncomplicated delivery and two days in the hospital.
However, if the baby's a boy who is to be circumcised, the cost increases by $130.
"We call that an add-on to have something cut off," said a hospital staffer.
by CNB