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

DATE: SATURDAY, August 19, 1995                   TAG: 9508210093
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-9   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

AROUND NEW RIVER

BLACKSBURG - The "Choices and Challenges" teleconference "Quality of Life at the End of Life," held last year at Virginia Tech, will be aired on WTOB (Boothe Communications cable channel 2) Monday, Aug. 21, 7-9:15 p.m.

The program explores the current social and ethical dilemmas arising from medical interventions to extend life in the latter stages of terminal illness. The teleconference features speakers from the fields of medicine, law, ethics and health care policy.

For more information, call 231-6476.

Youth Sounds tryouts announced

ROANOKE - The Roanoke Symphony will have auditions for Youth Sounds, a talent showcase for youth, Saturday, Sept. 16 from 10 a.m. to noon.

Individuals must be full-time students, elementary school through college. Auditions are limited to 10 minutes.

The Youth Sounds performs in the lobby prior to "Monday Night Classics" concerts during the 1995-1996 season.

Auditions will be at the symphony administrative offices, located on Luck Avenue in Roanoke. For more information and to schedule for an audition time, call Joyce Kernodle at the Roanoke Symphony, 343-6221.

Disaster aid may be available

CHRISTIANSBURG - Giles County and several adjoining counties, including Craig, Montgomery, Pulaski, Bland, Mercer and Monroe, are listed to be eligible for federal disaster assistance due to the severe storms and flooding that hit the area on June 22.

President Clinton issued a disaster declaration listing these areas eligible for assistance, including Farmers Home Administration Emergency Loans.

Loans are available to area farmers who sustained qualifying physical or production losses as a result of the storms and flooding. The program is intended to assist family farmers who are unable to obtain sufficient credit elsewhere to be able to overcome disaster related losses and continue farming.

The interest rate for the emergency loans is 3.7 percent and the terms are flexible depending on the nature of the loss and collateral available.

Applications for the loans may be submitted to area Farmers Home Administration offices before March 1996.

For more information, call the Farmers Home Administration in Christiansburg at 382-0267.