Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, September 10, 1995 TAG: 9509110010
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Long
As an attorney practicing in the area of education law, I have handled a number of cases locally which dealt with public education issues. In this capacity I have come to know the MCEA, its leaders and many of its members. I have also represented principals, professors, teachers and even superintendents, many of whom were not members of the local education association, so I think that I can add to the discussion a balanced view of what the MCEA is and what it is not. The MCEA counts in its membership Democrats, Republicans, conservatives, liberals, Jews, African Americans, NRA members, hikers, bikers, musicians, NASCAR fans and cat lovers. In other words the membership of this organization reflects the full range of politics, demographics and interests of our community.
What our local MCEA is not, however, is a partisan political organization. Yes, it acts as an advocate for educators (school boards and superintendents have similar advocacy groups), but it also serves as an advocate for school children and parents. It presses issues like student discipline, preparing students for the future, parental involvement in our schools, and teaching basic skills. Our local education association does not, like Mr. LeDoux's organization, take positions on non-local, non-education issues. The MCEA's main purpose is to improve the educational environment of Montgomery County's public schools so that we can better educate our children. To label that goal as "liberal" in the way that Mr. LeDoux means it is just plain wrong.
In my opinion, Mr. LeDoux's comment about the MCEA indicates just how extreme and how unacceptable his views would be if he were elected to the school board. His own recent letter to the editor and its restrictive definition of "Family Values" (excluding hard-working, moral single parents and those of us whose family ties and values are demonstrated through parents, grandparents and siblings) is further evidence of his extreme and uninformed views. I hope the voters of Montgomery County will reject school board candidates who, like LeDoux, would seek to impose a political agenda on local education. The last thing we need is a further shift away from educating children to still more political interference with our local schools.
Joe Steffen
Blacksburg
Radford needs new hospital
Radford Community Hospital has been providing excellent health care to area residents for over 50 years. To continue this tradition, a replacement hospital is necessary.
I'm writing in support of Radford Community Hospital's project because I feel we need to move with the times. With the growing national trend toward outpatient services, we need to focus our resources on quality, efficiency, and technology. Providing the best for our patients is our major concern. A new state of-the-art replacement hospital with an increasing emphasis on outpatient satisfaction will give us the opportunity to further enhance the quality care for our patients.
Dr. Bharat R. Patel
Radford
Local hospital service preferred
I sincerely hope Radford Community Hospital's application [for a certificate of need to construct a new medical facility] will be favorably considered, especially over the "Johnny come lately" application of the nation's largest "for profit" health care provider to create a monopoly in our valley by establishing a kind of satellite facility in Radford.
Radford Community has been the focus for the growth of one of the most outstanding medical communities in Virginia. My family and I, in company with the population in the extended surrounding area, have grown accustomed to the excellent and full service for which our hospital is noted. We want to continue to receive such care from "our hospital." Its proposed location within two miles of our city limits will stimulate economic growth in the city as well as Montgomery County.
The citizens of this area will be the big losers if Columbia/HCA has its way, and that must not happen.
John B. Spiers, Jr.
Radford
Animals follo nose back home
As I read the story, "The cat came back," in our Current section (Aug. 29), my mind flashes back about 70 years to a little story I heard. It went something like this:
"I gave him to a man going up in a balloon and told him to give him to the man in the moon. But the cat came back the very next day. I gave him to a man going out west and told him to give him to the person he loved best. But the cat came back the very next day."
There are well-documented cases where cats and dogs have found their way home from many miles away. I do not know how cats handle this, but I've got a fair idea how dogs manage this. Dogs have a very keen sense of smell. Close by a dog's home there is a factory or something giving off an odor that the dog is familiar with. He sniffs and sniffs and begins to follow the faint odor that the winds bring. The dog may delay if the winds become calm or change direction. But shortly, if the wind is in his favor, he trots along home, finally reaching the open arms of those who love him. Welcome home Tootie.
Edwin R. Robertson
Pearisburg
Marye, Shuler deserve support
Madison Marye and Jim Shuler have given intelligent and conscientious leadership in the Senate and the House during their terms in office. In addition to restoration of funding for Virginia Tech, Cooperative Extension and Radford University, they helped to preserve vital human services in the New River Valley and across Virginia.
In opposing successfully the governor's plans to eliminate the Community Services Block Grant (CSBG), they have done the right thing for the right reasons and in the right way. The loss of CSBG funds would be devastating to New River Community Action programs such as summer camps for children, gardening projects and emergency assistance for low-income and "working poor" families and devastating to a host of needed and effective programs for which Community Action provides essential support services. That list includes demonstrably successful projects such as the Free Clinic of the New River Valley, Head Start and the SHARE food and community service program.
In opposing strongly and helping to prevent proposed drastic cuts in higher education and programs which would adversely affect families in this area and the whole prospect for Virginians of future generations, they have pointed the way to a better future than that proposed by the current administration.
We are grateful to Sen. Marye and Del. Shuler for their courageous leadership. They deserve to be, and Virginia needs them to be, re-elected.
Sally and Bill Mackie
Blacksburg
Rescue squad, friends thanked
We wish to express our sincere appreciation for all the phone calls, cards, prayers and other acts of kindness following Ward's recent accident. A special thanks to the Christiansburg Rescue Squad and others who assisted with the rescue.
Ward and Madeline Thompson
Riner
by CNB