Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, October 12, 1995 TAG: 9510120054
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY REED
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
R.C.R., Roanoke
A: This is a major leak, involving a 16-inch valve on pipes installed in 1891.
After 104 years and numerous fixes, the valve is finally beyond repair. A new one has been ordered.
This is not your everyday valve. It's a side-operated gate valve with a bypass and two manholes. An order like this can take months to fill.
We can't assume last winter's leak went unfixed. Bellevue Avenue in front of the hospital masks a virtual freeway of pipelines, and problems spring up frequently, said Craig Sluss of the water department.
"It's a maze of spaghetti in there," he said.
Valley Metro's I.D.
Q: Why is Valley Metro charging the elderly $2.50 for identification cards when many people already have League of Older Americans cards and others that certify ages?
S.F., Roanoke
A: Valley Metro used to recognize about seven different I.D. cards that allowed people 65 and older to ride for half-fare, and it was confusing, said Stephen Mancuso, the general manager.
In April, the bus company starting making a photo I.D. for each rider. In September, the drivers stopped accepting other kinds of I.D.
The League of Older Americans cards are issued at age 60, and drivers had to check each card for the birth date. Other kinds of cards lacked a photo.
Valley Metro's new card has made things easier for drivers and passengers, and those who paid the $2.50 cost were given two free passes worth $1.20, Mancuso said.
More muleyness
Q: Your response to a question last week about a mule on the TV show "Gunsmoke" led to a larger discussion of mulehood and muleyness among some of us. You mentioned that naming a mule after a person was not politically correct, which I assumed to be a reference to their genderlessness. One person around the table said he thought all mules, while sterile, were nevertheless male or female. Anyhow, I thought this might be of interest to some readers.
T.M., Roanoke
A: We media folks sometimes fail to read the public pulse correctly. This was one of those times.
Several people were either puzzled by the reference to political correctness or offended by it, which means I goofed.
A couple of men who called sounded as if they might have had some working experience with mules, and didn't see anything wrong with giving a mule a person's name. I hereby acknowledge their superior grasp of the subject.
At any rate, your group discussion was correct on one point regarding mules. They can be either male or female. And it's rare, but occasionally female mules have given birth after mating with a horse or donkey.
Got a question about something that might affect other people, too? Something you've come across and wondered about? Give us a call at 981-3118. Maybe we can find the answer.
by CNB