Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, November 12, 1995 TAG: 9511130062
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: D-9 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
HAYSI - Fewer people participated in whitewater rafting on the Russell Fork River this year, the Army Corps of Engineers reported.
Officials at the John Flannagan Dam said the number of participants in last month's whitewater rafting season was 1,837, compared with 2,804 last year.
Every weekend in October, water is released from the dam to enhance whitewater rafting conditions on the river. The sport has been touted as an activity that can be marketed to boost tourism and make the region less dependent on the ailing coal industry.
However, participation was down every weekend last month after concerns were raised in public meetings about the sport's safety.
A $3.1 million wrongful-death suit has been filed in federal court on behalf of the estate of 17-year-old Jason Campbell, who was killed Oct. 9, 1993, while rafting on the Russell Fork.
- Associated Press
Misuse of museum funds suspected
NORFOLK - The director's assistant at the Chrysler Museum of Art was fired amid allegations of misuse of funds, board President Roy B. Martin Jr. said.
Martin said Friday that Shirley Woodward is being investigated by the city attorney's office on suspicion of mishandling a small sum of money, but he would not specify the amount.
Woodward, who came to the museum in 1980, said she has ``never intentionally misused funds.''
She said she was given a letter by Martin and other museum officials that said she was being terminated for ``conflict of interest.'' The letter said that in September she approved payment for an event at the museum's cafe that did not take place, Woodward said.
- Associated Press
N.J. tourists robbed in Williamsburg
WILLIAMSBURG - A New Jersey couple visiting the Williamsburg historic area was robbed by two young gunmen, police said.
The tourists were near the pathway to the Capitol on Thursday night when the men came up from behind, pointed their guns at the victims' faces and demanded money, said Williamsburg Police Lt. Rick Wanamaker.
The gunmen ordered the victims to lie on the ground and hand over their shoes, Wanamaker said. He speculated that the robbers took the shoes to prevent the couple from following.
The robbery was the first in the historic area since two couples were held up at gunpoint near the Palace Green in September 1994.
- Associated Press
Man arrested in cross burning
FAIRFAX - A man wrapped a homemade wooden cross with toilet paper and set it ablaze outside a suburban convenience store early Friday, police said.
David L. Manuel, 58, was arrested later in the day and charged with burning a cross with the intent to intimidate, a felony that carries from one to five years in prison.
Police spokeswoman Vincenta Call would not identify the Centreville man by race or say whether he had a racial motivation for erecting and lighting the 5-foot cross.
Manuel apparently did not enter the 7-Eleven store in the Lorton area of southern Fairfax County, Call said. A customer saw the flames about 1 a.m. and reported Manuel's license number to police, she said.
- Associated Press
by CNB