ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, January 8, 1996 TAG: 9601100089
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-4 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: LETTERS
AFTER three days in your fine city, my husband and I have decided to come back to Roanoke to celebrate our anniversary next year. We had a wonderful time, and were impressed with your city's friendliness and hospitality.
Ironically, when we left our home recently to celebrate our wedding anniversary in the mountains of Virginia, Roanoke was the last place on our minds. We had reservations at the Peaks of Otter Lodge for a few days. We had secured our balcony room more than a month ago, and had provided the first night's deposit. We had spent much time planning and packing for our trip. Our preparations were quite extensive since we have three dogs, two cats and saltwater fish.
On Dec. 26, we headed out for Bedford. We arrived three hours later, eagerly looking forward to a hot meal, warm room and well-deserved rest. Instead, we were faced with a closed lodge and no place to go. It was a cold, sad feeling sitting in an icy parking lot on top of a mountain with no reservations anywhere for the night.
We then drove to Roanoke and found our way to Hotel Roanoke. We found that Roanoke was a clean and friendly city with much to offer. We enjoyed our stay at the hotel and plan to return. Maybe the slogan is true after all - ``Virginia is for Lovers.''
REBECCA C. POFF
PFAFFTOWN, N.C.
School will cause traffic problems
ROANOKE COUNTY'S School Board and the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors have decided to build a 1,900-student Cave Spring High School to cost $33.6 million. They are adding pork-barrel projects as well as bond-issuing costs to the project for a total of $37.4 million.
There seems to be one or more of the pork-barrel projects in each of the supervisors' districts. These projects do not have any bearing on the high-school project, and should not be included in the referendum. It seems that the supervisors are trying to confuse voters into voting for the whole package. Take a good look at it before you vote on it.
All parents want a good education for their children, and the students need more time in the classrooms - not riding school buses most of the day. Education is a priority, and should be taught so that students can learn from the teachings.
A word of caution to residents of residential streets and roads in and around the vicinity of the new Cave Spring High School complex: There will be 1,900 or more students going to this school, so there may be 1,900 or more cars and vehicles in the vicinity each day, which will destroy residential and other communities around it. I know because I live on a residential street in a residential subdivision where the supervisors allowed the Shenandoah Baptist Church and the Roanoke Valley Christian School, a private school, to dump traffic of 600 cars a day. Most of the time we cannot get out of our driveways. If the supervisors cannot control 600 cars a day, what will they do with more than 1,900 cars and vehicles?
It seems like the supervisors do not care about the Roanoke County taxpayers except when they want the taxpayers' money or their votes.
GLENN CROWDER
ROANOKE
Ritalin is not casually prescribed
IN RESPONSE to Margaret A. High's Dec. 26 letter to the editor, ``Drugging kids to keep them quiet'':
School systems don't want quiet little robots filling the seats, and no competent pediatrician would hand out prescriptions for Ritalin upon request.
Attention-deficit disorder is a neurobiological condition. A comprehensive evaluation is needed to establish a diagnosis. This includes intelligence testing; assessment of academic, social and emotional functioning; evaluation of developmental abilities; and parent and teacher rating scales.
Medication isn't used to control behavior, but is used to improve the symptoms of ADD. Treatment often includes behavioral and educational interventions, individual and family counseling, and medication. Appropriate interventions are necessary for the child with ADD to succeed.
I have an extremely hyperactive 3-year-old for whom Ritalin has been a miracle. Before being diagnosed, he had a 10-word vocabulary, had never played with a toy, and averaged six to 10 bites of food a day (because he couldn't sit still to eat). After Ritalin, he began to speak in sentences, play for short periods and has steadily gained weight.
Rather than making blanket judgments because of one television program, please learn more about ADD. A local support group is a good place to start.
SHERRY BECKNER
VINTON
LENGTH: Medium: 86 linesby CNB