ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, September 7, 1996 TAG: 9609090021
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-7 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: LETTERS
REGARDING Bedford County's Land Use Guidance System (LUGS): What to do about it?
It is our prime responsibility to make sure Bedford County development is not at the expense of the cropland that feeds us.
The American Farmland Trust is a private organization with expertise in helping both the farmer's pocketbook and the nation's need for agricultural land. This is accomplished through Purchase of Development Rights, a program that buys deed restrictions on qualified farmland, removing it forever from nonagricultural development. Farmers are generally paid the difference between the market value of their land (or the price the developer would pay) and the price the land would command for agriculture.
The funds for paying for PDRs can come from regular appropriations or bonds. They can also come through formation of a county (or state) private foundation to buy up farmland threatened by development. Glenn Ayers, former Bedford County planning commissioner, points out that where he currently lives in Alamance County, N.C., such a foundation does this with regularity.
Bedford citizens who prefer keeping government out of their lives had better assume their responsibility now regarding saving farmland, or they and their children will not eat well in the future.
BARBARA McEWAN
FOREST
Where will we find one so qualified?
THESE APPEAR to be the qualifications for president of these United States:
Refuse to serve in the military.
Go to another country and protest against one's own government.
Espouse legislation to accept homosexuals in the military.
Veto legislation to forbid partial-birth abortion.
Refuse to comply with congressional demands for various documents.
Sink millions of dollars in a Mexican rat hole against the wishes of Congress and the people.
Send the military into a hostile environment against the wishes of Congress and the people.
MURRAY P. CARVER SR.
SALEM
Ban all billboards plugging cigarettes
THE FOLLOWING is a copy of a letter I sent to Virginia's Sen. Charles Robb:
Now that smoking is in the news, I would like your help in banning billboards advertising smoking.
Here is my reason: Last spring while we were driving along Apperson Drive in Salem, my five-year-old granddaughter made a statement I can't forget. She said, ``She's happy because she's getting ready to light a cigarette.'' I thought for a few seconds and then looked up. We were passing a huge billboard with the picture of a lovely young girl holding a cigarette. This billboard picture sent the message to this five-year-old girl that if she smoked she would be happy. I don't know anyone who is happier because they smoke.
The legislation President Clinton has proposed regarding smoking advertisements near a school does not go far enough. Children aren't confined to traveling near schools, nor do they need to know how to read.
All billboards advertising smoking should be banned.
NANCY SETLIFF
SALEM
Mental-health issues are being ignored
YOU SIDESTEPPED your responsibility on Aug 27-28 when you failed to report on any of the debate, inquiry and public hearing connected with a state legislative subcommittee's proceedings at Hotel Roanoke, the Jefferson Center and at Catawba Hospital.
This important legislative study is considering all elements of Virginia's system of mental health, mental retardation, early intervention and substance-abuse services. The bipartisan Senate-House joint subcommittee, co-chaired by Sen. Joe Gartlan and Del. Frank Hall, is attempting to find answers to the inequities of the present system.
Virginia is ranked at the top of all states in financial support for its state hospitals and training centers, at a time when those state facilities are being scaled back and their patients and residents are returning to communities. Virginia is near the bottom in providing for the community supports needed to serve those individuals coming out of institutions.
These are arcane and complex issues. Your newspaper has an obligation to inform citizens of Western Virginia about them. You did find space on Aug. 28 to let us know that the UVa Pep Band has been sacked and that Richmond police are giving tickets to traffic-signal violators. You gave not a single column inch to the above health-care issues that affect the lives of thousands of our citizens. There are sharp differences on these issues, and the different perspectives need to be researched and given a forum by the press.
Meanwhile, the valley is fortunate to have Del. Vic Thomas as a member of the subcommittee. Thomas has proved himself as an able and long-standing advocate for those with serious mental illness, mental disabilities and substance-abuse problems.
JOE SARGEANT
CLIFTON FORGE
LENGTH: Long : 104 linesby CNB