ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, October 20, 1996 TAG: 9610210009
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-2 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
TYPE: LETTERS
*Loretta Hall on how a Blacksburg pool policy is all wet.
*Stephen D. Frazier calls a Current columnist out of bounds.
*David McKissack with another view of Bob Dole's World War II service.
*Brenda E. Branscome praising an ad in the Current for raising awareness of breast cancer.
*Tom Brobson describes how the case still hasn't been made for the 765,000-volt power line.
*How C.W. Hall didn't care for a Quigmans cartoon.
School staff works to keep it clean
We are writing in response to Jim Dooley's letter in the Oct. 13 New River Current, "School trash shows lessons untaught."
Gilbert Linkous Elementary strives for excellence in all areas. We take great pride in our school. This includes our students, faculty and staff, parents, PTA, as well as our buildings and grounds. We strive to provide the very best instructional program to prepare our students for a very challenging, changing world. We also make our facility available to the community and welcome the opportunity to make Gilbert Linkous a community school. On a regular basis, when the buses pull out at the end of the day and on weekends, our files and hard-top areas are used by college students and people who live around the area. The Southwest Virginia Soccer Association uses our soccer fields on a regular basis throughout the fall and spring season. Although we are pleased the grounds are often used, we are not in a position to police the area for trash on weekends when there are no custodians working.
We greatly appreciate the support given to us by the Montgomery County school system to efficiently run our school. There are approximately 44,000 square feet of buildings to maintain, as well as 13 acres of campus. We have an incredible custodial staff of three people who manage the daily operations of our site. Our senior custodian inspects the entire grounds three times per week, picking up any trash he finds, and the other two custodians daily inspect the areas around the buildings, picking up any trash they find. Our students are also encouraged to keep our school and grounds clean.
In our efforts to constantly strive for excellence, we appreciate the concern expressed by Mr. Dooley. As a result of his letter, our senior custodian came over Sunday morning to inspect the grounds. He collected a small bag of trash, primarily around the playing areas. On Monday morning he and the principal inspected the grounds, finding only a small amount of trash. Although Mr. Dooley's comments helped bring an awareness of the situation, we would have greatly appreciated a phone call to the school. The same results would have been achieved.
Our faculty and staff work extremely hard to provide a safe facility that is conducive to learning. We prefer to encourage and thank them for the excellent job that they do.
Rob W. Duckworth
Gilbert Linkous principal
Ellen Piilonen
Gilbert Linkous PTA president
Citizens-first policy at town pool decried
Several weeks ago, I inquired with the Blacksburg aquatics center regarding swimming lessons for my children. I was amazed to find a new policy in place that said if my business or home address were not in the town limits of Blacksburg, I had to wait until after noon the day of sign-up to register my children for swimming lessons. This is part of the "citizens first" program of the aquatics center.
My complaint to the director was well received; she said she didn't agree with the policy and the decision came from above her. I understand that only too well. I addressed a letter of complaint to her with the understanding she would pass it on. I have a larger complaint with the pompous attitude of those "higher-ups." First of all, if one investigates where the money came from to build the pool, it is interesting that the major contribution came from Corning Inc., a company in Christiansburg. Now, if I were an employee of Corning and couldn't get my child signed up because I live outside Blacksburg, but I knew my company gave a large sum of money to build that pool, I would be a little upset.
Also, if one investigates records showing who signs up for the lessons offered by the aquatic center, one will find that many of the participants come from surrounding counties such as Giles, Montgomery and Floyd. These people get up and drive for over an hour before 6 a.m. on the sign-up days and wait their turn. They also drive home and back on the days of the lessons to ensure their children don't miss a class. These people are dedicated because their children love to swim.
In short, a later sign-up time seems unreasonable. I, for one, would not mind paying more or even double for the lessons if I were given an equal opportunity to obtain the classes I want. Why this is not an option, I do not understand. The aquatic center is a wonderful facility with a terrific staff. I have no problem with them. It is those in charge who make the unreasonable policies that anger and upset me. I wonder how many of those in charge are willing to stand up and be named and receive the complaints they generated. I also wonder how many of those people actually participate in the programs they govern.
The community spirit in the New River Valley does not need to be lessoned by a few arrogant, headstrong and unreasonable politicians. Listen to those who really pay for the services and continue to offer what is popular and what makes a few people's lives a bit better. This system was not broken, and it does not need to be fixed.
Loretta Hall
Montgomery County
Ref calls foul on Current columnist
I am writing this letter concerning Ray Cox's column on the Glenvar vs. Floyd girls' basketball game ["Welcome (with thumps and bumps) to the club," New River Current, Oct. 4]. I would like to thank you for your succinct officiating evaluation, for I was one of the officials for that game. However, I would like to know if you actually saw the game! I usually notice you when you are there. I must have overlooked you. Based on the evaluation you gave our officiating crew, from now on, you should sit with the knowledgeable fans who yell "you stink, ref," "get some glasses," "where are you from?" or my favorite, "three seconds!" That is where your knowledge of the game obviously has a seat reserved for you, Mr. Cox.
I do not consider myself a perfect official. I have missed my share of calls, and I will be the first to admit it. Officiating high school basketball is not my livelihood, but it is a job which I respect and take very seriously. I use my spare time to support the communities because I love the game, and most importantly, I do it for the kids! So please, Mr. Cox, in the next game you cover, if all you can do is print your personal opinion of the officiating crew, and your inaccurate interpretations of the coaches' feelings, then perhaps you're the one who needs your job evaluated.
Stephen D. Frazier
Christiansburg
Another view of Dole's war experience
I am writing concerning the Oct. 6 letter ["Memories of Dole's WWII service"] that discussed Bob Dole's war record. The writer of the letter, a veteran of the same division as Dole, was angry that Dole is lauded as a war hero even though Dole, a second lieutenant fresh out of Officer Candidate School, served with the unit only few months before he was wounded.
I am grateful to the writer of that letter for his service and for the hardships he suffered. Unlike Bill Clinton, he didn't pull strings to avoid service and did not tell friends that he must strike a balance between "protecting myself from physical harm" while "maintaining my political viability."
As for Bob Dole's war record, I formed my view after reading a Knight-Ridder/Tribune article written about Frank Carafa, the sergeant who saved Dole's life.
In the article, Carafa says that when Dole, a new officer, arrived, he did not barge in and take over. "He told me to keep doing what I'd been doing," Carafa said.
Carafa described Dole's wounding: "The company commander called [us] to a wall, and beyond it was an open field and a farmhouse, and what I saw was unbelievable, my God. Thirty or 40 men in the field, land mines exploding some were killed instantly, then the machine guns opened up from the farmhouse."
The commander told Carafa to take a squad to the farmhouse while Dole provided cover fire. But Dole changed the plan. Carafa said, "He was great that's why I loved him. He said he'd do it, and I would cover him."
Dole, leading 10 men, covered only part of the field before the machine guns found them. Four men died then and there. Dole, leaving a foxhole to help his wounded radioman, was hit next.
Charging into the field, Carafa dragged Dole back to safety. Of Dole's condition, Carafa said, "His whole right side from the waist up, it felt like there was nothing there."
Dole spent the next three years in and out of Army hospitals. Showing great strength of character, he rebuilt his life, becoming one of the most respected and trusted statesmen.
Carafa said, "There's no question I'll vote Dole for President."
Throughout Bob Dole's career he's been a thoughtful conservative moderate. His judgments as president will be guided by compassion and honest compromise learned the hard way. Regardless of whether one agrees with him on all issues, it's clear that Dole is concerned about the future of a country he loves. As we face the 21st century and its unknown challenges, do we want a leader who has the courage to voluntarily go "over the wall" for us, or someone whose every move is guided by concern for his "political viability?" Let's hope Americans weigh this carefully before voting. Our future is riding on it.
David McKissack
Blacksburg
Call to raise awareness about breast cancer
I would like to applaud Ann Vaughn for sharing her experience with breast cancer in the Oct. 6 Current [in a hospital advertisement]. Earlier this year I also received a breast cancer diagnosis at age 48. A routine mammogram revealed a lump that was later determined to be cancer. After completing five months of chemotherapy and radiation treatments, my chances of survival are now as high as 90 percent.
The message that I want to send to the women of the New River Valley is this - women are being diagnosed with breast cancer in ever-increasing numbers. By the end of this year 184,000 women will find out they have breast cancer; 4,500 of these women live in Virginia. Most will occur in women without any family history of the disease. Early detection is the key to saving the lives of women with breast cancer - monthly self-exams, annual clinical exams and mammography are our only defense against the leading cause of death in women between the ages of 35 to 54.
Breast cancer will touch the lives of one in eight women in the New River Valley as well as the lives of those who love them. If you are now dealing with breast cancer, please know that you are not alone. There are many breast cancer survivors in the New River Valley; I know because I have had the privilege of meeting many of them in the hospital, treatment centers and support groups, each with her own story about the breast cancer journey, and a special brand of courage. October has been designated as National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. We must not let our awareness of this deadly disease end on Oct. 31.
Brenda E. Branscome
Christiansburg
Bravo to Giles County's anti-power-line stand
I am writing in response to the Sept. 28 New River Current article, "Giles County a lone 'no' on power line, threatens withdrawal," and "Giles to AEP: No power line and we mean it" published Sept. 23.
First, as a resident of Giles County, I would like to thank Board of Supervisors Chairman Bill Freeman for his leadership and representation of our county. I also would like to briefly outline the unadulterated facts of American Electric Power Co.'s power-line proposal.
*1989: AEP has surplus power production in its Midwest generating region and wants to sell it to the East Coast. Remember, follow the money trail.
*1990: AEP asks Virginia's State Corporation Commission to validate its claim that a "need" for power exists in our region so it can build the world's largest power line to meet our needs. Oh, and by the way, AEP will sell its extra power over this line to East Coast power companies and earn big bucks. To this day no "need" has been formally validated by Virginia. In 1991, AEP claims that massive blackouts will happen by 1997 if the line is not built.
*1992, '93: AEP tries to ask West Virginia to do the same thing twice and gets tossed out on its ear.
*1991: AEP did ask Virginia to consider this mysterious "need" question, so an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) must be prepared, in this case by the U.S. Forest Service. And because AEP does not want to wait for its EIS, it chooses to pay $5 million to an out-of-state company to do much of the EIS work.
*1994: The Forest Service decides, with no formal notice, that it will expand the scope of its EIS to look at line corridors outside of the original AEP "preferred" corridor in Craig County. The new study area essentially blankets Giles county no area in Giles is spared and although most Montgomery County folks don't notice, now much of their county is at risk of becoming "preferred."
*1996: In a startling flash of reality, the U.S. Forest Service comes out with its draft EIS saying it will not issue a final EIS until the two states and all other parties decide whether a need even exists for the power line. The draft EIS also says that there is no acceptable place in any of the counties to put such a power line. AEP has a fit and accuses the Forest Service of misspending its $5 million.
*1996: AEP quietly states that there will be no blackouts in 1997 or 1998. In fact they won't happen until well into the next century. And here we stand. It took a child to point out the Emperor had no clothes on. Who or what will it take to tell AEP it has no case for building its power line?
Tom Brobson
Giles County
No fan of Quigmans cartoon in Current
May I take this time to write to let you and your staff know that the Quigmans cartoon that was in the Oct. 5 Current was off the wall and should not have been published. Why would you stoop so low? This was merely making fun of our Lord, the King of Kings. Buddy Hickerson has no morals, and as far as I am concerned, is a loser to think up trash like this to be published. It's sad that a great paper like The Roanoke Times would publish anything else called the Quigmans.
C.W. Hall
Pearisburg
LENGTH: Long : 251 linesby CNB