ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, October 26, 1996 TAG: 9610280011
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-9 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: LETTERS
MEMO: ***CORRECTION***
Published correction ran on October 29, 1996.
In David A. Worrell's Oct. 26 letter to the editor, "Radford
residents support Covington," a sentence should have read, "I am a
lifelong resident of Radford, having lived here for the past 68 years."
THE LETTER to the editor (Oct. 20, ``Goodlatte's record is anti-children'') by Gary Waldo, liberal Democratic Party activist and teacher-union boss, is a perfect example of how low one will stoop to preserve power and a status quo that's failing our children. The distortions and flat-out falsehoods in his letter are disappointing, but not surprising.
Goodlatte protected funding for important education programs like Head Start and student loans, and increased funding for school-lunch programs. He's strongly committed to our schools. Both of his children attend Roanoke public schools, and he and his wife are longtime members of their local Parent-Teacher Association.
The difference between Goodlatte's positive, proven accomplishments for our families and the negative, slash-and burn campaign being run by the Democrats couldn't be more clear.
PATSY T. KILGORE
ROANOKE
Radford residents support Covington
I WANT to include my name and that of my family on the growing list of residents of Radford who strongly support the administration of Dr. Douglas Covington, president of Radford University.
I am a lifelong resident of Radford, having lived here for the past 86 years. I believe I have as close an association with the university as anyone in this area. My mother and father were married on its campus in the early 1900s; my cousin was either the second or third person to register at the Radford State Normal School for Women in 1913; my mother, my wife and I attended Radford College; and my son, daughter and daughter-in-law are graduates of the university. During the 1930s and 1940s, my mother kept more than 30 nieces and cousins during the summer months to enable them to teach in the winter and work on their degrees in the summer.
I was appalled recently to read and hear of an alleged move by some members of the Board of Visitors to try to remove Dr. Covington as the university's president.
Having been involved in service to my community for the past 49 years (volunteer fireman; service on the rescue squad, recreation commission and School Board; a member of Radford City Council and currently vice mayor), I pride myself on keeping my finger on the pulse of Radford. The university's students and Radford's citizens are outraged, and rightly so, at the attempt to undermine one of the finest gentlemen I've ever known.
I request that Gov. George Allen put the Board of Visitors on notice that evaluations are fine (even though we haven't had one for more than 20 years) but that these must be done in a highly professional manner.
I look forward to many years of superb leadership and growth under Dr. Covington's guidance.
DAVID A. WORRELL
Radford's vice mayor
RADFORD
Mad Dads program is needed in Salem
I AM a teen-ager, and a lot of my friends get in trouble having drugs or some illegal substance or illegal weapons. When I read your Sept. 25 editorial (``Real men don't turn their backs''), I agreed with it. I think Salem should have the Mad Dads program because Salem is going to start to be a bad neighborhood to live in for years to come.
MELANIE BARGER
SALEM
Don't sink to alley cats' level
I AGREE 100 percent with Diana Wimmer's thoughts (Oct. 17 letter to the editor, ``America resembles the Roman Empire'').
If this country's citizens vote to reinstate elected officials whose morals are those of alley cats, obviously we're stooping to their level. Don't we all aspire to raise our children to be honorable, patriotic, unselfish citizens who contribute to society and upgrade the morals and standards of our country?
When we cast a vote, we send a clear message to our children revealing our values. Then the issue becomes the credibility of our reputation and character. If something isn't done soon to reverse present trends within our society, our grandchildren will exist, not live, in anarchy.
Think before you vote. Elect statesmen - not cheap, slick politicians.
ERNEST W. STONE
ELK CREEK
What will giver get in return?
SOCCER MOMS read on! To quote The Washington Post of Oct. 20: `` the Democratic National Committee has returned a $20,000 political contribution from a convicted Miami cocaine smuggler [who] was invited to a political reception attended by Vice President Gore in Miami and a pre-Christmas event at the White House.''
The article goes on to say that the donor had had previous arrests besides his most recent conviction for possessing nearly 6,000 pounds of cocaine.
I think I'll vote for Bob Dole.
DAVID WALLACE
CHRISTIANSBURG
LENGTH: Long : 101 linesby CNB