ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, November 18, 1996 TAG: 9611180038
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-3 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: & Now This...
Put that cash back in your pocket and haul out that lonely can of sardines lurking in your cupboard. It'll get you a free ride on Valley Metro this Saturday.
So will a can of candied yams, beets, pickled herring, Vienna sausages, Spam or creamed corn, or any other nonperishable food item.
The bus system is conducting its third annual food collection, joining with the Southwestern Virginia Second Harvest FoodBank to collect food for people in need.
The food bank stocks hundreds of pantries in Southwest Virginia that distribute canned goods and other nonperishable items to thousands of hungry families. It is supported by a number of area social service agencies and churches.
Valley Metro patrons can ride as often as they want this Saturday in exchange for a donated food item each ride. Of course, the bus system will also accept cash.
- DAN CASEY
Elvis is gone; she's in Giles
The lady who used to have the Elvis lamp is living in Giles County.
Anna Faye Dowdy has moved a few times since photographer Carol Burch-Brown took her picture in front of the Elvis lamp in Dowdy's mobile home off Roanoke Street in Blacksburg.
Now, Dowdy owns a house in Giles County, where she lives with her husband, Roger, and her four children: Travis Anderson, 17, Roger Dowdy Jr., 13, Randy Travis Dowdy, 9, and Anna Marie Dowdy, 7.
The photograph of Dowdy in front of her Elvis lamp with a 5-month-old Roger Jr. in her arms appears in Burch-Brown's book, "Trailers." The photo also appeared on the front of Tuesday's Extra section.
At the time the photo was taken, Dowdy was 25 and had a collection of 300 key chains, 40 Avon bottles and assorted Elvis memorabilia and dolls.
The Elvis lamp broke during one of her many moves, she said, and she got rid of the Avon bottles. But her key chain collection has increased to about 1,000, and now she's collecting teddy bears.
She still has a copy of the picture Burch-Brown made for her 13 years ago. "I'm still the same person, just gray-headed," she said.
- MADELYN ROSENBERG
Hamlett buys land back
Roanoke developer Richard R. Hamlett bought back property on U.S. 419 Friday that was being sold by Roanoke County for delinquent taxes.
Hamlett, who previously shared ownership of the 3.67-acre undeveloped tract with used car dealer Robert C. Bell, submitted the winning bid of $27,500 in person, but listed the buyer as Centurion Investment Corp. Hamlett is president of that corporation.
The bid more than covers the $14,650 in delinquent real estate taxes that have been accumulating since 1988. However, it was far below the property's assessed value of $153,900.
The lot is at the corner of Virginia 419 and McVitty Road. It was one of seven parcels sold at the Roanoke County tax sale. Bids totaling $33,650 were received at the sale, which would cover the $18,142 in taxes on all of the land. The auction, held at the Roanoke County Courthouse, became so boisterous that judges in the second-floor courtrooms sent word for the auctioneers to quiet down.
The sales must be approved by a judge before they are final. The confirmation hearing will be 8:30 a.m. Dec. 11. Sales can be rejected if the sale price is far below the assessed value.
After the sales are confirmed, money for delinquent taxes will be deducted from the proceeds. The remainder will be held by Roanoke County Circuit Court for two years so that the owners or their legal heirs can claim it. After two years, the money is turned over to the county, according to Roanoke County Treasurer Alfred Anderson.
In Hamlett's case, it's unclear whether his ex-wife, Debbie Reynolds, would have a claim on that $12,850. Reynolds was awarded $8.9million in property in her divorce from Hamlett earlier this year. Attorneys for Hamlett and Reynolds could not be reached Friday.
- CHRISTINA NUCKOLS
LENGTH: Medium: 79 linesby CNB