ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, April 14, 1997 TAG: 9704140113
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-4 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: LETTERS
Toll roads make sense for Virginia
RANDY NEWBERRY said (March 26 letter to the editor, ``Toll roads go in the wrong direction'') he was shocked that Clinton supports road tolls. I've been an advocate of toll roads in Virginia for a long time.
Apparently, Newberry hasn't traveled Virginia's interstates lately. They're in constant need of repairs and widening.
Big, heavy freight trucks, six to 10 in a convoy, roar up and down our highways, their stacks belching black smoke and polluting our air, and causing most of the damage to our roads. It's doubtful they pay enough taxes to pay for what they tear up, so let them pay a toll.
Concerning Clinton, Newberry asked: "Do we have a genius in idiot's clothing?" I say no, but we have an idiot that finally says something that makes sense.
JESSE C. HUBBARD
ROCKY MOUNT
Civic center can lower the volume
THE ROANOKE Civic Center's public-address system is driving patrons to deafness. It's so loud that it's at pain level.
An evening at the center for hockey or other entertainment leaves many people with ears buzzing and heads aching. Lower the sound level to one of at least semi-comfort. It's much too loud as it is now.
I think the health department should investigate the sound level to be certain that it will not cause hearing problems for employees and regular attendees.
I've lost some of my hearing over the years, and even I find the loudness uncomfortable. I wonder how much suffering people with normal hearing are experiencing.
If Civic Center managers reduce the public-address system's volume, they might see an increase in attendance for hockey and other events. These certainly would be more enjoyable.
BOB HALL
ROANOKE
Republicans' values are questioned
Liggett Tobacco Co. has confessed to having proof that all the tobacco companies knew that cigarettes were addictive as far back as 1975 (March 21 news article, ``Cigarette maker: It's addictive'').
Instead of spending money for research to remove addictive nicotine from cigarettes, the companies have spent money on Joe Camel and other advertisements to lure teen-agers into addictive behavior.
According to this newspaper, Attorney General Jim Gilmore and Gov. George Allen have no comment. This certainly shows us the value Republicans put on Virginia's children. This is the same crowd that wouldn't accept Goals 2000 funds for education, until they were pressured to do so in an election year.
We in Roanoke should let them know how we feel about this. Our children matter!
PEGGY HAMMOND
ROANOKE
No excuses for not recycling
BECAUSE Roanoke County is stopping its curbside recycling program (March 27 news article, ``Roanoke County ends curbside recycling''), people may stop recycling because it's time-consuming to drive to a recycling area and put recyclables in a bin.
To be able to reuse something instead of throwing it away is a wonderful thing. Those who aren't recycling should think about all their recyclable trash that is filling up landfills.
Recycling programs cost a lot, but they help the environment, which is very important.
KIMBERLY KASTNER
VINTON
VDOT's intentions worry Back Creek
IN THE BACK Creek area of Roanoke County, many citizens are concerned as to how and where the Virginia Department of Transportation will reconstruct U.S. 221. That road and its future dimensions and routing will become a central factor determining the magnitude and character of growth and development in this pleasant rural community for decades to come.
In the summer of 1995, a VDOT-sponsored public survey of more than 800 residents revealed that a lopsided majority of citizens favored improvements to the dangerous S-curve and favored future road improvements in the existing roadway alignment.
This was in response to VDOT's plan to construct a new four-lane highway across what is now pasture, woodlands and farms south of the existing roadway. This type of road would change the character and quality of life in our community, literally laying out an asphalt carpet for rapid suburban development, shopping centers and markedly increased traffic flow.
Acting in response to public opinion, the Roanoke County Board of Supervisors voted in September 1995 to allow VDOT to conduct engineering studies of S-curve improvements but to keep any improvements to the roadway within the existing alignment.
PAC 221 is a group of Back Creek residents who seek to preserve this area's rural quality of life. We support improvements to the S-curve, but remain skeptical about VDOT's long-range plans. We're concerned about engineering studies now being conducted south of the S-curve, and about topographic surveys of land south of the existing roadway as far away as the foot of Bent Mountain. If improvements are constructed south of the existing roadway, we fear construction of VDOT's proposed four-lane highway across virgin lands will follow - despite strong public opinion expressed against this.
GARY H. OBERLENDER
ROANOKE
Snooper wasn't punished enough
REGARDING your March 21 Associated Press article (``Teacher gets 6 months in bathroom taping'') concerning the teacher in Manassas who received a six-month sentence for taping female students while they used the bathroom:
How many women have to be abused, raped, molested and murdered before someone changes the laws and sentences of these offenders? Why are women and young girls ignored by our laws and judges? Someone needs to stop this madness. These judges must not have wives, daughters, granddaughters, nieces and friends who could be in the same position.
Think about it - no privacy even in the bathroom! Kick him out of teaching in schools and boot him into prison.
BONNIE HODGES CHATTIN
SALEM
Don't forget males' role in pregnancy
NOWHERE in your March 23 news article (``Parental notification bill signed'') did it mention the boys or men who got these girls pregnant. Why don't they have to tell their parents or face up to their responsibility?
Will someone tell Gov. George Allen a girl cannot get pregnant by herself? It also takes a male. While a pregnant girl is worrying about what to do, he moves on to the next girl.
How many of these girls has Allen talked to? What does he know about their home situations? If a girl is on good terms with her parents, she isn't likely to get pregnant.
I am not saying I approve of abortions, but I think the man should have to face the responsibility, too.
JULIA M. STULTZ
ROANOKE
LENGTH: Long : 137 linesby CNB