THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, November 20, 1994 TAG: 9411180163
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 08 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines
``The Lord knows what we need,'' says Melvin Copeland, one of the volunteers building a new home for a needy neighbor.
For more than a month, Copeland and four or five other men have worked steadily every week day on the project, hoping to get the house closed in before bad weather arrives. But their noisy hammering and sawing stops on weekends because of church services - their own on Sundays and those of the church next to the site on Saturdays.
Copeland awoke on a recent Friday, he says, weary from the week's labors and rejoiced when he looked out the window.
``Just when I was so tired,'' he says, ``he sent the rain.''
- Susie Stoughton 5 p.m. - Parking lot off Saratoga Street, behind the Community Health Center and The Sun offices
The newcomer to Suffolk pauses a moment, marking the time of day and noting how early dusk arrives this time of year.
Then for some reason, though he's passed through this parking lot many times over the last few weeks, he's suddenly aware that he is standing between two banks: Crestar on the one side, Bank of Hampton Roads on the other.
Then he notices the other banks within sight.
Central Fidelity. NationsBank.
``So,'' he thinks to himself as he heads for his car, ``this must be the Financial District.''
- Don Naden 1:30 p.m. - U.S. Route 17, Bennetts Creek
Holy cow, Eloise is back! The 4-foot-tall Guernsey masquerading as a Holstein is perched again atop the Bennett's Creek Farm Market, where she had stood for more than 25 years before cattle rustlers ran off with her last spring.
The thieves, unable to loosen one of the bolts that held her in place, broke off her left hind leg and made off with the three-hoofed heifer in the night.
Fortunately, Eloise was later found, forlornly leaning against a basketball goal at a nearby elementary school. Her owners promised to patch her up, have her repainted and her broken bone mended, though the operation would likely be costly and time-consuming. For a while, Eloise was propped against the front wall of the store.
The woman driving by, who obviously hasn't been in the Bennetts Creek area recently, is glad to see that Eloise is back where she belongs.
- Susie Stoughton WEDNESDAY, NOV. 16 1:30 p.m. - In front of LOC, Suffolk Shopping Center
The Salvation Army volunteer, a rain coat and plastic rain bonnet providing little protection from the chilling rain, rings the bell beside the kettle.
``You're out early this year, aren't you?'' asks the customer, searching through her pocketbook for some change.
``Well, the need is greater this year,'' the bell ringer says. ``Every year I say, `This is my last year.' But here I am, back again. This is my 11th year.
``They just can't get anybody to work.''
- Susie Stoughton ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by JOHN H. SHEALLY II
What a toy!
This Nash Metropolitan convertible was spotted on Main Street in
Smithfield. The license plate says ``WND MEUP.'' Now, granted, the
car is dated, but a wind-up toy?
by CNB