THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 26, 1995 TAG: 9510250149
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
LENGTH: Medium: 79 lines
City Council `on a roll'
Kudos to the Suffolk City Council for becoming more involved in budgetary matters, demanding that their requests to management not be shrugged off.
Council unhappiness was in reference to the method in which the financial records were being maintained - or shortage thereof - on the Water Resources Recovery Fee and the use of these funds in violation of the purpose of the WRRF. Over the years, this has been brought to the attention of past city councils and administrations and the present council and city administration on many occasions, most recently in appearances before council on July 19 and Oct. 4. It fell on deaf ears. Thanks to the council members who were willing to finally address this subject.
Now that council is on a roll, they should become more involved in the budget. Their next area should be the administration of the Compensation Plan. You know, it is not so bad being labeled a ``Chronic Malcontent'' after all.
Talmadge C. Jones
Harbor Road
Suffolk
Thanks, Samaritan
Thursday morning, Oct. 12, on Lake Kilby Road around 7 a.m., our family's Golden Retriever was struck and killed as he was walking across the street in front of the house by a neighbor from down the street.
``Teddy Bear'' was escorting our 15-year-old daughter to wait for the school bus as he usually did. Imagine the horror she experienced, and continues to relive, as she watched helplessly as the blue van barreled down on her pet and, after hitting him, didn't even stop. The dog never got up. He never knew what happened. A very kind and compassionate man driving a pickup happened by a little later, and he did stop and help me put Teddy Bear into my car for his last ride back up to the house. I don't know who this gentleman was, but I do hope he somehow will get this message that I sincerely appreciate his words of comfort and his assistance, and thank him from the bottom of my heart.
Mrs. Calvin E. Piland
Lake Kilby Road
Suffolk
More bad weather
The 1995 hurricane season has been the third busiest hurricane season in the past 125 years. Only the years 1933 and 1936 were stormier.
Farmers in the East complained of excessively high summer temperatures. In Europe, from Spain to Greece to normally cool Britain, a grinding heat wave pushed temperatures well above the 100 degree mark. Heavy rains over southern Florida in October resulted in flooding beyond belief, destroying not only houses but also people.
Are these indications of what is to come? Maybe, so let's look at the records. At the end of every second sunspot cycle (approximately every 22 years), much of the United States and southern Canada undergo weird and extreme weather conditions - sometimes drought, sometimes cold, sometimes both.
If past history is any indication, the years 1996 and/or 1997 may prove to be some of the most hazardous years of the past 100 years, because they are the final years of sunspot cycle No. 22.
Many of us can remember the dust bowl days of the early and mid 1930s, at the end of Cycle No. 16. Many of us can also remember the very dry weather of the early and mid 1950s, the end of Cycle No. 18; and all of us should be able to remember the record breaking cold temperatures of the 1976/77 winter, the end of Cycle No. 20.
These facts alone should be enough to worry about, but added to the above is the fact that the infamous El Nino is not in existence and should not return for at least another two or three years. Heavy rains this past summer over Africa suggest that the Jet Stream is also off its regular path. So, when we add all the known facts together, the only conclusion this writer can come to is one of almost complete disaster, as far as the weather is concerned.
Boyd E. Quate
Meteorologist
Indian Trail
Suffolk by CNB