DATE: Wednesday, August 27, 1997            TAG: 9708270598

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B2   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: Staff writers Nancy Young, Linda McNatt, Louis Hansen and Ida

        Kay Jordan contributed to this report.

                                            LENGTH:  103 lines

HAMPTON ROADS

Gov. Allen requests disaster aid for

hard-hit area crops

Farmers watching withered crops in Suffolk, nearby counties and the Eastern Shore could get an ally against the disastrously dry summer weather - the federal government.

Gov. George F. Allen requested Tuesday that the U.S. Department of Agriculture declare Isle of Wight, Buckingham and Northampton Counties and the surrounding region a natural disaster area because of drought conditions.

If U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Dan Glickman makes the declaration, farmers would be eligible for low interest loans and other assistance from the federal government.

Farmers in other localities, including Suffolk, Newport News, and the counties of Surry, Southampton, Accomack, Fluvanna, Albemarle, Cumberland, Prince Edward, Appomattox and Nelson Counties, would also be eligible for aid.

In a letter to Glickman, Allen said that the problem was ``beyond the capabilities of the state and local government.''

The governor estimated that local farmers have lost $15 million due to the drought.

The request for disaster designation comes after inspections by workers from the USDA, the state Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services and the state Department of Emergency Services.

CHESAPEAKE

Superintendent's contract

renewed for 4 more years

The School Board voted unanimously to give Superintendent W. Randolph Nichols a four-year contract to begin in July 1998.

Nichols, whose current contract runs until next June, has been superintendent since 1995 and with the school district for more than 38 years, beginning as a science instructor at Great Bridge High School in 1959.

``You couldn't find a finer person personally, and he's also a terrific superintendent,'' said School Board Chairman Barbara B. Head. She added that Nichols was strong in all the major areas, including instruction, school finance and management of personnel.

Head said the board decided to award Nichols an early contract as a way of showing they were pleased with his performance thus far, which includes implementation of a district-wide school improvement program in which community members worked with school officials to develop district goals.

Earlier this summer, the board gave Nichols a $3,500 raise, bringing his salary to $113,500. Head said Nichols' new contract is identical to his current one and that salary is negotiated every year.

``He's built a real team,'' said Head. ``People look up to him. They don't mind working hard for him, because he works hard for them.''

Confederate Air Force Unit

hosts Gathering of Eagles

The Old Dominion Squadron, local unit of the Confederate Air Force, is hosting Gathering of Eagles this week at Hampton Roads Airport in Chesapeake.

Nearly 25 historic World War II vintage aircraft are on display until Sunday. Other exhibits include period military vehicles, equipment and a military encampment. Memorabilia also will be on sale.

The displays will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Admission is $5 for adults and $2 for children 6-12. Donations will be accepted for cockpit tours of larger aircraft on display.

This weeklong event also will include a World War II-style hangar dance Saturday evening. It will feature a 16-piece dance band and a performance by the Royal Canadian Legion Bagpipers. Tickets are $25. Call 340-1993.

PORTSMOUTH

Consultant in Portsmouth

to work on Vision 2005

Planning consultant Ray Gindroz of Pittsburgh will be in Portsmouth this week to meet with the citizen committees working on the Vision 2005 community and economic development plan.

Today, the I.C. Norcom High School committee will meet at 1:30 p.m., and the Midtown committee will meet at 2:30 p.m.

The Thursday schedule: downtown, 8 a.m.; Ida Barbour, 11 a.m.; Victory Square, noon; Scotts Creek, 3 p.m.; and Cradock, 4 p.m.

All meetings will be held in the Portsmouth Partnership Briefing Center in Central Fidelity Bank, Crawford and High streets. All sessions are open to the public.

ALSO . . .

Chesapeake - The Hampton Roads Republican Alliance of Chesapeake, Norfolk, Portsmouth, Suffolk and Virginia Beach will sponsor its ``5 City Festival'' from 1 to 5:30 p.m. Saturday, Sept. 13, at the Chesapeake Jubilee site.

The event, which will feature entertainment by country music singer John Conlee, will include food and family entertainment.

Advance tickets cost $25 for adults or $10 for children ages 6 to 10. On the day of the event, tickets will cost $30 for adults or $10 for children.

For more information call 431-1061 or 391-9109.

COMING UP

TODAY

Wakefield - The 44th annual meeting of the Peanut Growers Cooperative Marketing Association will be held at 6:30 p.m. today at the 4-H Center. Speakers include congressman Norman Sisisky and Charles Hatcher, director of the tobacco and peanuts division of the Farmers Service Administration.

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