DATE: Friday, November 14, 1997             TAG: 9711140636

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B2   EDITION: FINAL 

SOURCE: Staff writers Nia Meeks, Matt Dolan, Susie Stoughton, June

        Arney and Louis Hansen contributed to this report.

                                            LENGTH:  112 lines

HAMPTON ROADS

Forbes announces

he'll run for seat

Earley is vacating

Amid praise from Attorney General-elect Mark L. Earley, Republican Chesapeake Del. J. Randy Forbes officially announced Thursday his intention to run for Earley's 14th District state Senate seat.

Chesapeake School Board member James J. Wheaton, a Democrat, announced last Saturday his candidacy for the same seat, representing parts of Chesapeake and Virginia Beach.

Both announcements came before the governor has even issued a writ for a special election, expected to be held on Dec. 16.

Forbes echoed some of the same themes that dominated the recent gubernatorial race - slashing the personal property tax on cars and trucks, reducing classroom sizes and boosting economic development. ``The deciding vote in the Senate (on a car tax cut) should come from the party that supported it all along,'' he said.

The GOP state chairman also announced that in addition to receiving the endorsement of several prominent local Republicans, Chesapeake Sheriff John R. Newhart, a Democrat, was throwing his support behind Forbes.

Meanwhile Thursday, Wheaton called on Forbes to debate him at least three times during the abridged campaign season, in addition to two candidate forums already scheduled in December.

Waste disposal application

put on hold by planners

The Planning Commission voted 8 to 1 Wednesday to continue the first waste-related business application to come before the commission since a developer abandoned plans for a controversial trash port.

Atlantic Disposal Services applied for a special use permit to build a three-sided building and concrete pad on an 8.5-acre parcel on Barnes Road. The company wants to use the facility to sort construction debris - such as steel, wood and concrete - for recycling, said Greg Dodd, an engineer with Horton & Dodd, who represented the developers. No household refuse would be involved. A three-sided building would shield the recycled material from view.

Several residents, who will meet with the developers to discuss their concerns, said they're wary of new attempts to ``dump on'' South Norfolk.

``If we object to one garbage facility, we should object to all of them,'' Jane McClanahan said before the meeting. McClanahan is a member of the South Norfolk Business Consortium, which voted last week to oppose Atlantic Disposal's application.

Atlantic Disposal was the first business to apply for this new kind of special use permit, required for any facility handling waste in South Norfolk.

The application should be heard again in December. If approved by the Planning Commission, it also will need approval by City Council.

VIRGINIA BEACH

Chinese Americans to hold

meeting, awards banquet

The Organization of Chinese Americans-Eastern Virginia chapter will hold its annual membership meeting and awards banquet at 6:30 p.m. Saturday.

``Mainstream Citizenship into the 21st Century'' will be at the Chinese Community Center, 722 Newtown Road, Virginia Beach.

Tickets cost $25 for adults, $10 for students. For details, call 640-0533 or 467-1628.

SUFFOLK

Man crossing road struck

and killed by vehicle

A man died after being struck by a car as he crossed a highway Wednesday night, police said.

Vernon T. Privott, 58, of the 5900 block of Godwin Blvd. in the Chuckatuck section, was pronounced dead shortly after 9 p.m. at Sentara Norfolk General Hospital. He was flown there by Sentara Nightingale helicopter ambulance.

Privott was hit about 7:40 p.m. as he crossed the highway in front of his house, apparently heading to a convenience store on the other side, said police spokesman Mike Simpkins. Privott, who was wearing blue jeans and a black coat and walking slowly with a cane, was hit by a 1988 Chevrolet driven by Spincil L. Goodwin, 66, of Smithfield, Simpkins said. A witness who was driving behind Goodwin said the victim could not be seen on the dark, rainy night, Simpkins said.

No charges are anticipated.

Open house will kick off

Orlando conservation work

The Orlando Community Development Corporation is holding an open house - complete with music, food and speeches by local luminaries - at its office at 614 Hosier Road on Saturday, at 11 a.m.

The community group established the office to kick off its participation in the Orlando conservation project. The group plans to renovate and rehabilitate 15 homes in the Orlando neighborhood of Suffolk, said OCDC founder Gigi Golden. It is also soliciting contributions to raise $30,000 to acquire additional properties.

The OCDC is also working with the Suffolk Redevelopment and Housing Authority in a coordinated effort to renovate homes and sell them to Orlando residents.

For details, call 925-2139.

NORFOLK

Birthday party will mark

hospital's 20th anniversary

Sentara Leigh Hospital will mark its 20th anniversary with a birthday party on Sunday from 1 to 4 p.m. to celebrate good health and good health care. The public is invited to tour the hospital, see the Sentara Nightingale helicopter and take advantage of free screenings for blood pressure, cholesterol, stroke and more.

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