DATE: Saturday, November 22, 1997           TAG: 9711220384

SECTION: LOCAL                   PAGE: B2   EDITION: FINAL 

                                            LENGTH:  130 lines

HAMPTON ROADS [BRIEFS]

REGION

TV special examines

Iraq/U.S. relationship

after gulf war

Recent tensions between Iraq and the United States may have quieted somewhat in the last couple of days.

But U.S. military men and women, including thousands from Hampton Roads, are still on standby in the Persian Gulf. And questions linger about Iraq's willingness to abide by the terms of diplomatic agreements designed to keep peace in the Middle East.

WVEC-TV 13, The Virginian-Pilot and Local News on Cable will examine the United States' past, present and future relationship with Iraq in ``Assignment Iraq: After the Gulf War.''

The half-hour special will air tonight at 10 p.m. and Sunday at 1 and 4 p.m. on LNC, and Sunday at 11:30 a.m. on WVEC-TV 13. Portsmouth

Churches rotate schedule

to shelter the homeless

Eleven churches have signed up to shelter the homeless on a rotating schedule under the umbrella of the Portsmouth Volunteers for the Homeless.

St. Paul's Catholic Church at 463 Washington St. will take the first week, beginning Sunday.

Cradock Baptist Church will provide shelter from Nov. 30 to Dec. 6.

Anne Long, secretary of the PVH board, said that the organization needs more sheltering churches, as well as downtown churches willing to serve as registration sites for homeless people who need transportation to outlying churches. And transportation also is a problem.

The organization has five participating churches that are in the suburbs of Portsmouth and Western Branch but there is not enough adequate transportation to get the homeless to the churches, Long said. Churches and organizations are encouraged to provide buses and vans on certain days.

Anyone who can help should call Margaret Lewis at 393-4600. Chesapeake

Jammed bridge jams up traffic in Great Bridge

Rush-hour traffic backed up more than usual on Battlefield Boulevard Friday afternoon when the Great Bridge Bridge got stuck in the up position.

The bridge jammed from 4 p.m. until 4:20, and then was open again from 5 p.m. until 5:21 while electricians worked on the problem, said Bill Brown, public affairs officer with the Army Corps of Engineers, which operates the bridge.

Brown expected no more problems, but said an electrician would be standing by throughout the night just in case.

Cancer Treatment Center

to take the name Oman

The Cancer Treatment Center at Chesapeake General Hospital will take the name of former mayor Sidney M. Oman.

The Chesapeake Hospital Authority voted Thursday to name the 2-year-old facility after Oman, who is a survivor of prostate cancer.

The center, which provides radiation therapy for patients, opened in May 1995 and has seen a steady increase in the number of patients treated. It serves 40 to 45 patients a day, Monday through Friday.

Oman, who owns and operates Oman Funeral Homes, is a former member of the Hospital Authority and has been active in hospital programs.

The official dedication of the center will be sometime next year.

NORFOLK

School food drive sets

record: over 2,000 items

Students at St. Helena Elementary have collected more than 2,000 items in their annual Thanksgiving food drive which ended Friday. In previous years, the school collected about 100 items.

But this year's food drive was different for St. Helena. The school, which has more than 90 percent of its students on a free-and-reduced lunch program, is giving the food away to the Union Mission.

In the past, the school distributed donations among their student body.

The three classes that bring in the most food will receive a pizza party Wednesday but school officials said the food drive was successful because the students and their families were tired of being on the receiving end of donations.

``This is a bright spot,'' guidance counselor Gayle Gilmore said Friday.

``The community has just come out, it's overwhelming, cans, boxes are everywhere. I can hardly get into my office.''

Pet pictures with Santa benefit Norfolk SPCA

Have your pet's picture taken with Santa Claws and support the SPCA at the same time.

The Norfolk SPCA will offer pet portraits Nov. 28-30 and Dec. 6-7 from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the Janaf PetSmart.

Twenty percent of the proceeds from the sale of all photo packages will go to the SPCA. Prices will range from $5.95 to $45.95.

No appointments are necessary and all types of family pets are welcome.

For more details, call 622-3319 or 455-8618.

SUFFOLK

Boy Scouts to practice skills at Webeloree

The Colonial Virginia Council Number 595 will sponsor a Webeloree today and Sunday at Davis Lakes Campground.

The event is a smaller version of the council's Fall Camporee for Webelos (boys in 4th and 5th grades).

It is an overnight event where the boys practice the skills they will use as Boy Scouts.

Check-in will be from 7 to 8 a.m. today. There will be contests, relays, skits, campfire songs, other activities.

Sunday, there will be a non-denominational service, uniform inspection, a parade of flags, in which flags will be judged for originality and creativity, closing ceremonies and awards.

ALSO. . . Region - Classic Hits/ 106.9 WAFX will conduct a 52-hour radio-thon beginning Monday at 5:30 a.m. to benefit the Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia.

Jeff and M.C. will broadcast live from the Lynnhaven Mall parking lot adjacent to Bennigan's and collect canned and nonperishable food items until Wednesday at 10 a.m.

COMING UP. . . TODAY

Norfolk - The carrier Enterprise will host a Big ``E'' Kids Holiday Carnival from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. to usher in the holiday season. More than 1,500 children and parents from the Enterprise will attend. The carnival will feature Santa Claus, rides, a puppet show, moon bounce and other activities. MEMO: Staff writers Denise Watson, Lewis Krauskopf, Elizabeth Thiel and

Janie Bryant contributed to this report.

Send Suggestions or Comments to webmaster@scholar.lib.vt.edu