Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, December 21, 1993 TAG: 9312210028
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Ray Reed
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
D.P., Roanoke
A: Your landmark bridge stands secure in Serb-held territory in Bosnia, and there is no military action WHAT'S ON YOUR MIND RAY REED in the vicinity, The Associated Press reports.
Built of stone, the bridge has survived almost 500 years in a land filled with the influences of many passing empires.
The three-sided civil war raging there has wiped out almost 2,500 historic structures as the armies seek to cleanse disputed territories of both ethnic peoples and treasures of the past that give them a sense of homeland.
Your favorite bridge and the one at Mostar both were built in the 1500s by the Ottoman Turkish empire. One guidebook said the arched Mostar bridge's stones were held together solely by mortar made from eggs and goat hair. Reportedly, 60 tank shells were needed to bring it down.
Out with the old
Q: We don't understand the 450 appointed state employees receiving notices from Gov.-elect Allen requesting their resignations. I assumed there would be a great many more employees on a list such as this. L.F., Fincastle
A: Allen's transition team requested a list of employees early in November. The state's Department of Personnel and Training provided 800 or more names of non-classified employees, not knowing why the transition team wanted them, the governor's spokesman says.
Included were many executive-branch agency heads and people who report to them.
From that list, Allen and his transition team picked 450 they wanted to concentrate on.
They intended to target people in policy-making positions, or who handle confidential matters or hold political appointments.
As it turned out, several who were invited to resign were not policy-makers and did not get their jobs in repayment for political favors - they were career state employees.
Late last week, Allen dropped his demand for their resignations. He still wants those 450 to reapply for their jobs, if they wish to stay on.
Got a question about something that may affect other people, too? Something you've come across and wondered about? Give us a call at 981-3118. Maybe we can find the answer.
by CNB