Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, December 29, 1993 TAG: 9312290046
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: Ed Shamy
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
January
Ed Shamy's column vanishes from the pages of the Roanoke Times & World-News. He leaves for a new position in a new place, but first he wants to thank each of you for 4 3/4 fun years: Thanks.
Roanoke police horse goes bonkers, stampedes a group of Franklin County second-graders visiting Center in the Square.
The New Century Council, in a series of three-hour meetings with a highly paid facilitator, decides that circular tables would be more suitable for their task, but rectangular tables can be used for lunchtime sessions.
February
Trash train en route to Smith Gap Landfill parks at grade crossing in Roanoke for nine hours; furious commuters ransack train; methane fire lights up valley for three weeks.
During a simultaneous craft show, country music concert and hockey game at the Roanoke Civic Center, frustrated visitors park on the roof, which collapses. Hockey team explores move to LancerLot.
Bedford County Sheriff Carl Wells says he opened the Swiss bank account only on the advice of a state accountant - now deceased - and he only bought the condominium in the Cayman Islands because a real estate appraiser - now deceased - told him to.
March
William Gray, the Roanoke psychiatrist, tells a state panel he once counseled the four-legged lover of President Bill Clinton.
Roanoke wants Amtrak and Roanoke wants Interstate 73 and Roanoke wants a road to Smith Mountain Lake and Roanoke wants a Nintendo game and a sled and a Barbie and a Hot Wheels set.
First Baptist Church needs more parking; Roanoke City Council votes unanimously to sign over to the congregation the deeds to Franklin Road, the municipal building and all parks in the city.
April
Montgomery County citizens divide over use of "spring break." Some purists believe it implies that something is broken. School board renames the weeklong vacation "spring lull."
Smith Mountain Lake property owners ask state for permission to ban riffraff who occasionally try to glimpse the lake without first purchasing a $375,000 waterfront home.
Bedford County Sheriff Carl Wells says he may have bought some groceries with his combined personal-sheriff's department bank account, but only because a produce manager - now deceased - told him it was legal.
May
To satisfy the electorate's penchant for playing it safe, Roanoke exhumes the remains of four former City Council members and puts their names on the ballot. Each wins a seat on council.
Renegade band of bicycle haters - a peculiar breed native to the Roanoke Valley - uses pickup truck to run over Tour DuPont cyclists on Twelve O'Clock Knob.
Explore Park opens. Both visitors on gala opening day say they've had a nice time and will come back - if their moms let them.
June
Former Gov. Douglas Wilder and soon-to-be-former U.S. Senator Chuck Robb fight a three-round outdoor boxing exposition. Robb floors Wilder with a left to the jaw in the second round; Wilder uses a hidden dagger in his glove to spear Robb just before the final bell sounds.
Horse flies lured by Roanoke police horses attack vendors at City Market.
Schools close for summer vacation; Roanoke to spend $2 million to bribe bored youths not to fire at or mug adults, another $4 million to pay adolescents not to use drugs.
Keywords:
YEAR 1994
by CNB