Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, March 30, 1995 TAG: 9503300061
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: RAY REED
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
E.M., Roanoke
A: There are huge differences in size and dates for these two pedestrian bridges.
And the cost difference is phenomenal: $194,000 at Virginia Western in 1985, and $5.3 million for construction alone on the hotel bridge a decade later.
They're both glass-enclosed bridges for walking, but there aren't many other parallels.
Virginia Western's bridge is 150 feet long and strictly functional; Hotel Roanoke's is 390 feet long and designed to blend with the hotel and City Market area.
The hotel bridge will have escalators, plus elevators for handicapped access, and amenities to make the walk a sightseeing experience.
There was no deadline for the contractor on the campus bridge; the hotel bridge has a compressed schedule with penalty clause if finished later than Aug. 1 - a definite cost inflator.
How much for lunch?
Q: How much money did the federal government give for school lunches in the Roanoke Valley last year and this year, and how much will come next year? I want actual numbers.
D.W., Daleville
A: Roanoke, Roanoke County and Salem received $2.8 million in 1993-94 and expect to receive $2.9 million for this school year.
Nobody can say what will arrive next year because of three things: the number of lunches to be served isn't known; the current debate in Washington on how much money to provide and how to send it; and how the state will distribute the federal funds it receives.
It was hard to tell in the past couple of weeks whether next year's lunch money will be more, less or the same. Republicans in Congress said their plan would mean more money for lunches; Democrats said the plan cuts funding.
Jane Logan of the state Department of Education said the average citizen probably won't notice much difference in lunch prices next year.
You asked for actual numbers, so here are the cash reimbursements given by the feds last year and this year, straight from three local cafeteria supervisors:
For 1993-94: Roanoke $2,038,024, Roanoke County $529,848, and Salem $229,149.
For this year: Roanoke $2,150,195, Roanoke County $540,345, and Salem $242,047.
Roanoke's figures are high because just over half the 12,776 students receive free lunches.
Federal support goes into every lunch, though, including full-price meals.
Got a question about something that might 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