Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: MONDAY, May 1, 1995 TAG: 9505010002
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C4 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE:
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Six months after he was laid off as project engineer at Virginia's Explore Park, Richard Burrow has a new job. Starting today, he's the executive director of Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway, a private, nonprofit group that serves as a citizens' advocate for the scenic highway.
Until now, the Friends group was based in Asheville, N.C., where the parkway itself is headquartered. But with Burrow at the helm, the group also will have a second office in Roanoke, which Roanoke parkway boosters hope will increase the voice they have in parkway matters.
"It'll mean a lot more travel," Burrow says, although he points out that the drive will be a pretty one. "I'd like to drive on the Blue Ridge Parkway any day."
Founded in 1989, the Friends group has been active in efforts to preserve vistas along the scenic road and in raising private funds for additions and improvements to the parkway.
Burrow, along with Explore visionary Bern Ewert, was one of the original planners of the living-history state park along the Blue Ridge Parkway just outside Roanoke - and for nine years was effectively the project's No. 2 man.
It also was Burrow, more than anyone else, who was responsible for overseeing the actual construction of the park, which opened last July. But when Explore went over budget, his was one of seven jobs eliminated. The explanation: With the park open and no further construction imminent, Explore didn't need an engineer.
Burrow's new job will keep him connected with Explore in a way: Some time in the next two years, the Blue Ridge Parkway is scheduled to build a long-delayed access road to Explore.
John Doe No. 2 in Wythe County?
For a short time last week, Wythe County authorities thought they might have the second ``John Doe'' wanted in connection with the bombing of the federal building in Oklahoma.
Sheriff Wayne Pike said a man questioned Thursday concerning $100 missing from the Fox Mountain Inn matched the description of the bombing suspect. He had been in Oklahoma City until two days earlier, was wearing a baseball cap like the second drawing of the suspect, and had a tattoo of a snake on his left shoulder like the bombing suspect.
But when the sheriff's office conferred with federal authorities, it was determined that the man was much larger than the one being sought in the bombing. He and a female companion were escorted to the county line and released after the money was recovered from them.
Two rescuers recognized
The two friends could have called 911 and kept on driving. But they didn't.
Passers-by Elizabeth Lawhorn and Susie Motley returned to the small fire at Hollins Manor on Williamson Road in Roanoke County and began helping dozens of residents out of the adult-care home late April 21.
"Everything happened so quickly," Motley, 32, said.
When police and rescuers arrived, Motley and Lawhorn continued to help the residents. The fire, which started in a dryer, caused mostly minor smoke damage, according to fire investigators.
Last week, Roanoke County Police Chief John Cease recognized the two women by sending them a letter of commendation. Motley and Lawhorn were surprised that anyone would even be impressed by what they did.
"I guess because we knew the people needed help," said Lawhorn, 20. "I thought it was something anyone would have done.''
by CNB