ROANOKE TIMES

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: SUNDAY, September 10, 1995                   TAG: 9509110014
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-10   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Long


AROUND NEW RIVER

Wythe resident wants coal cars covered

RURAL RETREAT - Mary Williams of Rural Retreat is working to require rail coal cars to be covered when they travel through Wythe County.

She said she first noticed coal dust blowing from Norfolk Southern Corp. cars last fall.

"It isn't just when the train goes through," she said. "This is lying in our weeds, our grass, where our kids are being exposed to it at all times. Some of the custodians were wondering where the black was coming from in the school because we no longer have a coal furnace ... It's not just myself that I'm wanting to protect, I want to protect our kids."

Williams contacted NS officials and, at the request of a spokesman there, kept track of the numbers of the trains she thought were spreading the dust. She said she was initially told it was not economically feasible to put covers on the cars.

Officials have since told Williams that they will take steps to correct the problem. But, Williams said last month, "you can look at my roof as of today, and the front [facing the railroad] is black. The back is new-looking."

Wythe professor honored in N.C.

WYTHEVILLE - Jack O. White, director of the Wytheville Community College Concert Band and a music professor at the college, has been honored by Elon College in North Carolina for his 25 years of service as that institution's director of bands.

He received the Elon Medallion, the college's highest award. A former band director at George Wythe High School in Wytheville, he joined the Elon faculty in 1962 and established its first marching band.

He also formed the Emanons, a jazz band, which performed 40 to 50 times each year. Gov. Robert Scott issued a proclamation recognizing White and the Emanons as goodwill ambassadors "privileged to represent the Tar Heel State anywhere in the world."

White, a longtime jazz trumpeter who has performed around the world, was recognized with the Wytheville Community College Distinguished Service Award for establishing its concert band when he moved back to Wytheville. Rehearsals for the 90-member band's fall season start at 7 p.m. Sept. 19 in the George Wythe High band room. For further information, call Dan Jones at (540) 223-4736 or (800) 468-1195.

Printer receives national award

WYTHEVILLE - Bill Gilmer of Wordsprint in Wytheville has received a highest honors award for outstanding business management from the National Association of Quick Printers.

The recognition came for Wordsprint's articulated management vision aimed at replacing manual tracking with an electronic production and quality assurance computer network.

The Chicago-based association of more than 4,000 members honored three quick printing business nationally.

Radford U. president to speak in Pulaski

PULASKI - Radford University President Douglas Covington will address the Sept. 21 membership luncheon meeting of the Pulaski County Chamber of Commerce.

The meeting will be held at the L. Brinkley Eure Education Building at Pulaski Community Hospital from noon to 1:30 p.m. The cost is $10 per person, with reservations due at the chamber office by Sept. 18.

Financial aid may top $2 million

WYTHEVILLE - Wytheville Community College expects to award more than $2 million in financial aid to qualified students during the 1995-96 academic year.

Federal aid includes Pell grants, Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grants, federal work study funds and student loans. More than $36,000 will be given in local private scholarships through the Wytheville Community College Educational Foundation.

Last year, more than 55 percent of the college's students received some kind of financial aid. The average award was $1,845. Further information is available from the financial aid office.

Living wills forum planned Tuesday

WYTHEVILLE - A free community forum on living wills will be held at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church from 7:30 p.m. to 9 p.m. Tuesday in the Social Hall.

The panel will include Dr. Holly Smith, representing the medical viewpoint; lawyer Frank Slavin on the legal perspective; and Donna Weisiger, a hospital social worker. Pastor Steve Ridenhour will be the moderator.

The forum is sponsored by the church's Witness Committee. It will include about 30 minutes of presentations followed by questions.

Wythe educator earns fellowship

WYTHEVILLE - Tresia B. Samani, assistant continuing education director at Wytheville Community College, has been chosen for a chancellor's fellowship, which offers a one-year leave of absence with financial support toward degree completion.

She will receive a $10,000 grant and a one-year leave at half salary to complete her doctorate at Virginia Tech. Samani, who earned her master's degree from Radford University in 1977, is in the dissertation stage of her doctoral program in community college education.

She joined the Wytheville Community College faculty in 1988, and is the second among its faculty members to be chosen as a chancellor's fellow.



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