ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, January 9, 1996 TAG: 9601100040
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
Public works crews are plowing and salting day and night, trying to clear major and secondary roads.
But they're asking residents to be patient a little longer.
High winds in the New River Valley on Sunday and Monday meant roads that had been cleared ended up covered - again - in slick, powdery snow.
Crews are trying to focus on main thoroughfares first.
For an update on road conditions, call (800) 367-ROAD.
Meanwhile, local governments were optimistic that conditions would be better by this morning. Events that were canceled on Monday were rescheduled for tonight.
But before you go wading through the snow to get to a council or board meeting, call and make sure there has been no rescheduling.
As of Monday afternoon, tonight's Town Council meeting was still planned in Blacksburg.
Montgomery County's Board of Supervisors meeting has been rescheduled for tonight.
The Montgomery County School Board meeting will be scheduled for 6:30 tonight at the board's office on Junkin Street. The meeting originally had been scheduled for later this evening at the Christiansburg Primary School.
The Pulaski Board of Supervisors meeting has been postponed until further notice and the Radford City Council meeting scheduled for Monday night has been rescheduled for tonight at 7:30.
Meanwhile, Gary Heinline, program supervisor for New River Valley Senior Services, is focusing his energy on Wednesday.
As he sees it, that day is key for getting food and help to senior citizens. By then, the roads should be clear enough for workers to deliver meals to the elderly and fuel, if necessary. He wants to get them extra food, too, in preparation for a storm that's expected to hit the New River Valley at the end of the week.
"We'll just have to get out and get it done," he said.
Heinline's clients have been eating canned spaghetti, beef stew and other prepared items since his Meals On Wheels crew couldn't make deliveries Monday.
Those clients who can heat their food do, he said. "Some may have to eat it cold, but it's better than nothing."
Because his agency's vans don't have 4-wheel drive, Heinline said he will likely be calling on local governments and the National Guard for help making deliveries.
He'll be calling on them today, too, to get those who need nonemergency medical treatment to the doctor. Most appointments for kidney dialysis are on Tuesdays and Thursdays, he said. Monday, he was unable to arrange transportation for a Pearisburg woman to a Roanoke cancer center where she goes for treatment. Her son was trying to find a vehicle to get her there.
"Those who can postpone appointments, we'll try to get to postpone them," Heinline said. "We'll do our best to get the rest to the doctors they need to go to - assuming that doctor is working."
LENGTH: Medium: 59 linesby CNB