ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, January 18, 1996 TAG: 9601180031
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-10 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: LETTERS
OUR JAILS and prisons are full and running over. Maybe we could reduce this problem if inmates were put to work. There's no better time as the snows cover us. Are prisoners a chosen lot to lie around in comfort and ease, never exposed to the elements?
Landowners and renters are shoveling away; the old and disabled have to hire people to get it done, if they have the money. Why not put snow shovels in the hands of able-bodied prisoners and let them take care of the disabled whose driveways are covered with deep, drifting snow?
If they get caught up at this task, put them to work on the sidewalks of our towns and cities.
EDWIN R. ROBERTSON
PEARISBURG
Stop picking on pigeons
LET'S rid our city of pigeons. Who needs them? We have too many in our town, right?
Wrong. Man is over all the animals, birds, fish and mammals. What God has put on this Earth, man should have enough sense to know how to deal with, without destroying beauty. When hurt, the pigeon is the only bird that will let you pick it up without pecking you. The trust pigeons place in humans is stupendous. How do we return this trust? By bringing in killer hawks to destroy our beautiful birds - the pigeons.
What happened to birth control? It can be done.
If man can have such little regard for human life, how much less for little birds and animals? Thousands of pigeons were shipped out to be used in practice shoots. Thousands of animals are being killed every day. Labs are full of animals being tormented, supposedly to cure mankind. Of what? Man is so smart that he's dumb.
SANDY MEEK
ROANOKE
Roanoke was unplowed territory
PRIOR to moving to Salem, we had lived in Botetourt County for 35 years, and had grown accustomed to not having roads plowed for several days. We've resided in Salem for approximately four years, and have become pleasantly aware of how well Salem functions.
On Jan. 8, our nearby neighboring streets had been plowed by midday, and our street was plowed by 4 p.m.
We went to Roanoke city to eat the next evening, and were shocked to see the deplorable condition of major streets like Hershberger and Peters Creek roads. After completing our meal, we drove home via various streets (as opposed to Interstate 81 and I-581), and it was very evident that Salem's streets were in far better condition than Roanoke's.
Thanks, Salem, for a job well done!
GEORGE A. BRONSON
SALEM
City workers were on the job
AS I think about our recent government crises, the terms ``essential'' and ``nonessential'' come to mind.
How can we relate this to our recent winter storm? Several weeks we were without certain government services, but we survived. Here in Roanoke we had no postal service or newspaper delivery for two days, and county offices closed for one day.
Guess what? Roanoke city was still going - never lost a day due to the storm. I'm not sure we appreciate our city workers. You certainly cannot compare their pay to that of federal or postal workers, but they reported to their jobs. One employee was on the job at 6:10 a.m. to be sure she was there to issue food stamps.
I wouldn't try to label our city workers either essential or nonessential. Let's just give them a thank-you for being there without any political motives.
COYE WITT
ROANOKE
It's looking good downtown
REGARDING Hoskins Sclater's Dec. 27 letter to the editor, "Costly new bridge should be razed":
He prompts me to suggest that he visit his optician - soon.
This beautiful and functional new bridge, another piece in the invaluable puzzle that is the redevelopment of downtown Roanoke's bright and shining future, doesn't block the view of the Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center. That distinction belongs to the First Union Tower building.
When then-Dominion Bank constructed the tower, it was noted that construction closed off the Hunter Viaduct, and blocked the view of the hotel from the Roanoke City Market area. Foresighted city planners looked beyond this to allow the building to be built, and look at what a dramatic piece of architecture we've added to the valley's skyline.
If anything should be razed, it's that monstrous leg of the viaduct that still stands, lonely and forlorn from days gone by.
Move that corner of downtown Roanoke into the future. Renovate the old Norfolk and Western Railroad passenger station into a modern visitors center, and keep the forward progress while the momentum is there.
WILSON WEAVER
Conference Services
Systems Administrator
Hotel Roanoke and Conference Center
ROANOKE
LENGTH: Medium: 100 linesby CNB