ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Monday, August 5, 1996 TAG: 9608050029
SECTION: EDITORIAL PAGE: A-4 EDITION: METRO
TYPE: LETTERS
THE CONVERSION of Mowles Spring Park into a golf course would be a tragedy as it would rob Salemites and others of the opportunity to relish this wonderful civic asset.
Although it's in the city, the park allows one to feel as if the bustle and troubles of the urban world are far away. Over the years I have formed cherished memories while at the park for family, school and social gatherings. While Longwood and Moyer parks are nice places to have a picnic, both pale beside Mowles Spring.
A golf course would completely destroy the park's ambience and restrict its enjoyment to those who play the game. Besides, the Salem area already boasts one satisfactory municipal golf course and a relatively new private course at Hanging Rock. If the Roanoke Valley can support another course, private investors should raise the money and assume the financial risks involved.
In addition to the restoration of the picnic areas, I think that the former landfill and some of the other space at the park should be used to develop recreational opportunities that are lacking in Salem, such as hiking and biking trails that could become part of a valleywide greenway network. The cost to develop and maintain such facilities should be a pittance compared with a golf course, particularly if current projections for expenses and revenues turn out to be too optimistic.
However, even if the golf course makes sense on the bottom line, the price of losing one of the few remaining natural areas of Salem makes this plan much too expensive.
KEVIN BLACKWELL
SALEM
County educators tops in the field
MANY opinions have been expressed in your newspaper recently about the Roanoke County schools where I just completed a one-year assignment. May I share mine with you?
My position found me in different schools on an almost daily basis, helping students, teachers and administrators learn more about computers and related technologies. This experience provided me with a great deal of grass-roots insight.
I've had the opportunity to work in a variety of educational settings - from preschool to advanced university-research projects, but I must tell you that the teachers and staff at the Roanoke County schools are the finest, most dedicated group of educational professionals I've ever had the pleasure to know.
PAUL ROSSI
BLACKSBURG
Leadership isn't gender-based
IN 1976, the U.S. Military Academy, in its wisdom, admitted women students for the first time. West Point and other service academies continue being the best military colleges in the world, supplying the best armed forces with the best male and female officers.
Officers are made great through leadership, determination and patriotism - not masculine power. When potential cadets are rejected because of sex rather than the said traits, many of the best applicants are eliminated.
The U.S. service academies have prospered from admitting women, so it's logical to assume civilian colleges such as Virginia Military Institute will also prosper.
BRIAN LUEDKE
ROANOKE
Let volunteers come to the rescue
IN REGARD to the July 7 news article, ``Fighting Fire with Fewer'': My understanding is that there are only paid firefighters.
I'm an honorary rescue member from the county where I used to live (in Mineral). I would like to serve in Roanoke city, but it doesn't use volunteers. I have a good-paying job, and would not want to quit. But I would like to help. I have talked to others who feel the same as I do.
Maybe it's time for the city and county to think about integrating volunteer members with paid staffs to help them out when needed. I know they are a good group of people, but sometimes good people need help.
LESTER CANADY
ROANOKE
Plans for Radford plant are troubling
THE CONCLUSIONS of an environmental-assessment report for converting the TNT facilities at the Radford Army Ammunition Plant to high-volume production of commercial DNT, a known carcinogen, were that the project ``will not result in a significant impact to the environment,'' and, therefore, ``an environmental impact statement is not required.''
Several areas of the report concern me deeply:
The hazardous nature of the component feedstocks and byproducts aren't clearly defined beyond the potential cancer threat to workers from the DNT.
The TNT facility hasn't been used recently. The equipment is subject to age stress, and any leaks may lead to unprocessed water runoff flowing directly into Stroubles Creek.
The New River will be used for treated wastewater, with an ``acceptable'' permit level of DNT. I don't believe any level of contaminant should be allowed. No mention is made of acceptable levels of other byproducts and feedstocks.
While discounting environmental effects, the report admits that toxic-release inventory emissions for toluene, DNT and nitric acid ``will increase in association with the proposed action.''
Many of the TNT production components may be old and/or built in less environmentally restricted times. In my opinion, all facilities should be held to the currently applicable environmental standards for new commercial ventures.
I urge everyone to request a copy of the environmental-assessment report and read it. Further study should be done, a public hearing should be held, an environmental-impact statement should be completed, and the facility should be checked more critically before the production of DNT is allowed. In any event, an environmentally safer alternative for DNT in polyurethane-foam manufacture should be sought.
SANDRA L. GREENLEE
NEWPORT
The SPCA project is welcomed
WE LIVE a short distance from the proposed site for the new SPCA shelter and have no objection at all to it being in this area.
We shop at the stores and restaurants involved, and intend to do so in the future after the shelter is built. There should be no problem, since the animals will be indoors and there will be the ventilation system as proposed.
It is time that the SPCA be allowed to pursue the project that has been in the planning stage for years.
RACHEL AND ED BOWERY
TROUTVILLE
Too much boozing at the ballpark
WHEN IS it ever going to stop?
I am a regular patron of the Salem Avalanche baseball program. The alcohol consumption in the ballpark makes me sick. People get obnoxious and rude, using foul language. I am tired of listening to it.
I think there should be a cut-off point for patrons. Why not limit each patron to three alcoholic beverages a night? Or is the club only interested in the almighty dollar?
There are patrons coming in there three sheets to the wind when they arrive. I don't think they should be allowed inside the park. Can't the baseball park be held legally liable for serving alcohol to an already intoxicated person?
Come on, people, wake up! Money is not everything.
TERESA K. ARGABRIGHT
ROANOKE
LENGTH: Long : 145 linesby CNB