ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Tuesday, November 19, 1996 TAG: 9611190100
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: C-1 EDITION: METRO
COLUMN: What's On Your Mind?
SOURCE: RAY REED
Q: Salem said it was putting in a traffic light on West Main Street at Turner Road, beside the expanded Wal-Mart. There's no sign that anything's being done. This is a trouble spot that needs attention. C.E. & L.S., Salem
A: Construction work was supposed to start Nov. 6, Salem City Manager Randy Smith said.
Contractors have blamed the delays on the weather and on parts orders, Smith said.
The project requires a minor realignment of Hurt Lane so it will intersect West Main directly across from Turner Road, avoiding an offset. This portion of the work was under way as of Monday.
The traffic light became necessary because of Wal-Mart's expansion and approval being granted for a retirement community with about 100 units farther up Turner Road.
Pulling another Hank
The phrase "pull a Hank Snow" may be a Roanoke Valley legend, it turns out.
Last Thursday, a reader asked about the expression, and I said it was a reference to Snow's first big hit, "I'm Movin' On."
This got a response from people who were on the scene in Roanoke in 1966, the year Snow appeared at the Vinton Dogwood Festival.
He sang in a concert at William Byrd High School on a Friday night.
On Saturday, according to pre-event publicity, he was to be marshal of the Dogwood Parade. Snow was a no-show that day.
His contract never called for a Saturday appearance in Vinton. The confusion resulted from a miscommunication between the Dogwood Festival's organizers.
The publicity committee learned Snow had signed a contract, assumed it included a parade appearance, and printed a program with Snow on its cover as parade marshal.
After that, any time someone didn't show up where he was supposed to be - like work, for instance - wise guys liked to say he'd pulled a Hank Snow.
Thanks to everyone who called to wise me up.
Your tax vs. ours
Q: I would like a comparison of the amount of tax paid in four countries by families of four. What would the tax amounts be on income totaling $60,000 and $120,000 for families in England, France, Germany and the United States? R.H., Roanoke
A: This sort of comparison isn't often done.
However, The Economist, a news magazine published in London, dealt with the topic in its issue of Dec. 4-10, 1993.
The figures were calculated by Price Waterhouse, an accounting firm. They're based on single income for a family of four, and the income levels are 20,000 pounds ($33,200 at the current exchange rate) and 40,000 pounds ($66,400).
At the lower level, income taxes took the following percentages: 26 percent in Britain, 22 percent in France, 21 percent in Germany and 18 percent in the United States.
The higher income level paid 30 percent in Britain, 27 percent in Germany, 25 percent in the United States and 24 percent in France.
Got a question about something that might affect other people, too? Something you've come across and wondered about? Call us at 981-3118. Or, e-mail RayR@Roanoke.Infi.Net. Maybe we can find the answer.
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