ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times
DATE: Sunday, January 5, 1997 TAG: 9701060012
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-7 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
NRV Trail landowner will negotiate, not sell
GALAX - Anita Gray Steele has not sold any part of her tract along the still-unopened two-mile stretch of New River Trail State Park to the Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation.
"I have no intention of selling the land at all," the Galax resident said. "I will work with them so people can pass through there ... But I am not selling my land."
Several others who own property in the two-mile stretch, which the state is seeking to buy to complete the 57-mile linear park, had the mistaken impression that Steele had reached an agreement with the state to sell her part of the land. Steele has only discussed allowing the state a right of way through her land, but even that has not been made final.
"I have talked with them in Richmond and they have sent me a couple of letters," she said. "I'm certainly not fighting a battle with them. If someone wants to ride a bicycle through there, or ride a horse through there, I have no objection to that ... I will work with them so people can pass through there."
But she wanted it made clear that she has no plans to sell her land, now or ever.
The park, on a former rail bed donated to the state by Norfolk Southern Corp., extends from Grayson County to Pulaski County. Plans are under way to extend it another two miles into the town of Pulaski, to the town's historic train depot building.
Church concert to benefit brother
WYTHEVILLE - A concert to raise money for a man who needs a life-saving bone marrow transplant to fight leukemia will be held Jan. 12 at Holy Trinity Lutheran Church in Wytheville.
Margaret Pitsenbarger, a member of the Wytheville church who works at the Bell Atlantic directory assistance center in Pulaski, is seeking a donor match for her brother, Jay Pitsenbarger, 36. He was diagnosed in September with chronic myelogenous leukemia. Funds raised by the concert will pay for bone marrow testing to seek a match for Pitsenbarger.
A spaghetti dinner will start at 5:30 p.m. followed by a concert by the Rev. Duane Steele of Hillsville at 6:30 p.m. Steele, a pastor in Carroll County, is a well-known pianist and entertainer.
There is no specific charge for the dinner and concert. Participants will give a free-will offering of whatever amounts they want.
The money will help pay for testing to get more people on the National Marrow Donor Program. It costs $47 for someone to be tested.
Margaret Pitsenbarger said of her brother, "His only hope is a bone marrow transplant which must be done in a year. After testing, I found out I can't donate because I don't match his blood components. Jay must now go on a national list to try and find a donor," she said.
The church will be used for the testing itself from 12 noon to 6 p.m. Jan. 30.
Her brother is in Germany with his wife, who is a petty officer in the Navy. They have three sons, ages 8, 3 and 1. His work involves setting up large satellite dishes for military bases, telecommunications companies and other agencies.
Beyond the initial $47 testing fee, she said, her brother's insurance would pick up further medical costs if someone is able to donate bone marrow. Employers are required to give donors the necessary time off from work.
The fund-raiser is being sponsored by Aid Association for Lutherans Branch 7345 and the church's youth group. The Aid Association, a nonprofit insurance and investment company, will match any amount raised up to $15,000.
Further information is available by calling Steve Lovelace, a representative of the national donor program in Roanoke, at 985-3512 or toll-free (800) 553-6735.
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