THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, September 24, 1995 TAG: 9509220180
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 04 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Sun Spots
LENGTH: Medium: 75 lines
9 a.m. - 7-Eleven parking lot, Chuckatuck
After loading the somewhat bewildered, but happy golden retriever, Wally, into her car, the woman notices the needle on the fuel gauge plunging below empty. Meanwhile, Wally, overjoyed at venturing beyond his Chuckatuck Lane pen, dances around the front seat. His excitement grows when the car stops in front of a gas tank - until he finds out he is destined to stay in the car.
That's when the 60-pound animal takes control of the situation. Lunging across the driver's seat - and the driver - Wally yanks the woman out of the car and across the parking lot. After several unsuccessful attempts to entice the animal back into the car, the woman gives up and pumps her gas under the supervision of her unruly dog. Then the dog boldly leads his frustrated owner across the parking lot and into the convenience store to pay for the purchase.
The woman's frustration melts away as the dog graciously leaps back into the car. Little does Wally know that he is headed for the vet's office for shots.
- Allison T. Williams
10:05 a.m. - General District Court clerk's office, Franklin
All in a day's work, perhaps.
Answer the phone, handle walk-in customers, keep up with the reams of paper work, prepare the court docket, take payments, answer questions, watch a toddler while her mom argues a case before the judge.
Well, baby-sitting isn't among the regular duties of the court clerks, but this morning an attorney was in a bind. She had a court case but no sitter for her 3-year-old.
Brenda Nance, one of the clerks, keeps an eye on the child while talking on the phone.
``We do a little of everything,'' she says. ``Having had children, it's no problem.''
- Susie Stoughton
9:15 a.m. - Carolina Highway, Suffolk.
It looks so natural.
The red, white, blue bus belonging to First Baptist Church, Main St., needs work.
Tire rotation? Alignment? No matter. The church bus is at home at Preacher's Tire Service/Preacher's Truck Alignment.
Not many preachers can do that kind of work.
- Frank Roberts
1:25 p.m. - Lee Street, approaching Clay Street, Franklin
The woman watches the pickup just ahead in the lane to her right because the driver's door looks like it isn't closed tightly.
Just as the vehicles turn onto Clay Street, the door suddenly pops open. Out tumbles a dark brown dachshund, sliding on its side across the pavement in front of the woman's car.
Brakes squeal. Doggy paws wiggle. Brake lights flash, warning approaching cars of danger.
A man's arm reaches out and scoops up the dog, waves a thank-you to the woman and closes the door - which still looks ajar.
The vehicles drive on, the woman hoping the man can get home safely with the little doggy.
- Susie Stoughton ILLUSTRATION: Staff photo by MICHAEL KESTNER
Left to right, Rick VanOrden, William West, Thomas Keeling (back)
and Pete Carr react as Carr's ball disappears into the cup on the
ninth hole during the Sentry Invitational Golf Extravaganza at the
Suffolk Golf Course on Sept. 6.
by CNB