On the committee, jobs and no crowd

By Published by The Editorial Board

Published: July 26, 2008

What a place for Walter to be

To the editor:

In 2004, state Sen. Charles Hawkins nominated Walter Coles to serve on the Roanoke River Basin Advisory Committee. The VRRBAC is an advisory committee to the Virginia delegation to the Roanoke River Basin Bi-State Commission.

The commission’s purpose is to provide guidance and make recommendations to local, state and federal legislative and administrative bodies regarding use, stewardship and enhancement of the basin’s water and other natural resources. The commission provides a forum for a discussion of the issues affecting the basin’s water quantity, quality and other natural resources. It also identifies basin-related problems, recommends appropriate solutions, undertakes studies and prepares, publishes and disseminates information through reports.

The Senate Rules Committee reappointed Coles in 2006. During Coles’ second term, he formed Virginia Uranium Inc. and began uranium exploration in Pittsylvania County. Coles’ term expired on June 30, but he was reappointed and he will serve through 2010.

When the General Assembly convenes next session, Virginia Uranium Inc. Lobbyist Whittington W. Clement will be lobbying on behalf of VUI regarding “Matters relating to the establishment of a regulatory program controlling development of Virginia’s uranium resources.”

I guess some can have their (yellow) cake … and eat it, too.

KAREN B. MAUTE

To the editor:

Regarding the letter, “I’d rather have those 12 jobs back,” (July 24, page A10), if it’s true about the job layoffs at your newspaper, it would surely be a disgrace. This is such a heartless act.

I hope your readers will rally behind these ex-employees and cancel their subscriptions to your newspaper until you restore their jobs. Who in their right mind would rather see color pictures than to see people employed?

SIDNEY RUDD

To the editor:

Regarding the story, “Perriello on tour,” (July 22, page A4), I was at Mary’s Diner when Democratic congressional candidate Tom Perriello showed up late for his meeting with area small business leaders. The meeting, according to Perriello’s Web site, was to present his ideas for the economic revival of the 5th District. When I arrived, I found your reporter waiting upstairs in the large banquet room at Mary’s Diner where the meeting was supposed to take place.

However, once Perriello arrived and it was clear that other than him, his staff and two reporters, there were only three others — including myself — who showed up for this stop on his tour, the campaign relocated to the main level of Mary’s Diner where folks were trying to enjoy their lunch.

I’m guessing that more people in the background makes for better pictures than a large, empty room. Despite the turnout, I still anxiously awaited hearing what plan Perriello had for revitalizing our economy, but instead he asked me what I thought should be done. I replied, “Well, that’s the reason I’m here; I thought you were going to tell me.” After some nervous laughter, he asked his communications director to hand me a brochure. I began to examine the brochure, and he immediately changed the subject to something else. His brochure was short on substance and long on generalizations. I’m still not sure what his plan is!

I’m not surprised that the article failed to accurately report on the flop for the campaign stop at Mary’s Diner, since I heard your reporter mention how much she liked Barack Obama and that she grew up in the same neighborhood as him in Chicago. As for the line from her story, “A number of people at Mary’s Diner noted that they were ready for Goode to go,” I wonder which of the other two non-staffer/non-reporters at the small business leaders meeting said that, since I know it was not me.

When we were awaiting Perriello’s arrival, your reporter also informed me of the Republican Women’s meeting that was taking place in the other banquet room at Mary’s Diner. I find it funny how the article didn’t mention that this crowd of obvious Goode supporters outnumbered — by far — those present who supported Perriello. I hope future reporting will be a bit more balanced.

RONNIE MAYHEW

Dry Fork