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July 24 - July 30, 2009
Community | News | Per spective
TheRoanokeStar.com
One Million Approved For Flood Control Project New Ideas P3– Democratic candidate Creigh Deeds was in Roanoke earlier this week to announce his new economic plan.
Congressman Bob Goodlatte has announced that the House of Representatives approved $1.075 million for the flood control project on the Roanoke River. The funding was included in the FY 2010 Energy and Water Appropriations Act. The Roanoke Flood Control Project, an undertaking of the Army Corps of Engineers, includes about 6.2 miles of channel widening along the 10-mile project that will reach through the City of Roanoke and will include construction of a recreation-
al and environmentally beneficial The flood-control project will be greenway along the entire length of built in several phases. The first the Roanoke River through the City phase which has been completed of Roanoke. runs from the regional sewage treat“The House passage of this criti- ment plant in Southeast Roanoke cal legislation is another and up the river toward huge victory for Roanoke. Wasena Park. A ground Roanoke River Pending Senate approval, breaking ceremony for this the funding included in phase was held in October the FY 2010 Energy and Water Ap- 2005 at the 9th Street Bridge located propriations Act brings the total to in Southeast Roanoke. The remainover $35 million that the Congress ing phase will run from Wasena Park has appropriated for the flood con- to the Salem City line. Goodlatte continued, “Numerous trol project thus far,” Goodlatte said.
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times in our city’s history the River has spilled over her banks destroying property and sometimes taking lives. This comprehensive flood control plan will ultimately protect lives and property and this funding will ensure the project continues moving forward.” The Energy and Water Development and Related Agencies Appropriations Act of 2010 will now be referred to the U.S. Senate for further consideration.
[Local Outreach]
Clearbrook Wal-Mart Plans Unfold
Council Tables Amphitheater; Lisk Honored
Roanoke and Chilean Youth Make Big Impact in Virginia
Cave Spring named Top-100 Place to Live Brian Gottstein
Government Muddle P5– Gottstein reports that Governor Kaine changes tack in response to Ken Cuccinelli’s proposal.
Stuart Revercomb
Almost Young P7– Tom Watson and Lance Armstrong almost carry the day for the over-35ers among us.
C a v e Spring Supervisor Charlotte Moore addressed the Clearbrook Civic League last week about several issues, Photo by Gene Marrano including Charlotte Moore the Super cleans up. Wa l - M a r t slated for that southwest Roanoke County neighborhood. Moore had a meeting with Wal-Mart representatives and Roanoke County staffers last week. “Roanoke County staff has given them a list of proffers that need to be met before a building permit can be issued,” said Moore. Development plans haven’t been submitted yet. Buck Mountain Road and Stable Road will be aligned at the stoplight on Rt. 220 but Buck Mountain will not be improved at this time, said Moore. The possibility of installing > CONTINUED P3: County Notes
Gwen Mason discusses her reason for voting against a new amphitheater.
Photo by Paola Frantz
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Impact Tour founder Miguel Hernandez greets visitors at one of the group’s outreach gatherings in a Richmond neighborhood last week.
F
or many people, the phrase “youth group mission trip” usually conjures up visions of young people leaving home and traveling to work, minister and worship somewhere far away, often in a foreign country. This summer, members of the student ministry of Roanoke’s Church of the Holy
Roanoke City Council had second thoughts Monday, voting to remove the Elmwood Park Amphitheater from its capital project list. Not long ago it had appropriated $1.2 million in funds for an engineering study, a precursor to the $13 million project itself. Councilman Court Rosen had asked council to reconsider the recent vote to move ahead, something he also discussed on his blog. “I simply do not believe that Roanoke can afford City Notes such a luxury at this time,” he wrote several weeks ago. By a 4-2 vote, council voted Monday to table the Elmwood Park project for now. Mayor David Bowers, who, along with Rupert Cutler, were the only
Spirit have turned that model on its head. Partnering with a group of Chilean students whose mission field is Virginia, they have spent the past two weeks ministering to those in their own backyards, participating in what is known as the “Impact Tour – I Love Virginia!”
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> CONTINUED P3: City Notes
> CONTINUED P2: Impact
Ware’s Campaign Finance Issues Rest with Attorney General’s Office
Fiddle Festive P9– Fiddlefest returns to Roanoke with an innovative mix of old and new features.
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Scrutiny of incumbent Delegate Onzlee Ware’s (11th District) campaign expenditures continues at the Virginia State Board of Elections (SBE) in Richmond. A hearing was scheduled for July 10 but has been postponed. According to James Alcorn, Policy Advisor with the SBE, James Hopper (Senior Attorney General) acts as advisor to the SBE. An issue-by-issue analysis of relevant facts regarding Ware’s campaign finances was sent to Hopper. Alcorn’s July 5 email, obtained by the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), revealed that a letter was sent to the State’s Attorney’s office pointing out that it contains “all the issues, even if the recommendation is that the issue is outside of our authority.” The letter itself is exempt from FOI due to the attorney/client privilege. Questions arose when Mark Powell, campaign manager for Democratic primary opponent Martin Jeffrey, submitted a complaint to the SBE in a letter dated May 19. Issues of Ware’s campaign ethics became the focal point of Jeffrey’s unsuccessful campaign. The June 9 primary results were heavily in Ware’s favor but the scrutiny of his campaign finances did not end there. State Board of Elections Campaign Finance Manager David Allen, in a June
Photo by Valerie Garner
Onzlee Ware and Mark Powell during a less controversial moment. 10 certified letter identifying Powell’s tures. In one instance, a reimbursement complaints, asked Ware for an explana- to “cash” needed to be broken down to tion of expenditures that were listed as include the names and addresses for the “reimbursement.” Allen pointed to the lump sum expenditure. The most recent campaign finance law that states, “In no filing ending in June, has an item under case should the treasurer enthe column “Person or ComOnzlee Ware ter simply ‘reimbursement’ in pany Paid,” listed as “Cash the item or service column.” Withdrawal,” with a bank adAllen also asked Ware for dress in the amount of $1,300 missing addresses related to the expendi- for “flushers” and poll workers. This is
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the same issue Ware was asked to correct in a previous filing. In several instances amounts reimbursed to Ware were in whole numbers. Allen stated that the number of reimbursements in rounded amounts of $300 and $500 was suspicious. Ware had until June 22 to file amendments, along with receipts. The Roanoke attorney has hired Chris Piper, former head of the state board’s campaign finance division and now a political reports analyst at the Washington, DC law firm of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher and Flom LLP. In a July 2 email Lawrence Noble, an attorney with the firm, was questioning the authority of the SBE and its process of handling complaints. Complaints to the SBE must be received 21 days after the filing deadline to qualify for an amendment, but Ware has amended his filing for full-year 2009. All amendments have now been filed and receipts have been received for 2009. Virginia’s Attorney General office is continuing its review and will communicate any findings at the next Board of Elections meeting. Whether the State’s Attorney will recommend investigation remains to be seen. The SBE staff hopes the conclusion brings clarity to the “gray > CONTINUED P3: Ware
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