Pulaski Southwest Times (Newspaper) - May 4, 2003, Pulaski, Virginia Sunday May 2003 Che bh Kelster to run once again By JANE GRAHAM Staff Writer PULASKI Pulaski Countys only resident mem ber of the Virginia General Benny Ke i s t e announced today he is again a candidate in the Sixth District seat in the House of For the past four I have enjoyed serving the citi zens of the New River Valley in the counties of Pulaski and Giles as well as the citizens in See page A7 Jim Davis seeks o By JANE GRAHAM Staff Writer Keister PULASKI Pulaski County Sheriff Jim Davis announced today that he is a candidate for He is seeking t h e Democratic nomination for the office he has held since a 28year vet eran of law Davis enforce was first appointed to the office in 1997 when then Ralph resigned to accept other Davis was See page A7 Dean Pratt seeks Draper board seat By JANE GRAHAM Staff Writer DRAPER Dean a Pulaski County today became the first candidate to announce that he is seeking a seat on the Pulaski County Board of Pratt said he is seek ing the Democratic nomination for the board from the Draper The bent Charles has said that he will be moving from the area and will not be seeking If I receive the Democratic See page A2 Pratt 97th YEAR 19062003 Serving South Pulaski considers revenue options By BJ News Editor PULASKI Revenues may be decreasing in but town staffers are currently seek ing ways to avoid raising real estate The proposed 200304 budget presented to town council last month is lower than the current Town Manager John Hawley attributes the reduction to pay ing off a 1993 general obligation reimbursements from the state for road and being able to reduce funding for capi tal improvement supply nuisance the county recreation and Even with those the towns still facing a million budget proposal thats short of being Theres no where else to Hawley Most town departments have been at level funding for four he town had been able to off set falling revenues in recent budget years through timber but there are currently no trees that can be cut on the town properties designated for Last month Hawley proposed two possibilities raise the 911 fee from to and increase real estate taxes by 7 cents per of Hawley said cents of that proposed increase would make up for state cuts from ABC prof it sharing reduced by and police funding of reduced by state cuts were out of our con he In his original proposal last graduate from RU Warner urges graduates to find heroes By BOB THOMAS Radford Bureau RADFORD You grad at a challenging time in American Virginia Mark Warner told 1770 candidates for graduation at Radford 90th commencement ceremonies He also told them to find heroes and follow their exam take responsibility for their treat oth ers and my most impor tant piece of your mother Call your Call your This speech and this ceremony will it find your family and say thank you and love That admonition brought a loud male voice among the I love Dad On an alternately sunny and cloudy parents and friends stood as the black robed candidates began the day by marching onto Moffett See page A6 Bob RU President Douglas Covington right seems to have the ear off Virginia Mark Warner on the platform at the commencement Hawley hesitated to sug gest raising the meals tax because those revenues have been falling steadily in Pulaski for the last few But I may suggest we budget the amount of a one cent increase in the meals tax if we decide to raise Hawley The meals tax is currently See page A6 RU raises tuition by 9 percent By BOB THOMAS Radford Bureau RADFORD The Radford University Board of Visitors Friday moved to avoid the troubles experienced by Virginia Tech regarding mative action and university diversity issues that may be affected by a coming Supreme Court The board also approved a tuition increase for the 200304 school year of for all a nine percent Expecting a Supreme Court resolution of the con cerns raised in the University of Michigan case on reverse discrimination to improve campus the RU board appointed a committee headed by member Scott LaRose to help the university adhere to the spirit of the not just the letter of the according to Rector Jay Also serving on the com will be board members Elizabeth Davis and Anthony We want to get a sense of tKe have active inclu LaRose He indicat ed that he anticipates an open See page A7 First Garden Festival proves to be a big hit By BJ News Editor PULASKI Pancakes flowers and the crowd grew at Pulaskis first Garden Festival For a first year were Les of Pulaskis first Garden Festival drew more vendors than the one it was modeled festi val chairman Charlie Wade said Saturday 13 years show covers six Wade Predicted thunderstorms held off as vendors set up their tents early Saturday Visitors were treat ed to a mostly sunny day with mild By about 400 people See page A7 BJ Pulaski County resident Jill Sandidge confers with Anne from Floyd about BJ Daniel and Grace 5 and 3 enjoy music on the lawn during Pulaskis first Garden Festival on Good Morning Deaths A2 Editorial A4 Sports Bl Classifieds BIO Entertainment C2 I Price O Copy right Tht SPORTS Radford honors winter athletes Page Bl WEATHER Hunter 8 Max Meadows Child of Todd and Cathy Hatchett partly Highs in the mid partly A slight chance of showers Chance of rain 20 x cloudy with a of showers in the morn Highs in the upper Chance of rain 60