5/18/12- 5/24/12 |TheRoanokeStar.com | Page 3
Roanoke City Approves Budget for Fiscal Year 2013 Monday’s council meeting was quick and painless with no discussion except to thank staff for their hard work in assembling the 2013 fiscal year budget for final adoption. City Manager Chris Morrill’s “budgeting for outcomes” task began in September of 2011. The $252.8 million budget was approached conservatively. Revenue is faring well and running slightly ahead of budget for 2012 due to outperforming sales tax, meals tax, occupancy tax and BPOL tax revenue that offsets a decline in real estate assessments. The 2013 budget allows for one-percent growth over 2012. City employees will get a three-percent raise if they meet performance levels. The step grade has also been adjusted. City retirees are receiving a 1.5-percent COLA increase. Various fee increases were adjusted more or less for purposes of consistency rather than revenue gains. Parking tickets will go from $10 to $20 for all infractions. Athletic fencing rental now at zero will be $150 per section. Open space rental will change from $150 for eight hours to $150 per day. Towing of inoperable vehicles will have a $45 administrative fee. And EMS fees will go up from $350 to $375 for basic life support with advanced life support be-
Roanoke City Council deliberates the 2013 budget. ing raised from $600 to $650. Fire protection permit fees will increase by $10 and a fireworks permit rate schedule will be implemented - from $250 for 30days notice to as much as $1500 for short notice. Roanoke City Public Schools will get $72.8 million and the city’s two-percent meals tax will sunset on June 30th. The temporary tax dedicated to the schools gave the school system time to adjust to a reduction in state revenue. RCPS closed schools and reduced expenses. At the joint meeting with the school board Councilman Court Rosen asked School Board Chairman David Carson how he felt about getting through the next fiscal year without the 2-cent meals tax. Carson said that they were in “reasonably good shape but spending down savings.” He complained about Roanoke not getting the assistance needed from the state. “In
the absence of that occurring it would benefit us to reduce spending,” he said. The $12 million RCPS squirreled away came from both the meals tax and stimulus funds. Carson said their fund balance would prevent teacher cutbacks and give teachers a one-percent raise. “We are not spending excess but spending down savings,” repeated Carson. Deputy Superintendent Curt Baker said, “It is clear that the Virginia Retirement System is going to be the wild card if it keeps increasing.” The draw down comes to $4 million this year and is a third of our total fund balance, he said. In an email Tuesday Carson said, “We appreciate council, all is fine, and all will be fine if the state funds school systems as it should.” By Valerie Garner info@theroanokestar.com
“Knock Off ” Drugs Becoming More Widespread in Southwest Virginia Summer is around the corner and law enforcement officials and representatives of other prevention groups from around the Roanoke Valley gathered Wednesday to warn parents to be on the lookout for synthetic drugs their children might be exposed to. With names like "Scooby Doo Snax" and "Amped", they're being sold in tobacco and convenience stores. "You've heard of Spice, K2; these are synthetic forms of marijuana," says Roanoke City Police Chief Chris Perkins. "Now, we're finding products that are designed to mimic the effects of other illegal drugs." He says they're referred to as bath salts, potpourri, or other generic names. The makers of these synthetic products mark the packages with phrases like, 'Lady Bug Attractant', 'Glass Cleaner', or 'For Novelty Only'." He says some packages are even marked, "Not for Human Consumption" in an effort to disguise their use. But instead of containing actual glass cleaner, the small packages which sell anywhere from $20-$50, contain a Dranolike product. Perkins says the high received from these drugs has been compared to the high from methamphetamine and cocaine. "The reactions range from erratic behavior to hallucinations, causing people to become violent to themselves or others", says Perkins. In addition, they
Roanoke Police Chief Chris Perkins and other law enforcement officials stand together in support at the press conference. can cause high blood pressure, Emergency Department kicking seizures, brain damage, and and screaming and hitting the EMTs, nurses, and physicians even death. City of Salem's Common- that are trying to care for them." wealth's Attorney Tom Bowes Freeman says there's no antisays there have been four con- dote for the drugs once they've firmed deaths linked to synthet- been consumed. Steve Pfleger ic bath salts in Western Virginia. with the U. S. Attorney's OfTwo of those are from the Roa- fice says this problem started in some of the big cities in Virginia noke Valley. Dan Freeman, a nurse with but has now moved to rural arCarilion Clinic Trauma Servic- eas. "It's been happening largely es says the effects of these drugs in the Western District in the can last for hours to days and last few years where we've seen even weeks. He's treated thou- an upswing in it and so that's sands of patients over the past led to greater education efforts, 15 years who have been under greater prosecution efforts, and the influence of drugs. "Among greater efforts just to get people the challenging of these cases to understand the problem." Speaking to adults, Chief Perare those that stem from an unknown chemical substance such kins said , "We say, 'Ask quesas those found in synthetic bath tions, educate yourselves on this topic, contact your local, state, salts and synthetic marijuana." Freeman says over the past 18 or federal law enforcement months, Carilion's Emergency agencies, and do your civic duty Department has seen a signifi- to help us impact this serious cant increase in emergencies public safety and public health where synthetic drugs are a sus- issue'." pected cause. By Beverly Amsler "They often present to the info@theroanokestar.com
A “Companioning” Philosophy of Caregiving
Dr. Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D. will present, "Exploring the Special Features of Sudden Death and Suicide Grief: A Companioning Philosophy of Caregiving" on Thursday, May 17, at 9 AM at the Vinton War Memorial. Dr. Wolfelt will explore a variety of subtopics related to understanding supporting survivors of sudden, unexpected deaths. Specific content areas include: features of suicide grief, trauma loss, concept of carried grief and an introduction to complicated mourning. Objectives include: the definition of trauma loss, an understanding of the concepts of Living in the Shadow of the Ghosts of grief, a demonstration of the sensitivity of special features of sudden, violent death, acknowledgement of unique needs of suicide and
Dr. Alan D. Wolfelt homicide survivors and the distinction between grief counseling and grief therapy. An author, educator, and grief counselor, Dr. Wolfelt is world renown for his inspirational teaching gifts. He is perhaps best known for his model of companioning versus treating mourners, and is committed to helping people mourn well in order to live and love well. Founder and Director of the
Center for Loss and Life Transition in Fort Collins, Colorado, Dr. Wolfelt presents workshops annually for healthcare organizations, universities, funeral homes, and an array of community groups. He has been key with his insightful grief commentaries for The Oprah Winfrey Show, Larry King Live, the NBC Today Show and a host of others. Dr. Wolfelt is the past recipient of the Association of Death Education and Counseling's Death Educator Award, and is also a member of the University of Colorado Medical School's Department of Family Medicine.
To learn more about Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D., visit www.centerforloss.com.