Roanoke Times News Quiz For March 22

1. Roanoke's Community High School of Arts and Academics was in the headlines this week after a decision regarding its tuition. What did the school announce?

Tuition would double next school year

Tuition would be cut in half next school year

This small, private school in downtown Roanoke has taken the unusual step of cutting its tuition in half. The school announced Tuesday the school’s board of trustees voted to drop tuition next school year from $10,200 to $5,000 per student. School leaders said reducing tuition is something they should do to make the school more affordable and something they can do thanks to long-term, generous supporters, including a partnership with the owners of the school’s building.
Related story: Roanoke school halves its tuition fee http://www.roanoke.com/news/education/1790038-12/roanoke-school-halves-its-tuition-fee.html

Explanation

This small, private school in downtown Roanoke has taken the unusual step of cutting its tuition in half. The school announced Tuesday the school’s board of trustees voted to drop tuition next school year from $10,200 to $5,000 per student. School leaders said reducing tuition is something they should do to make the school more affordable and something they can do thanks to long-term, generous supporters, including a partnership with the owners of the school’s building.
Related story: Roanoke school halves its tuition fee http://www.roanoke.com/news/education/1790038-12/roanoke-school-halves-its-tuition-fee.html

2. Who was named the best overall winner of the McDonald's St. Patrick's Day Parade in downtown Roanoke?

Old Southwest Inc.

Virginia Highlands Pipes & Drums

Angels of Assisi

Tuff Gumby

Virginia Highlands Pipes & Drums won best overall. See the full list of winners at http://www.roanoke.com/news/1786579-12/dri-announces-st-pats-parade-winners.html

Explanation

Virginia Highlands Pipes & Drums won best overall. See the full list of winners at http://www.roanoke.com/news/1786579-12/dri-announces-st-pats-parade-winners.html

3. What's On Your Mind columnist Tom Landon was able to solve the mystery of this random wall you might have spotted next to the Green Ridge Recreation Center in Roanoke County. Why is it there?

For emergency personnel training

What's left of a demolished commercial structure

Mock-up of the facade of the Green Ridge Rec Center

Abandoned construction project

Pete Haislip is retired now, but he was the director of the Roanoke County Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department during the construction of the rec center. He knows the back story: “During the design process [for Green Ridge] the contractors built that as a demonstration piece to show the different materials. You look at something on paper and it’s one thing, but actually seeing it on the ground is another.” Related story: Mystery wall a byproduct of Green Ridge Recreation Center’s construction

Explanation

Pete Haislip is retired now, but he was the director of the Roanoke County Parks, Recreation and Tourism Department during the construction of the rec center. He knows the back story: “During the design process [for Green Ridge] the contractors built that as a demonstration piece to show the different materials. You look at something on paper and it’s one thing, but actually seeing it on the ground is another.” Related story: Mystery wall a byproduct of Green Ridge Recreation Center’s construction

4. Virginia’s new moped law is designed to do several things that could affect everyone from moped riders and motorcycle owners to people who roll on Segways and foot scooters. What would the proposed law NOT require.

Helmets and face shield/goggles

$100 fee for mopeds with electric motors

Photo ID

Insurance

Registration by July 1, 2014

The law would require mopeds to be registered by July 1, 2014, but they still don’t have to be insured and drivers could operate them without a license, though they now would be required to carry some form of photo identification. The law would also require moped riders to wear helmets and have protection such as a face shield or goggles. Mopeds with electric motors may be hit with the $100 fee. Meanwhile, combustion-engine mopeds that run on fuel would face a $14 state fee.

Related story: Transportation bill could snare mopeds
http://www.roanoke.com/news/1783836-12/transportation-billcould-snare-mopeds.html

Explanation

The law would require mopeds to be registered by July 1, 2014, but they still don’t have to be insured and drivers could operate them without a license, though they now would be required to carry some form of photo identification. The law would also require moped riders to wear helmets and have protection such as a face shield or goggles. Mopeds with electric motors may be hit with the $100 fee. Meanwhile, combustion-engine mopeds that run on fuel would face a $14 state fee.

Related story: Transportation bill could snare mopeds
http://www.roanoke.com/news/1783836-12/transportation-billcould-snare-mopeds.html

5. People who live in Roanoke and Pulaski County are the least healthy in the Roanoke and New River valleys, according to a statewide report released this week. Which locality earned the highest ranking in the region?

Montgomery County

Roanoke County

Botetourt County

Salem

With a ranking of 23rd statewide, Montgomery County had the best showing in the local region. Roanoke ranked 116 and Pulaski County ranked 119, with many of the surrounding localities falling between 30th and 75th on the list.
Related story: Health snapshot is mixed in New River, Roanoke regions http://www.roanoke.com/news/1792730-12/health-snapshot-is-mixed-in-new-river-roanoke.html

Explanation

With a ranking of 23rd statewide, Montgomery County had the best showing in the local region. Roanoke ranked 116 and Pulaski County ranked 119, with many of the surrounding localities falling between 30th and 75th on the list.
Related story: Health snapshot is mixed in New River, Roanoke regions http://www.roanoke.com/news/1792730-12/health-snapshot-is-mixed-in-new-river-roanoke.html

6. This week, we told you the story of two childhood friends who recently cashed in the U.S. savings bonds they took out in high school to treat their wives to dinner. Can you remember the restaurant?

Coach & Four

Hotel Roanoke's Regency Room

Frankie Rowland's Steakhouse

Carlos Brazilian International

Karl Hofheinz and Clark BeCraft shared the U.S. savings bond for more than 25 years. Last month, the two men, now 43, cashed in that bond and took their wives to dinner at Coach & Four Restaurant in Roanoke. Their quarter-century investment of $25 each earned a total of $173.56. “It covered the bill with not much left over,” BeCraft said.

Related story: Their best investment? A long friendship
http://www.roanoke.com/living/1788518-12/their-best-investment-a-long-friendship.html

Explanation

Karl Hofheinz and Clark BeCraft shared the U.S. savings bond for more than 25 years. Last month, the two men, now 43, cashed in that bond and took their wives to dinner at Coach & Four Restaurant in Roanoke. Their quarter-century investment of $25 each earned a total of $173.56. “It covered the bill with not much left over,” BeCraft said.

Related story: Their best investment? A long friendship
http://www.roanoke.com/living/1788518-12/their-best-investment-a-long-friendship.html