ROANOKE TIMES

                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: THURSDAY, March 8, 1990                   TAG: 9003081925
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B5   EDITION: STATE 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium


MOUNT ROGERS PLANNERS RENEW ROUTE BACKING

MARION - The Mount Rogers Planning District Commission has renewed its support for routing a reconstructed U.S. 58 through Grayson County and enlarging it to four lanes.

The commission's executive committee has instructed Tom Taylor, executive director, to draft a resolution supporting this route and submitting it to each jurisdiction for adoption. The district covers Bland, Carroll, Grayson, Smyth, Washington and Wythe counties and the cities of Bristol and Galax.

Taylor had told the committee that some people are expressing concern about environmental damage along the proposed reconstruction route in Grayson County. Their letter-writing campaign is causing some state legislators to doubt whether there is support for enlarging U.S. 58 in Grayson, he said.

He urged committee members to encourage their governing bodies to restate support for the project.

For the first time, the planning district will give state transportation officials a priority list of regional highway projects at Virginia Department of Transportation public hearings in April.

The committee voted to accept a priority list prepared by the planning district commission staff, based on six factors including economic development, safety and regional impact.

Committee members said they felt able to evaluate projects in their own jurisdictions but not those in other localities, and so accepted the staff recommendations.

- Southwest bureau Bank funds 2 prizes for arts-crafts festival

WYTHEVILLE - Sovran Bank will fund two $75 prizes for the Wytheville Community College Arts and Crafts Festival scheduled for April 20-22.

Jack Bryant, Sovran vice president and area manager, said the prizes will be for best adult and high school entries.

Festival entries must be received by April 13, no later than 3 p.m. Further information is available from Janice Trivett at the college or by telephoning 228-5541, extension 223, locally or toll-free elsewhere 1-800-468-1195.

- Southwest bureau



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