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

DATE: TUESDAY, November 14, 1995                   TAG: 9511140104
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: A-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: JAN VERTEFEUILLE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

SOME SERVICES WON'T CLOSE - BUT CALL FIRST

All those agencies have been deemed "essential" by the federal government or are unaffected by a possible furlough of government employees.

While kids waited Monday night to hear whether school would be canceled because of snow, federal employees awaited notice whether President Clinton and Congress had agreed on borrowing enough money to keep the government running.

About 800,000 employees could be sent home today because the government would have run out of money at midnight if no agreement was reached between the president and Congress. But a government shutdown would have little impact on most citizens in Southwest Virginia.

If you're planning a trip to the Social Security Administration or Veterans Administration today, you should call first. There may not be anyone there.

Workers at agencies such as the VA and Social Security have been told to show up for work today, and they will be told then whether they are to stay or go home.

But defendants scheduled to appear in federal courts get no break. Chief Judge Jackson Kiser has ordered the courts to stay open, invoking Article III of the U.S. Constitution, which empowers the judiciary. All court employees will report to work throughout any furlough, Clerk Morgan Scott said.

Federal law enforcement agencies have been deemed essential, so agents will report to work, although some clerical staff may stay home.

Al Henley, resident agent in charge of the Drug Enforcement Administration office in Roanoke, has worked for the government for almost 28 years and has seen employees sent home occasionally for an afternoon or a long weekend. But, he said, "I've never been through one before with the potential this one does" to last awhile.

The National Park Service would send everyone home except law enforcement. At this time of year, that wouldn't have a big impact on the public, District Ranger Richard Morefield said. Private concessionaires, like the ones who run the Peaks of Otter Lodge, would remain open.

The U.S. Postal Service would not be affected by a shutdown, so it will be business as usual at post offices.

And fortunately for Southwest Virginians worried about the possibility of a storm, the National Weather Service is deemed essential. The three employees at the Roanoke Municipal Airport will show up this morning to keep everyone up-to-date on the latest conditions.

"We are essential," said Sam Simpson, meteorological technician, joking: "But, you know, every day things change."

Some federal offices, such as those within the U.S. Department of Agriculture, would not immediately be affected by a furlough. Money for the Food and Drug Administration, for example, was included as part of an agriculture budget that already passed.

Terry Altizer, acting Montgomery County director for the conservation service, was relieved to hear that the service wouldn't be closed. For days, Altizer was sure he would be furloughed if push came to shove. Still, he remained cautious. But for now, work will continue.

"We're always subject to change in the next couple of minutes," he said. "And we might get paid tomorrow."

Staff writer Elissa Milenky contributed information to this story.