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

DATE: THURSDAY, June 28, 1990                   TAG: 9006280816
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B1   EDITION: EVENING 
SOURCE: MARK LAYMAN STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

MERGER PLAN'S'S DEFEAT URGED

Leaders of neighborhood groups in Fort Lewis, Mason Cove and the Catawba Valley joined today to urge the defeat of the Roanoke-Roanoke County consolidation plan.

In a news release, the groups called consolidation "the most serious situation to face the Roanoke Valley since the Civil War."

The groups' opposition to consolidation was hardly a surprise; residents of those county neighborhoods have been among the most vocal opponents of consolidation during the past year.

But Don Terp of Citizens Against Merger predicted that most of the three dozen neighborhood groups in the county soon would follow their lead.

"The downtown people are working with money," he said, referring to consolidation supporters. "We're working with people."

Ed Kohinke of the Mason Cove Civic Club seemed to sum up the opinions of those who attended today's news conference at the Glenvar library when he said consolidation "is going to cost too much . . . and the services aren't going to get any better."

Mary Davis of the Broadview Civic League said, "Roanoke County provides us very satisfactory services now and we see no need for a change."

The Fort Lewis Civic League, the Hanging Rock Taxpayers Association and the newly formed Catawba Valley Property Owners Against Merger also have cast their lot with Citizens Against Merger.

Leaders of the groups gave Terp checks totaling $600 for the anti-consolidation fight. Terp said the money would be used for mailings and fliers.

"It's difficult to fight the newspaper, which buys ink by the barrel," said Lela Spitz of the Hanging Rock Taxpayers' Association.

by CNB