Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, March 13, 1991 TAG: 9103130365
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B3 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: CATHRYN McCUE NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: BLACKSBURG LENGTH: Medium
Town Council on Tuesday night denied a parade-permit request from the Virginia Tech fraternity for the April 20 parade.
Council voted 6-0, acting on the recommendation of the police department. Chief Don Carey said the parade was purely a social event of limited community interest and a prelude to a fraternity party. He also said it would likely create traffic problems during shopping hours on that Saturday.
The parade for Paddy Murphy - a reputed gangster and past member of Sigma Alpha Epsilon - is apparently a tradition at many frat chapters.
No fraternity members spoke at the meeting.
Town Manager Ron Secrist said that if the group limited the route to campus, or to a confined area around the fraternity's house on East Roanoke Street, that he could recommend approval of a permit.
Also during the meeting, council heard from Wybe Kroontje, chairman of the board at Warm Hearth retirement community, just south of Blacksburg.
Kroontje urged council to support a road plan, called the "modified Merrimac Loop," that would create access to the community and other areas of Montgomery County.
He and others have opposed the town's plan to extend Southgate Drive across the U.S. 460 bypass into the proposed Hethwood II community.
"We basically need to have a better access road to better serve the Warm Hearth community," Kroontje said.
Council later passed a resolution adopting a list of priorities for state money for road projects. The list includes: South Main Street, Glade Road, the Hubbard Street/Southgate Drive extension into Hethwood II, and Patrick Henry Drive extension.
Council member Waldon Kerns said the town supports the idea of extending Plantation Road south to create access to Warm Hearth.
by CNB