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

DATE: MONDAY, March 2, 1992                   TAG: 9203020227
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-8   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

SPORTS OUTLAYS HELP FAMILIES, BENEFIT SALEM

How many cities do you know where adults are so much a part of their children's lives? So what if it's sports? I would much rather have children at a ball field with adults and other kids, than out in cars cruising up and down a drag strip, pushing drugs and buying and selling guns.

If Salem spent $6 million on sports facilities in the past seven years, I'm sure it will make more than that in revenues to our community from various establishments. Motels and restaurants will be filled, and people will buy gasoline to get back to their not-so-lucky cities.

Our city is not neglected in any way from the money spent on sports facilities. It is very sharp-looking. I get so tired of reading the paper and seeing the only time Salem makes headlines is when someone has something negative to say about us. The only thing I have to say to Bill Senter (letter, Feb. 17) is, if you don't like the way things are done in Salem, get out! JIM PALMER SALEM