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

DATE: MONDAY, April 19, 1993                   TAG: 9304200424
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-1   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: LON WAGNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

SHINE ON: FRANKLIN COUNTY'S STILL THE CHAMP

Since a January raid on Virginia's largest-ever moonshine distillery, there has been a lot of tongue-in-cheek discussion about Franklin County losing its title: "Moonshine Capital of the World."

In the realm of the illegal whiskey manufacturing race, the 36-pot still was a knockout punch. It was 50 percent larger than the 24-pot still found in the Endicott section of Franklin County in 1974.

But in sheer numbers, Franklin County's title is secure. And John Wright, head of the Alcoholic Beverage Control department in Richmond, says it is no coincidence that the huge Pittsylvania County still was found just one mile from the Franklin County line.

"It's not unusual for the Franklin County violators to set up a distillery over in Pittsylvania County," Wright said.

The interesting aspect of Virginia's moonshine business, Wright said, is not so much the competition between Franklin and Pittsylvania counties, but the degree to which those two areas dominate production statewide.

"You're looking at it, when you're looking at Franklin and Pittsylvania," Wright said of Virginia's illegal whiskey production.

A Pittsylvania County grand jury will meet Monday to decide whether to indict Paul Henson, 29, the only person so far charged for the 36-pot distillery.

by CNB