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

DATE: THURSDAY, July 8, 1993                   TAG: 9307080393
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: E-2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: NANCY BELL STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

VINTON COUNCIL SAYS RADIO ANTENNA WOULD DISRUPT SCENIC VIEW

Vinton Town Council on Tuesday denied the request of Bedford radio station WYMY to lease space on Chestnut Mountain for an antenna.

Citing possible disruption of the scenic view along the Blue Ridge Parkway, council voted 4-1 not to accept the proposal of WYMY-FM owner J.R. McClure to rent space for the 10-pound antenna repeater for $1,000 per year.

McClure hoped to strengthen the signal of the low-wattage country music station with the Vinton repeater. The antenna would have exceeded the height of a water tank there by approximately 15 to 20 feet, according to the proposal.

FCC approval and a site study to determine whether or not the antenna would cause radio signal interference would have been necessary before officially approving McClure's request, but council voted to deny the request based on the site's natural beauty.

"I think the people there would want to have something to say about it," said Vice Mayor Roy McCarty, who was concerned about the appearance of a radio antenna in a scenic area.

Councilman Don Davis objected to the antenna because of the potential for other radio stations to make similar requests.

Joe Bush was the only councilman who opposed the vote.

by CNB