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

DATE: THURSDAY, September 2, 1993                   TAG: 9309020258
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: C-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: LON WAGNER STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

FRANKLIN PETITIONS SEEK VOTE ON MIXED-DRINK SALES

Petitions circulating at stores are calling for a referendum on mixed-drink sales in the Union Hall district.

Union Hall is one of two voting districts that border Smith Mountain Lake. Voters in the other district, Gills Creek, approved liquor by the drink sales two years ago. Union Hall voters defeated a referendum on liquor sales 930-789 that same year.

"I hadn't heard that there was a petition," Union Hall Supervisor Lois English said, "but I'm not surprised."

Developer Ron Willard said he signed one of the petitions, but said he does not know who is behind them. Willard said he is for liquor by the drink, but he is not the instigator of the petitions.

"I backed off of that," he said. "When they had liquor by the drink a couple of years ago, it all came against me and it made me look like I was pro-alcoholic."

A referendum in Union Hall would be permitted under a state law crafted in 1991 with Franklin County in mind.

After a countywide referendum on liquor by the drink failed in 1988 - but was approved by voters in the two lake districts - Del. Clifton Woodrum, D-Roanoke, sponsored a bill that would allow voters to approve liquor sales by precinct.

A second aspect of the bill allowed referendums on liquor sales every two years instead of every four years. Without that provision, a referendum in Union Hall would not be allowed this year.

English still doesn't think referendums by voting district should be allowed.

"We had a referendum up several years ago countywide, and it was voted down," she said. "And I think that's the way it needs to be - countywide."

But Willard pointed out the county already is divided, with the Gills Creek and Rocky Mount districts allowing liquor sales, and the rest of the county prohibiting them. In fact, Willard's Waterfront Country Club can sell mixed drinks, but his Water's Edge club - in the Union Hall district - cannot.

"How can you have it upstream and not have it downstream?" Willard asked. "I think it makes us look pretty crude as far as marketing the lake as an industry."

Petitioners need to have 271 signatures of Union Hall voters turned in by Friday to get the issue on the November ballot.