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

DATE: TUESDAY, December 28, 1993                   TAG: 9312280264
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B3   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: KAREN BARNES STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: BEDFORD                                LENGTH: Short

BEDFORD TO SEE JOB CHANGES

County Attorney Johnny Overstreet will return to private law practice while retaining his position as county attorney, and Keith Stevens, building official, has accepted a job in Altavista.

Overstreet, the county's attorney since 1980, will move into office space held by another attorney, Greg Elder, who is closing his practice because of health problems.

Overstreet made the job of county attorney a full time one in 1989. "The workload didn't increase like I thought," he said. "I've been underutilized the last few months."

Overstreet, 46, will bill the county hourly rather than accept his $74,000 salary. "Some of my work is administrative rather than legal," he said. "I don't want to be paid as an attorney for doing administrative work."

Stevens will report to his new position as building official and assistant town manager of Altavista on Jan. 3. No replacement has been named, because the community and economic development office is scheduled for reorganization. Under the new configuration, a department director and chief inspector will assume many of Stevens' responsibilities. Stevens, 46, leaves his position as building official after 12 years.

The county also will lose three members of the Planning Commission in January. Douglas Maynard and Ronald Smith announced in October their decisions not to be reappointed when their terms expire in January. Charles Mattox's resignation takes effect Dec. 31.