Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SUNDAY, December 18, 1994 TAG: 9412270038
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-11 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
SOURCE: NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: WYTHEVILLE LENGTH: Medium
C.N. Otey told council that he and others thought the location of a prison two miles east of Wytheville would not help build the image of Wythe County that area promoters hope to sell to new business.
Mayor Trent Crewe told Otey that his remarks were ``well taken'' but that he was arguing in front of the wrong governing body. Crewe said the town had little to do with the negotiations that had been held with Corrections Corporation of America on the proposed prison, and that opponents should go before the supervisors.
Otey and others did just that, and one result was some heated exchanges between the opponents and the board. Danny Schultz drew a rebuke from Supervisor Jack Crosswell when Schultz asked if any board members would benefit financially from the prison. Crosswell, who represents the Speedwell District where the prison is to be located, said that was not the case and he did not appreciate the suggestion.
At one point, Otey demanded that the board pay attention to what he was saying. Supervisor John Davis demanded that Otey stop yelling at the board.
Not all of the speakers at the board meeting opposed the prison. Dennis Barnes of Barren Springs said the prison would provide needed jobs for county residents.
Crosswell said the county is contacting other localities which have private prisons of comparable size to help determine what impact the prison would have on Wythe County.
Meanwhile, the opponents organized their own group to be known as Wythe CAP - Citizens Against the Prison.
by CNB