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

DATE: SUNDAY, June 4, 1995                   TAG: 9506050008
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-6   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY  
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

AROUND NEW RIVER

BLACKSBURG - A Wytheville Community College faculty member from Blacksburg and a Cooperative Extension Service agent at Virginia Tech are authors of the only book devoted to the subject of snakes in this state.

"Snakes in Virginia" by biology professor Donald W. Linzey and Extension Agent Michael J. Clifford has been reprinted by the University Press of Virginia in Charlottesville. It features more than 50 new color photos of Virginia snakes since its original publication in 1981.

The reprinting was made possible by financial assistance from the Wytheville Community College Educational Foundation. All royalties will benefit the foundation.

Linzey said the book is written for general readers but will also be helpful to professional herpetologists, because it is scientifically accurate and well-documented.

The 173-page hardback includes an extensive bibliography.

Linzey said many people wrote asking for it.

"Snakes of Virginia" is available locally at Blue Ridge Books at 148 W. Main St. in Wytheville.

Wythe prison foes target supervisor

WYTHEVILLE - The anti-prison people are after Wythe County Supervisor Jack Crosswell, who switched from Democrat to Republican to seek re-election as the Speedwell District representative on the Board of Supervisors.

Crosswell is the supervisor who first contacted Corrections Corporation of America about the possibility of a private prison in Wythe County. The Nashville, Tenn.-based firm plans to build a 1,500-bed medium-security prison near Wytheville.

The move has been fought by a group calling itself Citizens Against the Prison. One of its more prominent members, Gary Lavalle, filed to seek the Democratic candidacy as Speedwell District supervisor.

He is not alone. Others who are after the candidacy are James "Blackeye" Wright, Harvey Atkinson, Tim Litz and Jerry Miller. Crosswell, though, has moved to the Republican Party, where he said he is more comfortable with his conservative values.

At a citizens' group meeting Tuesday night, Lavalle said the anti-prison people had missed a chance to keep Crosswell from running.

"Now it's too late to become a Republican delegate," Lavalle said. "We missed an opportunity to ensure that Jack Crosswell's name would not appear on the November ballot in either party. However, it's not too late to rally opposition," he said.

Republicans in Wythe County choose their candidates June 12. Democrats will do so Monday.