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

DATE: SUNDAY, August 6, 1995                   TAG: 9508070013
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

WAL-MART ISN'T SUCH A GREAT DEAL

Why mourn the loss of neighborhood retailing as we've traditionally known it? Why worry about those locally owned stores which are doomed to extinction by a Wal-Mart corporate goal not to compete but instead to DOMINATE all aspects of retailing?

So what if this creates an extreme glut of square footage of retail space, perhaps more per person in Montgomery County than anywhere in Virginia. (This store alone will have 200,000 square feet, 21/2 square feet for every resident in the county!)?

So what if Wal-Mart and the other mega-retailers are generally not such good neighbors: they neglect to support local schools, playgrounds, Scout troops, and other nonprofit grass-roots efforts? So what if Wal-Mart buys from distant suppliers rather than local companies like mine and perhaps yours? So what if profits are sent to Arkansas instead of distributed here? So what if traffic nearby becomes impossibly jammed?

LOOK WHAT WE'VE GAINED!!!! Commerce!!! Selection!!!! Low prices!!!!

Hurrah!!

Michael S. Abraham

Blacksburg

Mainstream Citizens side misrepresented

Jo Painter's observations concerning Montgomery County Mainstream Citizens (July 30) were not only misleading and unfair, but they were also unfounded, as he has based them solely upon one brief, subjective newspaper article. As a member of the Mainstream Citizens group, I would like to clarify a few points which have been wildly misconstrued by Painter.

We agreed as a group that we wanted to focus our initial concentration upon those candidates endorsed by the Montgomery County Education Association's Political Action Committee for two reasons. First, we felt that those who were endorsed by the MCEA PAC, after completing a lengthy questionnaire, would indeed be strong education-oriented, mainstream candidates. Second, as has already been stated by our group's coordinator, Monica Appleby, the League of Women Voters will hold a forum for all 10 candidates this fall. Perhaps our mistake was in labeling our last meeting a "forum." However, a poor choice of wording on our part hardly qualifies us as "cultural elitists."

Painter's claim that the "Gang Of Four" (i.e. those endorsed by the MCEA) have "made religion an issue" in the upcoming campaign is completely ludicrous. Although we have a wide variety of religions represented by members of our group, none of the "Gang Of Four" are running as leaders of local religious organizations. If anyone is bringing religion into this race, it is Jack Ledoux, who is the chairperson of the local chapter of the Christian Coalition - an association that is far from moderate!

Despite Painter's exaggerated accusations, I am confident that it will become apparent to all who attend the fall forum just which school board candidates stand for mainstream principles, and which seek to represent the extreme.

Rhya Marohn

Blacksburg

Radford a breath of fresh air

As a rising senior at Radford University this fall, I stay busy with classes, jobs and internships. Out of all the resume bullets I've collected since I've been here, none was as enjoyable or rewarding as coaching a Radford Parks and Recreation baseball team this summer.

Coming from a city where shootings, violence and drugs find their way into the headlines more often than not, I wasn't sure what to expect from the Radford community.

I'm happy to say my team finished with a 9-3 record, but that wasn't important. I was there to teach, not win, but somehow it just fell into place.

I had a group of kids from ages 12-14, and they were the hardest-working group I have even seen. Not only that, but they also had parents who were willing to go "that extra mile" - whether it meant buying drinks for the players, car pooling to games or just offering a helpful hand.

In this world where Hall of Fame football players are brought up on charges, bombs are planted in federal buildings and nobody seems happy with any president, the Radford community has brought a fresh air into the New River Valley.

I had a team and a group of parents who were willing to work hard, work together and, most importantly, have fun. I would like to extend my gratitude to them all for making this summer an enjoyable one for me.

Jimmy Bove

Radford