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

DATE: SATURDAY, October 21, 1995                   TAG: 9510230109
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A-11   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

BRIEFLY PUT . . .

BRANDON Bell's ad campaign seems headed nowhere but down. In his bid for a second term representing Roanoke, the state Senator has aired a radio commercial that not only accuses his challenger, John Edwards, of lying. It says the Democrat has engaged in "cheap-shot" advertising.

"And by the way," Bell's ad goes on, "the next time Edwards starts talking about education, ask him why student literacy test scores in the Roanoke Valley have gone nowhere but down since Edwards has been vice mayor."

How dumb does Bell think we are?

SOME OVERLY anxious souls are worried that Halloween activities will lead children to the very gates of hell (though, in Christian tradition, the holiday marks the eve of Allhallows, or All Saints' Day). But the only spirits certain to be unleashed are definitely this worldly.

Grocery and liquor stores note that alcohol sales surge for a day or two at the holiday, putting Halloween right up there with other religious feast days now often marked by adult parties. Which is nothing to get exorcised - um, exercised - about, provided those of us still on this side of the grave don't imbibe enough to free our own demons, and end up on t'other.

by CNB