ROANOKE TIMES 
                      Copyright (c) 1997, Roanoke Times

DATE: Monday, March 24, 1997                 TAG: 9703240106
SECTION: VIRGINIA                 PAGE: C-3  EDITION: METRO 
COLUMN: & Now This
SOURCE: CHRISTINA NUCKOLS and DWAYNE YANCEY

ODDS AND ENDS FROM THE ROANOKE VALLEY AND POINTS BEYOND

West Virginia to Roanoke: Drop dead Roanoke city is getting a sound chewing out in West Virginia these days.

Union leaders and local government officials in Kanawha County, near Charleston, are angry over The Kroger Co.'s decision to close its warehouse there, particularly after company officials had assured them that the expansion of a warehouse in Roanoke County would not affect jobs in West Virginia.

An editorial in Friday's Charleston Gazette titled "Message to Roanoke" began like this:

"Hey, Roanoke? Charleston here. Just wanted to congratulate you on grabbing our 250-job Kroger warehouse. No hard feelings."

The editorial notes that Kroger officials say the $1.78 million incentive package they are getting locally had nothing to do with their decision to shift operations here from West Virginia.

Just one thing: the incentives came from Roanoke County, not the city.

Editorial page editor Dan Radmacher said he was unaware that there was a distinction when he wrote the piece.

Government officials in Kanawha County have figured it out, though. They've filed a blanket Freedom of Information request with Roanoke County asking for every available document pertaining to its negotiations with Kroger.

Roanoke County officials said they would comply with Kanawha County's request. They said the incentives were awarded based on Kroger's ability to pay all $1.78 million back through increased taxes and the company's commitment to invest $30 million of its own in the expansion.

-CHRISTINA NUCKOLS

Stock up now - yes, now - for winter

Now that spring is officially here, you can turn your thoughts to ... winter. Specifically, snow-fighting supplies.

After such a mild winter, hardware stores in Western Virginia still have plenty left, and often at a discount. Lowe's of Roanoke usually moves about 10,000 snow shovels in a hard winter; this year, it sold only about 6,000 to 8,000. These days, you might trip on the marked-down shovels as you leave the store.

Even at a tiny place such as Smith's Hardware and Grocery in Copper Hill in Floyd County, proprietor Ray Smith says he has a sled left in stock.

So make your list and start checking it twice ...

-DWAYNE YANCEY

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