THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, February 2, 1995 TAG: 9502020420
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B7 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: ASSOCIATED PRESS
DATELINE: WYTHEVILLE LENGTH: Short : 36 lines
The Wythe County Board of Supervisors voted Wednesday night to welcome construction of a private prison and to oppose a referendum to gauge public opinion on building the facility.
Nearly 1,000 people came to the board meeting, which was held in a high school to accommodate the crowd. Nearly all opposed the prison's construction about half a mile outside of Wytheville. The crowd jeered the vote, which was taken before citizens were allowed to comment.
Corrections Corporation of America said last month that it intends to begin construction of a 1,500-bed medium-security prison that will be privately owned and operated.
Del. Thomas Jackson, D-Hillsville, introduced legislation setting up the advisory referendum, but Jackson said the bill would fail without support of the county board. Jackson said he agreed to seek legislative approval for a referendum at the request of prison opponents because he understood that Gov. George F. Allen wants prisons only where communities are agreeable to having them.
Members of Wythe Citizens Against Prisons said they would continue working to fight the prison construction and accused board members of being undemocratic. by CNB