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

DATE: WEDNESDAY, June 27, 1990                   TAG: 9006270026
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV-2   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: PETER MATHEWS NEW RIVER VALLEY BUREAU
DATELINE: CHRISTIANSBURG                                LENGTH: Medium

FRATERNITY, THEN ROAD, MAY TAKE HOUSE

Not much.

First National Bank of Christiansburg would like to sell such a house to a fraternity or sorority, if it can get it rezoned.

The house, which the bank acquired through a foreclosure, is on Virginia 642 in central Montgomery County, right about where the Department of Transportation plans to build a new Blacksburg-to-Christiansburg bypass.

Monday night, C.D. Leach of the bank told the county Board of Supervisors that a fraternal organization might be willing to move in, even though the house may have to be torn down for the bypass within several years. He did not identify the organization and said he had not decided whether he would sell or lease.

The move would create a small fraternity row. The Theta Chi chapter's house is nearby.

That idea does not set well with everyone. Sheriff Louis Barber said his department's experience with fraternity organizations has not been good, and he characterized them as "no more than a common nuisance." He asked the board to delay approval until county staff could analyze complaints about Theta Chi.

Leach said he would prefer to sell to someone else, but it's difficult because of the proposed highway. But he defended his potential buyers, saying he wasn't sure it was fair to blame them for what other organizations may have done.

Johanna Jones, who lives on Virginia 642, said she didn't necessarily object to the bank's request but would like the county to develop a plan for the area. Within a mile are a kennel, two storage places and other businesses, the fraternity house, about 10 homes and grazing cows, she said.

The supervisors will act later on the bank's request for a rezoning and special-use permit for the house, which is on a 13.82-acre site zoned agricultural.

In other business, the supervisors:

Delayed action on a request by Riner dairy farmer Bill Greear to remove about 43 acres of land from an agricultural and forestal district.

Officially implemented a $15-per-ton landfill tipping fee.

Approved a School Board request to use $32,284 for drainage and grading at a proposed Shawsville athletic complex.

Gave themselves a raise. The chairman's salary rose from $7,800 to $8,124 and board members' pay increased from $6,600 to $6,926.

Heard from Darrell Sheppard, who objected to the new name picked for his street: Boober Road. "It's ridiculous, it's offensive, it's embarrassing," Sheppard, who lives in the Prices Fork area, told board members.