Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, February 26, 1991 TAG: 9102260297
SECTION: VIRGINIA PAGE: B2 EDITION: BEDFORD/FRANKLIN
SOURCE: DAVID M. POOLE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: ROCKY MOUNT LENGTH: Medium
"My personal opinion is it is not the proper thing to do," said Gus Forry, who represents the Rocky Mount District.
County Librarian David Bass spent $30 this month to advertise library services to students at the Blue Ridge Chapel School of the Prophets, a non-accredited school that trains about 100 men and women for the ministry.
The library takes out a similar ad each year in the Franklin County High School yearbook. Bass said he saw no difference between yearbook advertisements at public or private schools.
"It's just an advertisement, as far as we're concerned," he said.
County Administrator Richard Huff II, who also is a member of the Blue Ridge Chapel board, said the ad was consistent with the county's goal of increasing public awareness of library services.
On Feb. 19, the Board of Supervisors approved the $30 appropriation as part of a monthly review of bills. Five members said Monday that they did not notice the check to Blue Ridge Chapel.
Three members - Ronnie Woods, Gordon Washburn and Forry - said they probably would not have approved the expenditure if they had known it was on the bill list.
Washburn said U.S. Supreme Court decisions left the county with no choice but to avoid breaching the wall between church and state. "I think we ought be be more careful about that," he said.
Washburn, Woods and Wayne Angell questioned why the library spent tax dollars for advertising in the first place.
"I would think everyone in Franklin County knows there is a library," Woods said.
by CNB