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

DATE: TUESDAY, August 10, 1993                   TAG: 9309100405
SECTION: EDITORIAL                    PAGE: A6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: 
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

'WITCH HUNTS' COST THE TAXPAYERS

REGARDING the July 29 article by staff writers Ron Brown and Nancy Bell (``Vinton chief defends expenses'') concerning the Vinton Fire Department:

I have personally worked side by side with Chief Barry Fuqua for more than 20 years. By any measure, he is one of the finest people I have ever known. He is honest, sincere, dedicated and certainly a credit to the fine people of Vinton. Chief Fuqua is to be commended for his hard work and dedication, and it is unfortunate that someone would try to discredit his work in such a despicable act as writing an anonymous letter.

If you`re not man or woman enough to sign your name and back up your allegations, you are more of a problem than any you may try to solve. Those anonymous individuals who choose to remain silent only cost taxpayers extra to conduct ``witch hunts.'' They then sit back and laugh about how much trouble they cause.

I salute all volunteer fire-fighters in the Roanoke Valley for the fine work they do in protecting our property and keeping our insurance rates low.

TOM BLANKENSHIP

ROANOKE COUNTY

by CNB