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

DATE: FRIDAY, August 27, 1993                   TAG: 9308270166
SECTION: VIRGINIA                    PAGE: B2   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: DAVID M. POOLE STAFF WRITER
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

CRANWELL TO HOST DIALOGUE

Now that Roanoke and Roanoke County officials plan to talk, Del. Richard Cranwell says the time is right to bring everyone to the table.

Cranwell, a Roanoke County Democrat, sent invitations Thursday to government, business and civic leaders from across the Roanoke Valley for a Sept. 19 meeting at the Airport Marriott.

"The hope is to facilitate communication and . . . what we can do, cooperatively, to encourage continued economic viability and growth in the Roanoke Valley," he said in a news release.

The invitations were the latest sign of cooling tensions in the recent war of words over annexation and the city's ill-fated bid to take over Roanoke Gas Co.

Only last week, Cranwell pledged to be a thorn in the city's side as long as Roanoke officials were talking about annexing county land or grabbing the gas company.

Thursday, Cranwell said he applauds a willingness by city and county officials to sit down and work out their differences.

"It seems to me that there is a need for a greater dialogue," he said. "That's bringing the legislative team into the discussions, along with business people."

Among those invited were delegations from Vinton and Salem; state Dels. Clifton Woodrum, D-Roanoke, Victor Thomas, D-Roanoke and Steven Agee, R-Salem; state Sens. Brandon Bell, R-Roanoke County and Malfourd "Bo" Trumbo, R-Fincastle; and Tom Robertson, president of the Roanoke Valley Business Council.

by CNB