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

DATE: THURSDAY, February 17, 1994                   TAG: 9402170357
SECTION: NEIGHBORS                    PAGE: W-3   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: CHARLES STEBBINS STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: NEW CASTLE                                LENGTH: Medium

LEGISLATORS NOTE BENEFITS OF FOREST SERVICE OFFICE

A proposal to move the Jefferson National Forest office from Craig County has attracted the attention of three Virginia Congress members, who want to know the rationale for the proposal.

U.S. Senators Chuck Robb and John Warner and Rep. Rick Boucher have sent a joint letter to forest service officials pointing to the importance of the New Castle Ranger District office to Craig County and asking that a proposal to close the office "be carefully considered."

Boucher represents the Ninth Congressional District which includes Craig County.

The forest service has proposed combining the Craig and Montgomery County offices to save money. The proposal includes cutting back on timbering, which also would be an economic loss to Craig because the county gets a percentage of timber sale revenue.

Winning the support of these three legislators was one the "best things that has happened in Craig County in some time," Supervisor Chairman Zane Jones said during the supervisors' Tuesday meeting.

The letter, addressed to Joy Berg, Jefferson Forest supervisor, said that 54 percent of Craig's land area is taken up by half of of the forest.

The New Castle Ranger District plays a major role in maintaining the land and provides a variety of services to Craig in fire and emergency services, law enforcement, education and recreation, the letter said.

"Any proposal to close this office would most likely prove detrimental to the county's natural, social and economic vitality," the letter said.

Last summer the supervisors formed a task force to make sure forest service officials are informed of the importance Craig placed upon the ranger office.

Since then, the task force has channeled information to forest service personnel and sought support from influential people.

Craig does not get any land tax revenue from property in the Jefferson Forest but it does get payment toward the tax loss. However, county officials said this payment has decreased in recent years and they fear it may someday be eliminated.

by CNB