Wal-Mart? It would be a long shot here

Town officials last week indicated their willingness to work with Alleghany County in response to a petition drive to bring a Wal-Mart store to Sparta. However, they saw very little likelihood that the effort would be successful.

The discussion came during the Sparta Town Council's Feb. 5 meeting. Town Manager Tom Douglas presented a letter from Theresa Hawks, accompanied by several pages of signatures of people who indicated they wish to see Wal-Mart come to Sparta. In the letter, Hawks said the petition drive started about a month ago. She put the number of names at 400 and said a Wal-Mart would create 300 jobs.

There was some confusion about who was the intended recipient of the letter. It was addressed to the "Alleghany Town Commissioners," from whom it asked for assistance in the effort to obtain a Wal-Mart. Douglas said it was first delivered to the Alleghany County Board of Commissioners, who passed it on to the town.

"Alleghany town commissioners, that takes care of all of us," said Mayor John H. Miller.

Douglas said, "I'm not sure Sparta is a prime location (for a Wal-Mart), but we're willing to ask the county."

Council took no formal action on the petition request, but member John Brady asked Douglas to send Hawks a response indicating that the town would contact the county about the matter.

"Let them know we'd be willing to assist the county; the county generally takes the lead in these things," said Miller.

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