Angelou meeting is Oct. 2

AngelouEconomics will be making a special return trip to Alleghany County the evening of Oct. 2. The firm is performing a Comprehensive Economic Development Study (CEDS) on Alleghany and eight other western North Carolina counties. It will hold two special sessions Oct. 2.

Both meetings will be held at the conference room at the new Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation office on U.S. 21 south.

The first meeting, set for 5:30 p.m., will be a by-invitation-only meeting for ministers. "We've attempted to identify every minister in Alleghany County and we've sent them a personal letter as an invitation," said CEDS Chairman Patrick Woodie. "All ministers are invited to attend, with or without a specific invitation. If we overlooked someone, we apologize." However, that meeting is limited to Alleghany County ministers.

Then at 7 p.m., interested members of the public at large are invited to attend a presentation of "Target Industries and Benchmarks for Alleghany County."

The presentation that will be given was first made on Aug. 14. Public concern over statements made by Angelou Project Manager Sean Garretson likely prompted the meetings.

On Aug. 14, Garretson said the community needs to be accepting of "creative types" with unorthodox appearance and values. Statements called into question included one he made concerning the community accepting atheists. Other statements made that day also raised concerns, including one about people with 'alternative lifestyles' made by others in attendance. That intent and meaning of the statements have been discussed at public meetings.

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