PENNINGTON TO REVOKE BUSINESS LICENSE FOR
METHADONE CLINIC

PENNINGTON GAP - Pennington Gap leaders continue to mobilize in an effort
to stop a methadone clinic from locating in their community, and on Friday
Town Attorney Donnie Williams was preparing to notify the company involved
that the town is revoking a recently issued business license.

The attorney said he is also checking with agencies and other
municipalities across the state in hopes of finding an effective tool to
prevent the clinic from locating in town.

Williams said he has notified the town manager to revoke the license and
refund the company the $30 fee it paid Tuesday to obtain the license.

"I am in the process of preparing a letter to the company, that I hope to
get out today, advising them we are suspending the license and requiring
them to provide proof that they have proper approval to operate such a
business in the commonwealth of Virginia," said Williams.

CRC Health Group, headquartered in San Jose, Calif., obtained a town
business license Tuesday to locate the clinic in the former Pennington Gap
Rural Health Clinic on Maple Street. The following day, the Lee County
Industrial Development Authority obtained an option on the building with
hopes of locating a call center there. But a CRC representative said the
company will continue efforts to locate another facility.

Mayor Jimmy Smallwood said he is opposed to the clinic locating in his town
and believes now his constituents will see a need for some type of zoning.

"This came up really fast and caught us all off guard. We have no plans for
zoning, but we need to plan to make plans because we need to get something
in place in a hurry," he said. "We've been fighting dope in our town for
some time now, and we've kind of got the gangs off the street. We want to
keep it that way."

Williams said he is not sure zoning would stop a methadone clinic because
such facilities dispense narcotics like hospitals, doctor's offices,
pharmacies and other health-related businesses.

"It would be hard to block a methadone clinic and not block hospitals,
pharmacies and such," he said.

The attorney said many jurisdictions across the state are facing similar
circumstances, so he has contacted the Virginia Municipal League and the
Local Government Attorney Association to find out what other localities
have faced this situation and what they've done to prevent establishment of
methadone clinics in their communities.

Smallwood said he may call a special meeting soon to begin working on
zoning laws. Williams said he has discussed that issue with the mayor, and
he believes the Town Council should hold off on a called meeting until he
hears something from the VML.

The attorney said he is also working with state Sen. William C. Wampler Jr.
and Delegate Terry Kilgore on the issue, as both have legislation pending
in the General Assembly. This legislation may or may not help with the
town's situation, he said, admitting, "We're really sort of up against it
on this one."

Lee County Sheriff Gary Parsons said he too is opposed to the clinic and
will do what he can to help the town.

"On behalf of law enforcement, we're opposed because we're not convinced
that methadone is effective in getting people off hard drugs. It appears to
be a substitute. I fear it will bring a bad element into the county," he said.