Jennings Facing Murder Charges

Investigators Recover Rifle Believed To Be Weapon In Friday Afternoon Shooting

A 62-year-old county man is being held in the Halifax Regional Jail on murder charges after an argument turned violent Friday afternoon, according to Halifax County Sheriff D.J. Oakes.
Fred Jennings, of Lula’s Trail near Brookneal, has been charged with the murder of Lee R. “Ricky” Waller, 52, of Hunter’s Lane in Brookneal and the use of a firearm in the commission of a felony following the incident, Oakes said.
According to the sheriff, deputies were dispatched to the scene Friday at approximately 4:30 p.m.
“The call was initially reported as a possible DOA (dead on arrival), however emergency services personnel quickly determined that the victim had been shot and that the assailant (Jennings) was still at the scene,” Oakes said.
Law enforcement officials confirmed yesterday that the first deputies arriving at the Jennings residence confirmed that Waller had been murdered and that Jennings was the alleged shooter.
Jennings was reportedly taken into custody without incident at the scene, Oakes said.
Sheriff’s Investigator J.D. Clay and Virginia State Police Special Agent T.A. LaRue processed the scene and interviewed Jennings, according to police.
“A 22-caliber rifle, believed to be the murder weapon, was recovered by the investigators and will be sent to the state laboratory in Richmond for forensic examination and ballistic comparisons,” Oakes said.
Waller was reportedly a frequent visitor to the Jennings home, police said, adding that investigators believe the shooting followed a verbal altercation between the pair of long-time acquaintances.

 

NASA Sets The Stage

Halifax County Is Scene Of Educational Television Show

Regional leaders found themselves in the spotlight last week as Halifax County served as the backdrop for the filming of a one-hour NASA television show.
The series, called The Case Of The Energy Crunch, is a NASA SciFiles production featuring youth who are tree house detectives.
“Each program is based around a problem the detectives have to solve with a focus on STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics),” said Dr. Carol Inge, of the NASA-VT STEM program.
Shannon Ricles, a Virginia Tech and NASA educator, developed the show based on national standards in the STEM disciplines.
“These programs exceed basic competencies and go beyond the Standards of learning here in Virginia,” she said. “We design every show to help the students be thinkers, creators, innovators and doers – skills for a new economy.
Inge oversees the programs and spoke to the Halifax County Chamber of Commerce earlier this month about the issues.
The new show, set to air on Wednesday, March 15, features local business owner Ben Davenport and NASCAR driver Ward Burton.
A significant portion of the show was filmed at The Cove, a Halifax County conservation area owned by the Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation.
In recent months, Burton has become concerned about STEM conservation issues as the U.S. Department of the Interior and the U.S.D.A., for whom Burton is a spokesman, face STEM employee shortages.
During the filming of the show, Burton played an instrumental role in explaining to one of the characters how to conserve energy and the value of exploring alternative energy sources like switch grass, a key research area Virginia Tech is exploring with his Foundation.
In addition, Davenport is featured explaining to the characters energy issues at his fuel storage facility in Halifax County.
Prior to the airing of the show, there will be staff development opportunities for the county’s teachers at The Prizery to prepare them on how to use the program in their classroom.
A multimedia staged production is also being planned for The Prizery, where students from all grade levels will participate in a performance around STEM music and art. The production will be original to Halifax County.

 

VES: A New Start For An Old Building

A Senior Center And Vocational Training Facility Are Proposed For Former Virgilina Elementary School

Virgilina Elementary School took a step toward to a new future last week, one that includes a senior center and a vocational training facility.
Virgilina Mayor Kate Cosner transferred the school deed to Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project, a national, non-profit organization, in Richmond on Thursday.
Supervisors recently transferred the property to the town with a county reversion clause if the facility is not used for community purposes.
Mayor Cosner said Virgilina Town Council transferred the property to SRCAP carrying a reversion clause.
The mayor said council unanimously voted to transfer the property following a public hearing in January.
Cosner met with the SRCAP board last week, answering questions regarding the project prior to the deed transfer.
“We know this area was hit hard economically due to textile (mill) closings and the current tobacco market,” said the Mayor. “Farmers and others are hit hard. This project provides an opportunity to go back to the basics, learning trades (such as) carpenters, plumbers, masons and utility workers. Not only are we going to be training people, we will also be seeking community assistance, including instructors.”
The mayor said the goal for the senior center is to provide a place for seniors to gather for activities, to plan trips, and perhaps to establish a small museum of the surrounding area “because our history is so rich.”
“We still have a lot of work to do,” she said of the project. “We are still in the inception stage.”
Cosner said the project has both town and county support. “It will help the region and the county in the next 10 years,” she added.
The Virgilina Elementary School property contains approximately 7.9 acres, according to the mayor. She said the elementary school was in operation for 102 years before the doors were closed several years ago and its students transferred to other county schools.
“Everyone is interested in revitalizing that building,” said Cosner. “We want to make it useful again to the town. Everyone is interested in that. This (proposal) seems to best suit what the town is looking for.”

 

Obituaries

Mary Thaxton Faulkner

Mary Thaxton Faulkner, 68, of 706 Lincoln Drive, South Boston, died January 18, 2006, at her home.
Mrs. Faulkner was born in Halifax County on July 17, 1937, to the late Joshua Thaxton and Hattie Womack Thaxton, and was married to Arthur Faulkner. She was a member of Dan River View Baptist Church.
Survivors include her husband; three daughters Priscilla Ewell, Patricia Byrd and Judy Faulkner, all of South Boston; two sons, Herbert Faulkner and Minister Willie Marable, both of South Boston; four sisters, Ida Roberts of South Boston, Nannie Joseph of Boston, Mass., Eunice Travis of Seaford, Del., and Maude Bell of Philadelphia, Pa.; eight brothers, Robert Thaxton, Herman Thaxton, Albert Leroy Thaxton, Rufus Thaxton and William Thaxton, all of South Boston, Joseph Thaxton and Johnnie Thaxton, both of Brooklyn, N.Y., and David Thaxton of Richmond; 15 grandchildren; 18 great-grandchildren; two devoted friends, Flossie Lee Scott and Mrs. Rogers.
Mrs. Faulkner was also preceded in death by one sister, Ember Thaxton; and two brothers, Jesse and Junior Thaxton.
Funeral services will be held today, January 23, at noon at Dan River View Baptist Church. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family is receiving friends at the home of Willie and Joyce Marable, 698 Lincoln Drive, South Boston.

Avis Blanks Hite

Mrs. Avis Blanks Hite, 93, the widow of Johnny Cornelius Hite, died Friday, January 20, in South Boston.
The daughter of Thomas Hardy and Hallie Nunn Blanks, she was a graduate of Clarksville High School and was retired from Burlington Industries and Lake Sleepwear.
Funeral services were held yesterday in the chapel at Watkins Cooper Lyon Funeral Home with the Rev. Henry Lovelace officiating. Burial followed at the Oakhurst Cemetery.
Mrs. Hite is survived by daughters and sons-in-law Carolyn H. McGhee and Charlotte H. and Gene Coleman, all of Halifax, and Rita H. and Charles Nelson of Nelson; sisters Lelia B. Walker of Clarksville and Edna B. Elliott of South Boston.
Also surviving are six grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.
Condolences may be expressed at www.wclfh.com.

Panthea Sizemore Woody

Mrs. Panthea Sizemore Woody, 89, the widow of Gilbert Adam Woody, died Friday, January 20, in the Halifax Regional Hospital.
A native of Mecklenburg County, Mrs. Woody was a graduate of the 1934 class of Clarksville High School and was a member of the Union Chapel Baptist Church.
Funeral services will be held at 3 p.m. today at the Watkins Cooper Lyon Funeral Home chapel. The Rev. Earnie Taylor and Mrs. Martha M. Harrington will officiate.
Burial will follow in the Oakhurst Cemetery.
Mrs. Woody is survived by daughters Donna Morningstar and husband Charles, of Buffalo Junction and Patricia Sizemore and husband Joe of Elon, N.C., grandchildren Alva Sizemore, Robert Sizemore, David Morningstar and Martha Harrington and five great-grandchildren.
Memorials may be made to the Mecklenburg County Lifesaving and Rescue Squad.
Condolences may be expressed at www.wclfh.com.

Sarah Ballow McNeal

Mrs. Sarah Ballow McNeal, 83,of Old Halifax Road in Keeling, Va., died Wednesday, January 18, at her residence.
Born November 22, 1922 in Pittsylvania County, she was the daughter of the late John Archer Ballow and the late Dollie Rose Ballow. She was married to Sandy McNeal, who preceded her in death. She was of the Baptist faith.
Mrs. McNeal is survived by one aunt, Mammie Howerton of Philadelphia, nephews Joseph T. Ballow and wife Gerrilyn of Gloucester, and Joseph H. Ballow Jr., of Philadelphia, nieces Sarah L. Dorsey and Sally Emory and husband Charles, all of Burlington, N.J., and Yvonne Davis of Danville and devoted friend George R. Elliott of Keeling.
Mrs. McNeal was preceded in death by her eight brothers and sisters.
Funeral services will be held at noon Tuesday, January 24, at the Mountain Grove Baptist Church.
The Rev. Arthur E. Crews will officiate.
Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
Viewing will be Tuesday at the church from 11 a.m. until the time of the service.
The family is at the Old Halifax Road, Keeling residence.

Dorothy Chapin Schultz

Graveside services for Mrs. Dorothy Chapin Schultz were held Friday, January 20, at Riverview Cemetery in Richmond.
The Rev. Joann Murphy officiated.
Mrs. Schultz died Tuesday, January 17, at The Woodview.
She was born in Richmond on September 27, 1924, the daughter of the late Dorothy B. Chapin and the late Cornelius C. Chapin Jr. She was an administrative assistant.
She is survived by one son, James C. Sheppard of South Boston, one daughter, Sallie B. Brown of Twain Harte, Ca., one brother, Cornelius C. Chapin III of Richmond, and two grandchildren, Jennifer K. Brown and Sara C. Brown. One sister, Virginia C. Finlayson, preceded her in death.

 

Second-Half Rally Lifts Comets Over PH

The HCHS Varsity Boys Cagers Rallied From An 11-Point Halftime Deficit To Defeat Patrick Henry 54-48 Friday Night

Slow second-half starts have been something of a setback for the Halifax County High School varsity boys basketball team in a handful of games this season.
The Comets had none of that in Friday’s Western Valley District game here against Patrick Henry.
The Comets put together a 14-4 run in the first five minutes and 12 seconds of the second half to put a big dent into Patrick Henry’s 11-point halftime lead. That, coupled with a big defensive stand in the fourth quarter in which the Comets held the Patriots to only four points, lifted the Comets to a 54-48 win.
Friday night’s win improved the Comets’ record to 5-10 overall and put the Comets, now 2-1 in Western Valley District play, in a tie for second place in the district standings with Franklin County.
“Anytime you win a district game it’s big,” said Comets coach Ron Parson.
“I was so proud of our guys because I felt they really stepped it up. We were down at halftime and they could have just rolled over but they refused to do it. That’s what it’s going to take.
“I really saw a lot of good team chemistry and a lot of good ball movement,” Parson pointed out. Our defensive effort was one of the best we’ve had.”
Derek Brooks and Mark Ferrell led the Comets’ scoring with 12 points each and Morgan Brown and Blaine Key followed with eight points each.
Ferrell sparked the Comets’ third-quarter rally with a pair of baskets in the first minute, baskets that brought the Comets to within seven points at 32-25. A basket by Brown and two free throws from Brooks made it a five-point game.
Later, the Comets got a three-pointer from Brown, a free throw from Ferrell, a layup from Brown and a stick-back of an offensive rebound by Key to gain the lead for the first time in the game at 37-36 with 2:45 left in the third quarter.
Halifax County fell behind again, this time by five points, but Patrick Terry canned a big three-pointer as time ran out in the third quarter to bring the Comets to within two points at 44-42.
Halifax County’s defense then stepped up and forced Patrick Henry into committing a handful of turnovers. The Patriots went the first four and a half minutes of the fourth quarter without scoring, opening the door for the Comets to get on top.
Key got the Comets going with a game-tying basket with 7:43 left in the game. A free throw and a basket from Ferrell put the Comets up by three points at 47-44 with 6:12 left in the game.
The Comets never trailed after that.
Halifax County hung on through a tough fourth quarter during which the two teams scored only one point during a span of just over five minutes. That one point was a free throw from the Patriots’ Dan Deck that made it a 47-45 Comets lead with 3:30 left in the game.
Key broke the lengthy drought with a basket with 1:28 left to put the Comets up by four points. Then, with the Patriots being forced to foul, the Comets got a free throw from Brown with 53 seconds left to make it a 50-45 Comets lead. Two free throws from Jeremy Jeffress with 32.8 seconds left put the Comets up 52-45 and a basket by Ferrell with 10.3 seconds left gave the Comets their biggest lead of the game at 54-45.
Mark Grogan, who led the Patriots with a game-high 27 points, hit a three-pointer with two seconds left to make the 54-48 final score.
“The guys wanted to win,” Parson said of the team’s second-half comeback.
“We had been coming out pretty slow starting the third quarter, but this time we came out strong. At halftime they (the players) were focused. They wanted to come out and win.”
The Comets had an excellent second half, shooting 67 percent from the floor including a 50 percent mark from three-point range. That was a big improvement from the 45 percent shooting mark of the first half.
Also, the Comets had a good night on the boards, snaring a total of 30 rebounds in the contest. Ferrell led the team in rebounding with 11 and Key had seven rebounds.
In addition, the Comets had 11 steals in the game and had only 10 turnovers in the contest.
If there was anything disconcerting about the game for the Comets, it was in free throw shooting. The Comets were 8-24 on the night from the charity stripe and 4-12 in the fourth quarter.
The first half got off to a different start for the Comets as Parson, taking a different approach from past outings, sat his starters at the outset of the game, putting the tandem of Larry Burrell, Jeffress, Brown, Piere Edmonds and Stephen Sibley on the floor to start the contest.
The Comets jumped on top in the opening seconds but quickly fell behind 6-1. After three minutes with that lineup on the floor, Parson put Brooks, Derwin Leigh, Rodale Pippen, Terry and Ferrell on the floor for about two minutes.
Then, with the Comets trailing 10-3, Parson put his regular group of starters on the floor for the final three minutes of the first quarter.
“We were just trying to get some fire into the guys,” Parson explained.
“We had split them (the players) up (in practice) into we thought were even teams and let them play and see who would start and the group that was out there won.”
Parson said the move produced something positive.
“It was a good thing,” he said.
“I think it brought the team closer. I could see a lot of good bench morale because everybody got a chance to play. We’re going to do what we have to do to try to keep us going.”
The Comets trailed 15-9 at the end of the first quarter, and got as close as three points in the second quarter before PH inched away to an 11-point halftime lead.
Next up for the Comets is a Tuesday night game here against E.C. Glass. Tip-off time for the Western Valley District contest is set for 7:30 p.m.
“We’re in a very good position right now,” Parson said.
“I told the guys you have three parts to the season. You have the non-district games, then you have your district games and then you have your play-offs. The first stage we didn’t do as well as we’d have liked to but we were able to work out a lot of things. This (the stage of district games) is a very important stage. I think the guys are a little more focused.”

PATRICK HENRY
NAME FG FT F TP
Hunt 0 0-0 0 0
Elliott 1 0-0 4 2
Young 0 0-0 0 0
Grogan 10 3-3 4 27
Deck 2 1-2 3 5
Clay 1 0-0 1 2
Watson 0 0-0 2 0
Payne 6 0-0 4 12
Totals 20 4-5 18 48
HALIFAX COUNTY
NAME FG FT F TP
Terry 2 0-0 1 6
Burrell 0 0-0 0 0
Leigh 0 0-0 1 0
Jeffress 2 2-2 2 7
Brown 3 1-3 2 8
Key 4 0-6 2 8
Brooks 5 2-3 2 12
Edmonds 0 1-4 0 1
Pippen 0 0-0 0 0
Ferrell 5 2-6 2 12
Totals 21 8-24 12 54
Three Point Field Goals: Terry (HC) 2, Jeffress (HC) 1, Brown (HC) 1, Grogan (PH) 4
Patrick Henry 15 17 12 4-48
Halifax County 9 12 21 12-54

 

Comets Swimmers Split In Rematch With Franklin Co.

Boys Win, Girls Fall Against Eagles In Regular Season Finale

The Comets swim team had mixed results after Friday’s meet at Franklin County to end the regular season, the Comets boys coming out on top, while the girls swimmers dropped a close decision to the Eagles.
Halifax won the boys meet 83-63, while Franklin County edged Halifax 79-77 in the girls meet.
Five Comets won individual events in the boys meet, Dane Ferguson collecting wins in the 200 freestyle and 100 freestyle. Jarrett Pearce the 100 breast, Phillip Saunders the 200 Individual Medley and Bryan Slagle the 100 backstroke.
Halifax swept all three relay events during the boys meet, with Eric Nelson, Slagle, Saunders and Trevor Griffin winning the 200 medley relay.
Nelson, Pearce, Slagle and Ferguson won the 200 freestyle relay, and Nelson teamed with Pearce, Slagle and Ferguson to win the 400 freestyle relay.
Caroline Clements claimed wins in the 50 freestyle and 100 freestyle events to lead the Comets girls, while Lindsey Martin won the 500 freestyle and Courtney McDowell the 100 breaststroke events.
The Comets girls swimmers won two of three relay events, with Emily Bowen, Clements, McDowell and Sarah Rosche taking the 200 medley relay, and Lacy Will, Sarah Rosche, Megan Rosche and Clements winning the 200 freestyle relay.
The Comets swim team will participate in the Western Valley District Championships scheduled for Wednesday at Hargrave.
Comets Boys Placings
And Times
200 Medley Relay
1. HCHS “A” (Nelson, Slagle, Saunders, Griffin) 2:06.79
3. HCHS “B” (Andrew Wilkins, Antoine Weldon, Macaulay Hammond, William McGhee) 2:22.53
200 Free
1. Ferguson 2:00.19
2. Pearce 2:14.28
5. Wilkins 2:54.01
Jake Newcomb 2:42.29 (Exhibition)
200 IM
1. Saunders 2:42.62
50 Free
2. Nelson 24.96
3. Griffin 27.12
5. Weldon 28.70
Newcomb 29.75 (Exhibition)
Luigi Ditomasso 34.03 (Exhibition)
100 Butterfly
2. Saunders 1:14.54
100 Free
1. Ferguson 53.15
4. McGhee 1:05.53
6. Hammond 1:07.08
Taylor Elliott 1:15.81 (Exhibition)
Ditomasso 1:22.72 (Exhibition)
Shannon Hargrave 1:28.70 (Exhibition)
200 Free Relay
1. HCHS “A” (Nelson, Pearce, Slagle, Ferguson) 1:42.35
3. HCHS “B” (McGhee, Weldon, Hammond, Griffin) 1:56.87
100 Back
1.Slagle 1:14.97
4. Wilkins 1:31.67
100 Breast
1. Pearce 1:12.78
4. McGhee 1:42.89
Hargrave 2:08.53 (Exhibition)
400 Free Relay
1. HCHS “A” (Nelson, Pearce, Slagle, Ferguson) 4:02.87
3. HCHS “B” (Saunders, Weldon, Wilkins, Griffin) 4:24.75
Comets Girls Placings
And Times
200 Medley Relay
1. HCHS “A” (Bowen, Clements, McDowell, S. Rosche) 2:13.71
4. HCHS “B” (Emily Rosche, C.A. Nichols, Grace McAbee, Samantha Coates) 2:33.81
5. HCHS “C” (Brittney Fifer, Kelsey Campbell, Brittany Marshall, Christine DeGeorgis) 2:42.09
200 Free
2.E. Roshe 2:36.91
4. Martin 2:40.01
200 IM
2. Will 2:54.89
4. McAbee 3:12.52
50 Free
1. Clements 25.98
2. S. Rosche 30.73
4. Bowen 30.91
Morgan Farley 31.90 (Exhibition)
Kelly Price 38.08 (Exhibition)
Peyton Ferguson 39.14 (Exhibition)
100 Butterfly
3. C.A. Nichols 1:27.51
100 Freestyle
1.Clements 57.29
3. M. Rosche 1:12.24
4. Emily Nichols 1:21.72
Charlotte Solomon 1:24.13 (Exhibition)
Anne McDonald 1:27.28 (Exhibition)
500 Free
1. Martin 7:00.00
200 Free Relay
1. HCHS “A” (Will, S. Rosche, M. Rosche, Clements) 1:54.52
4. HCHS “B” (Coates, DeGeorgis, Campbell, McDowell) 2:15.13
5. HCHS “C” (Price, McDonald, Solomon, C.A. Nichols) 2:31.95
100 Back
2. Bowen 1:19.67
5. Fifer 1:38.08
6. McDonald 1:52.00
Farley 1:31.61 (Exhibition)
Ferguson 1:39.80 (Exhibition)
100 Back
1. McDowell 1:22.82
4. E. Rosche 1:27.38
6. Marshall 1:37.31
400 Free Relay
2. HCHS “A” (Will, E. Rosche, Coates, M. Rosche) 4:50.99
4. HCHS “B” (Fifer, Campbell, Martin, E. Nichols) 5:17.08
5. HCHS “C” (DeGeorgis, Price, Marshall, Solomon) 5:38.34

 

Comets Varsity Girls Cagers Lose Key Game

Big Second Quarter Gives Patrick Henry 59-50 WVD Win

Another game, another inconsistent performance by the Comets varsity girls basketball team, which saw a first quarter lead evaporate into a 59-50 loss Friday night at Western Valley District opponent Patrick Henry.
Kemper Russell led the Comets with 11 points, while Lashunda Davis and Talesha Medley scored eight points apiece. Three Comets, Taniqua Younger, Key Ferrell and Brittany Gayles, added four points apiece, while Dachrista Teeters, Ashley Coleman and Markeshia Coleman added two points.
LaToya Flint led Patrick Henry with 17 points, including three treys, while DeRika Fingerz added 11.
Halifax, as has been the case most of the season, followed one good quarter with a sub-par one, particularly on offense, Russell and Medley each scoring six points and Ashley Coleman and Gayles each two points in the first quarter.
That gave the Comets a 16-12 lead, but Davis and Younger were the only Comets to score in the second period, as Patrick Henry went on a 14-4 run to take a 26-20 halftime lead.
Teeters, Davis, Russell and Younger each had a basket, and Markeshia Coleman connected on two foul shots in the third quarter, but Patrick Henry , behind Flint, began to pull away.
Flint had two treys to help the Patriots take a 44-30 lead with a quarter left, and that was enough to hold off the Comets in the final period.
Davis scored her final four points of the game in the fourth quarter, Ferrell added two field goals, Russell a three-point play, and Gayles a field goal, but the Halifax rally came up short.
Halifax, now 0-3 in the Western Valley District and 2-11 overall faces a must-win situation tomorrow at district opponent E.C. Glass, with the game scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m.
The Comets played one of their better games of the season here January 10 against the Hilltoppers, but a late-game turnover allowed Glass to escape with a 51-50 win.