Wednesday, March 23, 2005

Board OKs VIR Bond ‘Concept’

Want To See Final Lease Before Voting On $2.5 Million Moral Obligation Bond

Following a lengthy discussion, the Board of Supervisors “agreed in concept” to consider a proposed $2.5 million moral obligation bond to develop the VIPER and JOUSTER research facilities at Virginia International Raceway.
But supervisors stopped short of passing a resolution authorizing the moral obligation bond.
The request was made on behalf of the Halifax County Industrial Development Authority, which is considering purchasing and developing the 2.5-acre property where the two facilities will be located.
The action came as supervisors met with the town councils of Halifax and South Boston Monday night in the public meeting room of the Mary Bethune Complex in Halifax.
IDA Chairman John Cannon told supervisors that the two projects will be a joint effort between the IDA, Virginia Tech, NASA and Danville’s Institute for Advanced Learning and Research.
Cannon said the JOUSTER program, a partnership with the Department of Defense to develop unmanned robotic vehicles for the military, will generate 177 jobs over 10 years.
The VIPER program is estimated to create just under 500 jobs over the same period, Cannon said.
The IDA is seeking bank financing in the amount of $1.4 million property debt on the JOUSTER project and $1.1 million on the VIPER project.
“Repayment of debt to the IDA will be formalized through a lease agreement for the JOUSTER and VIPER properties with the Institute," Cannon said. “Income from the lease agreement will be applied to the debt service obligations of the IDA to the lending institution.’
“The dollars under discussion tonight are for property and buildings,” he added. “VIPER is a perfect fit for VIR. It will offer cutting-edge research in vehicle performance not offered anywhere else in the world.”
An integral part of the VIPER program is a piece of equipment called a 7-Post Rig that replicates road and track conditions.
“This is a highly regarded testing device and essential component of motorsports racing,” Cannon said.
Cannon said that VIR currently has “signed agreements or are in conversations” with many well-known companies.
“These negotiations will turn into jobs for Halifax County,” he said. “But without a landlord who can qualify for the debt, we can’t provide a space for these types of research activities."
Asked by Board Chairman William Fitzgerald why the property was so expensive, Cannon replied “location, location, location."
“These properties are sitting next to the VIR race track and that’s why they are so expensive," he said.
“But what assurance do the citizens have that the taxpayers won’t be held responsible if the venture isn’t successful?" Fitzgerald asked.
“It’s really hard for me to say I can guarantee anything," Cannon replied. “But I’ve been involved with the procurement of the 7-Post Rig. We own that and it’s anticipated to generate between $3,000 and $4,000 a day.
“I’m not concerned about the property being rented," he added. “On the IDA side, our job is to create employment and put together deals we feel are best for the citizens of the county. This is a tremendous win/win for us; I can’t stress that enough.
“We’d like you to approve the concept before we move any further," Cannon said. “I’d like for the IDA to be able to go forward with due diligence including legal documents, deeds, financing and construction documents. Give us the opportunity. Tell us to go ahead. What I need is your approval to move forward."
But Fitzgerald said he wanted the Board to have a look at the final lease agreement prior to committing to the moral obligation.
“This is a serious issue," he said. “I think it would appropriate to have it before this Board if we make a commitment that a bank has already said is so risky we need a guarantor. I for one feel that if we’re going to commit the citizens to a moral obligation, I’d like to see what I’m committing them to."
Supervisor Doug Bowman told the Board that he feels the risk to the county is minimal.
“With the IDA as the owner, we’re even better protected," he said. “I’m comfortable with the financial risk to the county. There are no guarantees, but there weren’t any guarantees when we began Riverstone (Technology Park).
“I recommend going forward with the concept of a moral obligation bond," Bowman added.
Supervisor James Edmunds also voiced his support for the bond.
“I can’t imagine us turning our noses up at Virginia Tech and NASA," he said. “I can’t imagine us not supporting this. I don’t think delay is going to provide the right image we’re trying to show here. We have as much security as we can possibly get."
Edmunds made the motion to “endorse the concept of the intent for a $2.5 million moral obligation bond subject to a final lease agreement and subsequent vote."
The motion passed on a split vote with supervisors R.E. “Dickie" Abbott, Ronnie Vaughan and William Claiborne opposing.
Berry Hill
Bowman told the joint Board Monday night that more time was needed to consider a request from the owners of Berry Hill Plantation Resort for financial support from the county and towns.
“As you know, we set up a committee from South Boston and the county to meet with Berry Hill’s owners and discuss the local incentives we can provide," he said.
The committee members are Bowman and Vaughan from the county and Councilmen Eric Roberts and Ed Owens from South Boston.
“I don’t think there’s a consensus on our part that we want to meet what they requested," Bowman said. “They requested the county Appropriate $125,000 for an engineering study and the town appropriate $40,000 for a conference center study to get them under way.
“I’m not sure we have a consensus on the county’s side for the $125,000," he added.
Bowman said a second part of the resolution was for the two jurisdictions to support the project by applying for grant funding “if it could be identified."
“I personally have no problem with that," he said. “We’ve taken action to embrace the project in concept."
“I think Doug and I would like to meet with the two town representatives and work on it a little more before we come back to the Board of Supervisors," Vaughan said.
Who Let The Dogs Out?
Supervisors, on a 6-2 split vote, passed a substitute motion requesting architects Dewberry & Davis to submit a price estimate on locating a new animal shelter at the site of the current shelter off of Berry Hill Road.
The motion came after Vaughan told supervisors that he had received three estimates for a new animal shelter.
The estimates include:
• A new building at the site of the Bethel landfill - $852,000.
• An existing building located across from the former Clover airport - $720,000.
• Around $453,000 to renovate an existing building at the Bethel landfill.
Citing noise and traffic issues, Francis Vaughan, speaking on behalf of the Bethel community, said she opposed the shelter moving to the former landfill.
“We feel that moving the dog pound (to the Bethel site) will be detrimental to the community," she said.
“I think the issues Mrs. Vaughan is raising are solvable issues," Fitzgerald said. “We can address them. There will never be an ideal site."
Kathy Myers, representing the Halifax County Humane Society, said she agreed that the Bethel location was the “perfect place" for an animal shelter.
“I understand (Mrs. Vaughan’s) issues, but there are ways around them," she said. “It won’t be completely solved, but there are ways to minimize them."
Supervisor Vaughan made a motion to proceed with engineering drawings and putting the project out for bids.
Supervisor Tom West offered a substitute motion to request the architects review the costs of locating the building at the current site.
With Vaughan and Fitzgerald opposing, West’s motion passed 6-2.
Other Issues
Following a public hearing during which no one spoke, supervisors unanimously passed, on a motion by Edmunds and with a second by Bowman, an amendment to Halifax County code that will authorize the use of the Central Absentee District for both primaries and general elections.
Bowman also told supervisors that a study being conducted to create a water/sewer master plan is “on schedule."
Following the joint meeting, members of the South Boston Town Council convened and unanimously passed a resolution authorizing Town Manager Ted Daniel to act as the town’s representative in applying for a $1.2 million Community Development Block Grant for the Church Hill project.
In addressing the planned Regional Solid Waste Authority, County Administrator Bryan Foster told the joint Board that Halifax, Mecklenburg and Charlotte counties have each approved the user agreement to join the authority.
“The process is moving along and we’ll continue to move forward with the establishment of operating procedures," he said.
Foster told the Boards that while the permitting process is under way, the county would need to consider transportation issues.
“Now that we’re moving forward with the place we’ll deposit our solid waste, we need to work on how we’ll be transporting our waste," he said.
“I think some good points have been raised about some local decisions that need to be made while the permitting process is under way," Bowman said. “We need to have our local decisions made on a timely basis.
“My thought would be to put together a committee of elected representatives, two from the county and two from the towns to cover as a committee these issues we have before us," he added.
Supervisors also unanimously passed a resolution proclaiming April as Recycling Month.

 

IDA To Receive Budgeted Funds

Foster: Supervisors, SoBo Can’t Dissolve EDA Board

With the exception of allocating the remaining funds for the fiscal year to the Industrial Development Authority, the Board of Supervisors took no action on the tangled economic development structure in the county.
The funds were allocated as supervisors met with members of the Halifax and South Boston town councils at the Mary Bethune Complex in Halifax.
On a motion by Supervisor William Claiborne and with a second by Supervisor Tom West, supervisors unanimously voted to allocate $176,193 to the IDA for the remainder of the fiscal year.
County Administrator Bryan Foster told supervisors that even though the Board of Directors of the Economic Development Authority resigned on March 11, supervisors can’t dissolve the body they created in September, 2004.
“This is a continuation of the March 7 Board meeting where the structure of Halifax County economic development was discussed," he said. “Subsequent to that meeting, the seven Board members submitted their resignations.
“As it stands currently, the EDA still exists, but the Board members have all resigned," Foster added.
“Do we have to pass a resolution to dissolve the EDA?" South Boston Town Councilman Ed Owens asked.
Foster said that even though the Board resigned, the EDA continues to be a viable body in the county’s economic development structure.
“They didn’t pass a resolution to dissolve (the Board)," he said. “They resigned. The EDA still exists as an entity.
“If it’s the wish of the Board of Supervisors to dissolve the EDA, at least four members will have to be appointed (to the EDA Board) to pass a resolution to dissolve the EDA," Foster added. “They don’t have to be appointed only, they have to be sworn into office."
After the EDA Board votes to dissolve, both South Boston and Halifax County’s governing bodies will have to pass resolutions dissolving the Board.
“Once it’s been created, according to state code, it’s a separate political subdivision," Foster said. “Neither the Board of Supervisors nor Town of South Boston has the power to dissolve it. It requires an action of the EDA Board and that hasn’t happened yet.
“We can’t do it on our own."

 

Museum President, Director Resign

The president and the director of the South Boston-Halifax County Museum of Fine Arts and History have resigned.
Museum President Gary Crutchfield and Director Marjorie Holtman both submitted resignations during the museum’s Thursday board meeting, acting Board President Leslie Powell said Monday.
Powell declined to comment on the reasons for Crutchfield and Holtman’s resignations. He said Holtman told the board her resignation is effective in two weeks. He said that she is visiting her mother in Florida and is expected back later this week.
Crutchfield’s resignation was immediate, according to Powell. “It just got to be too much,” Crutchfield replied when asked why he had resigned. “I had some other things I needed to do.”
As board vice president, Powell said that he will now serve as acting president throughout Crutchfield’s unexpired term, which ends in October.
The search for a new museum director will begin immediately, according to Powell.
Holtman served as director at the museum for seven years.
The museum was founded by the Tuesday Woman’ Club in 1981, officially on July 11, 1982 at 515 Yancey Street in South Boston. Later, the museum moved to the former G.J. Hunt home on North Main Street.
Seeking more space and a permanent home, a building at 1540 Wilborn Ave. was purchased, renovated and officially opened as the new museum on December 7, 1997.
During Holtman’s tenure an additional 5,000-square-feet was added to the building.

 

Obituaries

Doris Dublin Brooks

Doris Dublin Brooks, 80, of 110 Truxton Avenue, South Boston died March 19 at Lynchburg General Hospital.
Mrs. Brooks was born in South Boston on September 13, 1924, the daughter of the late Timothy Dublin and Robnia Carrington Dublin, and was married to the late William Rudolph Brooks. She was a member of Ebenezer CME Church.
Survivors include one son, Dublin Brooks and wife, Vivian W. Brooks, of Nathalie; two grandchildren; and one foster brother, Alvin Owen of Newport News. Mrs. Brooks was preceded in death by one brother, Timothy Jackson Dublin.
Funeral services will be held March 25 at 2 p.m. at Crawford House Chapel in Halifax with the Rev. Alfred Harrison officiating. Burial will follow in Oak Ridge Cemetery.
The family is receiving friends at the home.

Elaine Coleman

Elaine Coleman, 65, of Washington, D.C., formerly of Halifax County, died March 18 at Providence Hospital in Washington.
Mrs. Coleman was born on August 10, 1939, to the late George Washington Muse and the late Janie Anderson Muse and was married to William ‘Tom’ Coleman. She was a member of New Zion Baptist Church.
Survivors include her husband; one son, Willie ‘Billy’ Muse; two grandchildren; and one sister, Emma Lee Bowman of Manhattan, N.Y.
Funeral services for Mrs. Coleman will be held March 26 at 2 p.m. at New Zion Baptist Church with the Rev. Willie N. Yancey officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service, and other times at the home of Willie Tucker, 5247 Chatham Road.

Evelyn Ledford Pentaude

Evelyn Ledford Pentaude, 78, of Alton, widow of Joseph Pentaude, died March 18 at her home.
Born in Postel, N.C. to the late Edgar and Ada Kimsey Ledford, she was a homemaker.
Mrs. Pentaude is survived by daughters, Connie Vreeland of New Jersey and Greta Tatum of Calif.; one sister, grace Ann Andriansano; one brother, Teddy Ledford; three grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
A memorial service was held at her home March 21, with Pastor Joe Grubbs officiating.

Henry Jordan Pulliam

Henry Jordan Pulliam, 92, of 1000 Carolina Avenue, Virgilina died March 20, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Pulliam was born May 19, 1912, in Halifax County. He was married to the late Gladys Louise Brandon Pulliam, was a retired farmer, and was a member of Union Christian Church.
Survivors include three daughters, Louise Inscoe and husband, Robert, and Sue Hall and husband, John, all of Oxford, N.C., and Gayle Pulliam of Virgilina; one son, Henry Jackson Pulliam and fiancee, Faye, of Virgilina; five grandsons, Scott Inscoe and wife, Kim, Justin and Jonathan Inscoe, Jason Pulliam, and John Hall; two granddaughters, Christie Lloyd and husband, Larry, and Beverly Hall; and one great-granddaughter, Melissa Lloyd.
Other than his parents and wife, Mr. Pulliam was preceded in death by three brothers, Lee, Edmund and Frank Pulliam; and four sisters, Ella Simmons, Roxie Smith, Mary Talley and Anna Thaxton.
Funeral services will be held today, March 23, at 2 p.m. at Union Christian Church with the Rev. Don Davidson officiating. Burial will follow in Virgilina Cemetery.

Rachel Ilene Lawson Wilkinson

Rachel Ilene Lawson Wilkinson, 30, of Nelson, wife of Robert Mason Wilkinson, died March 16 at her home.
Born in Kansas City, Mo. to Harvey Lee and Darlene Huffey Lawson, she was a member of Ebenezer Mennonite Church.
Funeral services were held March 19 at 2 p.m. at Ebenezer Mennonite Church with the Rev. Nathan Goode officiating.
In addition to her husband and mother, Mrs. Wilkinson is survived by a son, Harvey Andrew Wilkinson, of the home; her sisters, Darla June Lawson and Shirley Lee Hudson, both of Missouri.

Jayne Elizabeth Williams Yancey

Jayne Elizabeth Williams Yancey, 41, of Halifax died March 20 at her home.
She is survived by her husband, Robert Edward Yancey; a son, Robert Blake Yancey, both of Halifax; her father, J.D. Williams of South Hill; a brother and sister-in-law, Donnie and Lucy Williams of Boydton. She was preceded in death by her mother, Evelyn Williams.
A graveside funeral service for Mrs. Yancey will be held today, March 23 at Bethel Methodist Cemetery in Alberta.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Lake Country SPCA, P.O. Box 14, Clarksville 23927, or Susan B. Komen Foundation, 5005 B.J. Freeway, Suite 250, Dallas Texas 75244.

Francis Owen Meeler Sr.

Francis Owen Meeler Sr., 64, of Richmond, formerly of Halifax County, died March 22.
The family is being served by Huguenot Chapel, Woody Funeral Home.
Funeral service announcement will be made later.

Knox Wagner Ramsey

Graveside services for former South Boston resident, Knox Wagner Ramsey, 79, will be held Thursday at 11 a.m. at the Historic Christ Church in Irvington.
Mr. Ramsey died Saturday, March 19, after a short illness.
He is survived by his wife, Betty Brann Ramsey; his brother, Garrard S. (Buster) Ramsey of Chattanooga, Tenn.; three children, Kathryn Daryl Joslin of Seattle, Wash., William Brann Ramsey and his wife, Louise of Great Falls, Va., and Knox Wagner Ramsey Jr. and his wife, Ellen of Tampa, Fla.; and seven grandchildren, Danielle Joslin, Mike Joslin, Hunter Joslin, Alyssa Ramsey, Trey Ramsey, Beth Ramsey and Laura Ramsey.
Mr. Ramsey was born February 13, 1926 in Speed, Indiana, a son of the late Rose and William Ramsey.
He was a graduate of the College of William and Mary, where he was selected for three consecutive years to the State of Virginia All-State Teams and the Southern Conference Teams, both as a first team pick.
Other honors included his selection to the All-Time State of Virginia Football Team, the All-Time William and Mary Football Team, and the 1948 College All-Star Team.
Mr. Ramsey, a Sigma Alpha Epsilon, was named to the Blount Co., Tenn. and William and Mary Halls of Fame.
After his college career, he played in the NFL for six years with the Los Angeles Dons, Chicago Cardinals and the Washington Redskins.
Following his football career, he was in various management positions with Reynolds Metals Company and ICI Americas, Inc. for 34 years in Waynesboro and Richmond.
In Waynesboro, Mr. Ramsey served as president of the Lions Club, and in Richmond he was on the board of directors for Cavalier and Central Banks. He also served on the advisory board of Central Fidelity Bank and Crestar Bank. Other board of director affiliations included Va. Manufacturers Assn., the Southern Industrial Relations Organization and the Virginia State Chamber of Commerce. He was a member of the Chesterfield County Industrial Development Authority and the Virginia Committee for Fair Utility Rates.
Those who wish to offer memorials are asked to consider Historic Christ Church, Irvington, Va., or the organization of their choice.

 

Comets Girls Netters Are In Rebuilding Season

Change Of Seasons And Losses From Graduation Leave Comets With Only Three Experienced Players

BY Joe Chandler
G-V STAFF WRITER

The spring marks a change of playing seasons for the Halifax County High School girls tennis team.
Formerly played in the fall of the year, girls tennis is now a spring sport as the result of a mandate by the Virginia High School League. According to coach Greg Donner, the change in seasons has not been a good one for the high school girls tennis program.
“There are so many sports in the spring that players have to choose between soccer, softball and tennis,” Donner pointed out.
As a result of graduation and the loss of players to other sports, this year’s team is left with only three players who have match-playing experience, a factor that will make it very difficult for this team to equal or better the 6-2 overall record and third-place finish in the district posted by last year’s squad.
What that translates into for the Comets netters is an uphill battle in what is truly a rebuilding year.
There is good news, however. Donner says the talent base of the younger players is one of the best in years, leading to the prospect that within another couple of years that the Comets girls tennis team could become a contender in the Western Valley District.
“If everybody continues to work hard to improve, two years from now I can see us playing and contending with everybody in the district,” Donner said.
This year’s Comets team is led by seniors Anne Frazier Elliott and Amanda Holmes, both of whom have been members of the team for the past three years. They will be joined by junior Colleen Barnes to form the top three singles seeds.
The rest of the team is made up of new players and a small handful of upperclassmen who are untested in competition.
Freshman Shanna Luck has stepped up her game to earn the fourth seed on the Comets’ tennis ladder. There is a big competition among freshman Seanna Bradley, senior Sharon Crews, sophomore Leigh Lewis and freshmen Taylor Edmonds, Sarah McCollum and Laura Tetterton to earn playing time at the number five and number six singles slots.
“Everybody in that group is interchangeable,” said Donner.
“When we had our match last Tuesday, all of them got to play in either singles or doubles and gained some experience.”
In doubles play, Elliott and Luck appear to have the line as being the top-seeded doubles combo with Holmes and Barnes occupying the number three doubles slot. The number three doubles slot, Donner said, is likely to change from match to match.
“I can see this being a different team just about every time,” Donner pointed out.
“It is going to depend upon who is working the hardest and who is showing the most improvement.”
Five new players saw action in the team’s opening match against Prince Edward County and, according to Donner, their play was very good against the more experienced players from Prince Edward County.
McCollum and Edmonds played at the number three doubles slot and Lewis joined Barnes at the number two doubles spot.
Luck, who got her first taste of varsity competition in the number four singles slot, was on the winning end of her first two matches in singles and doubles against more experienced players.
Donner said he is pleased to see the competition and the improvement among the younger players.
“Nothing is better to speed progress than competition and this group should push each other to improve every day,” Donner said.
Donner has been very quick to praise the younger members of the team for their hard work and improvement.
“We have had very little time to practice because of the weather,” Donner pointed out.
“We have practiced together as a team only six times. But, the freshmen and sophomores have made as much progress in a short time as any I have ever worked with. I have watched the high school girls tennis program for the past 20 years and this group of freshmen players has as much promise as any I have seen.”
One of the things that has played into the Comets’ favor this season is the opportunity to compete in some non-district contests early in the season.
“This is a good opportunity for the team as they need the court time and variety of play in order to progress,” Donner said.
The goal for this year’s team, Donner says, is to qualify for the Western Valley District Tournament.
Only the top four teams in the district standings will advance into tournament play this season, meaning that the Comets will need to come up with a couple of wins in district play in order to qualify for the tournament.

Season Could Be Bright One For Comets Varsity Girls Soccer Team

Experience And Talent Could Be A Big Boon For The Comets

BY Joe Chandler
G-V STAFF WRITER

With a beefed up defense, an improved offense and an overall higher talent level, the season could be a bright one for the Halifax County High School varsity girls soccer team.
“Barring injuries, I think we can do fairly well this year,” said Comets coach Sid Young whose team will be looking to improve upon its 8-6-4 mark of a year ago.
“If we go out and play like we’re capable of playing and keep progressing with our skills, I think we should be competitive in the district. The girls have been good to work with. “We still have a lot of work to do.”
One of the good things about the start of the season was the large turnout of players. A total of 47 players came out to try to earn spots on the varsity and jayvee teams. Young said he and assistant coach Stephanie Tucker Lewis kept 19 players on the roster.
“The numbers have been there,” Young noted.
“Overall, this is the most talent we have had in awhile. I have had individual players in the past who were better. Right now. I’m trying to find places to put everybody because the skills are so much better. That’s a good problem to have.”
The Comets will have a good measure of experience in the lineup this season.
Senior Libby Austin, a second-year starter, returns as the team’s goalkeeper with Olivia Leonard, a junior transfer student who played for Appomattox High School last year, as the backup.
“This season is one of the few times I have had any depth at keeper,” Young pointed out.
“I feel comfortable with either one of them in there. It’s nice to have that depth there.”
Playing the sweeper spot is junior Courtney McGill, a second-year starter at that position. Sophomore Mary Lantor, who comes to the varsity after having played two years on the jayvee team, is occupying the left defender spot.
“She’s doing a pretty good job out there,” said Young.
“She’s real feisty and she sticks with it.”
Playing the right defender position is Angel Wilkins who is in her second year of playing on the varsity team. She started some games at this position at the end of last season.
“She came on really strong at the end of last year,” Young pointed out.
“She has good speed. She hustles and doesn’t quit.”
In the midfield positions, Julia Rogers was set to get the starting nod. However, Rogers was injured during the preseason scrimmage against Heritage and could be out for another week or two as she recovers from a deep bone bruise.
This is Rogers’ fourth season as a varsity player. She had some starts as a freshman and has started the past two years.
“She is the most experienced player on the team,” Young pointed out about Rogers who was a Second Team All-Western Valley District Team pick last year.
“Once she recovers and comes back, we’ll be a lot stronger.”
In Rogers’ place at the present time is sophomore Emily Bowen who is expected to be Rogers’ backup at the position this season.
At the stopper position is sophomore Crystal Hooker who is starting her first season of varsity competition.
“She played two years on the jayvee team,” said Young.
“She has good speed and did a good job in the two scrimmages we had.”
At another center midfield position is junior Emily Nichols. She was a starter last year as a sophomore.
Young said Nichols has been slowed by some health problems that have prevented her from getting into playing shape as quickly as she otherwise would have.
“Once she gets into physical playing shape, she will help us,” he said.
Freshman Mary Beale has also been seeing action at that position early this season.
“With Mary, it’s just a matter of getting used to playing on the varsity level,” Young pointed out.
At the right wing midfield spot is senior Anna Bowen, a second-year varsity player. Backing her up is Suzanne Gasperini. Young has alternated the two players at times during the preseason scrimmages.
Starting at the right wing midfield spot is Kirsten Marvin. She will alternate with Emily Seat and Rachelle Newman at that spot.
At the forward spots, Young is going with senior Ashley Crowder and two freshmen, Melissa Smith and Lacy Will.
Another player that has come along well for the Comets is junior Brittney Fifer.
“She has made good progress and is starting to get the hang of things,” Young said.
Young says defense is one of the strong points of this year’s team.
“One of the good things is that a good part of the defense from last year is back,” said Young.
“Our keeper and two defenders return this year and that is a big positive for us.”
Offensively, Young says the Comets can be good there as well.
“Our midfielders have been doing a good job of getting the ball up to the forwards,” Young noted.
“That will be a key for us. We have good speed and good ballhandling skills among the freshmen that came up to varsity this year. I’ve been pleased with their ability to handle the ball. The big thing for them is getting used to being bumped and pushed around. It’s much more physical on the varsity level than on the jayvee level.”
Young says the competition in the Western Valley District will be tough again this season.
“It’s always tough in this district,” Young said.
“I really don’t know how the other teams in the district are stacking up. I look for Patrick Henry to be pretty strong. I feel like Franklin County will be real strong because they will have a lot of people back from last year.
“E.C. Glass is usually pretty strong,” Young continued.
“Word had it that they had some trouble with numbers this year and couldn’t field a jayvee team. Not having a jayvee team this year could hurt them, especially next year. GW is usually competitive but I don’t know a lot about GW.
“We’ve just got to continue to work hard and improve,” added Young.
“If we do that, I feel we can be competitive.”

 

 

Comets JV Girls Soccer Team Progressing Well

BY Joe Chandler
G-V STAFF WRITER

There is a good upswing in the learning curve for the Halifax County High School jayvee girls soccer team.
The Comets, playing under the direction of new first-year head coach Jimmy Leppert and assistant coach Sarah Kight, fared well in their preseason scrimmage games and are on a path Leppert hopes will bring success this season.
“We’re consistently making progress every day in practice and in games,” Leppert said.
“I feel this is a very promising season. We need to maintain a consistent level of play and push ourselves to improve. I really want the girls to develop as individual soccer players as well as a team so they can become major contributors to the varsity team in the future.”
Leppert says one of the strong points of the team is that a majority of the players have some degree of experience.
“We’re fortunate to have a lot of girls on the team that played with the AYSO league,” Leppert said.
“It’s going to take a few weeks for them to pretty much get into their groove and play up to their ability.”
Looking up and down the Comets’ lineup, Leppert has sophomore Talesha Medley starting as goalkeeper.
“She is an outstanding basketball player and this is her first year of soccer," Leppert pointed out.
“We have been very impressed with her. She’s been a wonderful surprise."
Backing up Medley at the position is sophomore Amanda Barksdale.
“She has some potential at forward as well," Leppert pointed out.
On the defensive side of things, the Comets have freshman Lauren Faulkner at sweeper with freshmen Liz Wilkins, Charlotte Solomon and Emily Rosche seeing time at defender positions.
The Comets will have a solid set of midfielders with freshman Megan Rosche and eighth-grader Emarie Skelton in the center and freshman Sarah Rosche and eighth-grader Elizabeth Stanger at the wings.
Up front at the forward positions, the Comets have eighth-grader Carol Ann Nichols and freshman Sarah Rosche.
Leppert said he and kight have found good support coming off of the bench.
“We’re definitely looking forward to having some of the players come off of the bench and make significant contributions to the team, especially Meredith Elliott, McCoy Newton and Taylor Raney," Leppert said.
“All of the positions are still forming themselves. We’re still looking in several areas to improve each position."
Everyone is making progress, Leppert said, and the focus is on continuing that improvement.
“The girls are beginning to communicate more with each other," Leppert noted.
“There is more continuity with the offense now. We’re beginning to take more control of the field."
Leppert said he is using a 4-4-2 alignment on the field. However, he pointed out that once the defense develops more confidence, he may switch to a 3-5-2 set.
The Comets’ coach is confident that this season will be a good one.
“Coach Kight and I have very high expectations this season," Leppert said.
“Our expectations are not only winning a large percentage of our games, but that each girl will continue to learn and develop as a soccer player. We want the girls to have fun and learn to love the game of soccer."