Wednesday, March 25, 2005

County Schools Racing To The Future

New Motorsports Academy Could Be In Place By This Fall

BY Joe Chandler
G-V STAFF WRITER

A proposal by school system officials to create a Motorsports Academy that will open the door for Halifax County students to earn college credit and associate degrees in motorsports-related fields met with strong support yesterday from community leaders, and representatives from automotive and racing-related businesses.
The proposed Motorsports Academy, which will offer students instruction in skills ranging from driving to technical automotive skills to business, could begin operation as soon as later this spring or this summer if the Halifax County School Board gives its approval.
Halifax County School Superintendent Paul Stapleton told a gathering of approximately 30 people at a breakfast meeting yesterday that the Motorsports Academy is the third academy the school system is pursuing.
In January, the school system opened a STEM Academy (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) at the Halifax County Career Center to offer college classes in robotics, engineering, Emergency Medical Technician training and firefighting.
On the table is an Arts Academy for students to study fine arts. Yesterday, the concept of a Motorsports Academy was advanced to community leaders and others involved in automotive and racing related businesses.
“We’d like to open the first phase of the Arts Academy and the first phase of the Motorsports Academy in the fall,” Stapleton said.
“If we can do things prior to that with the students that are interested, we will do it quicker than that.”
Stapleton said the Motorsports Academy can open the door to give students an opportunity to earn college credits and an associate degree free of charge.
“We know there are some things that our kids are already interested in and focused on,” the school superintendent said.
“What we’ve got to do is find ways to expand and allow our high school students to start taking college classes in motorsports through Danville, through Patrick Henry Community College or through Virginia Tech, if we need to.”
He added, “we need to make it really broad, all the way from those students that want to go on to Virginia Tech and get an engineering degree in auto design or engines, mechanical or whatever it may be. We would try to make sure we offer something for every student as long as it was motorsports oriented.”
Teachers for the program will be hand-picked, Stapleton said, with the teachers being a combination of licensed, endorsed personnel and individuals in the community that have expertise in motorsports and automotive-related fields.
Funding and equipment for the academy will have to come from outside sources, Stapleton said.
One of the exciting things about the concept was that it can have a wider impact than just in motorsports.
“If the students can’t make it in motorsports, they can make it in other endeavors as far as the automotive industry is concerned,” noted Ronnie Pate, a representative of an area automobile dealership.
The project received a major contribution yesterday from Nick Igdalsky, the Special Events Coordinator for South Boston Speedway and a representative for the Mattioli Foundation offering a major contribution to the project.
Igdalsky said the foundations top officials, Dr. Joe Mattioli and Dr. Rose Mattioli, the owners of Pocono Raceway, the entity that owns South Boston Speedway, have asked him to start a community motorsports program here in Halifax County.
The intent of that directive and the concept of the school system opening a Motorsports Academy, is a great fit, Igdalsky said.
“What I was directed to do was start a karting program for youths approximately ages 10 to 15, “ Igdalsky explained.
“The basis of the program is we will get 50 dirt go-karts and maintain them at the speedway. There is a dirt track there already that will be made to WKA (World Karting Association) standards, allowing us to hold more karting races and also to give the proper form to these kids to learn on.
“The karts will be distributed equally among those age groups,” he continued, “and the kids will be able to learn how to drive those karts free of charge. As we get the kids up to speed on driving and competing against each other, we can start keeping points for the children and having them compete for track championships just like we do for our NASCAR champions now.”
That, Igdalsky said, is one of two components.
There is a second part geared toward youths over the age of 16, students that would be juniors and seniors in high school.
“We have a Pure Stock 4 racecar that can be donated immediately to this operation,” Igdalsky said.
“The children will have total access to this car. It will probably be kept at a shop where they can maintain it on a regular basis. They will have the opportunity to fix the car, maintain the car throughout the season, drive the car, get sponsorship for the car, decorate the car, write about the car, everything that you can think of that cars or schools offer that can tie into this program.
Igdalsky, a driving instructor, said five or more drivers will be trained.
“In all honesty, everybody wants to be a racecar driver, but they will weed themselves out pretty quickly as far as who is capable and not capable,” he said.
“We can have the Halifax County High School Comets car competing at South Boston Speedway week in and week out.
“It’s an opportunity for about 10 students per week to come to the racetrack. There are approximately 20 races a year. They can compete in a NASCAR division and Halifax County can be associated with it in this way.”
The component for the younger children comes in the form of the speedway’s existing Pepsi Kids Racing Challenge which is open to all youngsters ages 4-7 and features competition on a small track for kids wheeling small battery-powered cars.
Stapleton said the offer by Igdalsky and the support of the Mattioli Foundation will give the academy a good base to start on.
“I think we have the components we need right now for four-year-olds through seniors in high school,” he pointed out.
“Now we’ve got to figure out a place for everybody to support it and figure out a way for us to get the right kids in there to start with.
“A lot of times, no matter what you do in public education, you have a group to come forward and immediately be negative,” he continued.
“We’ve not heard that about academies so far. I don’t think we will hear that about motorsports. I believe there are a lot of positives in this and we can go somewhere with it.”

 

SoBo Man Arrested On Multiple Drug Charges

A 20-year-old South Boston man was arrested Wednesday on multiple drug charges, Maj. R.S.B. Pulliam of the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Department said.
Carmichael Jermond Howerton, aka “Mike,” 20, of Birch Elmo Road, was charged with three counts of the distribution of crack cocaine, Pulliam said.
“When Howerton was arrested, deputies seized approximately one-half ounce of crack cocaine from Howerton,” he said.
In addition to the distribution charges, the cocaine discovered at the scene resulted in an additional count of possession with the intent to distribute cocaine, according to the drug investigator.
“These charges are the result of a nine-month investigaion conducted by the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office Narcotice Department,” he said. “The investigation revealed Howerton and others allegedly distributed crack cocaine in South Boston and Halifax County.”
Pulliam said the investigation is continuing and additional co-conspirators and suspects will be arrested.
Howerton is being held in the Halifax Regional Jail without bond.

 

Obituaries

Lucy Christine Matthews Jones

Lucy Christine Matthews Jones, 72, of 1047 Old Grubby Road, South Boston died March 23 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mrs. Jones was born in Halifax County on July 25, 1932, the daughter of the late William Logan Matthews and Sadie Wilkerson Matthews and was married to the late Ervin Wesley Jones. She was a member of Union United Methodist Church.
Survivors include two sisters, Willie Mae Jones of South Boston and Barbara Ann Seamster of Alton; two brothers, Glenn Matthews of Halifax and Elson ‘Buck’ Matthews of South Boston; a devoted niece, Phyllis Hope Jones of South Boston; and a number of other nieces and nephews.
Funeral services for Mrs. Jones will be held at 11 a.m. tomorrow, March 26, at Union United Methodist Church with the Rev. Ann Davidson officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Halifax County Humane Society, P.O. Box 969, South Boston, or Union United Methodist Church.

Robert Patrick Long

Robert Patrick Long, 71, of 1009 Jordan Trail, South Boston died March 22 at University of Virginia Hospital in Charlottesville.
Mr. Long was born in Halifax County on February 20, 1934, to the late George Washington Long and Daisy Newman Young, and was married to Arnethia Lawson Long. He was a member of The Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses.
Survivors include his wife; one daughter, Veronica Long-Boles of Annandale; one son, Larry Patrick Long of South Boston; two sisters, Beatrice Buchanan of Delaware and Amanda Wagstaff of Brooklyn, N.Y.; three brothers, Alfred Long of Baltimore, Md., Bernard Long and George Long, both of Los Angeles, Calif; and one son-in-law, Vincent Boles.
A memorial service for Mr. Long will be held tomorrow, March 26, at 3 p.m. at The Kingdom Hall of Jehovah’s Witnesses in South Boston.

Francis Owen Meeler Sr.

Francis Owen Meeler Sr., 64, of Richmond, who has relatives in Halifax County, died March 22.
He is survived by his wife, Peggy Harris Meeler; his children, Terry Lynn McFarland, Dianne Horsley Koonce and husband, Richard, Jennifer Ann Meeler Heyn and husband, Tristan, and Francis Owen Meeler Jr.; his grandchildren, Benjamin McFarland and Ashley Heyn; one sister, Louise Hawley; five brothers, Jesse and wife, Ann, W.F. and wife, Ann, Wright and wife, Donna, Jack and wife, Mary Lou, and Mac and his wife, Kate Meeler.
A memorial service for Mr. Meeler will be held at 2 p.m. tomorrow, March 26, at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Richmond.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Bon Secours Hospice, 5875 Bremo Road, Suite 710, Richmond, 23226.

Martha Washington Moorefield

Martha Washington Moorefield, 85, of 1047 Green Level Road, Scottsburg died March 22 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mrs. Moorefield was born in Halifax County on February 22, 1920, the daughter of the late Willie Thomas Moorefield and the late Allie T. Moorefield. She was a member of Scottsburg United Methodist Church.
Survivors include one daughter, Carolyn Conner of Scottsburg; two sisters, Jo M. Davis of Cluster Springs and Dorothy M. Conner of Mt. Laurel; two granddaughters, Deborah Hite and Teresa Seamster; one grandson, Christopher Conner; and two great-granddaughters, Tara and Tessa Seamster. Other than her parents Mrs. Moorefield was preceded in death by one son, John E. Moorefield; two brothers, Eric and Willie T. Moorefield; and one sister, Lena Davis.
Graveside services were held March 24 at 2 p.m. at Oakland Cemetery with the Rev. Jason Murray officiating.

Joseph Lewis Vaughan Sr.

Joseph Lewis Vaughan Sr., 87, of Nelson died March 22 at his home.
Mr. Vaughan was born in Mecklenburg County the son of the late James A. and Nora Newton Vaughan, and was married to the late Mary Elliott Vaughan. He was a member of Hebron Christian Church and a retired farmer.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. today, March 25, at Watkins Cooper Lyon Funeral Chapel in Clarksville with burial in Hebron Christian Church Cemetery.
Survivors of Mr. Vaughan include a daughter and son-in-law, Judy and Alfred Bigger of Chase City; three sons and daughters-in-law, Joseph Lewis Jr. and Sue Vaughan, John Patrick and Lisa Vaughan, all of Nelson, and James Anderson and Libby Vaughan of South Boston; seven grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
Mr. Vaughan was preceded in death by two daughters, Lucille and Dorothy.
Condolences may be expressed at www.wclfh.com.

Comets Face Tunstall Tonight To Cap Busy Opening Week

The Comets Rolled Over Martinsville 12-2 Tuesday And Faced Garden City, N.Y. Last Night In Danville

BY Joe Chandler
G-V STAFF WRITER

The Halifax County High School varsity baseball team will complete a busy late-week schedule today against a tough team that is seeking to work its way back to the state playoffs.
And, it will do it on the road and playing its second game in as many days.
Halifax County will square off against defending Group AA state champion Tunstall High School today at 5 p.m. to end its first full week of play.
The Comets won their road season-opener Tuesday night, blasting Martinsville 12-2 in a game that was stopped short of the seven-inning distance as a result of a slaughter rule.
Last night, the Comets faced Garden City High School from New York in a game that was originally scheduled to have been played here but was moved to Dan Daniel Park.
With rain having forced postponement of the scheduled game between GW and Garden City on Wednesday and the playing field at Halifax County High School not playable today, HCHS and GW officials rescheduled their contests for last night.
Halifax County faced Garden City first at 5 p.m. and GW faced Garden City in the 7 p.m. nightcap.
Today, the Comets will regroup to face a talented Tunstall team and its highly touted pitching staff featuring last year’s Group AA Player of the Year Will Inman and Second Team all-region pick Jacob Thompson.
Tunstall also has a talented number three man in the rotation in righthander Josh Lewis.
Comets coach Kelvin Davis said the big thing is that his Comets need to play.
“We open district play on April 3 and we need to get in as many of these non-district games as we can," Davis said.
“ We know we have a tough district. Playing good quality teams is going to help us down the road. I’m expecting Tunstall to be a very good team. They won the Group AA state championship last year and they have those two great pitchers (Inman and Thompson).
“We’ve got two great pitchers of our own," Davis added, noting the talent of righthanders Jeremy Jeffress and Tyler Clarke.
“We know what those guys are capable of and they know our reputation as being a good team in our district. It should be a great low-scoring baseball game."
The Comets opened the week with a big 10-run win over Martinsville in a game in which the Comets were clicking on all cylinders.
“I was very pleased with our performance," Davis said.
“ It was very important for us to go out and win like that. We’ve been practicing for so long and have played only one scrimmage game. It was good to just get that game in and have the guys get in that atmosphere of playing."
Halifax County pounded out 13 hits in the game with Chris Perkins leading the way with a 3-3 effort at the plate that included a double, two singles and five RBIs.
Clyde Brooks was also a key figure on the offensive end of things with a 2-3 night that included a pair of two-RBI doubles.
“I was very pleased to see them step up and show a lot of leadership,” said Davis.
“They saw a lot of playing time last year and that experience showed up in this game.”
Ryan Gieselman and hurler David Lacks also had two hits each with Chris Conner, Justin Armistead, Jeremy Jeffress and Marcus Humphrey each getting one hit.
The Comets also got a good performance from their two pitchers.
Lacks, a lefthander, started the game and fanned seven batters while allowing four hits and two runs, one of which was an earned run.
“We have been impressed with him since tryouts,” said Davis.
“He did a very good job and he kept guys off balance. He still needs to work on his control but, for his first game, I was very pleased.”
Clarke pitched one inning in relief and fanned two of the three batters he faced.
The Comets jumped on top early, scoring two runs in the top of the first inning.
Armistead walked, moved to third base on a double by Jeffress and both scored when Perkins followed with a double.
Martinsville bounced back in the bottom of the inning, getting a leadoff hit off of Lacks and pushing a run across to make it a 2-1 game.
Halifax didn’t wait long to create an answer, scoring three runs in the top of the second inning to make it a 5-1 score.
Lacks was struck by a pitch and went to first base with one out, stole second base, moved to third base on a single by Conner, and stole home to create the first run. Armistead walked to give the Comets two runners on the sacks, A two-RBI double by Perkins pushed the Comets’ lead to four runs.
A walk and two hits produced the second and final run for the Bulldogs as they cut their deficit to three runs in the bottom of the second inning.
It was a long day for the Bulldogs after that point as they managed only one hit and had only two baserunners the rest of the night.
The Comets broke the game open with a four-run rally in the top of the fourth inning that was fueled by a two-RBI double by Brooks and a pair of Martinsville errors.
Leading 9-2, the Comets added three more runs in the top of the fifth inning with a run-scoring single by Perkins and another two-RBI double by Brooks.
While the Comets got the job done with their hitting and pitching, they also had a good day defensively, playing an errorless game.
“We made some very good plays on defense," Davis pointed out.
“ Clyde (Brooks) made a couple of fantastic plays at shortstop which were a big help to us defensively."

 

Comets Varsity Softball Off To Good Start

Halifax Routed Martinsville 16-1 In Tuesday’s Season Opener

BY Doug ford
G-V STAFF WRITER

Tracy Nelson went three-for-three, including a pair of two RBI doubles, and Beth Throckmorton, Jessie Lloyd and Jasmine Parker pitched a combined no-hitter, as the Comets varsity softball team opened its season Tuesday in Martinsville with a 16-1 rout of the Bulldogs.
Parker and Lashunda Davis added two hits apiece in the Comets’ 11-hit attack, Parker adding two RBIs and Davis one RBI, while Keyara Ferrell had an RBI single.
Mallory Lawter, Mandy Watts and Jessica Lewis had the other hits for Halifax, and Cari Clark added an RBI with a sacrifice fly.
Comets coach Melanie Saunders said her team played well in its first game of the season after several weather-related postponements.
“The girls played well, and the pitchers did a good job on the mound,” said Saunders.
“Beth Throckmorton started the game, Jessie Lloyd came in for a couple of innings and Jasmine Parker finished the game for us.
Nelson, in her first game catching for the Comets varsity, also did a good job behind the plate, according to Saunders, who added the coaches had an opportunity to take a good look at some players in different positions during the game.
The Comets used a combination of walks, Bulldog errors and Clark’s sacrifice fly to take a quick 3-0 lead in the first inning.
Amanda Rogers led off with a walk, Parker and Davis reached on errors, and Nelson and Throckmorton drew walks, before Clark’s sacrifice fly drove in the final run of the inning.
Halifax added to its lead in the top of the second, Rogers reaching on an error and Parker getting a base hit, before Nelson’s two-out double made it 5-0.
Three more runs in the fourth inning increased the Comets’ advantage, Parker reaching on a fielder’s choice and Davis following with a hit, before Nelson’s second two-run double and Ferrell’s run-scoring single made it 8-0.
An eight-run fifth inning gave Halifax all the runs it would need to end the game, Lawter’s hit starting the rally.
With one out, Rogers again reached base on an error, Parker smacked a two-RBI single and Davis hit an RBI single.
Nelson collected her third hit of the game, Lloyd and Heather Oakes walked, and Lawter, Jessica Morris and Rogers all reached on errors to plate the final Halifax runs of the game.
Comets pitching recorded 13 strikeouts for the game, Throckmorton striking out five of the six batters she faced, and Lloyd came on to pitch the third and fourth innings, also collecting five strikeouts among six batters she faced.
Parker gave up one unearned run while striking out three and walking one batter while closing out the game in the fifth inning.
The Comets varsity softball team will travel to Richmond this weekend to compete in the Sports Plus High School Softball Tournament, opening up against L.C. Bird on Friday.

 

Comets JV Team Seeks Second Win In A Row

The HCHS Jayvee Baseball Team Downed Martinsville And Will Face Tunstall Here Tonight

BY Joe Chandler
G-V STAFF WRITER

The Halifax County High School jayvee baseball team will be looking to make it two wins in a row tonight when they square off against the Tunstall High School jayvees.
Halifax County opened its season here Tuesday in a big way with an 11-1 win over the Martinsville High School jayvees in a game stopped in the bottom of the fifth inning under a slaughter rule.
“We hope we can take this momentum and head into Friday and come out with another win," said Comets head coach Shawn Torian.
“To get the first game in is great. All of the butterflies should gone. Everybody should be relaxed now."
Tuesday’s contest against Martinsville was a solid outing for the Comets all the way around.
Starting pitcher Chris Fisher who fanned six batters and allowed only one hit and two walks through four innings before yielding the mound to Daniel Wilborn who was tagged for a pair of hits, a walk and a run in the fifth inning.
“Chris set the tone on the mound," Torian pointed out.
“He came out throwing strikes and showed we were going to be aggressive early. He was on his game and stayed ahead of the batters and kept everybody off balance."
Offensively, the Comets pounded the Martinsville mound staff for a dozen hits with Joey Rogers and Jeremy Foster leading the Comets with two hits each. One of Foster’s two hits was a two-run homer in the bottom of the third inning.
Eight other Comets players were involved in the hit parade including Tony Barbour, Chad Waltman, Billy Joe Garrett, Justin Bagbey, Jacob Vest, Bryan Lambert, Justin Jacobs and Wilborn.
“Everybody came out swinging," said Torian.
“That’s what we were looking for. We said we were going to have to rely on our defense but we came out and swung the bats tonight. There were a few errors they (Martinsville) made out there. But, at the same time, we swung the bats."
The Comets broke the game open early, pounding Martinsville for five runs in the bottom of the first inning to grab a 5-0 lead.
Barbour and Rogers led off with hits and Bagbey followed with a two-RBI single. Bagbey scored when Allen Stephens reached base on an error. Lambert reached base on an error that advanced the runners and Foster singled to complete the scoring.
A run-scoring double by Garrett gave the Comets another run and a 6-0 lead in the top of the second inning and Foster’s two-run homer in the third inning made it an 8-0 Comets lead.
Martinsville scored its only run in the top of the fifth inning to make it an 8-1 score but the Comets ended the game with a three-run inning in the bottom half of the frame that was capped by a run-scoring hit by Waltman.