Monday, June 7, 2004

Supes Hearing Tonight On EDA
If Passed, Will Set New Marketing Body For County

In one of four public hearings set for tonight, the Halifax County Board of Supervisors will consider an ordinance that could pave the way for the creation of the Economic Development Authority during tonight's meeting.

Tonight's meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m.

The public hearings, get underway at 8 p.m. in the public meeting room of the Mary Bethune Complex in Halifax.

The hearings include the establishment of the Southside Regional Public Service Authority, an ordinance creating the Economic Development Authority and a rezoning application for a 4.5 acre parcel across the road from Riverstone Technology Park.

The application requests rezoning the property from agricultural to business zoning.

Supervisors will hold a final public hearing on a proposed ordinance that mandates the enforced clean-up of the collapsed structures in Clover.

Supervisors are also expected to set a public hearing on its $27.1 million budget with proposed tax increases during tonight's meeting.

If approved, the budget will include a four-cent real estate tax increase per assessed $100 and a 24-cent personal property tax increase.

Supervisors are expected to approve the county's budget for public advertisement on June 14.

Supervisors will also receive an update on the financing for Riverstone Technology Park's building I and II and a proposed property transfer of old Mountain Road school building between the Town of Halifax and Route 57 (Chatham Road).

The Board is also expected to consider scheduling a public hearing on the special assessment of agricultural property.

"The concept is farmers are taxed on the value of what they can make on the land farming as opposed to the fair market value it could make if developed," County Administrator Joe Morgan said following an earlier meeting of the board.

The goal of offering farmers the tax breaks is to preserve the rural character of the county and to "help people continue to farm."

The county administrator presented a draft ordinance that would implement the special assessment to supervisors, who are working to determine whether to implement the program in the 2005 or 2006 tax year.

Supervisors are currently considering offering the breaks to farmers only, excluding timber, horticulture or open land, according to Morgan.

He said that if supervisors wish to consider the option, county officials recommend holding a public hearing on the issue on June 21 when the hearing on the budget is scheduled.

A $400,000 investment in land use taxation was considered for this year in new requests included in the budget, but was taken out of the budget in the Finance Committee.

Larry Clark, former chair of the Halifax County War Memorial Committee, is expected to present a resolution honoring the six surviving members of F Company, among the first to assault Omaha Beach during the D-Day invasion of France.

The Board is also expected to pass a resolution of commendation to William Coleman for his leadership in establishing the Civil Rights in Education Heritage Trail.

Puckett Is Recipient Of Principal’s Award
Annual Senior Awards Night Held Thursday

Halifax County High School senior Melanie Puckett has been named as the recipient of the Principal's Award at Halifax County High School.

The award was presented by Principal Albert T. Randolph Thursday night during the school's annual Senior Awards Night program.

The Principal's Award is one of the top honors presented at Halifax County High School each year.

It is presented annually to a graduating senior who exemplifies excellence in all facets of student life including academics, extracurricular activities and community endeavors.

Puckett served as SCA President and was one of 66 students who was recognized as part of the Governor's School early College Scholarship program.

Puckett was a former member of the Halifax County High School girls tennis team and a former member of the Halifax County High School girls soccer team.

Lindsay Hastings, a member of the Halifax County High School varsity girls softball and volleyball teams, was named as the recipient of the Tuesday Woman's Club Outstanding Female Athlete Award.

Brent Long, a baseball and football standout, was named as the recipient of the T.C. Watkins Outstanding Male Athlete Award.

Those two honors are the top two sports honors awarded by the school.
The school's valedictorian and salutatorian awards were not presented Thursday night.

Those honors and the announcement of the Top 10 Students will be made when the school holds its graduation ceremonies Friday night at 6 p.m.

Many of the school's top awards and scholarships were presented during the Senior Night awards program.

A listing of the awards and scholarships and the recipients follows.

ABWA Awards $10,000 In Scholarships
ABWA Group Has Awarded $86,000 In Scholarships To Date

The Tri-River Charter Chapter of the American Business Women's Association (ABWA) has awarded $10,000 in scholarships to 10 county women.

To date, the ABWA has awarded $86,000 in scholarships to local women.
This year's scholarship winners include:

• Jamie Crews.

Crews has been accepted to Virginia Tech and plans to study horticulture.
She is an honor student and is a member of the Scholastic Bowl team.
Crews has been in the 4-H since the age of six and holds a 95.8 grade point average. She is currently ranked 12th in her class.

• Lauren Armstrong.

Armstrong has applied to both William & Mary and Virginia Tech to study pre-med.

She is an honor student, member ofthe swim team and works as a lifeguard at the YMCA.

Ranked second in her class, Armstrong holds a 97.9 grade point average.
• Charlotte Sibley.

Sibley plans to attend Duke University to study human biology and hopes to become a doctor.

A Scholastic Bowl team member, Sibley also plays piano and dances.
She holds a 98.65 grade point average and is currently ranked first in her class.

• Megan Walden.

A junior at Longwood, Walden is pursuing a degree in Middle/Elementary Education.

Due to her credits, Walden became a second semester sophomore her first year in college.

She hopes to return to Halifax County to teach.

In the honors program in college, Walden holds a GPA of 3.813.

• Kylie Lowe.

Lowe has applied to Virginia Commonwealth University to study biology.
She is an honor student and serves on the Junior Habitat for Humanity, 4-H, swim team, volleyball team and works at the YMCA.

Lowe ranks 52nd in her class with a 3.43 grade point average.

• Casey Thaxton.

A junior at Virginia Tech studying psychology, Thaxton is active in her church and works several jobs.

Her GPA is 2.9.

• Catlin Owen.

Owen has been accepted to George Mason University to study criminal justice. She hopes to work in drug enforcement and criminal profiling for the government.

An honor student, Owen is involved with the Jaycees, is the president of peer mediation and is a member of Mu Alpha Theta.

With a GPA of 91.5, she ranks 35th in her class.

• Gina Guthrie.

Ranked 85th in her class, Guthrie plans to attend Danville Community College and transfer to the Danville Regional Hospital to study radiology technology.
She is a member of the soccer team and is parliamentarian for the DECA organization.

She has a GPA of 91.5.

• Patricia Chappell.

Chappell is attending the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center and plans to enroll in the radiology program at Danville Regional Medical Center or the Southern Virginia Community College.

She currently holds a 4.0 GPA.

• Sophia McCargo.

McCargo is enrolled at Southside Virginia Community College pursuing a registered nurse degree.

She is a single parent with three children and was previously laid off from O'Sullivan industries.

McCargo has a 4.0 GPA for the fall semester.

One nominee for the Stephen Bufton Memorial Education Fund (SBMEF) was also selected. The chapter makes an annual donation to the fund.

SBMEF grants totaling $26,200 have been awarded to local recipients who will be college seniors or graduate students during the grant period.

This year Amy Comer, a Longwood University accounting major, is the nominee for the SBMEF grant.

Comer plans to complete the certified public accountant exam and return to Halifax County to work in her mother's tax firm.

Through fund-raising events including the Holiday Living Show, the Danville Symphony Orchestra and the Annual Art Auction, the ABWA strives to support education for women.

All proceeds earned through the events are earmarked for scholarships.
Applications for the ABWA scholarships are available each spring and can be picked up at the Halifax County High School guidance department or the South Boston and Halifax libraries.

Top Athletes
Seniors Lindsey Hastings And Brent Long Have Been Named As Recipients Of The Top Athletic Awards At Halifax County High School

By JOE CHANDLER | G-V Staff Writer

Halifax County High School seniors Lindsey Hastings and Brent Long have
been named as the recipient of the school's top athletic awards.

Hastings, a three-sport standout, was presented the Tuesday Woman's Club Outstanding Female Athlete Award.

Long, a two-sport standout, received the T.C. Watkins III Outstanding Male Athlete Award.

The awards were presented Thursday night during Halifax County High School's annual Senior Awards Night program.

Hastings competed in volleyball, swimming and softball with her biggest success coming in softball.

She is a two-time recipient of the Most Valuable Player Award on the Comets girls softball team.

In addition, Hastings was named to the First Team of the All-Western Valley District Team in both her junior and senior seasons and was named to the Second Team All-Northwest Region Team a year ago.

Hastings played shortstop for the Comets softball team.

As a volleyball player, Hastings received Honorable Mention status in being named to the All-Western Valley District Volleyball Team this past season.

She also received the team's award for Most Digs (71) and highest passing percentage (.889).

In 2002, Hastings received the team award for the highest passing percentage (.846).

Long was cited for his accomplishments in football and baseball.

This season Long, an outfielder, batted .393 against district opponents during the regular season.

He was named to the First Team All-Western Valley District Team as an outfielder.

Last season, Long was named to the First Team All-Western Valley District Team and was named a co-recipient of the Comets baseball team's Most Valuable Player Award.

As a member of the Comets varsity football team, Long, this past season, was named to the First Team of the All-Western Valley District Football Team as a receiver and received Honorable mention kudos as a defensive back.

In the 2002 season, Long, then a junior, was named to the Second Team of the All-Western Valley District Team and received Honorable Mention as a defensive back.

Obituaries

Estelle Hopkins Beverly

Estelle Hopkins Beverly, 91, of South Boston, died Saturday, June 5, at The Woodview.

She was born in Halifax County on October 1, 1912, the daughter of the late Walter J. Hopkins and Jerry Hudson Hopkins and was married to the late Simon Peter Beverly.

Mrs. Beverly was a homemaker and of the Methodist faith.

She is survived by two sisters, Nancy H. Beverly of Halifax and Eunice H. Clark of South Boston, one brother, John S. Hopkins of South Boston, and a number of nieces and nephews.

Graveside services will be held at Oak Ridge Cemetery on Tuesday, June 8, at 2 p.m.

The family will receive friends at the home of Jane and Ryland Clark, 4020 Old Cluster Springs Road.

Roy Hutchens Clark

Mr. Roy Hutchens Clark, of East Hyco Rd., South Boston, died Sunday, June 6, at Halifax Regional Hospital.

Roy Hutchens Clark was the son of the late Oscar Ellis Clark Sr. and the late Mary Strange Clark, and was 80-years-old at the time of his death.

Mr. Clark was born March 21, 1924, in Halifax County, and was married to the late Evelyn Buckner Clark.

Mr. Clark was a veteran of the Army and was retired from Southern States Petroleum.

He was a member of Mt. Zion Baptist Church, the Hyco Ruritan Club and V.F.W. Post 8243.

Survivors include one daughter, Brenda C. Ford and husband Bob, of South Boston; one foster son, Ronnie Garman, Danville, Pa.; two grandsons, Rob Ford and wife, Melanie of South Boston, and Troy Ford and wife Glenda of Crewe; and four great grandchildren.

Funeral services for Roy Hutchens Clark will be held Tuesday, June 8, at 2 p.m., at Brooks Funeral Home Chapel, with the Rev. H.V. Conner conducting the services.

Interment will be at Black Walnut Baptist Church Cemetery.

Visitation will take place at Brooks Funeral Home today, June 7, from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m., and at other times at the home of Brenda and Bob Ford, 2046 Cluster Springs Rd.

Otis Major Talbott, Jr.

Otis Major Talbott, Jr., 73, of South Boston, died Saturday, June 5, at his home.

He was the son of the late Otis Major Talbott Sr. and Nannie Womack Talbott and was married to the late Anna Martin Talbott.

Mr. Talbott was a member of the Centerville Baptist Church and was the retired owner of OM Talbott Inc.

He is survived by two daughters, Kim T. Moore and husband Monty of South Boston and Gina T. Bagby and husband Jeff of Virgilina, one son, Kelly Blake Talbott and wife Kim of Rougemount, N.C., one sister, Edith Wilkerson of Winston-Salem, N.C., four grandchildren, Heather Blanks and Justin Wilkerson, both of South Boston, and Misty Bagby and Megan Bagby, both of Virgilina, two great grandchildren, Hailey Blanks and Taylor Blanks, both of South Boston, and a special friend, Jean Blanks of South Boston.

Funeral Services will be held Wednesday, June 9, at 4 p.m at Centerville Baptist Church with the Rev. Richard Saunders officiating. Burial will be at Oak Ridge Cemetery.

The family will receive friends at Powell Funeral Home from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday and other times at his home, 2084 Old Cluster Springs Road, South Boston.

For memorials, consider the Halifax County Cancer Association, P.O. Box 875, South Boston , Va.. 24592.