Monday, July 12, 2004

County Woman Killed In Wreck
Police Believe That Edith C. Jennings Was Killed On Impact

A 59-year-old Vernon Hill woman was killed Friday when the car she was riding in was struck by a pickup truck in Charlotte County, according to police.

Police believe Edith C. Jennings was killed instantly in the 5:25 p.m. accident.
She was officially pronounced dead at the scene, according to police.

The accident that claimed Jennings' life occurred along Highway 15 in Wylliesburg and left three other individuals, including at least one other Halifax County resident, injured.

According to Virginia State Police Trooper Jim Bavely, members of the Bacon District Volunteer Fire Department and the Charlotte County Rescue Squad responded to the accident.

Upon arrival at the scene, officials found a 1992 Chrysler New Yorker heavily damaged and blocking the northbound lane of Route 15.

After interviewing witnesses at the scene, Bavely determined that a 1987 Ford Ranger, operated by Willy Jones, 69, of Richmond, was traveling south along Route 15 when it approached the intersection of Route 92.

Police believe the Chrysler, operated by 54-year-old Sue Traynham of Halifax, failed to yield the right of way and pulled into the path of the Ford.

Traynham and two other occupants of the Chrysler, identified as James Henry, 54, and the vehicle's owner, 82-year-old Christine Olds, were transported to Halifax Regional Hospital.

Bavely said their conditions did not appear to be life-threatening.
According to police, Jones' truck collided with the Chrysler, causing heavy damage to the driver's side front and rear doors.

After impact, the car slid into the northbound lane of Route 15, while the truck spun and came to rest facing the opposite direction.

Police believe that as a result of the impact Jennings, who was in the left rear passenger seat, died instantly.

Jones was not injured in the accident.

Although he was cited for driving under the influence, police are not charging Jones in connection with the accident.

Additional charges related to the accident are pending, according to Bavely.

In A Dilly Of A Pickle
Spice Shortage Perplexes Area Producers

How much lime, spice and alum does it take to pickle a peck of pickles?

Probably more than you can purchase at your neighborhood grocery these days.

"There ain't no alum in the county!" one resident said recently.

A bumper crop of vegetables and a shortage of ingredients have combined to make homemade pickles this season a difficult proposition.

Bunny Probst, operator of Ratliff's Grocery, has been burning up the streets to surrounding areas in an effort to keep her customers in a supply of pickling ingredients.

"I just made a run to Roxboro to reload," she said Friday. "I was in Henderson yesterday and Danville before that."

And the alum hasn't been sitting on her shelves for long, Probst said.

"We've been selling it as fast as I can get it in," she said. "We even have waiting lists for alum. You can't find it. There isn't any. It's incredible."

Probst said this year's growing season played a role in the shortage.

"It's been a big year for cucumbers," she said. "In a good year, I may sell two cases of alum. This year I've sold 10 times that."

In one day, customers purchased five cases of alum, Probst said.

By all accounts, 2004 hasn't been a normal year for vegetables.

Even in May, cucumbers were hanging on the vines. By June the harvest had swelled and today, gardeners have cukes running out of their ears, it seems.
"We have plenty of vegetables," said Hudson Reese of Reese Farms. "What people can't find is pickling lime. We have a limited supply of that right now. That's been hard to find. What we don't have is alum."

Reese credited an unusually good growing season with the shortage.

"We don't see too many springs like this one's been," he said. "We certainly have plenty of vegetables. What we need more than anything right now is customers."

Gardeners have been driving for miles in an effort to stock up on pickling spices.

"I've had some people who've driven all the way here from South Hill," said Probst, who has been begging her suppliers to deliver more pickling ingredients.

Her suppliers are having a problem finding alum, she said. "The wholesalers didn't sell much for a couple of years so the warehouse in Richmond has no pickling spices. That's where my wholesalers pull from."

Retailers around the county are in the same boat.

"I don't know what's going on with pickling spices this year," said Wayne Smith, store manager of the Food Lion in Riverdale. "We've been ordering and ordering them and we just can't get any in."

He said that some pickling spices were "allegedly" en route to the store. "At least that's what they tell me."

"Next year, I plan to order them in February," Smith said. "We'll see if that helps."

Council Expected To Adopt ‘Goals’
SoBo Mayor, Councilmen To Be Sworn In Tonight

South Boston Mayor-elect Carroll Thackston and two councilmen will be sworn in by General District Court Judge Joel C. Cunningham tonight.

Newly elected Councilman Morris Bryant and Councilmen T.C. "Chris" Elliott and Coleman Speece, reeelected in May, will join Thackston in the 6:45 p.m. ceremony.

Councilmen will also select a vice-mayor tonight.

Tonight's session begins at 7 p.m. in Council Chambers at 502 Yancey Street.

Council is also expected to adopt its 2004-2006 Strategic Goals plan as well as adopt its rules of procedure.

Goals and objectives developed during Council's retreat Friday and Saturday included the following:

Consolidation of Selected County and Town Services

A. Continue to work with the county, Town of Halifax, and other participating localities on a Halifax County Utility Master Plan: 2005-2015, leading to the establishment of a Water and Sewer public Service Authority owning, operating and managing all existing and future public water and sewer systems in Halifax County.

B. Continue to work with county on implementing the Southside Regional Service Authority with Charlotte, Mecklenberg and Lunenburg counties for regional solid waste disposal.

C. Continue to work with county on developing a Solid Waste Public Service Authority for Halifax County that owns, operates and manages all public solid waste collection and transport facilities and equipment to include the location of any facilities within the corporate limits of South Boston.

D. Consolidation of Halifax County Library into one centrally located facility in the Halifax County Urban Planning Area.

E. Continue to work with county to improve the E-911 Communication System.

F. Develop a system to the Town and the Halifax County Court System via computer to enhance information sharing for law enforcement purposes.
G. Work with Halifax County on improving elementary school facilities in South Boston.

Capital Improvement

Projects - FY 2005-06 Through FY 2009-2010

A. Landfill closure

B. Public Works shell building on Hamilton

C. Sinai area community park

D. Storm water management improvements

E. Geographic Information System Completion

F. Demolition and disposal of Taylor Building through available grant programs or through town workforce.

Grant-dependent Capital Projects

FY 2005-06 Through

FY 2009-2010

A. Church Hill CDBG Neighborhood Improvement Grant. Planning grant 2004-2005; construction grant 2005-2006.

B. North Main Street: TEA-21 Improvement Grant. FY 2004 application. Neighborhood Area Plan.

4. Strategic Planning and Land Use Development Goals.

Strategicv Planning and Land Use Development Goals

Economic Development

A. Continue to aggressively pursue relationship with Virginia Main Street to encourage the retention, expansion and new development of specialty retail, professional services and offices in the downtown business area.

B. Encourage historic redevelopment within and around the Crossing of the Dan site and develop a plan for promotion as a tourist destination.

C. Maintain and market Enterprise Zone incentives to encourage business expansion and development.

In other business, Mayor Thackston is scheduled to make committee assignments tonight, and other Council appointments, Industrial Development Authority, are on the agenda.

Also on the agenda, councilmen are expected to take action on an amendment to the town code relating to reimbursement of certain traffic incident expenses.

Recent Code of Virginia enabling legislation relating to reimbursement of certain traffic incident expenses incurred in responding to DUI and other traffic incidents, including reckless driving, driving without a license or a suspended or revoked license, and improperly leaving the scene of an accident, was reviewed at Council's previous session.

According to the Code of Virginia, any locality may provide by ordinance that a person convicted of violating those provisions shall be liable in a separate civil action for reasonable expenses incurred by the locality or by any volunteer rescue squad or both, when providing an appropriate emergency response to accidents or incidents related to such violation.

Personal liability under the section for reasonable expenses of an appropriate emergency response cannot exceed $1,000 in the aggregate for a particular accident or incident in the locality, according to legislation.

In determining the reasonable expenses, a locality may bill a flat fee of $250 or a minute-by-minute accounting of the actual costs incurred.

Howard Wins Late Model Race
Timothy Peters Finishes Second In The 150-Lap Feature Race

BY DOUG FORD | GV Staff Writer

Hot Tamales presents 70's Night at South Boston Speedway was only appropriate considering the sizzling hot track conditions that greeted the drivers Sunday afternoon.

The races scheduled for Saturday night were postponed due to Saturday thunderstorms and run yesterday afternoon, with drivers braving the elements in a season-high seven-races.

Howard Wins Late Model 150- Lap Feature Race

Woody Howard persevered and perspired in track temperatures well in excess of 100 degrees to win the Pepsi Late Model 150-lap feature, taking the lead from Denny Hamlin on lap 67 and never looking back.

Points leader Timothy Peters took second and Ronald Hill had one of his best runs of the season in finishing third, followed by Wayne Ramsey and David Triplett.

One of Howard's primary competitors in Sunday's event, pole sitter Peyton Sellers, headed to the pits on lap 13 after encountering what appeared to be engine problems.

That cleared the way for Hamlin, who started in fourth position but moved steadily through the pack the first three laps to overtake third-fastest qualifier Justin Johnson and outside pole sitter Howard by lap 3.

By the time of the race's first caution on lap 17, Hamlin had opened up a small lead over Howard, with hard-charging Peters coming from an eighth-place qualifying position to third.

Howard made his move on lap 67, diving to the inside to take the lead from Hamlin, with Peters still running third, holding his position after the race's second caution on lap 73, after a spinout by Jason Dickerson in the third turn.

The next 25 laps saw two of Howard's challengers head to the pits for the afternoon, Ward with engine problems on lap 98 and Hamlin with a broken right front hub on lap 103.

That brought out the third caution of the race, Peters moving to second on the restart behind Howard, with Hill, Ramsey, Justin Johnson, David Triplett and Scott Worley in the third through fifth positions.

The rest of the race saw Howard race to a comfortable lead, celebrating his win with a turn two burnout.

Cash Wins Fifth Limited Race Of Season

Jonathan Cash took advantage of a quick restart after the first caution of the 50-lap Limited event to win his fifth race of the season.

Cash overtook pole sitter Justin Snow on the restart and cruised from there to the win, with Snow, Adam Barker, Brian Cole and Charles Barnes rounding out the top five.

Snow led Cash, points leader Jonathan Bailey and Barker through the first 22 laps, before the yellow flew for the only time during the race for debris on the track.

The restart gave Cash the break he needed, as he challenged for the lead several times before edging underneath Snow on lap 27 to lead for the first time, with Bailey and Brian Cole running third and fourth.

Cash continued to run ahead of Snow the remainder of the race, points leader Bailey, seeing his race end on lap 45 after running in the top five during the race.

Pennington Wins For Second Time In Pure Stocks

Rodney Pennington came out ahead of pole sitter Nick Igdalsky in a 30-lap duel to win his second race of the year in the Pure Stock Division.

Pennington and Igdalsky switched the lead three times during the race, Igdalsky running up front laps 1-11, Pennington laps 12-13, and Igdalsky leading laps 14-16.

Pennington took the lead for the final time on lap 17, maintaining the lead through two cautions, the first coming on lap 20, when points leader Donald Glass lost an engine, the last one coming on lap 19.

That resulted in a green-white-checkers finish, with Pennington,
Chuck Watkins, Joey Throckmorton, Billy Goble and Tommy Woolridge finishing in the top five.

Marshall Takes Two Grand Stock Wins

Dwayne Marshall won both his first and second race of the season in the Grand Stock Division yesterday.

Marshall took the lead from pole sitter Jack Milam on lap 29, and led to the checkers in the first race.

Terri Williams finished in the second spot, followed by Junior Hancock, Taylor Moore and Milam in a 30-lap event marred by five cautions.

Milam sprinted by pole sitter and points leader Troy Dowdy on the first lap, Dowdy falling to third behind Marshall.

It was Milam, Marshall and Wayne Wilson running one, two, three by lap 14, with Williams climbing to third over Wilson on the restart after the race's third caution on lap 21.

Dowdy retired to the pits with engine problems on lap 24, Milam still leading on the restart, followed by Marshall, Williams, Wilson and Hancock.

Milam led Marshall and a pack of cars into turn four on lap 29, with Marshall nudging Milam from behind and grabbing the lead, which he held the remainder of the race.

Grand Stock Race Two

Marshall overtook pole sitter Milam again in the second 30-lap Grand Stock feature, inheriting the lead when Milam experienced mechanical problems on lap 5.

Only one caution interrupted the second Grand Stock race, with Marshall going on to record his second win of the day and the season.

Williams again finished second, followed by Troy Dowdy, Wayne Wilson and Keith Edwards.

Cook Takes Win In Southern Vintage Modifieds

Rodney Cook took home a first-place finish in the 25-lap Southern Vintage Modified race to end an afternoon of racing at South Boston Speedway.

Donnie Lacks finished second, followed by Bill Lacks, Randy Philpott and Darryl Lacks in a race delayed once by caution.

Obituaries

Alice LaFon Collis Agnew

Alice LaFon Collis Agnew, 85, of Washington Park, N.C. died July 3 in Beaufort County Nursing Home.

A memorial service will be held at 1 p.m. July 24, in Brown Chapel at Saint Peter’s Episcopal Church. The family will receive friends from 5 to 7 on July 23, at the home of her sister-in-law, Nancy Collis, Washington, N.C.

Mrs. Agnew was born March 30, 1919, in Ormond Beach, Fla. the daughter of the late Virgil Gibney Collis and Elizabeth Simrall Collis and was married to the Rev. David Thompson Agnew, who preceded her in death. She was an artist.

Survivors include six children, David Thompson Agnew of Blacksburg, Dr. Josephine Collis Agnew of Kirksville, Mo., Elizabeth Barrington Agnew, Christopher Bleakley Agnew, both of Washington, N.C., Virgil Gibney Agnew of Corvallis, Oreg., and Mary Bartow Agnew of Marietta, Ga.; one sister-in-law, Nancy Collis of Washington; 10 grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Mrs. Agnew was also preceded in death by one grandson, Jess Randall Grosser; one sister, Josephine Collis More; and a brother, Mark Gibney Collis.

Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the Alice Agnew Memorial Scholarship Fund, c/o Beaufort County Community College Foundation, P.O. Box 1069, Washington, N.C. 27889.

William Len Bane

William Len Bane, 46, of Scottsburg, died Saturday, July 10 at his home.
He was the son of Melvin William Bane and Christine Womack Bane.

He was a member of the Dan River Baptist Church and was a former employee of the Halifax County School System.

Funeral services will be held on Tuesday, July 13, at 11 a.m. at the Dan River Baptist Church with the Rev. Doug Gibson and the Rev. Melvin Bradshaw officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

The family will receive friends at the Powell Funeral Home on Monday from 7:00-8:30 p.m. and at other times at the home of his parents at 1031 Temple Hill Road, Scottsburg.

Mr. Bane is survived by: his children, Laura Kathleen Bane of Halifax and Timothy Len Bane and his wife Sharon of Crystal Hill; their mother, Vicky Beverly Bane of Halifax; his parents, Melvin W. and Christine W. Bane of Scottsburg; a sister, Theresa Bane Garland of South Boston; two grandchildren, Makayla Grace Trent and Andrew Blake Trent, both of Crystal Hill; a niece, Courtney Rena Garland of South Boston; and a nephew, Casey Dalton Garland of South Boston.

For memorials, please consider the Dan River Baptist Church or a charity of your choice.

Rupert Carroll Coates

Rupert Carroll Coates, 71, of Mountain Road, Halifax, died Friday, July 9, at his home.

Mr. Coates was the son of the late Walter H. Coates and Mae Tuck Coates and was married to Geraldine Tuck Coates.

Mr. Coates was a member of St. John's Episcopal Church, the American Legion Post 8, and was an Army veteran of the Korean Conflict.

Mr. Coates is survived by: his wife, Geraldine Tuck Coates of Halifax, and a number of nieces and nephews. He is predeceased in death by two brothers, John Thomas Coates and Ronald Carter Coates; one sister, Audrey Coates Walden; two half brothers, Willie P. Coates and Clarence Coates; and two half sisters; Lillian Coates Thornton Woody and Gertrude Coates Claytor.

Funeral services will be held Monday, July 12, at 2 p.m. at St. John's Episcopal Church, Halifax, with the Rev. David Booher and the Rev. Shelton Miles officiating. Burial will follow in Halifax Memorial Gardens.

For memorials, please consider the St. John's Episcopal Church, PO Box 905, Halifax, VA 24558 or the South Boston/Halifax County Historical Museum, 1540 Wilborn Avenue, South Boston, VA 24592.

Edith Canada Duncan Jennings

Edith Canada Duncan Jennings, 59, of Thompson Store Road, Vernon Hill, died Friday, July 9, in Charlotte County.

Mrs. Jennings was born in Halifax County on May 18, 1945, and was the daughter of Mrs. Carrie Sydnor Canada and the late Allen William Canada, Sr. She was married to Mr. Robert J. Jennings.

Mrs. Jennings is survived by her husband, Robert J. Jennings; for daughters, Mrs. Edith Christine Walker of South Boston, Ms. Eva Duncan of Alexandria, Ms. Laura Logan of Lynchburg, and Ms. Wanda Dunkley of South Boston; two sons, Clarence Duncan, Jr. of South Boston, and Jesse Duncan of Alta Vista; her mother, Mrs. Carrie Canada of South Boston; 20 grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; two sons-in-law; four brothers-in-law; two sisters-in-law; six aunts, and a host of cousins, nieces, nephews and friends, including the devoted Ms. Lucille Edmunds of South Boston.

Funeral services will be held Tuesday, July 13 at 12 noon with services at the First Baptist Church on Ferry Street, with Rev. William Dixon officiating. Burial will follow in the Oak Ridge Cemetery.

The family is receiving friends at the residence, 3205 Thompson Store Road, Vernon Hill, and at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Donnell Walker, 112 Webster Street, South Boston.