Wednesday,
July 16, 2003
‘Major
Cocaine Operation’ Shut Down
Faulkner Arrest Signals End Of One Multi-Million-Dollar
Cocaine Operation In SoBo
The arrest of a fourth individual yesterday on drug charges
means another nail in the coffin of a major cocaine operation
based in the county, according to Maj. R.S.B. Pulliam of
the Halifax/South Boston Regional Drug Task Force.
Anthony Jerome Faulkner, aka "Juice," 19, of Watkins
Mill Road in Gaithersburg, Maryland, and formerly of Ridge
Street in South Boston, was arrested early yesterday morning
and charged with one count of conspiracy to violate the
Drug Control Act, Pulliam said.
He is currently being held in the Halifax Regional Jail
on a $100,000 secured bond.
Faulkner is the fourth individual to be arrested in connection
to what authorities describe as a "major crack cocaine
operation" that operated in three states.
Approximately two weeks ago, Jamel Lamar Faulkner, 28, of
Ridge Street in South Boston, Timothy Shakeel Carr, aka
"Shaq," 33, of Crawley Avenue in South Boston
and Craig Napoleon Hammonds, aka "Fatcat," 30,
of Highway 92 in Chase City, were arrested and each charged
with one count of conspiracy to violate the Drug Control
Act.
Pulliam said that the impact of the four arrests on the
county drug trade couldn't be overstated.
"The investigation revealed that Jamel Faulkner, the
alleged ringleader, was responsible for distributing approximately
80 kilograms of cocaine and crack cocaine over the past
two years," the investigator said.
That amount of drugs has a street value of approximately
$7.8 million, he added.
At the time of the three arrests earlier this year, officers
with the task force seized a large quantity of crack cocaine
with a street value of approximately $29,000.
"These arrests are just the beginning," Pulliam
said. "Additional co-conspirators will be arrested
in the near future."
He said that investigators expected the four to be prosecuted
in Federal Court.
Jamel Faulkner and Carr are both being held in the Halifax
Regional Jail without bond. Hammonds is being held in Halifax
on a $100,000 secured bond.
Agencies working with the task force on the investigation
include the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Virginia
Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, the Virginia State
Police, officers from the South Boston Police Department
and the Halifax County Sheriff's Office, the Southside Drug
Task Force, the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office, and
officers from the Chase City and South Hill police departments.
"The success of this investigation was the result of
many law enforcement agencies working closely together,
undercover agents purchasing crack cocaine and valuable
information provided by concerned citizens," Pulliam
said.
Tournaments
Make County Tourism A Whole New Ball Game
Between $50,000 to $70,000 is flowing into the local ecconomy
as a result of recent baseball and softball tournaments,
according to David Myers, president of the South Boston
Dixie Major League.
Not only do the tournaments provide safe and heated competition
and exercise for area children, they have also drawn a lot
of visitors into town and local businesses, filling the
stands and stores.
Halifax County is currently hosting five different baseball
and softball tournaments.
Last weekend crowds watched three different tournaments,
the Virginia state Dixie Pre-Majors for 16-year-olds, the
state Dixie Majors for 17 and 18-year-olds and the state
Dixie Ponytails girls softball tournament.
“We had a crowd of people here all last weekend. At
least 10 teams staying for three to four nights and they
have been in and around and spending money in the county,’”said
Mike Hackney, district director for the Dixie program.
This week two more state tournaments, for Dixie Boys age
13 and 14, are scheduled to start.
While local parents are busy cheering on their kids, area
hotels, restaurants and retailers are cheering the influx
of business that the tournaments have brought with them.
“It is bringing a tremendous benefit to the community
because the visiting teams are staying in our hotels and
eating in our restaurants,” said Nancy Poole, president
of the Halifax County Chamber of Commerce.
“They are very important to us, because anytime a lot
of people come to the area it's good for all the businesses,”
added one area hotel manager.
“In all likelihood, you are looking at $5,000 to $8,000
dollars coming into the community just in motel rooms last
weekend,” said Myers.
He estimated that $15,000 to $20,000 in cash revenues came
into the community when restaurants and shopping were included.
“Any sporting event that fills up the entire city is
a tremendous event for the area,” said Bill Carder
of Berry Hill. “You are also getting a lot of people
coming down and seeing the area and what it has to offer.”
This year is the first time that so many tournaments have
been scheduled to take place at the same time.
“Its very unusual to schedule this many at the same
time,” said Hackney. “But we always do well when
it come time to bid for the tournaments, because we have
the facilities for them.
“We have several fields for them to play on so we can
do games at the same time.
“People really like coming here, and it is a great
place to have a tournament,” adds Hackney.
Plans are underway to increase the level of tournaments
held in the county in coming summers.
“We are looking at bidding on the National Showcase
Invitational Tournament for boys aged 16-18 some time in
the next two years,” said Hackney. “It's a tournament
where you pick the best players from each state.
“Eleven states participate, some with two teams, so
you are looking at a lot of people coming to the community.
“We are also planning to bid on a world series tournament
in the next five years,’ he added.
“If the community works with us we can have a world
series here,” added Tim Vest, president of the South
Boston-Halifax County Dixie Boys Baseball. ‘This is
the birth place of the Dixie League in Virginia after all,
right here in Halifax County.”
‘Major
Cocaine Operation’ Shut Down
Faulkner Arrest Signals End Of One Multi-Million-Dollar
Cocaine Operation In SoBo
The arrest of a fourth individual yesterday on drug charges
means another nail in the coffin of a major cocaine operation
based in the county, according to Maj. R.S.B. Pulliam of
the Halifax/South Boston Regional Drug Task Force.
Anthony Jerome Faulkner, aka "Juice," 19, of Watkins
Mill Road in Gaithersburg, Maryland, and formerly of Ridge
Street in South Boston, was arrested early yesterday morning
and charged with one count of conspiracy to violate the
Drug Control Act, Pulliam said.
He is currently being held in the Halifax Regional Jail
on a $100,000 secured bond.
Faulkner is the fourth individual to be arrested in connection
to what authorities describe as a "major crack cocaine
operation" that operated in three states.
Approximately two weeks ago, Jamel Lamar Faulkner, 28, of
Ridge Street in South Boston, Timothy Shakeel Carr, aka
"Shaq," 33, of Crawley Avenue in South Boston
and Craig Napoleon Hammonds, aka "Fatcat," 30,
of Highway 92 in Chase City, were arrested and each charged
with one count of conspiracy to violate the Drug Control
Act.
Pulliam said that the impact of the four arrests on the
county drug trade couldn't be overstated.
"The investigation revealed that Jamel Faulkner, the
alleged ringleader, was responsible for distributing approximately
80 kilograms of cocaine and crack cocaine over the past
two years," the investigator said.
That amount of drugs has a street value of approximately
$7.8 million, he added.
At the time of the three arrests earlier this year, officers
with the task force seized a large quantity of crack cocaine
with a street value of approximately $29,000.
"These arrests are just the beginning," Pulliam
said. "Additional co-conspirators will be arrested
in the near future."
He said that investigators expected the four to be prosecuted
in Federal Court.
Jamel Faulkner and Carr are both being held in the Halifax
Regional Jail without bond. Hammonds is being held in Halifax
on a $100,000 secured bond.
Agencies working with the task force on the investigation
include the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Virginia
Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control, the Virginia State
Police, officers from the South Boston Police Department
and the Halifax County Sheriff's Office, the Southside Drug
Task Force, the Mecklenburg County Sheriff's Office, and
officers from the Chase City and South Hill police departments.
"The success of this investigation was the result of
many law enforcement agencies working closely together,
undercover agents purchasing crack cocaine and valuable
information provided by concerned citizens," Pulliam
said.
Thomas Edgar Bray
Thomas Edgar 'Tom' Bray, 81, of Lee's Summit, Mo. died July
9.
Funeral services were held at 3 p.m. on July 13 at Second
Baptist Church in Liberty, Mo. Burial took place July 14
in Knob Noster Cemetery, Knob Noster, Mo.
Mr. Bray was born April 9, 1922, in Halifax County the son
of David and Julia Bray. He served in WWII, training messenger
pigeons. In 1941, he was ordained to the gospel ministry.
He graduated from William Jewell College and received theological
degrees from The Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in
Louisville, Ky. Mr. Bray held 13 fulltime and interim pastorates
in Mo., Ky. and Ark.
In his later years Mr. Bray was a member of Second Baptist
Church in Liberty, Mo., where he served as chaplain/director
of religious activities and later the alumni Board of Governors.
He was awarded the Truex Award for Lifetime Alumni Service
in 1998.
Survivors include his wife, Barbara; children, Martha and
Ennis Green, Sarah and Larry Jacobs, Becky and B.J. Moyer,
Clark Bray, David Hitchcock and Sandy Bray; his grandchildren,
Amy and David Jacoby, Adam Hitchcock, Nathan Jacobs, Rachel
Jacobs, Julia Moyer, Kathryn Moyer, Lt. Jason Bray, Jeremy
and Amber Bray, Stephen Bray, and Chris Jacoby.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider William
Jewell College, c/o the Advancement Office.
Julie Anne Orme
Julie Anne Orme, 43, of Waldorf, Md. died July 15 at Duke
University Medical Center.
Miss Orme was born in Washington, D.C. on March 3, 1960,
the daughter of Earle T. Orme Jr. and Mary Cavanaugh Duncan.
Survivors other than her mother and father include her stepfather,
Buddy Duncan of Nathalie; her stepmother, Gloria Orme of
Owings, Md.; one son, Joseph Matthew Arnold of Waldorf;
two brothers and sisters-in-law, Gary Orme Sr. and wife,
Kimberly, of Enterprise, W.Va. and Earle Orme III and wife,
Dawn, of Nathalie; one stepsister, Mitzi D. Waller of Nathalie;
and one stepbrother, Richard E. Duncan Jr. of Nathalie.
Funeral services for Miss Orme will be held July 18 at 11
a.m. at First Baptist Church of Republican Grove with the
Rev. Shelton Miles officiating. Burial will take place in
the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at Powell Funeral Home tomorrow
evening, July 17, from 7:00 until 8:30, and other times
at the home of her mother, 4126 Leda Grove Road, Nathalie
and following the funeral in the fellowship hall of the
church.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider First
Baptist Church of Republican Grove.
Sylvester Faye Seate
Sylvester Faye Seate, 75, of Nelson died July 14. He was
the widower of Narvis Puryear Seate.
Mr. Seate was a graduate of Oak Hill High School, a Veteran
of the U.S. Air Force, served as a deacon of Nelson Baptist
Church, and retired from Burlington Industries, Inc. after
45 years of service.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. today, July 16,
at Nelson Baptist Church with burial in the church cemetery.
Survivors of Mr. Seate include two sons and daughters-in-law,
Jackie S. and Sandra Seate of Clarksville and Frederick
'Larry' and Donna Seate of Virgilina; one daughter and son-in-law,
Anna and Derwood Hall of Nelson; one brother, Worth Seate
of Charlotte, N.C.; two sisters, Maxine Jackson of Skipwith
and Lois Clayton of Roxboro, N.C.; six grandchildren; five
great-grandchildren; and close friends Paul Fuller and Roy
Sandifer.
Frances LaPradd Vaughan
Frances LaPradd Vaughan, 61, of 3098 J.D. Hagood Highway,
Halifax died July 14 at her home.
Mrs. Vaughan was born in Charlotte County on July 31, 1941,
the daughter of James LaPradd and Mattie LaPradd and was
married to Phillip Marshall Vaughan. She was a member of
Seven Oaks Baptist Church.
Survivors include her husband; one daughter, Kimberly Davis
and husband, Jerry, of Scottsburg; one stepdaughter, Janet
Michelle Ward and husband, Roy, of Snow Camp, N.C.; one
brother, John Henry LaPradd of Drakes Branch; two sisters-in-law,
Nancy LaPradd of Chase City and Linda LaPradd of Drakes
Branch; and four grandchildren. She was preceded in death
by one brother, James LaPradd.
Funeral services for Mrs. Vaughan will be held tomorrow,
July 17 at 2 p.m. at Seven Oaks Baptist Church with the
Rev. Raymond Bucklew officiating. Burial will take place
in Halifax Memorial Gardens.
The family will receive friends this evening, July 16 from
7:00 until 8:30 at Powell Funeral Home, and other times
at the home of her daughter, 1030 Green Level Road, Scottsburg.
Crystal Barbour Washington
Crystal Barbour Washington, 79, of New York, formerly of
Nathalie, died July 11 at St. Luke Hospital in Newburgh,
N.Y.
She was born in Halifax County on February 20, 1924, the
daughter of Joshua A. Barbour and Lillian Ewell Barbour
and was married to George Washington Sr. She was a member
of Hickory Grove Baptist Church.
Survivors include one son, George Washington Jr., of N.Y.;
one daughter, Gwendolyn W. Deverteuls of N.J.; one grandchild,
Taieshia Washington; two sisters, Rosa Dunklin of Mt. Vernon,
N.Y. and Ruth Hendricks of Philadelphia, Pa.
Funeral services for Mrs. Washington will be held July 17
at 2 p.m. at Hickory Grove Baptist Church with the Rev.
A.L. Dean officiating. Burial will follow in the Barbour
Family Cemetery.
The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service,
and other times at the home of George Washington Jr., 4170
Chestnut Road, Nathalie.
Pre-Majors
One Step Away
The South Boston
Dixie Pre-Majors All-Star Team Made It To Last Night's Championship
Round In The Dixie Pre-Majors State Tournament
By
JOE CHANDLER | G-V Staff Writer
The South Boston Dixie Pre-Majors all-star team was one
step away from a second straight state title last night
when it faced Vinton in the championship round of the Virginia
State Dixie Pre-Majors Baseball Tournament.
Undefeated South Boston advanced to the championship round
with an explosive 15-4 win over Wythe County Monday night
in a game halted by a slaughter rule after four and a half
innings.
Vinton, which has one loss, an early-round loss to South
Boston, eliminated Charlotte County 14-2 Monday in a game
that went the full seven innings.
South Boston could wrap up the state title last night with
a win over Vinton.
However, if Vinton pulled out a win last night, South Boston
will get another chance tonight.
South Boston hit the ball well against Wythe County in Monday's
contest, coming up with a dozen hits.
Dion Ferrell and Willie Stephens led the team with three
hits each.
Chris Conner, Dex Seamon, Nathan Clements, Matt Conner,
Ryland Clark and Chris Perkins each had a hit.
South Boston jumped on top early and never looked back,
scoring two runs in the bottom of the first inning to take
a 2-0 lead.
Ferrell led off with a hit and scored on a triple by Stephens.
Stephens scored when Clements reached base on an error to
give South Boston a two-run cushion.
Three walks back-to-back opened the door for Wythe County
to score twice in the top of the second inning and tie the
game.
The game didn't stay close for long as South Boston exploded
for 12 runs in the bottom of the second inning to take a
14-2 lead.
After the first three South Boston batters reached base
via walks, Ferrell got the scoring started with a base hit
that was followed by a Wythe County error on the play.
The result was South Boston's first two runs of the inning
and a 4-2 lead.
Stephens followed with a two-RBI triple that put South Boston
up 6-2.
South Boston also got two-RBI hits from Clark and Perkins
as it sent a total of 16 batters to the plate in the big
inning.
A walk and back-to-back base hits gave Wythe County two
runs in the top of the third inning to make the score 14-4.
South Boston added a run in the bottom of the third inning
on a run-scoring hit by Conner to make the final 15-4 score.
South Boston 7
Charlotte County 0
South Boston had it all its way Sunday as it blanked Charlotte
County 7-0 in its second outing of the tournament.
Jeremy Jeffress gave South Boston a big outing on the mound
as he threw a no-hitter and fanned 9 of the 19 batters he
faced in the game. He gave up two walks.
On the offensive side, South Boston produced 10 hits with
Ferrell, Perkins and Brooks getting two hits each.
Steven Smith, Chris Conner, Matt Conner and Jeffress each
had one hit in the game that was ruled complete after five
innings.
South Boston jumped on top early, scoring a run in the bottom
of the first inning to take a 1-0 lead.
Ferrell reached base on an error, stole second base, moved
to third base on a single by Perkins and scored on a single
by Brooks to give South Boston a 1-0 lead.
South Boston added a run in the bottom of the third inning
to make it a 2-0 contest.
Ferrell reached base with a single, stole second base, moved
to third base on a passed ball and scored on a single by
Brooks.
South Boston broke the game open with four runs in the bottom
of the fourth inning.
Chris Conner and Matt Conner singled and moved to second
base and third base on a passed ball.
Jeffress delivered a single to score Chris Conner and give
South Boston a 3-0 lead.
Ferrell stepped up and drilled a two-RBI triple that plated
Matt Conner and Jeffress to put South Boston up 5-0.
A single by Perkins scored Ferrell to put South Boston up
6-0.
South Boston completed the game by adding a run in the bottom
of the fifth inning to make it a 7-0 score.
Matt Conner was struck by a pitch with two out in the inning
and Bobby Owens reached base on an error.
Jeremy Jeffress reached base on an error and Matt Conner
scored to give South Boston its final run of the game.
