By Doug Loftis
Halifax County farmlands have not reached disastrous proportions yet but the heat and lack of rainfall has producers, especially of tobacco, pumping water from ponds and wondering how long it might be before nature replenishes the supply.
Hardest hit by weather conditions are areas to the north and west of the county while areas to the east and south such as Aarons Creek, have enjoyed rainfall and showers as recently as last Thursday and Friday.
Temperatures today and tomorrow are expected to be in the mid to upper 90s with only a slight chance of afternoon and evening thunderstorms.
Suffering the most from hot and dry conditions are pasture lands, grain crops -especially corn - and perhaps least of all, tobacco.
This season's leaf crop was late getting started and that may turn out to be somewhat of a blessing. Further south in Georgia and Florida, hot and dry weather is expected to affect market prices tomorrow for the first day of auctions on the Georgia-Florida Belt. Border Belt sales begin July 28, the Sand Hills on July 29 and the Old Belt on August 4.
"The tobacco crop, on the average, looks pretty good. We still have the potential to make pounds and quality," Extension Agent Larry McPeters said last week.
Maintaining that crop condition, however, has most farmers and their laborers tired and perhaps, tempted to make some short cuts.
Those short cuts, if taken in the method of tobacco sucker control, will affect yields and quality said McPeters who recommends certain products and application methods.
Most producers are topping tobacco and at the same time, applying sucker control products such as Prime Plus (+) or Off-Shoot T.
Because of dry conditions, much of this year's crop has not reached an ideal stage of maturity and systemic sucker control applications such as Prime Plus, can actually destroy tobacco tips, the top-selling leaf on the plant.
"If the tip leaves are less than six inches in length, don't use it!" McPeters warned.
A contact chemical such as Off Shoot-T has no systemic action and can be applied when tobacco is topped. Growers should then wait about five to seven days and then apply Prime Plus for sucker control rather than attempting to accomplish the whole task in one application.
"Farmers are always wondering what it's going to sell for but my advice is a good product always sells well," said the county agent while urging growers to "focus on producing quality."
Halifax County has about 8,000 acres (14.2 million pounds) of tobacco planted this year. The local tobacco market sold about $29.6 million of tobacco.
Livestock, Water Supplies
Livestock owners, especially cattle producers, are reminded to check daily their animal water supplies during these hot and dry conditions.
When pasture grasses appear insufficient, animals should be given hay and other feed supplements. Feeder calves, in particular, should continue to gain weight throughout the summer.
Without feed supplements, many calves will not even maintain body weight during this period said McPeters.
Centerville businessman James Good first heard about Polysteel construction from his nephew in Ohio, and then heard Buffalo Junction contractor A.S. "Sam" Tuck Jr. was building with Polysteel.
The decision to opt for the concrete/steel construction was based on one word for Good, "sturdy," although heating and cooling efficiency were also important.
Tuck, who is currently building a second Polysteel home in Cluster Springs, began the Goods' home in late spring of last year. The Goods moved in around Thanksgiving.
"We went to the roof line with Polysteel," said Good, whose house includes about 3,600 square ft, including the basement.
"In the basement the steel rods are every foot," said Good. "Above ground the rods are every two feet."
Made from expanded polystyrene and galvanized steel, the Polysteel Forms stand 16" high, 48" long and come in 6" and 8" core width. Concrete is poured into the forms with the reinforced concrete encapsulated in expanded polystyrene creating a solid barrier.
The final result at the Goods' home is a 12-inch thick wall with brick veneer.
Good also chose to take his construction one more energy saving step, opting for "a different source of heat, a water source heat pump, with 1800 feet of pipe in the ground six feet deep for heating and cooling."
In addition to its own heating and cooling efficiency pluses, Polysteel construction also provides a quiet environment. "We hear very little traffic," added Good, who "very definitely recommends" the new construction.
Tuck describes a half dozen Polysteel benefits: cost-effective heating and cooling, structural strength in high-wind and earthquake areas, easy-to-use for the builder, and environmentally friendly.
Locally, Freddy and Brenda Powell are another couple who decided on Polysteel.
Powell said he first saw Polysteel construction on a Home and Garden show on a program he picked up via satellite.
Then he saw Tuck at the county fair showing the same video he had seen on satellite.
"The R-50 insulation factor" drew Powell, who described a normal house as around R-19.
"Test results at several sites in Virginia show with concrete and the Polysteel you would have to construct a conventional stick-built house to R-50 to compare," explained Tuck when asked about a Polysteel.
"So you can see how much cheaper it should be to heat and cool," said Powell.
Polysteel building cost versus stick built homes?
"The building cost is real close, not more than five percent," said Powell.
Tuck began work on the Powells' one and a half story Williamsburg Colonial house about mid-May with a scheduled six months completion, according to Powell.
The Powells exterior will include "some brick veneer and some Hardi plank," added Powell.
"We are just tickled to death so far," added the South Boston businessman.
Heating and cooling cost-efficiency.
"We won't know the final answer until we get the light bill," added Powell with a laugh.
In addition to homes, Tuck, a Buffalo Junction contractor who holds the area Polysteel franchise, said he is building numerous basements in the Lake Gaston and Kerr Lake area.
"With basements, the main advantage is superior strength to concrete block walls," said Tuck. "The ability to more readily construct a waterproof basement with a solid concrete wall."
Tuck, who grew up in the construction business, is witness and participant in emerging construction techniques. With insulated concrete forms, a new generation of homeowners is offered yet another building option within the same price range.
A collision Friday night on U.S. 501 in Volens injured two Brookneal women, according to the Virginia State Police.
The incident occurred when Reginia Bolling, 25, was driving a 1990 Mitsubishi and pulled from a parking lot into the path of a 1990 Ford driven by Carl Eugene Smith, 31, of Lynchburg, police said.
The resulting collision occurred on U.S. 501 about 200 feet north of the intersection of Rt. 603, according to the investigation.
Bolling and a passenger in her vehicle, Alease Armstead, were injured. Smith was not injured, police said.
Damages to the Ford were estimated at $4,000 and damages to the Mitsubishi were also estimated at $4,000, according to the investigation.
Bolling was charged with reckless driving. The 7 p.m. incident was investigated by Virginia State Trooper C.M. Fleming.
In other wrecks:
· A four-vehicle wreck occurred Wednesday on U.S. 58, one-half mile west of Rt. 708, about halfway between Turbeville and Riverdale, police said.
Henry Lee West Jr., 59, of Gum Springs, Va. was driving a 1997 Ford pickup truck when he struck the rear of a 1989 Plymouth van driven by his wife, Sara Ann West, 53, also of Gum Springs, according to the investigation.
That collision pushed Sara West's vehicle into the back of a 1979 Ford dump truck driven by Gregory Luther Moyers, 30, of Douglas, Arizona, police said.
Henry West's vehicle then crossed into another lane and struck a 1992 White GMC tractor trailer driven by Paul C. Baker, 32, of Cameron, N.C., according to the investigation.
The only injury in the chain-reaction wreck was Mrs. West, who was treated and released for minor injuries, police said.
Damages to the Ford pickup were estimated at $3,000; damages to the Plymouth van were estimated at $4,000; damages to the dump truck were estimated at $300; and damages to the tractor trailer were estimated at $1,500, according to the investigation.
Henry West was charged with following too closely. The 6:35 p.m. incident was investigated by Trooper Fleming.
· A blown tire caused a collision Friday morning on U.S. 58, two-tenths of a mile east of Rt. 931, police said.
Vaughan D. McCraw, 35, of South Boston was driving a 1998 Ford pickup truck when a tire blew, causing the vehicle to swerve into the opposite lane and strike a 1997 Nissan pickup truck driven by Matthew Scott Wilkins, 20, police said.
Neither driver was injured. Each vehicle sustained estimated damages of $1,000, according to the investigation.
No charges were filed. The 10:35 a.m. incident was investigated by Virginia State Trooper R.C. Compton.
· A two-vehicle collision occurred Saturday afternoon on U.S. 58, one-third mile east of Rt. 708, police said. No injuries occurred.
Robert D. O'Connell, 22, of Virginia Beach was driving a 1998 Toyota when he struck the rear of a 1975 Ford pickup truck driven by Joe Louis Morgan, 55, of South Boston, according to the investigation.
Morgan had slowed down to make a left hand turn when he was struck by O'Connell, police said.
Damages to O'Connell's Toyota were estimated at $5,000 and damages to the pickup truck were estimated at $1,000, according to the investigation.
O'Connell was charged with reckless driving. The 2:45 p.m. incident was investigated by Virginia State Trooper D.J. Cline.
Two separate pairs of alleged burglars were arrested this weekend by the Halifax County Sheriff's Department.
Rodney William Deal, 33, of South Boston and David Wayne Howerton, 22, of Alton were arrested on charges involving a breaking and entering of the residence of Scott William Sanford, police said.
Deal and Howerton were arrested on felony charges of breaking and entering and grand theft of a stereo, 50 CDs, two rifles, one pistol, a jar of assorted coins, and a gold watch, according to the investigation.
They were also each charged with misdemeanor counts of damage to property, which resulted from breaking into the building, according to the investigation. The alleged break-in and theft occurred on July 4 and they were arrested Saturday by Cpl. S.T. Moser.
Deal and Howerton are currently being held in the Blue Ridge Adult Detention Center-Halifax pending their preliminary hearings in the Halifax County General District Court on September 4.
In another break-in case, Lester Dontrell Lawson, 18, of Virgilina and Timothy T. Majors, 18, of Halifax were each charged with a felony count of breaking and entering the residence of Welby S. Foster, police said. In addition, Lawson was charged with a felony count of grand theft of a rifle, according to the investigation. The alleged break-in occurred on July 15 and they were arrested by Captain L.W. Fears and Deputy R.C. Lipscomb.
Lawson and Majors are currently being held in the Blue Ridge Adult Detention Center-Halifax pending their preliminary hearings in the Halifax County General District Court on September 21.
In other cases: · Sterling Lynn Lacks, 29, of Timberlake, N.C. was arrested Saturday in the parking lot of a Riverdale fast-food restaurant on two felony counts and a misdemeanor count of driving under the influence, police said.
Lacks was charged with driving a motor vehicle after having previously been convicted of a felony and a second felony count of possession of a firearm after having previously been convicted of a felony. He had been driving a 1990 Honda motorcycle prior to his arrest by Deputy C.S. Yeatts, according to the investigation. Lacks was released on bond pending his trial in the Halifax County General District Court on September 18.
· Otis Douglas Tuck, 40, of Virgilina was charged with a misdemeanor count of assault and battery of Lucille Tuck, a family member, police said. The alleged incident occurred early Sunday morning and he was arrested on Sunday by Deputy S.A. Moore, according to the investigation. Tuck was released on bond pending his trial in the Halifax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court on July 29.
· Watt Lee Womack, 36, of Halifax was arrested Sunday on a misdemeanor count of assault and battery of Angela M. Womack, a family member, police said. The alleged incident happened Sunday and he was arrested by Deputy K.B. Tribble.
Womack was released on bond pending his trial in the Halifax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court on July 28.
· Clyde D. Womack Jr., 28, of Vernon Hill was arrested Saturday on a misdemeanor count of assault and battery of Laura O. Womack,a family member, police said.
The alleged incident occurred Saturday and he was arrested by Deputy T.K. Redd. Womack was released on bond pending his trial in the Halifax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court on July 29.
· Kenneth Dale Wilborne Jr., 19, of South Boston was arrested Friday on a misdemeanor count of assault and battery of Wendy Morris, a household or family member. The alleged incident occurred on June 15 and he was arrested by Sgt. T.E. Logan. He was released on bond pending his trial in the Halifax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court. ·
Carla Coleman, 23, of South Boston was arrested Saturday on a misdemeanor count of trespassing on the property of Crystal M. Lacks, police said. The alleged incident occurred on July 3.
Coleman was released on bond pending her trial in the Halifax County General District Court on September 4.
Dorothy Edmondson Majors of 119 Elam Street, Halifax died Thursday, July 16, 1998 at Halifax Regional Hospital at the age of 88.
Mrs. Majors was born in Halifax County on May 15, 1910 the daughter of Daniel Edmondson and Sally Venable Edmondson and was married to Abner Majors. She was a member of St. Paul CME Church.
Survivors include one daughter, Margaret Carter of Halifax; six sons, Henry Majors and Victor Majors, both of South Boston, Robert Majors of New York, Willie Majors and Artie Majors, both of Halifax and Lawrence Majors of Nathalie; sone sister, Vergie Chaney of Nathalie; one brother, Frank Edmondson of Baltimore, MD; four step-sisters; one step-brother, 36 grandchildren; 84 great-grandchildren and a host of great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services for Mrs. Majors will be held today, July 20 at 2 p.m.
at St. Paul CME Church with Rev. George Brown officiating. Burial will follow
in the church cemetery.
Ernest Edward Coleman of Highway 721, Clover died Thursday, July 16, 1998 at his home at the age of 48.
Mr. Coleman was born in Halifax County on September 22, 1949 the son of Walter Augustus Coleman and Martha Wilborne Coleman. He was a member of Bethel Grove Baptist Church.
Survivors include two daughters, Tonya M. Mitchell and Teresa (Tweety-Bird) Coleman, both of South Boston; four sisters, Cornelia Williams of Gainesville, FL, Odessa Coleman and Blanche Moss, both of New York and Alice Love of Philadelphia, PA; six brothers, Alvin Coleman of Washington, DC, Claude Coleman of Richmond, Walter Augustus Coleman Jr. and Ned Coleman, Clayton Coleman and Gilbert Coleman, all of New York.
Funeral services for Mr. Coleman will be held Tuesday, July 21 at 2 p.m. at Bethel Grove Baptist Church with Rev. Robert H. Vanhook officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the home of Tonya Mitchell, 3158 Dan
River Church Road, South Boston.
Thomas Jefferson Thaxton Sr. of 510 Forest Drive, South Boston died Thursday, July 16 at Halifax Regional Hospital. He was 70 years of age at the time of his death.
Mr. Thaxton was born in Halifax County on October 19, 1927 the son of Ernest G. Thaxton and Ola Duffie Thaxton and was married to Elizabeth Norman Thaxton. He was a member of First Baptist Church and worked for E.J. Wyatt Chevrolet for 43 years.
Survivors include his wife of the home; one son, Thomas J. Thaxton Jr. of South Boston; two daughters, Debbie Thaxton Covington of Clarksville and Libby Thaxton Vaughan of South Boston; five grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; and one brother, Grady Thaxton of South Boston.
Funeral services for Mr. Thaxton were held Sunday, July 19 at 3 p.m. at First Baptist Church with Rev. Bob Fox conducting the service. Burial was in Halifax Memorial Gardens.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the Elevator Fund at First Baptist Church or Halifax County Rescue Squad.