BY JOE CHANDLER
The chant of the auctioneer's voice rang through the Independent Warehouse in South Boston as usual yesterday morning as buyers strolled through the rows of tobacco piles.
But, there was something different.
Lined up beside the rows of sheet tobacco was a row of tobacco bales.
Twenty bales of tobacco weighing approximately 850 pounds each were sold in yesterday's auction which marked the first quantity sale of baled tobacco on the South Boston Tobacco Market.
Those bales brought $1.65 per pound each, about eight cents a pound higher than the average of the sheet tobacco.
That, says George Tribble, Carl Ward, and Bill Smith, who produced the baled tobacco sold yesterday, is one of the reasons why there is movement by flue cured leaf producers toward the baling of tobacco.
"The tobacco companies like it better in the bale," says Tribble, a tobacco producer and operator of the Independent Warehouse.
"And, they are willing to pay more for it. Each bale will bring anywhere from five to fifteen cents a pound more than sheet tobacco depending on the quality. When you look at the difference in the prices in this sale, you're looking at $210 more for 3,000 pounds of tobacco."
Yesterday's sale of the 20 tobacco bales at the downtown South Boston warehouse wasn't the first local sale of baled tobacco. Last year a group of producers, extension personnel, and researchers sold a few bales of tobacco to test the waters.
A few scattered bales were sold earlier in the marketing season. But, yesterday's sale was the first of any sizable quantity. And, Tribble pointed out, more baled tobacco will show up on the warehouse floor in the coming weeks.
"We have more coming for Thursday," Tribble said, "and there will be more coming the rest of the season."
Ward pointed out that he expects several area producers will go to baling tobacco this year.
"By the end of the season, I expect there will be at least 20 percent baling tobacco," he stated.
"It's my understanding that about 20 percent (of the crop) will be baled this year and that it will eventually reach 100 percent over the next few years."
With the baled tobacco bringing higher prices for the producer and the tobacco companies favoring it, Tribble says the day is nearing in which tobacco companies will require tobacco to be baled for sale.
"I think this is what you're going to see," Tribble said.
"It's not mandatory now and it might not be next year. But, I think by the third year it will be."
"Baling it is the only way to go," Tribble added.
"This is the biggest improvement I've seen in marketing tobacco since I've been in the business in 1963. It takes less labor and less space to handle it. You're selling one pile of tobacco versus four or five sheet piles. And, there is less loss in the handling of it. It's just more economical for everyone involved."
Ward, the owner and operator of a local farm equipment dealership, helps his son, Chuck, produce a tobacco crop on a farm near Sinai. He says that selling tobacco by the bale can be a real boon to warehouse operators in terms of labor savings.
"It generally takes eight people to load a truck," Ward pointed out.
"Now, one person with a forklift can load a truck."
There are a small handful of firms manufacturing tobacco balers, most of which cost several thousand dollars to purchase.
Smith, a Nathalie resident, is employed by Ward and produces flue cured leaf on his own family farm. Noticing the growing movement toward baling tobacco, Smith and Ward got together and began building tobacco balers.
The five wire baler has a target weight for tobacco of 750 pounds, plus or minus 100 pounds with an 850 pound maximum weight per bale.
"I built the first one three weeks ago," said Smith.
"I've personally only built two prototypes. All of these bales came out of it."
The word about the balers spread quickly, Smith said, and he and Ward began receiving a number of inquiries from local producers interested in purchasing a baler.
"We have contracted with an outside supplier to help us satisfy the demand," said Ward who is selling the balers out of his farm equipment dealership in Sinai.
"What we're looking at costs about $2,500. And, a farmer with a farm tractor that has a front end loader can operate it. Most farmers already have that."
Ward says that a tobacco producer can potentially pay for one of his balers in a year.
"Anybody that's got 50,000 pounds of tobacco will pay for the baler with the additional prices baled tobacco will bring." Ward says.
"It can pay for itself in one year."
Ward noted that in cases where an individual farmer feels he can't bear the burden of the cost of the baler himself, he could join forces with his neighbors.
"Two or three farmers could go in together and buy one," Ward pointed out.
"You could have a couple or three farmers that produce 15 to 20 acres of tobacco could go in together and buy one and use it together."
Smith says that there is nothing wrong with the ultra-modern balers on the market that cost several thousand dollars more and are more complex to operate. But, for farmers in this area who must be tight with their dollars and economically conservative in their operations, this low cost baler could be the answer.
"I can't think of one farmer that can justify buying a $30,000 plus baler," Smith stated.
"What we've tried to do is get a little ahead of the game and make a baler that area farmers can afford."
Smith and Ward, in fact, use the baler in their own farming operations.
"At present, I do not see a difference in labor cost," Smith remarked.
"But, I have already seen some refinements that can be made. I think it can be a labor saver. With the baler, I can bale one bulk barn in an hour which is about the same amount of time it takes to sheet it. But, I have found out by using two boxes and one plunger I can probably save 25 percent of the time."
Also, Smith notes that through using the baler himself, he knows anyone can operate the baler.
"Anybody that can operate a farm tractor and front end loader can bale tobacco," noted Smith.
"You don't have to have a tool box sitting there beside you all the time to repair or adjust the thing. There is nothing complicated about it. Just me, my 10-year-old daughter, my 12-year-old daughter, my wife, myself, my mom and dad, and a neighbor have handled our crop. It doesn't take a rocket scientist to run this thing."
Smith said that the positive results of the sale of baled tobacco was one of the things that led him to switching from sheeting his tobacco to baling it.
"I think it's the coming thing," Smith stated.
"George saw it coming before the rest of us. The writing is on the wall the way I see it. Instead of dragging my feet, I wanted to go ahead and start doing it and hopefully be ahead of the game when it comes in for good. I think the tobacco industry is leaning this way with baling tobacco instead of sheeting it."
"I really think that in a couple of years all of the tobacco on the floor will be in bales," continued Smith.
"That seems to be the trend and I think that's the way it will be sold. We've all seen changes in the tobacco industry through the years. This seems to be the next step."
The three men all say that if baling tobacco is what the tobacco companies want, the producers have to go with the flow. And, they say that if local flue cured leaf producers are willing to adapt and give the companies what they want, there is a better likelihood that South Boston can keep its tobacco market.
"Baling will help us keep our market here in South Boston," Ward stated.
"Over the years, the South Boston Tobacco Market has been as good a market as you can find," added Smith.
"We have to be willing to adapt to change. We need to get ahead of the game. Hopefully, if we do that, the tobacco companies will remember South Boston and see South Boston as a viable market."
"That," Smith continued," is what put the fire in my soul in to do this. I want to see us do what we can to preserve the South Boston Tobacco Market. This tobacco market is a very important part of the economy of this county and this area. I don't want to see it moved or taken into some other market in some other area. I don't want to have to drive 30 miles to sell my tobacco. I want us to keep our market."
By SONJA BARISIC
Associated Press Writer
VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (AP) - Gov. Jim Gilmore declared a state of emergency Tuesday as forecasters tried to determine where Hurricane Bonnie would hit land and eastern Virginia officials met to determine strategies for dealing with the storm.
Hurricane warnings, which mean dangerous wind and heavy rain could hit the area within 24 hours, were posted from Murrells Inlet, S.C., to the North Carolina-Virginia state line. Hurricane watches were posted from Savannah, Ga. to Cape Henlopen, Del.
More than 250,000 people were ordered to leave North Carolina's Outer Banks on Tuesday. The National Weather Service said Bonnie's center, with its 115 mph winds, could be near the Outer Banks by late Wednesday morning.
''This is a potentially serious storm, and citizens - especially in the Hampton Roads area - need to take all appropriate actions to safeguard themselves and their property,'' Gilmore said.
His declaration authorized localities to order evacuations if necessary.
Emergency officials from localities across eastern Virginia considered evacuations as they met in a conference call Tuesday morning. No evacuations were immediately ordered.
Evacuations could pose a problem for Hampton Roads, where even holiday weekends produce traffic jams of at the two main bridge-tunnels leading out of the area.
''We have one of the 10 worst evacuation sites in the country,'' said Mark Marchbank, deputy emergency services coordinator for Virginia Beach.
Marchbank said city officials were most concerned about residents living in mobile homes and tourists staying at campgrounds.
''Most people, if they live in a house that would not be threatened by tidal surges, would be better off staying at their home,'' he said.
In the meantime, officials urged people to stock up on bottled water, food and other supplies.
Customers streamed into Abner's Ace Hardware in Virginia Beach to buy plastic sheeting to cover windows, batteries, propane fuel and duct tape.
''We've had a real good shot in the arm this morning,'' floor manager Mike Ney said.
Swimming was banned at the Virginia Beach coastline as the Coast Guard warned people along the eastern seaboard of riptides, strong, narrow underwater currents formed when winds blow from the sea toward the beach.
The Coast Guard on Tuesday activated its 5th District Crisis Action Center in Portsmouth in anticipation of Bonnie. The CAC will be the center of operations for all Coast Guard activity in the mid-Atlantic.
In addition, several large Coast Guard cutters headed out to sea to avoid possible bad weather.
Tobacco, social security and conditions which would lead to impeachment proceedings against President Clinton were topics discussed by Fifth District Congressman Virgil Goode here yesterday.
Goode was interviewed during a town meeting with constituents in South Boston.
What set of circumstances would have to be present before the congressman would see President Clinton's situation as impeachable?
"It might already be," said Goode, a Democrat. "I can't say what's in the report, and I want to see what's in it. I am concerned the report will be worse, in many ways, than what the news media says. What we are getting right now is what someone has talked to the media about.
"I want to see what is in (Special Prosecutor Ken) Starr's report and also the results of what the Judiciary Committee does," said Goode.
However, the congressman said, "If it shows he committed a felony or high crime, then he should be impeached."
Goode said he has gotten a lot of calls and letters about the President and that the majority of those "think he should resign."
"I want to see what the report says and see what the Judiciary does with the evidence they have," added Goode. "I am not prejudging ... "
On the social security issue, Goode agreed with the majority of Fifth District respondents to his recent Citizens' Survey which named paying off the debt owed to the Social Security Trust Fund as their top priority for any federal budget surplus.
"I think we need to get the Social Security Fund set up as a separate, truly separate, entity and not carry Social Security money in the debt," said the congressman.
On the tobacco issue, Goode said that he hopes quota will not be cut.
The congressman also said that he was "shocked" when the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids opposed the amendment to the DC appropriations bill which said that someone 17 or under caught smoking or possessing tobacco products would have parents notified, would do community service and face a civil fine. And lastly, after several offenses, Goode said the offender could lose his driver's permit.
"And the Campaign for Tobacco Free Kids, which claims that it wants to reduce teen smoking, opposed the measure," repeated Goode. "Obviously they didn't stress any individual responsibility."
Although the congressman said he could not read the motives and don't know their minds, "I am wondering if they just want some money for them to have a staff paid for with tax dollars to attack tobacco. Are they truly interested? This was an opportunity for everyone to be together."
Survey Results
In the 1998 Fifth District Citizens' Survey released today, more than 2,000 people responded with 71.5 percent of them listing paying off the debt to the Social Security Trust Fund as their first choice for using surplus dollars.
Following paying off the debt owed to Social Security, Fifth District residents named cutting federal taxes as their second overall choice; then came spending additional money on transportation projects, such as roads, interstates and bridges; the fourth choice was for surplus funds to be spent on education and child-care for working parents.
Another result of the survey showed support for expanded Medicare coverage.
Should persons between 55 and 62 who have lost their jobs and all persons between 62 and 64 be able to buy into the Medicare system for monthly premiums of $300 and $400, respectively?
59.2 percent of the respondents, said that Medicare should be available in these forms if the monthly premiums are sufficient to cover the costs of providing the expanded coverage.
Almost 25 percent thought the expanded coverage should not be offered, even with the monthly payments, and 15.1 percent believe that Medicare should be extended to these people, whether the premiums cover the cost or not.
Would Fifth District survey respondents support an amendment to the U.S. Constitution that would require the federal budget to be balanced? Almost 78 percent of those answering the survey said there should be such an amendment with only 22 percent opposing the balanced budget amendment idea.
Roughly the same percent of support is found among the respondents for a National Right-to-Work Law applying to all states, similar to the Right-to-Work Law in Virginia.
By Doug Loftis
Jim Sullivan will be the first to tell you South Boston is out of place when it comes to nauticals but "with my roots, I can't help it."
The roots he speaks of run deep from his family tree and the grandfather he remembers as a ship modeler. Albert LaFond, a French-Canadian whose home was about 20 miles outside Boston, Mass., died when his grandson was only eight years old but by then, had made indelible impressions.
"Most of all I remember his crafting musical instruments, model ships and furniture," Sullivan said as he whittled away at another piece of the pilot boat replica that commands the most attention in his antique shop of countless collectibles.
Collectibles which, as you might imagine, include "every nautical I can find" to satisfy the discriminating tastes of a growing number of customers who visit his shop on lower Main and known as "My Brother's Place".
Sullivan has built models most of his life but "never on this scale." Up until he retired as a regional manager for Hardee's two years ago, modeling was done in the basement of the home he shares with wife Paula and daughters Lee Ann and Elizabeth.
Space restrictions alone would have prevented Sullivan from taking on the building of the Katy of Norfolk, a 1/12 replica of the real 72-foot long Virginia pilot boat that was used to guide larger vessels up the Chesapeake Bay to ports at Richmond, Baltimore, Philadelphia and others.
These two-masted schooners were quick and agile and with cobblestone-filled ballasts, would have weighed in at about 52 tons. Skilled shipwrights probably had few plans when they began to hew from native heart pine and oak these multipurpose boats that were said to have cost about $2,175 to build in the early 1800s.
"Believe it or not, everything I need to know is on that one sheet of paper," Sullivan said as he examined a set of plans he uses for the Katy which show almost every detail for its construction. Incidentally, Sullivan says his 72-inch long model will cost "much more" to build than the full scale version did almost 200 years ago.
Sullivan began work on this model about three months ago. He acquired the set of plans over 20 years ago and actually built a smaller scale replica of the same boat. It is one of about 30 models he has kept of the many he has crafted and then sold or given away.
He employs a similar method of construction as did the early builders - plank on bulkhead - before steel was introduced around 1870. Sullivan attaches each plank with wooden pegs and "just a dab" of glue.
True to scale and function are such features as sliding hatches, rudder, and when completed, sails that will be raised and lowered by ropes. Size and proportion of the hundreds of parts are critical.
Sullivan's has his own unique way of accomplishing that. He uses a full-action figure of a small man and after carving out a tie-down, or fitting a rope through a block, he focuses on the two elements for "feeling and artistic" value. "I can see how the ship would look with a man on board."
Even the colors of the ship are authentic; mustard and tar-seal black richly compliment the natural color of heart pine decking sealed with tung oil.
And where will this Katy of Norfolk sail?
Into the hands of anyone willing to pay the price. "It's kind of crazy!" Sullivan admits but once it's finished, he'll just build another.
His next model just could be a bateau, those lightweight, flat bottom river boats which were used on the Dan River to ship primarily tobacco to ports south and east of here.
By ROBERT GREENE
AP Education Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) - Americans overwhelmingly support President Clinton's proposals to build schools and hire teachers using federal dollars, but they also like some key Republican proposals for education, according to a poll released Tuesday.
Public opposition to taxpayer support for private or religious education has also dwindled over the past five years, the Gallup Poll found. For the first time, a majority of adults would support partial payment by the government of private and parochial school tuition.
The polling indicates Americans are far less divided over many education issues than political battles in Washington suggest. Both parties have made their education agendas a top issue in congressional and gubernatorial races this year. The rivalry has prevented both Democratic and Republican proposals from becoming law.
According to the poll, 86 percent of Americans surveyed in June support Clinton's proposal to use taxpayer dollars for building schools, 80 percent support his plan to use federal dollars to lower class size by hiring teachers and 71 percent favor his proposal for voluntary national tests of fourth-grade reading and eighth-grade math.
The survey ''shows great public support for increased investments in education to produce practical improvements for our schools and students,'' said Education Secretary Richard Riley.
But 73 percent also favor the GOP proposal for tax-free savings accounts to help parents afford tuition at private and church-related schools, and 68 percent support direct grants of federal money to states so they can run education programs.
'The public is beginning to see that Republicans have winning ideas in education,'' said Rep. Bill Goodling, R-Pa., chairman of the House Education and Workforce Committee.
Although it's not a live issue before Congress at the moment, 67 percent favor a constitutional amendment to permit ''prayers to be spoken in public schools.''
By 39 percent to 28 percent, Democrats were viewed as ''more interested in improving public education.'' But the gap is smaller than two years ago, when Democrats had a 44 percent to 27 percent edge.
Gallup asked some questions for its annual survey for Phi Delta Kappa, the professional fraternity for educators, and other questions as part of its own regular polling.
Questions about using public dollars to support private or church-related school educations were asked several ways of the 1,151 adults chosen by random and interviewed by telephone.
Those who oppose allowing students and parents to choose a private school to attend at public expense appeared to have the edge, with 50 percent against such payments, compared with 44 percent in favor. The finding is not clear-cut because the poll's margin of error was plus or minus 4 percentage points. In 1993, however, nearly three-quarters of the public was opposed.
But the respondents supported, 51 percent to 41 percent, letting parents send their school-age children to ''any public, private or church-related school they choose,'' with the government paying all or part of the tuition at the nonpublic schools. Just two years ago, 54 percent were opposed and 43 percent were in favor. Last year, opinion was divided evenly.
Likewise, 48 percent favored and 46 percent opposed when the word ''vouchers'' was used and all tuition was paid. But 52 percent favored using vouchers for partial tuition payments, while 41 percent were opposed.
When only the parents of children in public school were asked, 56 percent supported full vouchers and 40 percent were opposed. Last year's survey also found support from public school parents. Support was greatest among nonwhite parents and younger Americans.
Republicans have been pushing several voucher proposals, limited to the District of Columbia and selected poor areas, while Democrats remain almost unanimously opposed.
CPT USAR (Ret.) Samuel C. Redd died Saturday, August 22, 1998.
He was married to the late Martha E. Redd.
Survivors include his children, Harry C. Redd III of Rockville, MD, Pamela Meiring of Williamsburg, Sandra Harrington of Boston, MA, and Thomas E. Redd of Williamsburg; eight grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and one sister, Caroline Holland of Richmond.
A service will be held Thursday, September 3 at 11 a.m. in the Ft. Myer Post Chapel. Burial will follow in Arlington National Cemetery.
A memorial service at Williamsburg Presbyterian Church will be scheduled at a later date.
Friends are invited to call on Wednesday, September 2 from 3 to 6 p.m. at Demaine Funeral Home, 520 S. Washington St., Alexandria.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the George Wythe Society of the C.A.R. or the Williamsburg Presbyterian Church Fund.
Marguerite Lassiter Mitchell Watkins of 4143 Buckshoal Road, Virgilina died Friday, August 21, 1998 at her home at the age of 82.
Mrs. Watkins was born in Granville County, NC on May 30, 1916 the daughter of William Lassiter and Haughty Beard Lassiter. She was first married to the late Charlie G. Mitchell and later married the late Willie Watkins. She was a member of White Oak Fork Baptist Church.
Survivors include two daughters, Mary C. Haymes and Dorothy Claughton, both of South Boston; three step-daughters, Evelyn M. Watkins, Mamie E. Watkins and Annie B. Watkins, all of Virgilina; three step-sons, Richard Watkins, James Watkins and Rev. Harold Watkins, all of Virgilina; four grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; one sister, Ruth Crawley of Emporia; one brother, Robert T. Lassiter of Philadelphia, PA; three step-sisters, Emma Johnson, Mable Richardson and Hazel Gillis, all of Virgilina; two step-brothers, Minister Robert S. Wilkins and George Wilkins, both of Virgilina.
Funeral services for Mrs. Watkins will be held Thursday, August 27 at 11 a.m. at White Oak Fork Baptist Church with Rev. Glenn L. Faulkner officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family receive friends at Jeffress Funeral Home Chapel from 7 until 8:00 tonight, August 26, and other times at the home of Mary C. Haymes, 4222 East Hyco Road, South Boston.
Willie Osborne Morris Jr. of 5206 Red Bank Road, Virgilina died Sunday, August 23, 1998 at Halifax Regional Hospital. He was 59 years of age at the time of his death.
Mr. Morris was born in Halifax County on April 13, 1939 the son of Willie Osborne Morris Sr. and Bessie Tuck Morris and was married to Frances Woody Morris. He was a member of Union United Church of Christ.
Funeral services will be held at Union United Church of Christ today, August 26 at 2 p.m. with Rev. Bobby Whitfield officiating. Burial will follow in the Glasscock Family Cemetery at Virgilina.
Survivors of Mr. Morris include his wife of the home; two daughters, Mona Alease Wilson of Roxboro, NC and Kimberly Lynn Seate of Cluster Springs; one son, Bill Morris of Timberlake, NC; five brothers, Woodrow Morris of Roxboro, Albert Morris, Henry Morris, Franklin Morris and Gerald Morris, all of Virgilina; two sisters, Beatrice M. Buchanan of Clarksville and Barbara M. Holt of Cluster Springs; six grandchildren and one great-grandchild. He was preceded in death by one son, Kenneth Morris; and two brothers, David and Thomas Morris.
Joe B. Easley of 1080 Sandy Beach Road, South Boston died Wednesday, August 19, 1998 at Salem Veteran's Hospital.
Mr. Easley was born in Halifax County on April 17, 1930 the son of Harry Easley and Lucy Jennings Easley Coleman. He was a member of Millstone Baptist Church.
Survivors include his mother of South Boston; five brothers, James Edward of Madison Heights, Henry Johnson of Brooklyn, NY, Harry Gleaser of Capitol Heights, MD, William Berkley of Silver Spring, MD and George Lowell of Nathalie; three sisters, Elizabeth Jones of Madison Heights, Wilma E. Jennings and Leola Baytop of Jamaica, VA.
Funeral services for Mr. Easley were held Saturday, August 22 at 2 p.m. at Millstone Baptist Church with Rev. Chester Spruill conducting the service. Burial was in the Jennings Family Cemetery.