Wednesday, August 4, 2004

Supes Pass Tax Plan, EDA
Citing Importance Of Decision, The Board Of Supervisors Declines To Name New County Administrator

The Halifax County Board of Supervisors unanimously approved the formation of a joint Economic Development Authority during their meeting Monday night.

Board members also approved an ordinance that will pave the way for biennial reassessment of property beginning in January, 2006.

The action came as the Board met for their regular monthly meeting in the public meeting room of the Mary Bethune Complex in Halifax.

Despite previous reports that they would name a new county administrator during the meeting, Board members declined, saying they didn't want to rush such an important decision.

"This decision is the most important that we will make during my tenure on the Board," Chairman William Fitzgerald said. "It was decided (during an earlier closed meeting) that we needed more insight into the individual we're considering."

Fitzgerald said Policy and Personnel Committee members will continue to meet with other Board members to choose the candidate.

"We hope to do that as quickly as possible," he said.

Economic Development Authority

Following a report by Supervisor Doug Bowman from a study group formed to consider the proposed Economic Development Authority, Board members unanimously passed the proposal.

Supervisor James Edmunds was absent from the meeting.

During his report, Bowman said the new body would be the marketing arm of the county's economic development effort.

"The (study) committee met and the consensus was that the concept was worthy of continuing and it makes good sense to form a joint marketing effort between the county and the Town of South Boston," he said.

Bowman said an ordinance to create the body has already been adopted by South Boston.

"I would request consideration by this Board to create the joint EDA," he said.
Bowman advocated the formation of the new body during the May joint meeting between the county and towns, suggesting the new body will focus on marketing, existing business support and project management.

The report by the study group reiterated the need for such a body.
"The primary mission is to provide a coordinated joint marketing effort to recruit new businesses, expand existing businesses and support projects that improve employment opportunities and expand the tax base," he said.

Once formed, the new EDA is expected to have all the powers and authority that the current town and county Industrial Development Authorities currently hold.

"The result will be a joint legal entity that focuses on marketing and projects that improve the local economy," Bowman reported.

Bowman said the primary focus of industrial development authorities is asset ownership and business expansion financing, and the new body could focus solely on marketing the county to prospective businesses.

Calling it a "critical difference," he said that current projects involving real estate like Riverstone Technology Park and Houghton Industrial Park, will remain under the management and control of their respective IDA boards using the county or town staff as support.

Staff of the current IDAs will be working for the new EDA, according to Bowman.

"This will free up the marketing staff to do what it's empowered to do," he said, "work with prospective businesses and existing businesses to expand the jobs in Halifax County."

The new board will be comprised of five at-large members from the county and two at-large members from South Boston.

Bowman made the motion to form the EDA, with a second by Supervisor William Claiborne.

Biennial Reassessment

Following a report that the county could gain around $265,000 in additional annual revenue, Board members passed a resolution authorizing the assessment of property every two years.

During his report on the matter, Finance Committee Chairman Bowman said the county could see immediate gains from the accelerated reassessment.
"The point to make here is there are benefits," he said. "If you reap $400,000 in benefits and it costs $200,000, you gain an additional $200,000."

He also said the county had been spending approximately $65,000 annually to hire a firm to conduct the reassessment.

"When you add that in, you see around $265,000 in revenue gain each year that I would call low-hanging fruit," Bowman said.

Citing other benefits from the two-year assessment being done by county-based staff, Bowman said the final assessment numbers would more accurately reflect the county.

"By doing it here with staff here, we'll see a more accurate assessment product," he said.

A more frequent assessment will also benefit the county's property owners, Bowman added, reducing what he called "sticker shock."

"There will be a more gradual impact on property owners than we currently have," he said. "It's much easier to accept marginal increases every two years than a big one every six years. The benefit to the property owner is they don't get sticker shock."

Bowman said the two-year reassessment will have minimal impact on county citizens, since 85 percent of the additional revenue will be paid by the Clover Power Plant.

Of the $400,000 total expected from a more frequent assessment, only $65,000 will come from sources other than the public service authority, Bowman said.

"I think it's a safe bet," he said.

This year, Bowman added, there is $125,000 in the budget allocated to set up a biennial reassessment.

"The Commissioner (of Revenue) feels we could be up and running by January, 2006," he said.

Supervisor R.E. "Dickie" Abbott said the county could benefit from a three-year assessment.

"You'd probably save money doing it every three years," he said. "We need to start saving some money instead of spending money."

But Bowman said the state didn't recognize three-year assessments, only one, two, four and six-year cycles.

"It seems to me that looking at it over the long haul, it will be less intrusive to the citizens due to the gradual increase," Supervisor William Claiborne said.

"This two-year increase will be a benefit to the county and to the citizens."

On a 6-1 vote, with Abbott opposing, supervisors voted to pass the measure.

Other Business
Supervisors voted Monday night to appropriate $900,000 in matching funds for the Community Arts Center Foundation.

The vote passed 6-1, with Abbott opposing.

The Board approved the release of the funds during their July 19 meeting, but didn't appropriate the dollar amount, according to interim County Administrator Jerry Lovelace.

The funds are a part of a $1.5 million matching pledge by the county and the Town of South Boston that was passed in 2003.

• VDOT Resident Engineer Joe Barkley told the Board that his department is in the process of conducting environmental reviews of the King Village Trail rural addition.

Barkley said the reviews are a 60-day process.

"I think we have about 45-50 days left in the process," he said. "At the conclusion, I'll be able to report to you so you can move forward."

The resident engineer said VDOT is currently working with the Army Corps of Engineers to modify the demolition permits on the Clarkton Bridge.

"I'm pleased to report that we're working... to modify the permits we had to demolish the bridge to change it to repair work," he said. "We're getting close to receiving the official approval of the revised permits."

Once the permits are in-hand, Barkley said VDOT would work with the contractors to finalize repair plans.

"We have the permit application from English Construction and are ready to issue it once approved," he said.

• Lovelace told the Board that the county estimates it will cost a total of $9,760 to clean up the burned and dilapidated buildings in the Town of Clover.

In his report, Lovelace said clean-up of the Triangle area will cost around $7,860, while clean-up of the Abbott Store area will cost around $1,900.

"It would be our recommendation that the responsible property owners be advised of this cost and given 15 days," he said. "If they don't respond, we proceed with the clean-up and place a lien on their property."

With a motion by Supervisor Tom West, the motion was unanimously approved.

• Following a presentation by Dr. Jules Modlinski of the Southside Community Services Board, supervisors voted unanimously to reinstate a $13,800 reduction in the Board's budget.

Modlinsky said that based on per-capita funding, Halifax County would trail the three counties served by the Board in FY 2005.

"I ask that you reconsider (the reduction)," he said. "Halifax County receives the most benefits from the Board.

"This is the first cut I've experienced in either of the three counties in the last 22 years," Modlinski added. "My request tonight is to seek the restoration of the funds that you've taken away."

On a motion by Supervisor Ronnie Vaughan with a second by Abbott, the Board voted to restore the funding for the organization.

• Jason Fisher, coordinator of the Virginia Cooperative Extension Service, updated the Board on services the Extension Office provides during his semiannual report.

During his update on the agricultural impacts of his office, Fisher said that 30 participants attended a six-hour Log Grading and Merchandising Workshop to more efficiently harvest timber.

"Research shows that loggers lose an average of 20.7 percent of the timber value harvested in southern Appalachian hardwoods due to undercut, overcut and otherwise improperly merchandized material in the woods," he said.

Fisher also cited the horticultural impacts of his office via workshops, the master gardener program and efforts to revitalize South Boston's farmer's market.

Citing the 4-H program as vital to youth development, Fisher said the program is focusing on career and financial management for young people.

"We do one thing," he said, "we develop leaders. Youth are 27 percent of our population but 100 percent of our future."

By focusing on career and financial management, Fisher said county youth get a taste of real-world experience.

The program is paying heavy dividends, he added.

"Two Halifax 4-H teens were inducted into the 4-H State All Star Chapter at Virginia Tech in June," he said, adding that the honor is earned by less than four percent of Virginia's 190,000 4-H members.

Keeping The Streets Safe
Fourth Annual Event Shows Support For Local Law Enforcement Agencies

Hundreds of people flocked to Constitution Square last night to show their support for local law enforcement and celebrate safe neighborhoods throughout the county.

The Fourth Annual National Night Out began at 5:30 p.m., with a parade down Main Street, followed by four hours of live entertainment and exhibits in Constitution Square.

The event cumulated with a fireworks display.

Revelers were entertained with music by Sarah Kaine Hubbard, Megan Owen and Noah Hill, David Nelson and the Unity Fellowship Choir, Katie Messer and The Brown Brothers.

Other entertainment included a dunking booth, a community jail, food vendors, kids games and rides and child safety seat information.

And dog-loving visitors had a chance to see their favorite animals at work with demonstrations of both drug- and bomb-sniffing police dogs.

Representatives of local fire departments, rescue squads and dive teams were also on hand to display their equipment and distribute DNA collection kits for children identification.

The festival is designed to heighten crime and drug prevention awareness, generate support for and participation in local crime prevention efforts, strengthen neighborhood spirit and police-community partnerships and send a message to criminals letting them know that neighborhoods are organized and fighting back.

National Night Out showcases the vital importance of police community partnerships and citizen involvement in the fight to build a safer and more secure nation.

The event was organized by the South Boston Police Department in conjunction with the Halifax County Sheriff's Office.

Judge Clears Elliott
SoBo Councilman Chris Elliott Is Cleared Of Conflict Of Interest Allegations

A judge's ruling yesterday cleared South Boston Town Councilman Chris Elliott of any impropriety following a conflict of interest civil suit filed against Elliott by local attorney J. Willard Greer.

Halifax County Circuit Court Judge Leslie M. Osborn found the suit "totally devoid of any merit" in his ruling, citing Greer's failure to consider the case based on the entirety of the statute.

Elliott, on council since July 1, 2000, and vice-president of Elliott Electric Service Inc., had filed a demurrer through attorney Glenn Pulley to dismiss the lawsuit.

In common law civil procedure, a demurrer is a pleading by the defendant that contests the legal sufficiency of the complaint.

Greer had brought the suit against Elliott in May, alleging Elliott is violating the state's conflict of interest statutes by doing business with the town.

In the suit, Greer contended Elliott violated a statute stating "No officer or employee of any governmental agency of state government shall have a personal interest in contract with the governmental agency of which he is an officer or employee, other than his own contract of employment."

The suit sought no monetary damages, but asked the court to take jurisdiction of the case to "determine the rights of the parties named herein."

Greer first raised the conflict of interest issue in letters to local media dated April 9.

South Boston Town Manager Ted Daniel had responded by saying Elliott consulted with the office of the Commonwealth's Attorney and didn't feel there was any conflict of interest.

In an "advisory opinion" submitted to the Gazette-Virginian, Commonwealth's Attorney Kim White absolved Elliott of any conflict of interest, pointing to a part of the conflict of interest statutes that defines exceptions to the general prohibitions.

She found one exception relevant in the Elliott case.

"The general prohibition does not apply to an officer 'whose sole personal interest in a contract with the governmental agency is by reason of income from the contracting firm...providing the officer...or a member of his immediate family does not participate and has no authority to participate in the procurement or letting of such contract on behalf of the contracting firm and the officer....either does not have authority to participate in the procurement of letting of the contract on behalf of his governmental agency or he disqualifies himself as a member of public record,'" White wrote.

White concluded, that based on information provided by Daniel and Elliott, that "although [Chris] Elliott is an officer in the incorporation, he owns no stock and has no decision-making authority in the relevant operations of the incorporation like hiring, firing, compensation, fee setting, etc."

World Series Ends For Six Teams
County Teams Head Home After Banner Year

By Doug Ford
G-V Staff Writer

It was another banner year for Halifax County Dixie Baseball and Dixie Softball, with six state champions travelling to World Series this week.

The Halifax National Ponytails and Halifax County Debs each went 1-2 in their respective World Series, the Ponytails playing in Alexandria, La. and the Debs in Jackson, Tn.

The Halifax National Ponytails all-stars won its series opener Saturday with a 4-1 win over Alabama, before losing 6-4 to Tennessee and 1-0 to Texas on successive days.

Halifax County lost 4-2 to Mississippi in the Dixie Debs World Series on Saturday, rebounded Sunday with a 4-3 win over Arkansas, and were eliminated Monday night after a 7-5 loss to South Carolina.
Four other all-star teams went 0-2 in their respective World Series.
The South Boston Dixie Majors all-stars lost two straight games in the Dixie Majors World Series at Monrore, La., losing 4-3 to Arkansas and 3-2 to host team Monroe, La.

The South Boston Dixie Boys 13/14 all-stars also lost two consecutive games in its World Series, being played in LaGrange, Ga., 8-5 to North Carolina and 4-2 to Tennessee.

Two other Halifax County state champions, the Halifax National Belles and Halifax American Angels, also had their stays cut short in their respective World Series.

Halifax National lost a heartbreaking 6-4 game to Mississippi in its opener, and followed with another close loss, 2-1 to host Madison South, Tn.
The Halifax American Angels all-stars, playing the Angels World Series in Bay St. Louis, Ms., lost a tight opener 2-1 to Louisiana, and were eliminated after a 5-1 loss to Tennessee on Sunday.

National Ponytails End World Series Run 1-2

By Doug Ford
G-V Staff Writer
The Halifax National Ponytails all-stars saw their hopes for a Dixie Ponytails World Series title end Monday with a close 1-0 loss to Texas.

Halifax National ended the World Series with a 1-2 record, including a 4-1 opening day win over Alabama, followed by Sunday's 6-4 loss to Tennessee.

Texas 1, Halifax National 0 (Monday)

Halifax National gave up only one run, that coming on a fourth inning error, but never got the bats going in a 1-0 loss to Texas that eliminated them from the World Series.

Lyndsay Lawter pitched five innings for Halifax National, giving up only one run on five hits, while collecting seven strikeouts.

Texas pitching held Halifax National hitless for the game, with Megan Day, Jill Trickey, Allison Thaxton and Betty Rose the only players to reach base, all but Rose on walks.

Texas collected only one base hit until the fourth inning, that on a first inning single, but three bunts in the fourth inning loaded the bases with one out.

A force at home got the second out of the inning for Halifax, but an error on the next batter plated the only run of the game, Texas taking a 1-0 lead.

Texas only had one other baserunner for the game, that on a fifth inning error, but the single run stood up for the win.

Day got her walk in the second inning, and was the only Halifax National baserunner until the fifth, when Trickey drew a walk.

Neither of them got into scoring position, however.

Allison led off the sixth with a walk, but was removed on a one-out fielder's choice, and a flyout ended the game and the series for Halifax National.

Tennessee 6, Halifax National 4 (Sunday)

One big inning cost Halifax National a chance at a second win in the World Series, Tennessee collecting six of its seven hits in a five-run fifth inning to win by a 6-4 margin.

Halifax National had five hits for the contest, Rose, Jessie Bagbey, Lauren Daniel, Day and Trickey getting base hits.

Halifax National scored twice in the first inning, and once more in the third for a 3-0 advantage.

Rose, Bagbey and Daniel drew walks to open the game, and Trickey plated two runs with a two-out base hit.

Halifax National added another run in the third, Daniel hitting a one-out single and Day reaching base on a walk.

Trickey and Jameshia Smith drew walks with two outs to drive in one run, but Tennessee escaped further damage on a groundout to end the inning.

Halifax National added its final run in the top of the fifth, before Tennessee scored its first run in the bottom of the inning.

Day singled to lead off the inning, advanced on a groundout and walks to Trickey and Brittany Cole and eventually scored.

Texas used two base hits to score one run in the fourth, before the big fifth inning gave it the lead, a triple and five base hits giving it a 6-4 lead.

Halifax National staged a rally of its own in the top of the sixth, Bagbey's base hit, a walk to Daniel and a base hit from Day loading the bases with one out, but a flyout and strikeout ended the game.

Lawter and Bagbey each pitched two innings to start the game, with Daniel and Thaxton hurling an inning each for Halifax National.

Obituaries

Michael Leroy Isenberg

Michael Leroy Isenberg, 64, of Raleigh, N.C., died Sunday, August 1.
He was the son of the late Dr. and Mrs. C. L. Isenberg of Saxton, PA.
Mr. Isenberg attended Mercersburg Academy, received his undergraduate degree from the College of William and Mary and his law degree from West Virginia University, and was employed for 32 years with Nationwide Insurance as a claims attorney.

Mr. Isenberg is survived by his wife Elizabeth 'Billie'; a daughter, Betsy Rozakis and her husband, Lee; his son, Michael Isenberg Jr.; and two grandchildren, Stephen and Anne Rozakis, all of Raleigh.

Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. August 3 at Brown-Wynne Funeral Home. Burial followed at 3 p.m, at Mercy Seat Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Sutherlin.

Memorials may be made to Mercy Seat Presbyterian Church Cemetery Fund, c/o Mabel Barnes, 1075 Brooklyn Road, Sutherlin, 24594.

Mary Elizabeth Scott Hairston

Mary Elizabeth Scott Hairston, 50, of 21025 L.P. Bailey Highway, Nathalie, died August 1 in South Boston.

Mrs. Hairston was born March 11, 1954, in Halifax County the daughter of the late Sam and Lona Davis Scott, and was married to the Rev. Bobby Hairston. She was a member of New Shiloh Baptist Church in Nathalie.

Survivors include her husband; one daughter, Elissa Yolanda Hairston; one stepdaughter, Bonita Hoover and her husband, Alvin, of Lexington, N.C.; one stepson, Bobby Hairston Jr. of Lexington; 10 grandchildren; three brothers, J.J. Scott and his wife, Betty, of Rustburg, William Scott of Nathalie, and Leon Scott and wife, Dorothy, of Mobile, Ala.; and her mother-in-law, Tossie Mae Davis of Lexington.

Funeral services for Mrs. Hairston will be held at 1 p.m. tomorrow, August 5, at New Shiloh Baptist Church in Nathalie with the Rev. Rodney Forrest officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Evelyn Comer Newcomb

Evelyn Comer Newcomb, 83, of 2003 Buckshoal Road, Virgilina, died August 3 in Halifax Regional Hospital.

Mrs. Newcomb was born April 13, 1921. She was married to the late Henry A. Newcomb, and was a retired administrative assistant with South Boston Police Department.

Survivors include two sons, Gary Allen Newcomb and wife, Becky, and Harold Henry Newcomb and wife, Pam, all of South Boston; one daughter, Brenda Newcomb Pulliam; one brother; three sisters; five grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a son-in-law, Gerald Pulliam.

Funeral arrangements were incomplete at press time, and are being made by Brooks Funeral Home.

Diane Francina Brooks Owen

Diane Francina Brooks Owen, 53, of Willingboro, N.J., formerly of South Boston, died July 30 in Willingboro.

Mrs. Owen was born in Halifax County on July 29, 1951, the daughter of John Henry Brooks and Gracie Wilkerson Brooks, and was married to Leon W. Owen Jr. She was a member of First Baptist Church, Ferry Street, South Boston.

Survivors include her husband; two daughters, Yolanda Owen Smalls of San Antonio, Texas and Monica Owen Preshe of Newark, Del.; one son, Leon W. Owen III of Jersey City, N.J.; two grandchildren, Donte and Devin Smalls, both of San Antonio; her parents, of South Boston; four sisters, Thelma C. Dixon, Marilyn B. Brandon and Gloria D. Moore, all of South Boston and Linda J.

Brown of Wilmington, N.C.; two brothers, Henry Brooks of South Boston and Jerry Brooks of Hampton; and her mother-in-law, Marie Mosley of South Boston.

Funeral services for Mrs. Owen will be held tomorrow, August 5 at 11 a.m. at First Baptist Church with the Rev. William M. Dixon officiating. Burial will follow in Oak Ridge Cemetery.

The family will receive friends at the home of her parents, 821 Edmunds Street, South Boston.