By Michael Paige
Tobacco farmers from across Southern Virginia gathered Saturday at the Halifax County High School for the 2001 Virginia Tobacco Conference and Trade Show.
Legislators, tobacco company officials and tobacco producers outlined problems and concerns in the industry. Tobacco contracting options were also on the Tobacco Conference agenda.
The event, which featured 40 exhibits of the latest in farming equipment and services related to the tobacco industry, was sponsored by the Virginia Cooperative Extension Service and the Virginia Tobacco Growers Association.
Among the speakers at the event were U.S. Sen. George Allen, 5th District Congressman Virgil Goode, Delegate W. W. "Ted" Bennett and representatives of Philip Morris and Universal Leaf tobacco companies.
"I personally think a packaged bill would offer us the best opportunity to get the exemption of Phase II payments from federal income tax," Goode told the audience.
The congressman also addressed the issue of genetically-modified tobacco.
"My concern is that if you get that (genetically-modified) tobacco mixed in with other tobacco, foreign nations will have a chance to say 'we want to reject American tobacco.'
"Sales have been good in France, but if you were to get genetically-modified tobacco mixed in with our flue-cured or burley tobacco and the French all of a sudden say they don't want any of it, you would see a big decline in what we sell overseas," Goode said.
"You are the responsible members of our community, and I think it's important to understand how vital you (the growers) are to the communities in Southside and Southwest Virginia," Sen. Allen said.
The senator said that one of his guiding principles was to trust free people with free enterprise and to allow adults to make decisions in their lives.
Allen said the issue of the "scurrilous lawsuit that was filed by the Clinton administration" was an "ill-founded abuse of prosecutorial discretion by the government ..."
Allen also focused on education, energy and tax cuts, targeting the estate tax that affects farmland.
Del. Bennett recalled the talks between members of the National Public Health Association and tobacco farmers here, particularly the 1997 visit and tour in Halifax County.
"...the realities of tobacco dependence in this area were visibly seen, so that they (NPHA) became convinced that, overall, the economic and public health was just as important as personal, private health," Bennett said.
Bennett said the alliance established between the farmers and Public Health provided the common ground that allowed the bill to be passed in the General Assembly.
"As a result, millions of dollars stand to come out from that massive settlement agreement, Phase I in particular, that have made their way into your hands and your pockets, and I hope it has helped you to buy some time to stabilize in what I know has been an incredible unstable situation," Bennett said.
"We share the same communities," Reeve said. "And getting together to talk about ideas and choosing the best way to go for all of the folks in the community, that's what we've been about.
"About trying to invest in the future that we share in these communities," Reeve said.
An Award of Appreciation was presented to J. T. Davis Jr., an active member of the Virginia Tobacco Growers Association, for his services by the association.
"We are honest, hardworking, God-fearing people who only want the best for our families. We've done nothing wrong. We've played by the rules and we should not be penalized," Davis said.
"Every segment of our industry is searching for new concepts that will help supply the solution that we can use to move us forward," said Mike Farriss, vice-president, Philip Morris U.S.A.
"We want our industry to enjoy permanence, not merely seasonal opportunities," Farriss added.
"During these times of changes and experimentation, we must be open to new ideas. Our tobacco farmer partner program is one set of new ideas. One that we believe offers tremendous mutual benefits," Farriss said.
"Our decision (for partner program) was driven by supply and security, Farriss said.
"U.S. flue-cured tobacco continues to set the standard for quality and flavor throughout the world and the last thing that we as a manufacturer want to do is change the quality of our cigarettes and disappoint out loyal adult consumers," Farriss said.
"We expect that having a farming agreement with Philip Morris might help growers plant better, use their assets more efficiently and possibly even secure better finances.
"In this way, it removes some uncertainty for both participating growers and for Philip Morris and removing even a small amount of uncertainty is a positive in these uncertain times," Farriss said.
"There's still more questions than there are answers but it's a beginning process of learning more information about contracting versus the current system that we've been working under for many years," said Carthan F. Currin III, executive director, The Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commission.
"We have a role that is an economic development phase, a role that helps tobacco farmers directly and I'm proud to say that if you look at the record, the Commonwealth and this commission have done more for tobacco producers and quota holders than any other state that raises tobacco," Currin said.
"The governor and the commission felt that we needed to help the people that had been hurt the most...," he added.
Arnold Hamm, assistant general manager for Flue-Cured Stabilization, told growers that time was running out for retrofitting barns from direct to indirect curing if they intend to recover the costs.
However, Hamm said that the process deadline may be delayed to June 30, 2002, due to the change in presidential administration.
"Carryover tobacco from this year will have to be cured in retrofitted barns to be sold next year," said Hamm.
"The result of that is that tobacco grown and cured in 2001 and sold in 2001 probably will not be discriminated against from the standpoint that it will have price support from the warehouse floor. But carry over that was produced in 2001 may not have price support if its sold in 2002," said Larry McPeters.
"If the price of tobacco goes lower, I don't know how we can continue to grow it because we live in a society that is predicated on everybody getting a cost-of-living increase every year," said Halifax County farmer Fulton Conner.
"If you grow corn then you're going to get a payment that's going to make up the difference between it and parity prices.
"Are you going to get a parity price payment on tobacco? No," said Conner.
"Most everyone I talk to really doesn't want a contract. They think they're being pushed into something they don't want to do," said Dan S. Robertson, of Holland's Tobacco Warehouse in Danville.
"Two or three years down the road and you want to find an option and the warehouse is gone, what are you going to do then?" Robertson added.

A report issued on Thursday reveals in no uncertain terms that there's work to be done in cleaning up Virginia's waters, which have been impaired by both industrial and non-industrial sources.
A coalition of conservationists, Friends of the Rivers of Virginia (FORVA), released the "State of Our Rivers Report" at a press conference held on Thursday in Richmond.
Bill Tanger, chairman of FORVA, stated at the news conference that the 24-page report, complete with maps and charts, was meant to provided information on the health of Virginia's waterways in a more clear, concise manner.
"The report took 1998 state Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) information required for submission to the EPA and tried to put it in layman's terms," said Tom Brawner, executive director of the Roanoke River Basin Association (RRBA).
"It uses maps of the river basins throughout Virginia, highlighting portions of rivers that are polluted."
The FORVA group printed 10,000 copies of the report, which took about four years to compile - they are available to the general public free of charge.
Much of the FORVA information is gleaned from a 1998 DEQ report, which states that 2,416 out of 49,000 miles of streams in Virginia are impaired. The federal EPA considers another 1,346 miles of streams in the state to be polluted.
A state DEQ official was quoted as saying that it has been too expensive to provide the public with the breadth and detailed information it needed to determine for itself the environmental problems facing their waters.
According to Ron Gregory, head of the DEQ department of water quality assessment and planning, the DEQ contributed a $15,000 grant as well as time to the report, essentially a private-public collaboration.
The report lists the worst trouble spots for each river basin throughout the state.
In the Roanoke River basin, problems included low river levels and non-point source pollution, as opposed to point sources such as waste treatment plants and factories.
Manure runoffs from farms and oils from roads are listed in the report as leading causes for non-point pollution.
These two non-point sources elevate fecal bacteria in streams that affect other aquatic life and possibly affect other life up the food chain.
"This report points to the primary source of the problem as being non-point sources, anything not from a direct source, such as a factory," said Brawner.
"It points to the need to be sensitive to non-point sources of pollution."
Statewide, the most common types of impairment listed by the report were too much fecal coliform bacteria and lack of diversity in aquatic life.
The Biosolid Controversy
Somewhat related to the report's stated concerns over non-point pollution, there has been increasing controversy over the application of treated human waste or sludge, to farmlands in the commonwealth.
Many speakers at a public meeting held recently to discuss an application to apply the sludge were concerned with possible runoff from sludge-treated fields into nearby streams and wells.
One mentioned the problems of contamination recently experienced in the Birch Creek community as an example of potential long-term problems associated with sludge runoff.
The use of Class B biosolids has been approved by the state Department of Health, but its use is also subject to stringent regulations.
Those regulations involve setbacks from adjacent property and streams, as well as extensive soil sampling of the fields to which the sludge is applied.
According to independent soil scientist and nutrient specialist Bob Branch, the "lay of the land" is also taken into consideration before application, with steps taken to mitigate the problems of runoff.
Branch was present at the public meeting and answered questions about criteria involved with sludge application.
Controversy over biosolids application has also erupted in Culpeper and Bedford counties, and Appomattox county officials are considering policies for its use.
A ban on the use of Class B biosolids as fertilizer in Amelia County was overturned on January 12 by the Virginia Supreme Court, which ruled the ban conflicted with state law.
"The state Department of Health says all is fine as long as it is properly applied," said Brawner.
"But what if it's not properly applied? What assurances do we have to determine if it is properly applied?"
Who's Minding the Store?
It is the assertion of Tanger's group that clear information about the health of state-wide waters is hidden from public view, sometimes unintentionally.
Tanger was quoted as saying at Thursday's press conference that "for years, state officials have buried river-pollution details in dense reports, partly because they are 'technocrats,' and have problems communicating."
Tanger also said that the state concealed information out of fear that people who learned about polluted waters near them would demand costly cleanups.
A spokesman for the DEQ denied that it hid information on purpose.
"Politics enters into this, unfortunately," said Tanger.
Point Source Pollution
Thursday's report will do nothing to ease the concerns of Roanoke River Basin stakeholders, who read published reports last year stating that the DEQ and EPA had identified the source of PCB contamination in the Staunton River as BGF industries in Altavista.
The DEQ also tested several sites in the South Boston area for possible PCB contamination late last year, with results due possibly within the next several weeks.
"It's a tremendous effort that FROVA undertook in the translation of technical data into something the public can understand," said Brawner.
"We applaud them and commend them for their efforts."
For a copy of the "State of Our Rivers Report," call (540) 343-3693 or write FORVA, P.O. Box 1750, Roanoke, Va., 24008. The report is not on the Internet.

Up to $1 million in operational expenditures could be freed for other uses by reducing the number of elementary schools in the county.
That was the message Superintendent of Schools Dennis Witt delivered to supervisors during their annual planning retreat Friday.
And there is an educational benefit in proposed closures. Witt said that Virgilina and Wilson Memorial students will benefit from state-of-the-art libraries, technology upgrades, music, art and physical education facilities, as well as other quality programs, in a larger facility.
Nevertheless, the superintendent acknowledged that closing a school is "an emotional issue" and that there are "winners and losers" that come with change.
But the bottom line, reduction of the number of schools to promote operational economies and educational quality, did not vary as Witt sought support for his recommendation from supervisors.
"There are too many schools," said the superintendent, comparing the county's 15 elementary facilities with smaller numbers in neighboring counties.
Already Clover and Volens Elementary schools are scheduled to close as part one of a proposed three-phase capital improvements project in Halifax County. An estimated $400,000 will be saved with those closings, according to Witt.
The Phase II proposal, which calls for the closure of Virgilina and Wilson Memorial Elementary schools, is projected to save over $600,000 in operational expenses.
Phase II also includes recommendations for renovations and additions to accommodate 350 students at Turbeville, Meadville and South of Dan/Cluster Springs Elementary schools at an estimated $12 million.
Phase III recommendations include addition/renovations for the Middle School and Halifax and Sinai Elementary schools, at an estimated $11.5 million.
C.H. Friend and Washington-Coleman in South Boston also need attention in Phase III, with $3.5 million recommended.
The Virgilina and Wilson Memorial communities learned last week that they are next on the proposed closure list.
In making his case, Witt told supervisors that the average per pupil cost at Virgilina is $5,793, with 107 listed for average daily membership (ADM).
Wilson Memorial's ADM is 119 with $5,142 per pupil cost, as compared Washington Coleman's with 288 ADM and $4,736 per pupil cost or Halifax's 316 ADM with $4,283 per pupil cost.
Virgilina and Wilson Memorial also had the lowest overall pupil/teacher ratio at 14:1 each, with most elementary schools in the 18:1 to 20:1 range.
Miles by bus for Virgilina and Wilson Memorial students would mirror that of other county students, according to Witt.
Wilson Memorial is also "all electric, making it extremely inefficient to heat," the superintendent noted.
Still, the superintendent did not slam the door on options. "If any of you have an alternate plan, we would consider it. This is the one we came up with," he said of his and his staff's recommendation.
Supervisor Joe Satterfield, whose district includes Wilson Memorial Elementary School, asked why the school board did not wait until Phase I was completed before pushing ahead with Phase II.
Witt said that would add additional years to the overall capital improvement program.
But it was a displeased Satterfield who described his people at Wilson Memorial "as not complainers," and also "as the last to get anything."
Funding Improvements
Options in the financial bundling package Witt put on the table included operational savings, applying for a low-interest Literary Loan of $10 million, applying for a $2 million Va. Public School Authority loan and/or a tax increase.
The county real estate tax rate is currently 36 cents per $100 assessed value. An increase of one penny on real estate raises an additional $225,000.
"We must generate more money locally," said Supervisor James Edmunds, calling it a decision to move forward or stagnate. "People will move out if we don't improve."
Although Edmunds said that increasing taxes is "politically unpopular," when the benefits are received, he said that he felt that outlook is countered.
G.C. Ratliff, school board member, said that the agricultural/textile foundation in the community is undergoing dramatic change and that it is urgent to come together as a community with a plan to see that students here are prepared to go forward in new workforce environment.

A public hearing on a proposed Capital Improvement Program (CIP) for FY 2001-2002 through 2005-2006 heads tonight's agenda for the February meeting of South Boston Town Council.
The meeting will begin at 7 p.m. at council chambers on Yancey Street.
The South Boston Council Committees and Planning Commission had studied and reviewed the CIP along with town staff, with a recommendation for approval coming from the council committees after a public hearing last week.
The first year of the recommended CIP represents the town manager's recommendations to town council for capital projects to be included in the FY 2001-2002 town budget, to be adopted in June 2001.
Total capital outlay expenditures recommended as of January 17, 2001 for FY July 1, 2001, through June 30, 2002, are $3,110,207.
Other Agenda Items
· Council is scheduled to discuss the town's negotiations to acquire Hilden Mill and its accompanying hazard mitigation grant project at the site on Railroad Avenue.
Town council went into executive session at the close of its council committees' meeting last week to discuss the acquisition of the mill, located in the building once occupied by the Halifax Cotton Mill.
The town is applying a $350,000 Federal Emergency Management Agency grant toward environmental impact studies, historical recordation of the buildings and asbestos removal.
· Council will consider a request from John Pittard of Tomz Inc. to install a HVAC system on an exterior wall of his business at 303 Main Street.
The proposed installation of the HVAC system would encroach over the public right-of-way, at an elevation of 10 feet above the sidewalk.
· The issue of water and sewer availability fee refunds for several Brentwood subdivision residents is on the agenda.
Subdivision residents Tom Giglio and Robert E. Nelson appeared before the town's Finance Committee last week, requesting some form of refund for availability fees they paid in FY 1999-2000.
Council will discuss several options to deal with the petitioners' request.
· Town council will consider a revised master agreement between the towns of Halifax and South Boston for emergency water services.
The 1998 agreement will provide emergency water services for Halifax in the event of natural disasters such as floods. The site for the connection of the towns' water systems is Webb Park in Halifax.
· Town Council will consider approval of a resolution supporting the Virginia Tobacco Indemnification and Community Revitalization Commision's position on securing master settlement fund payments and creating a permanent trust fund.
The resolution is a show of support for the commission from the Executive Committee of the Southside Planning Commission and the Lake Country Marketing Council.
· Council will consider approval of a VDOT safety project to rubberize the railroad crossing on South Main Street.
· Council will consider amendments to Town Code adding additional holidays for the Friday preceding the third Monday in January for Lee-Jackson Day, and the second Monday in October for Columbus Day.
Other amendments would officially reserve a holiday to honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on the third Monday in January, and add the Friday following Thanksgiving to that holiday's observance.
· Town Council will consider appointments to the Industrial Development Authority, the Board of Zoning Appeals, the Halifax-South Boston Regional Library and the Halifax County Improvement Council at Monday's meeting.
· South Boston Treasurer Vandie Saunders will present the 1997 delinquent real estate tax listing for council's consideration.

A packed house is expected tonight when Halifax County School Superintendent Dennis Witt presents a proposed $10.7 million Phase II capital improvements plan to the Halifax County School Board.
Tonight's meeting is set for 7 p.m. at the Mary M. Bethune Office Complex in Halifax and is open to the public.
The plan, which school system officials say will save $676,000 a year, calls for the closing of Virgilina Elementary School and Wilson Memorial Elementary School.
South of Dan, Cluster Springs and Turbeville Elementary Schools will be renovated.
In addition, there will be some redistricting that will move about 60 students from the Cluster Springs-South of Dan school zone to Turbeville.
The proposed Phase II plan is very similar to moves outlined in a master plan the School Board adopted in 1998.
Virgilina Elementary School and five other county elementary schools were targeted for closure in the master plan.
When asked if the hammer had fallen on Virgilina Elementary School when the School Board adopted the master plan in 1998, Witt replied, "In concept, yes, in specifics, no."
Virgilina residents got a preview of the plan last Tuesday night from School Board representative G.C. Ratliff.
Afterward, Virgilina's community leaders vowed to fight attempts by school system officials to close the school.
Residents of the community began to mobilize late last week and a large number of Virgilina residents are expected to pack the meeting tonight.
Virgilina Elementary School, with 104 students, has one of the lowest student populations and has the highest per-pupil cost in the county with a $5,793 cost per pupil.
Wilson Memorial Elementary School, with 115 students, has the second highest cost per pupil with $5,142.
"Very small schools have always been inefficient," Witt said.
"It takes more than normal resources to operate very small schools and that's the issue. I don't think you can operate small schools like that and compete with neighboring localities in terms of teacher salaries and fringe benefits with the lowest tax rate in the state.
"Plus," continued Witt, "we're trying to upgrade our schools. The bottom line is better facilities and programs for our children."
Halifax County, with its 15 elementary schools, has more elementary schools than any of its neighboring counties.
Pittsylvania County, which has a larger elementary school population than Halifax County, operates nine elementary schools.
Campbell County, which also has a larger elementary school population than Halifax County, has eight elementary schools.
Mecklenburg County has seven elementary schools and Charlotte County has four elementary schools.
Other Matters:
A handful of other items dot tonight's School Board agenda including public comment from John Woody and Mike Stovall who are expected to urge the body to consider pay hikes for school custodians and cafeteria employees.
Halifax County High School Principal Albert Randolph is expected to appear tonight to present a proposed senior exam schedule for the high school's seniors.
School Board members are also expected tonight to respond to officials of the Halifax County-South Boston Dixie Girls Softball League who, last month, sought a cooperative effort between the league and school system officials to build and light two new softball fields at Halifax County Middle School.
Also tonight, the School Board is expected to turn the Mountain Road annex over to the Halifax County Board of Supervisors now that the facility is no longer being used by the school system for its Project HOPE program.
And, Mr. and Mrs. Greg Barnes are expected to appear before the body to seek a religious exemption from school for their child.
Witt will also report on the month of February being School Board Appreciation Month and Dr. G.H. Vaughan will speak to the body about a REACH Employee Assistance Program.
The monthly financial report will also be presented.

By Joe Chandler
Dashawn Baird has had some pretty big nights in his high school basketball career.
And he's made some big shots along the way.
But none were as big as the game-winning shot he canned with 1.2 seconds to play Friday night to cap a rally that lifted Halifax County from a 15-point deficit in the fourth quarter to a 54-52 win over the Hilltoppers.
"It's probably the biggest moment I've ever experienced in basketball," Baird said after knocking down the game-winning shot.
"It was an incredible pass and shot. I'm glad he (Shamoni Faulkner) looked. He got in the air and saw three or four guys on him. He saw me wide open. He made a great decision."
The win assured the Comets (10-8, 2-3 WD) of no worse than a third-place finish in the final regular season Western District standings.
"This is getting us over the top," said Comets coach Garrett Dillard.
"We've been up here three times. We won by one, they won by one, and we won by two. I don't think any of them (the previous road games against Glass) beats this one because we had to make a comeback. The guys never gave up."
While Baird was the immediate hero, the Comets' story was a tale of four players who stepped up at key times in big circumstances.
The others in the trio, reserve Anthony Owen, Shamoni Faulkner and Terez Garland, were something of unsung heroes.
Owen scored 10 points, eight of them on four key baskets in the final period, and came up with two big steals in the final 1:19 of the game.
Faulkner hit the mark with a good decision and his pass on the final play of the game. He also canned a three-point in the fourth quarter, his only field goal of the game to aid the comeback effort.
Garland, after having had his first shot of the game blocked, knocked down a shot and proceeded to score nine of the Comets' 11 points in the first quarter.
"I didn't let it bother me," Garland said of the initial blocked shot.
"Before the game Coach Cowan (assistant coach Alexis Cowan) told me I had to go out there and step it up and that's what I did."
Garland went on to lead the Comets with 19 points in the game including hitting two big free throws with 36.6 seconds that brought his team to within two points of Glass during the stretch run.
Their respective stories were entwined in the final stages of the game.
Halifax County had the ball with the game tied with 7.7 seconds left and had to make the inbounds play from the baseline on its end of the floor.
The original play called for Owen to take the final shot. But, it didn't happen.
Owen instead, got the ball, kicked it to Faulkner who penetrated the paint and kicked it off to Baird who canned the final shot.
"The call was for "Bird " (Owen) to take the shot," Faulkner said.
"But, he got doubled (double- teamed) and passed me the ball. I just drove (to the basket). Then I saw "Smurf" (Baird) in the middle of the paint and I just threw him the ball and luckily he got there."
Faulkner's pass was hard and quick and it hit the small hole it needed to hit to reach Baird.
"Nobody can stop my passes because my passes are so crisp and fast that nobody can see them," Faulkner added.
"It got to him through a little hole. I'm just happy he got it."
Faulkner also came up with a big play prior to that one.
With his team in the middle of what was to be an 18-5 stretch run, Faulkner knocked down a three-point basket with 41 seconds to play that brought the Comets within four points of the Hilltoppers at 52-48.
Owen was also a big figure in leading the Comets down the stretch drive.
Two steals in the open court capped with easy layups, one with 1:19 left in the game, the other with 45.4 seconds to play were big plays for the Comets as they cut the Glass lead to seven points each time.
"I just did what I had to do," Owen said modestly.
"I figured I had to go make something happen. We had to go out there and play hard-nosed defense and step it up."
Owen also hit two baskets early in the late-game run to help keep the rally alive.
Garland was a big figure in the comeback as well, hitting the two big free throws as something of a redemption from a prior mistake.
To see how Garland factored in, you have to look at the final quarter in totality.
After trailing by 15 with 7:19 left in the game, the Comets, with a 6-2 run capped by basket from Dante Ballou, cut Glass' lead to 11 points with 5:29 left.
Dillard was tagged with a technical foul during a time-out with 5:13 left.
Glass's Antonio Tonan hit the two free throws to put Glass up by 13 points but Glass failed to score on the ensuing possession.
"I felt real silly because we had cut the lead to 11 and could have possibly cut it to nine," Dillard said.
"But, I think that may have given the guys a little extra energy."
Owen countered with his first basket of the period to cut the Hilltoppers' lead to 11.
Garland made a mistake at that point and was nailed with an intentional foul with 4:07 left to play.
Tonan hit the two free throws to put Glass up 49-36 but Glass again failed to score on the ensuing possession.
Korey Townsend scored for the Comets with 3:25 left and was fouled but failed to convert the free throw, leaving the Comets down by 11 points.
Ballou chipped in a free throw and Owen hit a basket with 1:53 left to bring the Comets to within eight points at 49-41.
Later, after Owen scored on the second of his two steals to bring the Comets to within seven points, Glass turned the ball over on a five-second count on the inbounds play.
Faulkner followed with the three-pointer to bring the Comets to within four points.
On the ensuing possession, E.C. Glass standout A.G. Robinson was tagged with a technical foul for slamming the ball down on the court after being hit with a personal foul.
With a large handful of Glass fans behind the backboard waving their arms, yelling and stomping their feet, Garland knocked down the free throws with 36.6 seconds left to make the score 52-50.
Faulkner missed a three-point shot with 20 seconds to play and E.C. Glass' Brad Butler got the rebound and was fouled.
Butler missed both free throws and Baird snared the rebound.
Sterling Williams broke free and scored the tying basket for the Comets with 8.8 seconds to play.
Glass was nailed for a foul, giving the ball back to the Comets for the final play that won the contest.
The contest was a close one from the start as Garland kept the Comets in the hunt in the first period which ended with the Comets trailing 14-11.
Halifax County, with a layup by Owen off of a steal and a basket by Freddie Jeffress took the lead for the third time in the game, going up 15-14 with 6:25 left in the half.
Carleton Roach hit his only field goal of the game with 4:17 left in the half to put the Comets up 17-16.
Glass went on a 5-0 run, took a four-point lead and led 23-21 at the half.
The Hilltoppers opened the third period with a 4-0 run that put them up 28-21.
Halifax County trailed by five points after a layup by Baird and a free throw with 3:41 left in the period.
A 10-0 run by Glass over the next 1:32 put the Hilltoppers up 41-26 with 1:53 left in the third quarter, leaving the Comets to fight an uphill battle from that point.

James Donald (Jimmy) Wood, 66, of 222 Powell Road, South Boston, died February 8 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
A native of Patrick County, he was born November 30, 1934, son of Eunice Moore Wood of the nursing home in South Boston and the late Edgar Wood and was married to Vera Williams Wood. He was a graduate of Hardin Reynolds Memorial School in Critz and Emory and Henry College. He served in the Patrick County school system as a teacher and then principal at Red Bank School and later principal at Hardin Reynolds.
Mr. Wood was also principal in Hanover and Halifax County, where he retired. An avid bowler, he was a member of both the South Boston and Virginia Bowling Hall of Fame.
In addition to his mother and wife, he is survived by two daughters, Kathy Wood and Sandra Lowery, both of South Boston, and two grandchildren.

Funeral services for Mr. Wood were held February 10 at 2 p.m. at Howell Funeral Home Chapel in Stuart, with the Rev. Norman Biggs officiating. Burial was in Patrick Memorial Gardens.

Aleda Lois Ayers Baker, 90, of 370 Mountain Road, Halifax, died February 9 at The Woodview.
Mrs. Baker was born in Cuba, N.Y. on July 10, 1910, the daughter of William James Ayers and Iva Myrtle Douglass Ayers and was married to Allen Marion Baker. She attended Beth Car and Halifax Baptist Churches, was substitute organist at Halifax Presbyterian Church, played piano for children's church at Beth Car, was a volunteer at Berry Hill Nursing Home and Twin Oaks Nursing Home.
Survivors include one daughter, Joyce (Edward) DeJaeger of Farmington, N.Y., three grandchildren, Gary Everdyke of Macedon, N.Y., Barbara Everdyke of Dansville, N.Y. and David Everdyke of Ontario, N.Y.; four great-grandchildren; and one sister, Bernice Ayers of Houghton, N.Y.
A memorial service will be held in Houghton, N.Y. at a later date. Burial will take place in Mt. Pleasant Cemetery in Houghton.

Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Beth Car Baptist Church, The Woodview resident activity program or a church of your choice.

Charlie William Byrd, Jr. of Halifax, passed away on Thursday, February 8 at Lynchburg General Hospital in Lynchburg at the age of 49. He was born in Halifax County on April 30, 1951. He is survived by his wife, Diane Byrd, of Halifax; one daughter, Tracey Chambers of Halifax; one son, Charlie Byrd, III of Pound; one step-son, Kevin Davis, of Halifax; three grandchildren; his mother, Hallie Byrd, of Halifax; six sisters, Irene Oliver, of Danville; Marjorie Dixon, Carolyn Hart, of Halifax; Hallie Jones, of Crystal Hill; Georgia Byrd of Hartford, CN; and Anna Cook, of Washington, DC; two brothers, Donald Byrd, of Halifax and Michael Byrd, of Hartford, CN;
Funeral services for Mr. Byrd will be held Wednesday, February 14 at 2:00 p.m. at New Second Buffalo Baptist Church in Nathalie. The Rev. William Yancey and Rev. Robert Wimbish, officiating.
The family will receive friends at the residence at 7069 L. P. Bailey Hwy., Halifax.

John Daniel McKinney of McDonnald Road, Scottsburg died February 10, 2001 at his home.
Mr. McKinney was born in Halifax County on May 15, 1933 and 67 years old.
He was the son of Walter Daniel McKinney and Ruby Clara McKinney.
He was a member of Scottsburg Baptist Church.
Mr. McKinney is survived by two brothers: Wilson Julias McKinney, of Scottsburg and Willie D. McKinney, of South Boston; two nieces and two nephews.
Gradevisde services for Mr. McKinney wil be held Wednesday, February 14 at 2:00 p.m. in the Fork Baptist Church cemetery with the Rev. Rudolph Jacobs conduting the sevice.
The family will receive friends at Powell Funeral Home Tuesday from 7:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m.

Walter Brooks Satterfield, 79, of 703 Marshall Avenue, South Boston died Saturday, February 10, 2001 at V.A. Hospital, Richmond.
Mr. Satterfield was born in Halifax County November 20, 1921.
Mr. Satterfield was the son of Edward Fleming Satterfield and Rosa Rottler Satterfield and was married to Marjorie Goodwin Satterfield.
Mr. Satterfield was a U. S. Veteran and served with the Army Air Corps., retired U. S. Postal Service worker, member of Second Baptist Church, American Legion Post 8, V. F. W. Post 8243 and Green's Folly Country Club.
Survivors include one son, Daniel Satterfield, of Midlothian; one daughter: Carolyn Lyons, of Richmond; two brothers: Phillip Satterfield, of South Boston; Ralph Satterfield, of Danville; one sister, Mary S. Childrey, of Hampton; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a grandchild, Lori Lyons; his wife, father and mother; four brothers: Robert Satterfield, Leo Satterfield, John Eddie Satterfield and Morrell Satterfield and one sister, Martha S. Russell.
Graveside services for Mr. Satterfield will be held today (Monday) at 11:00 a.m. with the Rev. Jim Smith officiating. Burial will take place in Olive Branch United Methodist Church Cemetery, Alton.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers memorials may be made to the American Cancer Society.

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