By DOUG FORD
Food, drink, music and "press the flesh" politics were
in abundance Friday at the 21st annual Virginia Cantaloupe Festival
at the Halifax County Fairgrounds.
A sold-out crowd of 2,500 people from all across Southside Virginia
and North Carolina sampled cantaloupe, corn-on-the-cob, tomato
biscuits and other local delicacies, while dancing to the music
provided by the Upper Level Band, Leggz and The Embers.
The Halifax County High School classes of '58 and '62 also held
reunions at the festival.
"We're very well pleased," said Halifax County Chamber
of Commerce President Nancy Pool.
"There's been positive feeback from everybody I've talked
to - I think everybody had plenty to eat and drink, there was
really no waste - I think we had one bowl of stew left. The entertainment
was very good."
Pool attributed the large turnout to a combination of the festival's
move to Friday night and to the weather, noting that tickets sold
out from as far away as Lynchburg and Danville.
Local and state politicians were present as always, eager to share
their views and opinions, even more so in this election year.
The Republican ticket of Mark Earley, Gubernatorial candidate,
Jay Katzen, candidate for Lt. Governor and Jerry Kilgore, candidate
for Attorney General attended, as did Democratic Attorney General
candidate Donald McEachin.
Also seen in the crowd were Clark Hogan, the Republican candidate
for the 60th House District seat and Fifth District Independent
Rep. Virgil Goode.
The Cantaloupe Festival is the primary fund-raiser for the Halifax
County Chamber of Commerce.
A public hearing has been scheduled for Thursday, July 19,
at 7 p.m. at William Campbell High School auditorium on the issue
of establishing a permanent advisory commission to facilitate
the planning and coordination of water resources in the Roanoke
River Basin.
Senator Charles R. Hawkins announced that a series of public hearings
would be held at sites in Virginia and in North Carolina.
In addition to the hearing in the Brookneal area, others have
been set for Tuesday, July 24, at 7 p.m. in Williamston; Thursday,
July 26 in Roanoke Rapids and the City of Roanoke; and on Thursday,
August 2, in Martinsville and at Kerr Dam.
The purpose of the public hearings is to receive comment concerning
the following matters:
· Should a permanent advisory commission be established
to facilitate the planning and coordination of water resources
in the Roanoke River?
· If so, what should be the purposes and powers of that
commission?
· How should the membership of the commission be constituted,
how many members should serve on the commission, how should those
members be selected, and what should be the qualifications for
service on the commission?
BACKGROUND
In recent years, the Roanoke River Basin has seen severe drought
and severe flooding, increased use of surface waters for commercial,
industrial, residential, recreational, and agricultural purposes,
transfers of surface waters to other regions of the state, and
other events affecting water quality and water quantity.
These developments have led to an inquiry of whether a Roanoke
River Basin Commission should be formed to determine means by
which this invaluable water resource can be sustained and utilized
to the advantage of all citizens within the Basin.
The Virginia General Assembly previously created an advisory commission
to serve the Rappahannock River Basin in a number of ways, which
include enhancing communication among "stakeholders"
throughout the Basin, identification of issues, and recommending
means to resolve those issues in a manner which would fairly balance
the interests of all "stakeholders."
It was believed that a similar advisory commission, serving similar
purposes, might be of benefit to the Roanoke River Basin.
A legislative effort was therefore initiated to create a Roanoke
River Basin Commission modeled on the advisory commission serving
the Rappahannock River Basin.
Comments and other input received to date indicate general support
for the concept of an advisory commission, but a recognition that
the Rappahannock River model should be modified to best suit the
needs of the Roanoke River Basin.
For example, there appears to be agreement that local governments
within the Roanoke River Basin have an important role to play
in any commission which is formed, but that there should also
be representation drawn from other "stakeholders" in
the Basin.
The General Assembly approved House Joint Resolution 149 which
directed the State Water Commission to study the desirability
and feasibility of establishing an intergovernmental structure
to facilitate the planning and coordination of water resources
in the Roanoke River Basin.
For that purpose, the Roanoke River Basin Subcommittee of the
State Water Commission created its own subcommittee as a vehicle
for the general public throughout the Roanoke River Basin to express
both specific and general concerns.
The subcommittee will conduct the public hearing.
The subcommittee recommends that the purposes of the Roanoke River
Basin Commission include the following:
· Provide guidance and make recommendations to local, state
and federal legislative and administrative bodies, and to others
as it deems necessary and appropriate, for the use, stewardship
and enhancement of the water, and other natural resources, for
all citizens within the Roanoke River Basin.
· Provide a forum for discussion of issues affecting the
Basin's water quantity and water quality, and issues affecting
other natural resources.
· Promote communication, coordination and education among
stakeholders within the Roanoke River Basin.
· Identify problems and recommend appropriate solutions.
· Undertake studies and prepare, publish and disseminate
information through reports, and in other forms, related to water
quantity, water quality and other natural resources of the Basin.
· Establish advisory committees which are constituted to
insure a balance of recognized interests.
· Conduct joint meetings, and otherwise communicate, with
North Carolina legislative and administrative bodies to enhance
communication between the two states throughout the entire Basin.
MEMBERSHIP
The subcommittee recommends the following regarding commission
membership:
- Members: The commission shall consist of 12 members who shall
be selected as follows:
a. Two members shall be appointed by each of the following Planning
District Commissions (PDCs): Central Virginia PDC; West Piedmont
PDC; Southside PDC; Piedmont PDC. Each of said PDC shall have
the right, but not the duty, to appoint no more than one member
of its governing board as a representative to the commission.
b. One member shall be appointed by each of the following PDCs:
New River Valley PDC; Fifth PDC.
c. Each Virginia senator and delegate whose district includes
any portion of the Roanoke River Basin shall be an ex-officio
member of the Commission. From among their numbers, said ex-officio
members shall select one senator and one delegate who shall serve
as voting members of the commission.
· Selection of PDC appointees: Each PDC is urged to devise
a process which will enable any person interested in serving on
the commission to declare his or her candidacy.
Although the PDCs shall not be limited to appointing a commission
member from among those persons who have "declared"
their candidacy for appointment (i.e., the PDCs may appoint an
individual who has not so declared), the PDCs are urged to carefully
evaluate the qualifications and interest level of all potential
appointees and appoint the person whose background and prior involvement
in Basin issues indicate that he or she would be a valuable member
of the commission.
· Ex-Officio Members: The commission may appoint one or
more persons who represent the interests of North Carolina, and
who shall serve as ex-officio members of the Commission.
· Term of Office: The term of office for any person appointed
to serve as a commission member shall commence on the day that
he or she is duly appointed, and shall thereafter extend to and
through the last day of the second June following the date of
appointed, or until his or her successor has been duly appointed,
whichever occurs last.
Any person shall be eligible for unlimited number of re-appointments
to serve on the Commission.
Whenever a vacancy on the Commission is created by the resignation,
death or disability of a member, or when for any other reason
a member is unable to attend meetings, the person appointed to
succeed that member shall serve for the unexpired portion of that
member's term.
· Committees: To facilitate communication among stakeholders
in the Roanoke River Basin, and to maximize participation by all
interested parties, the Commission shall establish both standing
and ad hoc committees.
The purpose of each committee shall be determined by the commission,
which shall also determine the number of members of each committee
and which shall make the appointments thereto.
ISSUES TO
BE ADDRESSED
AT PUBLIC HEARINGS
The public hearings are not intended to create a forum for individuals
to address issues beyond the scope defined herein, no matter how
important those issues may be to the Roanoke River Basin.
If a permanent advisory commission is created, it will be that
commission which will conduct future public hearings, and provide
other means, by which specific Basin concerns can be voiced and
considered, and specific actions recommended if action is deemed
appropriate.
Accordingly, to insure that the public hearings will serve their
intended purposes, the subcommittee will appreciate all speakers
focusing their comments on the specific agenda items.
The effort to preserve the 200-year-old Clarkton Bridge
could be reaching a conclusion.
Representatives of both the Halifax and Charlotte county Boards
of Supervisors, along with VDOT Resident Engineer Joe Barkley
and Halifax Delegate W.W. "Ted" Bennett met Friday at
Charlotte Courthouse to discuss the bridge's fate.
Representatives of the Virginia Department of Game and Inland
Fisheries and representatives of Staunton River State Park were
also present, with a VDOT Secondary Roads Engineer and his assistant
also attending the meeting.
Barkley said yesterday that he anticpates both the Halifax and
Charlotte County Boards will make a decision concerning the Clarkton
Bridge at their respective meetings in August.
"No decisions were made Friday, since neither board was in
session," said Barkley.
Several of the attendees went to the site of Clarkton Bridge Friday
morning prior to meeting at Charlotte Courthouse later in the
day.
According to Barkley, the meeting gave a historical perspective
of the bridge, with the participants talking about where they
were in the process of determining the bridge's fate.
"I felt it was a very good meeting," said Barkley.
The bridge was closed two years ago by VDOT because of structural
damage and safety hazards involving vehicle crossings.
VDOT has offered to sell Clarkton Bridge, rather than accept the
cost to repair the iron-truss structure.
Bridge advocates suggest that the bridge could be used as a pedestrian
crossing in a satellite park for the Staunton River Battlefield
State Park.
Former state and federal prosecutor Jerry Kilgore, one of six
candidates in the running for the office of Virginia Attorney
General, brought his campaign to Halifax County on Friday and
picked up endorsements from Commonwealth's Attorney John E. Greenbacker
Jr. and Sheriff Jeff Oakes.
Before a gathering of supporters in front of the courthouse, the
Republican candidate called for criminal justice reform and, in
particular, tougher sentencing guidelines for first-time drug
offenders.
Kilgore was appointed Secretary of Public Safety by former Governor
George Allen in 1994. As Secretary, Kilgore managed 11 state agencies
including the Virginia State Police, the Department of Corrections,
and the Department of Juvenile Justice.
Kilgore, prior to serving in Gov. Allen's cabinet, served as an
Assistant U.S. Attorney for the Western District of Virginia.
While at that position, Kilgore concentrated on prosecutions brought
from five regional drug task forces and earned a reputation as
an effective courtroom prosecutor who never lost a drug-related
case.
Sheriff Oakes praised Kilgore's record as former attorney general,
adding that he (Kilgore) "has Virginia's best interest at
heart."
Greenbacker applauded Kilgore's support for capital punishment
in contrast to the position his main opponent in the race has
taken.
South Boston began its quest for a third straight Virginia
Dixie Majors Baseball Tournament title in a big way over the weekend,
routing Christiansburg 10-1 Saturday night and blasting Wythe
County 17-2 yesterday.
The local team got off to a quick start yesterday, putting together
three consecutive hits, including a run-scoring double from Nick
Thompson and a run-producing hit from Justin Shepperd to give
the team a 2-0 lead in the first inning.
South Boston added five runs in the second inning and four in
the top of the third that was highlighted by a two RBI double
by Thompson to take an 11-0 lead.
Wythe County scored two unearned runs in the bottom of the third
inning to make it an 11-2 score.
But South Boston added six more runs in the top of the fourth
inning to put the game away.
South Boston had 10 hits in yesterday's game with Thompson going
a perfect four-for four at the plate, scoring four times and getting
five RBIs to lead the offense.
Justin Shepperd chipped in two hits and Matt Hastings, Dustin
Lloyd, Brandon Lewis and R.D. Cole each had a hit.
Scott Adams started the game for South Boston, fanning three batters
and allowing one hit in his two innings of work.
Howerton hurled the last three innings of the game that was halted
under a slaughter rule, striking out three of the 12 batters he
faced and allowing one walk.
In Saturday's game, four hurlers, Adams, Chad Conner, Howerton
and Hastings combined to spin a two-hitter and fan 16 Christiansburg
batters.
That and a potent South Boston offense that cranked out 15 hits,
gave the local team a torrid start in its state title defense.
Thompson led South Boston with a perfect three-for-three night
at the plate with three RBIS.
David Greene, Geoff Moore, Hastings, Howerton and Cole each had
two hits in the game.
Shepperd and Adams had a hit each.
South Boston's pitching was superb with Adams, the starter, going
two innings and striking out all six batters he faced.
Chad Conner came to the hill in the third inning and struck out
the side.
Christiansburg scored its lone run of the game after touching
Conner for two hits in the fourth inning.
Howerton stepped up next and struck out five of the 10 batters
he faced in his two-inning stint.
Hastings came on in the seventh inning and struck out two of the
four batters he faced and allowed one walk.
South Boston started quickly with three runs in the top of the
first inning that started with Hastings and Thompson getting back-to-back
hits and Shepperd following with a third-straight hit that plated
Hastings.
Adams came through with a two-RBI double with two out to give
the team a 3-0 lead.
South Boston plated three more runs in the second inning andd
three in the third inning to go up 9-0.
Christiansburg picked up its run in the bottom of the fourth inning
to make it a 9-1 score.
However, South Boston polished off the contest by adding another
run in the seventh inning.
Thomas Roy Brown, Sr. died on July 2 in Cedar Hill Hospice Center
in Jacksonville, Fla. He was the son of the late Thomas Walter
and Glenn Dora Brown. He was predeceased by his wife, Elsie Jean
Smith Brown.
Survivors include his son, Lt. Commander Thomas Roy Brown Jr.
(U. S. Navy, Ret.), daughter-in-law, Lisa Kipps-Brown and grandchildren,
Glenn Thomas Brown and Erin Kipps Brown, all of Halifax.
A private memorial service was held on July 11, at Trinity Episcopal
Church with the Rev. Andrew J. Bawtree officiating. Interment
will be at a later date in Oak Hill Cemetery near Lakeland, Fla.
Memorial contributions may be made to Southside Va. Chapter of
Alzheimer's Association, P. O. Box 310, South Hill, Va. 23970.
William Albert Hudson, 68, of Halifax, died July 13 at Halifax
Regional Hospital.
Arrangements for Mr. Hudson are incomplete and will be announced
later.
Albert Mort Oakes, 75, of 1002 James D. Hagood Hwy., South Boston,
died July 13 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Oakes was born on November 16, 1925 to the late Charlie E.
and Sallie W. Oakes. He was a former South Boston police officer
and a veteran of the U.S. Navy having served in World War II and
the Korean War. He was a member of Hunting Creek Baptist Church
and American Legion Post 8.
His survivors include his wife: Inez C. Oakes; two daughters:
Wanda and Richard Lee of Ringgold and Betty and Aurel Teodorovici
of Vancouver BC; son: Michael J. and Lesley Oakes of South Boston;
two brothers; two sisters; half-sister; four grandsons: Eric and
Adam Oakes, Phillip and Steven Teodorovici; two granddaughters:
Lori and Julie Teodorovici; great-grandson: Dylan Oakes and three
great-grandchildren.
The family requests that in lieu of flowers, memorials be given
to The American Heart Association, P.O. Box 5216, Glen Allen,
VA 23058-5216.
John Alex Martin, 93, of Heritage Hall Nursing Home and formerly
of Nathalie, died July 13.
Mr. Martin was born in Appomattox County on August 17, 1907, the
son of Allison Dillard Martin and Jennie Lou Martin. He was married
to Dorothy Stevens Martin.
His survivors include two daughters: Edith Crittenden of Fort
Worth, TX and Louise Yankelevitz of Brookeville, MD; son: Wayne
Martin of Fort Worth; five grandchildren; three great-grandchildren
and four great-great-grandchildren. A funeral service was held
July 15 at Powell Funeral Home with the Rev. Dr. Wayne Martin
officiating. Burial took place in the Stevens family cemetery.
Kathryne Henderson Dewberry of South Boston died July 14 at the
Woodview Nursing Home.
Funeral arrangements were incomplete as of press time.