Mary Lee Link, an East Hyco Road store owner originally charged
with the first-degree murder of her husband during an alleged
domestic dispute last May, will spend 12 months in jail as the
result of a plea agreement reached Monday in Halifax County Circuit
Court.
Link, represented by Charles Cosby, pleaded guilty to amended
indictments of voluntary manslaughter "while in mutual combat"
with her husband and using a firearm to commit voluntary manslaughter
in a hearing before Judge Leslie M. Osborn.
Osborn accepted the plea agreement, which further stipulated that
Link be sentenced to five years each in prison for the two convictions,
with all but 12 months suspended for each one, conditional on
her good behavior for 10 years.
Link will serve her sentences concurrently, for a total of 12
months in jail.
Link was originally charged with the first degree murder of her
husband, Henry Lionel Link, in the combination grocery store/residence
on East Hyco Road on May 31, 2000.
A conviction on a first-degree murder charge carries a sentence
ranging from 20 years to life.
During Monday's hearing, Link steadfastly maintained her innocence
while accepting the terms of the plea agreement.
According to Link's initial statement to authorities after the
shooting, the couple had been arguing about money and possible
bankruptcy.
Link said she was in the kitchen the day of the shooting when
she heard her husband behind her mutter words to the effect that
he was "going to kill her."
Upon turning, Link stated she saw her husband with a gun pointed
at her. She subsequently turned around, picked up a .22 caliber
pistol on the washing machine, and turned again to face her husband.
Link further stated to authorities that she didn't remember her
gun firing, but that her husband immediately slumped over.
Deputy Commonwealth's Attorney Petra Blanchard recounted the prosecution's
evidence, saying authorities were called to Hyco Grocery about
noon on May 31, 2000, finding Lionel Link dead with a gunshot
wound to the face.
Blanchard said a .25 caliber pistol was found with its safety
on next to Link on the floor and that Link admitted she had been
arguing with her husband, saying she was in the kitchen when her
husband came from behind with a gun pointed at her.
Comments from friends, relatives and neighbors of the Links indicated
a turbulent marriage and stormy relations with neighbors.
One relative of the couple had said at the shooting scene that
"they fought all the time," while a neighbor commented
simply that "they didn't get along."
More specifically, Barbara Howerton, a neighbor from across the
street, said she swore warrants against the Links in July 1996,
charging them with assault by threats to do bodily harm.
According to Howerton, Mary Link had said she "would blow
my head off if she ever caught me out in public."
In August 1990, Lionel Link was convicted of brandishing a firearm
and given a six-month suspended jail sentence.
Mary Link will serve a one-year period of active supervised probation
following her release, and was ordered to pay court costs within
12 months of her release.
Other Monday Court
· Timothy Lee Campbell, 35, of Virgilina, was sentenced
Monday to five years in prison for possessing a firearm after
being convicted of a felony.
Judge Osborn remanded Campbell to custody after denying an appeal
bond, and additionally ordered 12-month post-release supervison
for Campbell
South Boston and Halifax County will collect $38,000 and $50,000
in Advanced Communications Assistance Funds (ACAF) today during
a Main Street to e-Street Task Force meeting in Danville.
The funds will help the town and city make the high-speed communications
link.
"It is for high-speed communications between county offices
and the Internet, and also similar systems in South Boston and
the broadband wireless project at the CEC and Riverstone Technology
Park," explained Joe Morgan, county administrator.
The money, which comes through matching grants, will be used to
install fiber optic cable between the courthouse area buildings,
the Mary Bethune Complex - which houses offices for commissioner
of the revenue and the public school system, among others - and
also for a wireless dish connection to the South Boston area.
"So, hopefully, people going to the courthouse can see the
treasurer's and commissioner of revenue's tax records without
having to go both places," explained Morgan.
For the county, that particular connection is augmented by a $17,500
grant that Halifax Circuit Court Clerk Bobby Conner obtained from
the Virginia State Supreme Court to improve court records access,
according to Morgan.
This is the second year South Boston has applied for and received
the ACAF grants.
Last year, the town worked with GCR Company and put in conduit
for fiber optics between Broad and Seymour to North Main to the
Sprint Building, according to Ted Daniel, town manager.
"This is Phase II for the town," Daniel said yesterday.
"We will run town-only conduit and fiber optics from Broad
and Seymour down to CEC and from Broad and North Main down to
town offices. And, we are going to put in broadband wireless antenna
that will interface with the county's system in the courthouse."
Del. W.W. "Ted" Bennett is particularly pleased with
the connections.
"It allows them to set up high-speed communications fiber
optic ability among all government offices, schools, constitutional
officers ...," he said yesterday.
Some fiber optic lines run through the county, he noted. "But
the last mile is the most expensive and the least affordable,
and this is one way around the cost for local government,"
he said.
"It is the off ramps and the telecommunications equipment
that are the big expense for companies," the delegate explained.
"In order to justify it, the companies have to be guaranteed
x number of users per mile. That is tough for us to acquire without
this kind of assistance."
CIT President Anne Armstrong will make the ACAF awards in Danville.
Gov. Gilmore's Main Street to e-Street Task Force and the Virginia
Chamber of Commerce are co-sponsoring the interactive meeting
at Averett College.
Speakers will include: Hugh Keogh, president, Virginia Chamber
of Commerce and co-chairman, Main Street to e-Street Task Force;
Donald S. Crawford, partner, Technology Marketing Group, LLC;
Chris Bailey, sales manager, Cardinal Homes.
Officials in some school systems across
the state are frantically searching for qualified teachers to
fill classrooms.
Halifax County, however, is not feeling that crunch.
With just under a month before teachers in Halifax County and
South Boston return to work about a dozen vacancies remain to
be filled.
Larry Clark, assistant superintendent for Human Resources for
the Halifax County Public Schools, is confident that those positions
can be filled by the time school starts.
"We do not see it as a crisis," Clark said.
"We're certainly not frantic. We're at the task every day
of receiving applications and recruiting applicants to come to
Halifax County to be interviewed or to have the interview done
electronically with a conference call.
"I feel we will have our classrooms filled this year with
the same quality of qualified teachers we have had in the past,"
he added.
Clark said there was one English position and one social studies
position open at Halifax County High School.
"We have an active applicant for the English position,"
Clark stated.
"The person has been interviewed but not contracted as yet."
There is a position open at Halifax County Middle School, some
vacancies in elementary schools and some vacancies in Special
Education, all of which school system officials are addressing.
"Special Education is its own special area because you're
talking about filling positions that deal with specific exceptionalities,"
explained Clark.
"For some of them (exceptionalities), it is extremely difficult
to find qualified applicants."
Clark said there were 37 new teachers in the fold when school
started last year.
He expects the number of new teachers this year to be close to
that figure.
"I think we will be in that neighborhood," Clark said
of the number.
"At this point, I don't think we're looking at a greater
number of new people than we had last year. Our turnover rate
is generally less than 10 percent."
Halifax County is a school system that has not had to deal with
a continuing increase in school enrollment and school expansions.
"That is both good and bad," Clark said.
"Obviously, we'd like to think we would increase our enrollment
but our numbers have been pretty static over the last few years.
"We haven't had to deal with the creation of positions and
filling a lot of new teaching positions," he continued.
"We pretty much fill what positions become vacant."
A part of the big crunch that some school systems are experiencing
is one brought on by teachers retiring from their posts.
That also has not become a problem in Halifax County.
"We have a lot of people (teachers) that are retirement age
and most of them are returning to the classroom," Clark said.
"We have haven't gotten to the crunch on that point that
other school systems have."
Republican lieutenant governor candidate Jay Katzen spoke before
supporters Monday on the steps of the Halifax Courthouse, emphasizing
his positions on education and transportation, while drawing a
sharp contrast between himself and his Democratic opponent, Richmond
Mayor Timothy Kaine.
State Senator Frank Ruff (R-Clarksville), introduced Katzen, who
has represented Fauquier, Warren and Rappahannock counties in
the House of Delegates for four terms, as a man "who is dedicated
to the principles he believes in, with a willingness to support
those positions when it may not be the most popular thing."
Katzen asked voters to judge him on the issues rather than listen
to Democrats, who he anticipates will label his views as "extreme."
During his remarks, Katzen focused on his vision for educational
and transportation improvements for both Southside and Virginia.
"Public schools don't address the needs of each and every
Virginian," said Katzen, who proposes school choice legislation
which would provide tax credits - not vouchers - to create scholarships
and aid lower-income families.
Those tax credits would encourage private donations to create
scholarships and aid lower-income families who wish to send their
children to other public schools, to private schools, or to home
school.
"If you're a youngster in a family whose income doesn't exceed
185 percent of the federal poverty level, and you're in a failing
school, you can go to another public school or private school
and be accepted," explained Katzen.
"If you as a concerned Virginian or corporation make a contribution
to a 501 (c) 3 foundation, you'll get a tax credit of up to $500
a year for your contribution.
"...And that youngster who is accepted at that school but
can't afford to go will qualify for a scholarship of up to $3,100."
Similar legislation has passed constitutional muster in the states
of Arizona and Minnesota, according to Katzen.
"It's an issue of fairness, it's an issue of empowerment
of the parents of youngsters in Virginia," added Katzen.
Transportation was described as the second most important issue
in this year's campaign by Katzen.
Katzen repeated his earlier intent to see a completed Highway
58 from Virginia Beach to Bristol, with the laying of fiber optic
cable from one end to the other.
Among other transportation needs, Katzen lists a need for a "Super
460" [highway], another crossing at Hampton Roads, a widening
of the Beltway and re-examination of high occupancy vehicle lanes
in Northern Virginia and development of light rail.
Katzen is most enthused about a plan to put a rail line along
I-81 to move 75 percent of the trucks off I-81 onto rail, with
a piggy-back load-up beginning in Chattanooga and discharging
in Harrisburg, Pa.
The trucks would then move their load overland to the ports of
New York and Newark.
The remaining 25 percent destined for Virginia could go up to
Warren County and then down to ports in Hampton Roads, continued
Katzen.
Katzen pointed out opponent Timothy Kaine's positions supporting
same sex marriage, abortion on demand and partial birth abortion,
as well as Kaine's opposition to informed consent and the death
penalty, asking voters to determine for themselves who among them
should be labeled "extreme."
South Boston took another step toward a third-straight state
championship Monday night, breezing past Madison Heights 9-2 in
the Virginia Dixie Majors Baseball Tournament here at C.H. Friend
Field.
The unbeaten South Boston team was to face once-beaten Buckingham
last night at 5:30 p.m.
If South Boston gets the win, Buckingham would be eliminated from
the tournament.
South Boston would then face the winner of yesterday afternoon's
elimination game between Wythe County and Madison Heights tonight
at 6 p.m. in what could be the tournament championship game.
Monday's performance by South Boston in the seven-run win over
Madison Heights was similar to that of its two previous tournament
games.
South Boston broke the game open early, picking up two runs in
each of the first three inning and then adding a three-spot in
the third inning to give hurler Scott Adams a 7-0 cushion to ride
over the final four innings.
Adams needed some of that cushion in the fourth inning as Madison
Heights posted its two runs with Omar Mays reaching base on a
walk and Shane Camden following with a two-run homer.
The South Boston hurler settled himself, went back to work and
finished the game with his team adding two more runs in the sixth
inning to give him a seven-run margin to work with in the final
inning.
Adams' totals for the night showed him allowing five hits, three
walks and fanning 10 Madison Heights batters.
He struck out at least one batter in every inning with the exception
of the third inning and struck out the side in the second inning.
South Boston continued to hit the ball well, getting six hits
that included two each from Chad Conner and R.D. Cole and a hit
each from Matt Hastings and Adam Conner.
The six hits may not seem like a lot. However, when combined with
the opportunities that resulted through nine Madison Heights errors
and five walks from the visitors' pitching staff, they were more
than enough.
South Boston's two-run first inning started with David Greene
reaching base on an error and Hastings following with a hit.
With one out, Justin Shepperd reached base on a fielder's choice.
A two RBI single from Adam Conner followed, giving South Boston
a 2-0 lead.
Adams opened the second inning by getting a walk. Chad Conner
reached base on an error to put runners on first and second base.
A passed ball that came while Brandon Howerton was batting allowed
the two runners to move up a base.
Howerton grounded out to third base in his trip to the plate.
An error by the Madison Heights catcher on a bad throw allowed
Adams to score and a single from Cole plated Conner to put South
Boston up 4-0.
South Boston added three more runs in the third inning to go up
7-0 with the inning starting when an error by Madison Heights
on a deep fly ball to right field allowed Shepperd to motor to
third base.
Adam Conner walked and stole second base, putting runners on second
and third base.
Shepperd scored on a sacrifice fly by Adams to left field. A single
by Chad Conner scored Adam Conner and a hit by Cole scored Chad
Conner to put South Boston up 7-0.
Madison Heights scored its two runs in the fourth inning to make
it a 7-2 game.
South Boston got its seven-run lead back with two runs in the
sixth inning which opened with Shepperd and Adams both reaching
base on an error.
Chad Conner singled and an error on that play, the third error
of the inning for Madison Heights, allowed Shepperd and Adams
to score to give South Boston a 9-2 lead which held the rest of
the way.
South Boston missed one opportunity in the game, that coming in
the fifth inning when Howerton walked with one out and Cole reached
base on an error, giving the team two runners on the base paths
with one out.
But the opportunity went by the board when Greene and Hastings
struck out in succession to end the inning.
South Boston left six runners stranded on the base paths in the
game.
Phyllis Jean Walker Holt, 51, of Roxboro, N.C., died July 15 at
her home. Born in Petersburg County she is the daughter of Glenn
Alan Walker of Alton and the late Virginia Hood Walker. She was
employed by Loxcreen and attended Mill Creek Baptist Church.
In addition to her father, Mrs. Holt is survived by her husband,
Bobby Rayford Holt; step-father, James Buckman of Ky.; two children,
Sheila Mangum Reaves and Bobby Mangum Jr., both of Roxboro; one
brother, Ricky Walker of Troutville; one sister, Cheryl Barber
of Vernon Hill; one step-brother, William Murray of South Boston;
one half-brother, Jim Buckman of Ga.; one step-sister, Bonnie
Fox of Roxboro; two half-sisters, Tina Harris of Roxboro and Robin
Buckman of Calif.; two grandchildren, Caleb Daniel Reaves and
Tyler Aaron Reaves.
Funeral services were held July 17 at 2 p.m. at Mill Creek Baptist
Church by the Rev. Tommy Robertson. Burial followed in Harmony
United Methodist Church Cemetery.
Ellen Hughes Booth, 59, of 1264 Reeves Mill Road, Sutherlin, died
July 14 at Danville Regional Hospital.
Mrs. Booth was born in Halifax County on May 4, 1942, the daughter
of Earl Hughes and Annie Mae Richie Hughes and was married to
Calvin Booth. She was a member of Mt. Vernon Baptist Church.
Survivors include two daughters, Sherry Booth of Sutherlin and
Delores Darlene Poteat of Milton, N.C.; one son, Kalvin Earl Booth
of Sutherlin; five sisters, Mary H. Hawker of Danville, Ocie H.
Gammon of Ruffin, N.C., Doris H. Ford and Janice H. Setney, both
of Fla., and Ruth H. Smith of Halifax; one brother, James Earl
Hughes of Danville.
Graveside services for Mrs. booth were held July 17 at 11 a.m.
at Mt. Vernon Baptist Church Cemetery with the Rev. Bill Wilkins
conducting the service.
Troy Lee Powell, 67, of 1249 Pierce Trail, Nathalie, died July
16 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Powell was born in Halifax County on January 2, 1934, the
son of James 'Genie' Powell and Mary Conner Powell and was married
to Shelby W. Powell. He was a member of the Liberty Hunt Club.
Survivors include his wife; one son, Troy Powell and wife, Lisa
of South Boston; four daughters, Barbara Carmichael and husband,
Robbie of Nathalie, Mary Jane Cole and husband, Buddy of South
Boston, Sandra P. Phillips of South Boston and Delores Stump and
husband, Frank of Scottsburg; one granddaughter, Wendy Cole of
South Boston; five grandsons, Roger Martin Jr., Michael Martin
of Halifax, Justin Stone of Scottsburg, Stanley Francis Jr. of
Fla. and Bud Cole of South Boston; his special little girl, Lisa
Farley of Halifax; three brothers, Howard Powell and Earl Powell,
both of Nathalie and Albert Powell of South Boston; four sisters,
Elizabeth Shook of Keysville, Shirley Seamster of Burkeville,
Alice Jones of Red Oak and Louise Roberts of Nathalie. Mr. Powell
was preceded in death by one sister, Ida Powell and one brother,
Eugene Powell.
Funeral services will be held July 19 at 2 p.m. at Fork Baptist
Church with the Revs. Bob Watts and Jason Murray conducting the
service. Burial will take place in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at Powell Funeral Home this evening,
July 18, from 7:00 until 8:00, and other times at the home.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the Liberty
Volunteer Fire Department, North Halifax Volunteer Fire Department
or the Halifax County Cancer Association.
Katheryn Henderson Dewberry, 82, of 103 Rosehill Drive, South
Boston, died July 14 at The Woodview.
Mrs. Dewberry was born in Halifax County on November 27, 1918,
the daughter of William Morton Henderson and Irene Satterfield
Henderson and was married to Stover J. Dewberry. She was a member
of First Baptist Church, South Boston.
Survivors include one sister, Vernessa Henderson Mills of South
Boston and several nieces and nephews.
Funeral services for Mrs. Dewberry will be held July 19 at 11
a.m. at Powell Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Bob Fox conducting
the service. Burial will take place in Oak Ridge Cemetery.
The family will receive friends this evening, July 18, from 7:00
until 8:00.
Ruby Anderson Farmer, 89, of Halifax County, died July 14.
Mrs. Farmer was born in Halifax County on February 13, 1912, the
daughter of William Edward Anderson and Martha Elizabeth Thompson
Anderson and was married to Albert Henry Farmer.
Survivors include one daughter, Jeanne Duke of Annandale; two
grandsons, George Duke of Montana and Benjamin Duke of Nevada;
one sister, Fannie Speight of Fisher's Hill; and one brother,
William Anderson and wife, Isabel of Richmond.
A memorial service for Mrs. Farmer will be held July 21 at 11
a.m. at Pleasant Grove United Church of Christ with the Rev. Isaac
Mooneyham conducting the service. Burial will take place in the
church cemetery.
Tony Wayne Peters, 53, of Providence, N.C., died July 17 at Danville
Regional Medical Center.
Mr. Peters was born December 26, 1947, in Pittsylvania County,
the son of Buford Nelson Peters and Gaynell Meggison Peters and
was married to Cindy McCarter Peters. He was of the Holiness faith,
and worked for Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company. He was also
very active in racing, serving as crew chief for Timothy Peters
Racing.
Survivors include his wife; his father of Danville; one son, Timothy
Peters of Providence; one daughter, Lori Moye of Boones Mill;
one brother, Buford N. Peters Jr. of Ringgold and one sister,
Susan Beltram of Danville.
Funeral services for Mr. Peters will be held July 19 at 2 p.m.
at Wrenn-Yeatts Westover Chapel in Danville with burial to follow
in Danville Memorial Gardens.
The family will receive friends this evening, July 18 from 7:00
until 8:00 at Wrenn-Yeatts Westover Chapel and other times at
the home.