Hoof prints in the dry creek bed solved
the break-out mystery.
Nearby, what had been considered "a bold spring" by
generations of Halifax residents had bubbled its last, at least
for now.
Horses eager for cool water in July's searing heat this week
literally sought greener pastures.
They are not alone.
Lawson Creek is dry where one cattleman normally waters his cattle.
"Two creeks are dry in the Cluster Springs area, Church Spring
Branch and Bales Spring Branch," said Reggie Arrington, a
soil conservationist with the Natural Resource Conservation Service.
"Church Spring Branch had over a 900-acre watershed and
that creek is plum dry," added Arrington.
"We need rain desperately. I am praying for it right now
because my family has 65 acres of tobacco and the ponds are drying
up," said the soil conservationist.
With the area 10 to 12 inches below average in rainfall this year,
Jason Fisher of the Halifax Extension Office is not surprised.
"They are drilling 400 to 500-foot wells to tap sufficient
water," Fisher said yesterday.
Producing three to five gallons a minute is considered "sufficient"
for now. "That's an indicator," added Fisher.
"I know one guy who drilled two 500-foot wells and didn't
get anything," said Arrington.
A Farm Service Agency emergency cost share program for wells to
water livestock was initiated in January due to last year's drought,
according to Arrington.
Forty-five applicants signed up.
Clearing House For Hay
Since grass is at a premium in many pastures, cattlemen must
turn to hay.
"If I feed it all now, I won't have any for winter,"
observed one cattle producer.
The worry also lingers that there will not be a fall cutting for
hay because of the drought.
"The lack of hay is a big problem for some cattle producers,"
confirmed Fisher.
To deal with the problem, a state hay clearing house has been
established.
Those interested in the program may call the Halifax Extension
Office or tap program information on the Virginia Department of
Agriculture and Consumer Services' website at www.vdacs.state.va.us/marketnews/hay.html
Tobacco
For tobacco farmers, the central to southern portion of Halifax
County is considered in extreme drought by some farmers.
In the northern end, there has been some rain relief, but even
there irrigation is being tapped.
"Halifax has the potential right now to warrant disaster
relief based on drought conditions," Fisher said yesterday.
Halifax Town Council is seeking legal/legislative input before
making a decision on the use of golf carts in the town.
Carl Espy, chairman of the town's planning commission, offered
that commission's recommendations for limited golf cart use to
councilmen during their Tuesday night session.
Espy said the commission's aim was to provide limited use in residential
areas for those with disabilities, but not to allow cart use
on Routes 360 or 501.
Traffic safety was a primary consideration when the planning commission
crafted its recommendations during its last meeting.
Following a public hearing at that meeting, commissioners unanimously
endorsed the golf cart use proposal.
However, legal questions regarding a town ordinance allowing
golf cart use were raised by councilmen Buddy Guthrie and Jack
Dunavant, who also voiced support for the proposal.
Dunavant also asked about speed limits in areas that carts would
be allowed to cross major roadways.
The General Assembly has allowed very limited golf cart use
on roads.
Del. Clarke Hogan, who was present at the council meeting, was
not optimistic about the proposal.
"I don't think the (town) proposal would have much chance,"
Hogan told council.
However, the delegate said that he would work with the town to
investigate the possibility.
Espy is to work with Del. Hogan's office and legislative services
before reporting to council next month.
Lights and Sidewalks
In other business, Sarah Baldwin, president of the board of directors
at Banister Home for Adults, presented council a petition from
the Banister board seeking sidewalks on both sides of Bethel
Road (state Route 360) beginning at the Jiffy Store and ending
at Dixon's Barber Shop.
She noted that recently one street light had been installed but
she sought additional lights.
Baldwin said that the road was dangerous for pedestrians.
"A sidewalk would be worthwhile for our residents as well
as children living in the area," she said.
The Rev. Blackwell also sought help from council regarding sidewalks
and street lights in the area.
"It is nearly 100 yards between lights at the home. We have
aging people there," the pastor said.
He also sought street lights up to the Jiffy store.
Town Manager Robert Greene said that after working with the utility
company for two years that street lights are now being installed.
However, Greene said that lights were being installed on existing
poles with transformers and adequate electrical service first.
He said that installation of additional poles will follow.
Rev. Blackwell also asked council for help with a cluttered hill
in the area that "people use as a bathroom."
When it rains, the minister said that flow from the hill runs
to a drain in front of Banister Home and that the ladies have
to clean it when it is clogged.
"A sidewalk might keep that area cleaner," he said.
"The drainage flow is a health problem, Baldwin told council.
She also said the drainage created an odor problem.
"We're just hoping, praying and trusting that you'll take
our concerns under consideration. We need your help and support
in that end of town," she said.
"Things need to be done. We will take a look at it,"
said Councilman Jack Dunavant, whose business is located in the
same area.
Town Manager Robert Greene also said that he would investigate
the complaints.
"We are working on it and we will certainly take them (the
requests) into consideration," Greene said.
Councilman Cabell Daniel sought a commitment regarding sidewalks
for the road.
"I'm not sure about right of way," Greene replied, but
he said that the town would investigate.
In other business, Greene reported that Gail Moody of the Southside
Planning District would gather the remaining data for the town's
Streetscape grant proposal during a Wednesday meeting in Halifax.
The county and town are seeking funding for the project.
By Beth Robertson
As a mentor, Dawn Rogers helped change a life and made a dear
friend.
She's also seen the tragedy and waste of talent when no one is
there to help bring it out.
She saw it happen here before there was a Mentor/Role Model program.
"So capable, so smart, but youngsters who had no role models.
I don't want to see that cycle repeat," said the new Halifax
Mentor/Role Model program director.
Young, energetic, the 24-year-old University of Virginia math
graduate worked in Washington, D.C., three years before a door
opened here that she always hoped to enter.
"I always thought I would like to return and help the community
that helped raise me," said Rogers.
Yesterday, she met with her Mentor/Role Model board and shared
her vision for continued growth.
Paramount is to provide children with activities and outlets
so that "they can see beyond today, so they can see tomorrow
and years after that," said Rogers.
The Bold Springs community native also hopes to add new mentor
recruits to the existing program.
Currently, there are 197 mentors in the program and over 200 youngsters,
with some new summer referrals.
The program is in all the county's elementary schools, the middle
and high school.
"We are satisfied we found someone who will do the program
justice and we are looking forward to working with her,"
said Gatha Richardson, president of the Mentor/Role Model program,
prior to Thursday's board meeting.
"I have a love for children, and when I'm with them, thinking
about ideas to help them, I'm very excited about that," she
said. "With children, it is never too late."
During her three years in Washington, D.C. working with a telecommunications
consulting firm, Rogers was a mentor to one young lady.
"When we first met, she had a serious attitude. Growth and
adjustment needed to take place," she added.
"This past Saturday, I had the honor to see her graduate
and she is going to college. Pre-med," added Rogers.
"She never thought college a possibility. We talk on the
phone. We are friends and I see great things for her," added
the new director.
Rogers' youth is seen as a program opportunity by board member
Debbie Ferguson.
Ferguson thinks young parents and mentors will feel at ease with
Rogers.
The new director also hopes to tap young adults as mentors.
"To try to get a diverse support group from the community,"
she said.
But she is just as emphatic about retaining the current excellent
corps of mentors.
"We want the whole community to feel they can always come
to the door of the Mentor/Role Model program, either to ask for
assistance of the program or to share their ideas to positively
impact the youth of the community.
"Impacting youth today can only make the community stronger
tomorrow," Rogers said.
"There is never too much you can do for your children ...and
never too much you can do for your community," she added.
Rogers will live in the Bold Springs home she knew as a child.
She plans to attend Dan River Bethel Baptist Church.
Her father, William Rogers, died her junior year at the university.
Her mother, Joyce Gerst Hamlett, lives in Richmond.
"I still have some family here and friends who teach in elementary
and high school," said Rogers.
"I try to surround myself with people who have the same positive
outlook. That is what my family did. It is part of me to help
youth.
"I want the Mentor/Role Model program to be an extension
of their family."
The Mentor/Role Model office is located on the second floor in
the Bank of America Building in South Boston. Office hours are
8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
The Halifax County-South Boston Regional Library Board of Trustees
reviewed its five-year plan and elected officers at its Tuesday
meeting.
Brenda Fincher was elected chairman of the board, while Barbara
Speece was elected vice-chairman and Nancy Zirkle, secretary.
The board also reviewed its mission statement and service priorities
at the meeting, with the Planning Committee of the Board of Trustees
selecting five service responses for specific attention.
Those include:
· lifelong learning - addressing the desire for self-directed
personal growth and development opportunities;
· General information - helping meet the need for information
and answers to questions on a broad array of topics related to
work, school and personal life;
· Formal learning support - helping students who are enrolled
in a formal program of education or who are pursuing their education
through a program of home schooling to attain their educational
goals;
· Information literacy - addressing the need for skills
related to finding, evaluating and using information effectively;
· Local history and genealogy - addressing the desire of
community residents to know and better understand personal or
community heritage.
The long-range plan seeks to make the library system's entire
bibliographic database, as well as those of neighboring libraries,
accessible online from home for patrons with Internet access.
Patrons would be able to determine whether or not a book is on
the shelf by accessing the libraries online, as well as place
reserves from home, and request renewals.
Citizens without home Internet access will be able to use the
library's catalog and the Internet in workstations distributed
at convenient locations around the county, according to projections
in the five-year plan.
The library system also plans to begin publicizing services with
weekly press releases to local media, make the Polaris database
available online to the public and establish a new home page this
summer.
Herbert 'Pops' Coleman, 80, formerly of Halifax County, died July
13 at the Florida Medical Center in Fort Lauderdale, FL.
Mr. Coleman was born in Halifax County on August 8, 1921, the
son of James Coleman and Mary Phelps Coleman and was married to
Allie Van Daniels Coleman. He was a member of The Kingdom Hall
of Jehovah's Witnesses, and was a retired employee of Blaw Knox
Corp., Pittsburgh, PA.
Survivors include his wife of Ft. Lauderdale; one daughter, Chadell
'CeCe' Coleman of Clover, SC; two sons, Orbie John Coleman of
Norwich, CT and Michael Phillip Coleman of Charlotte, NC; one
stepdaughter, Michele James of Ft. Lauderdale; 11 grandchildren;
three step-grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; three sisters,
Penolia Lea of Semora, NC, Sarah Thomas of New London, CT and
Geraldine Brown of Pittsburgh, PA; one brother, Glenny Coleman
of Chester, PA. He was preceded in death by one son, John Henry
Coleman.
Funeral services for Mr. Coleman will be held July 20 at 11 a.m.
at The Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses with Bro. Phillip Lewis
officiating. Burial will follow in the Farabow Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the Chapel of Jeffress Funeral Home Saturday morning from 9:00 until 10:00.
Graveside services for Thelma Martin Harris, 67, will be held
July 20 at 2:30 p.m. at Oak Ridge Cemetery with the Rev. Rudolph
Jacobs officiating.
Mrs. Harris died July 17. She was born in South Boston, the daughter
of the late Joe Russell Martin and Jennie Davis Martin Yancey.
Survivors include one daughter and son-in-law, Barbara F. and
George T. Hendrix III of Irmo, SC; one brother, James I. Martin
of South Boston; and two grandchildren, George T. 'Tal' Hendrix
IV and Chad M. Hendrix. She was preceded in death by a brother,
Joe Martin; and three sisters, Anna Talbott, Jean Satterfield
and Ruth Glass.
The family will receive friends at Brooks
Funeral Home this evening, July 19, from 7:00 until 8:30.
Memorials may be made to the American Heart Association, PO Box
5216, Glen Allen, 23058.