BY PAULA I. BRYANT
Concern, fear, frustration and anger were among the emotions vented Thursday night during a public hearing on the recently issued health advisory warning against eating "too many" fish from the Staunton River.
Approximately 200 concerned citizens, including numerous area fishermen, attended the two-and half-hour long hearing asking questions of four representatives from the state Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) and state Health Department.
Del. W. W. "Ted" Bennett and Sen. Charles Hawkins requested the meeting following the issuance of the advisory which warned against consumption of more than two eight-ounce servings a month of three certain species of Staunton River fish - striped bass, white bass and carp.
The warning was issued for fish caught in a 50 mile stretch of river from Long Island to Brookneal to Clover stretching from Seneca Creek to below the bridge over Route 360.
Records indicate that 649 fish samples of 22 species were collected from 15 stations in the Staunton River basin covering 200 river miles extending from Smith Mountain Lake to Lake Gaston.
The study represented the largest one ever undertaken by the DEQ.
Fish tissue samplings over five years ago first revealed levels of Polychlorinated Biphenlys (PCBs), a group of 209 industrial chemicals classified as environmental pollutants that accumulate in animal tissue.
Research has revealed that eating "too much" fish contaminated with PCBs may increase the risk of cancer in humans, according to the fish advisory.
At the hearing Thursday night, Del. Bennett said, "I was surprised to say the least - when I saw the advisory in the newspaper. I was not very happy about it, and I called the DEQ and told them to meet me in Richmond, and they did. At that time I was told the data (on which the warning was issued) was as much as seven-years-old.
"I couldn't believe that and asked why it had taken so long. I needed more answers," Del. Bennett continued.
"To our knowledge, since the study was done in the summer of '93, there has been no follow-up.
"I own land and a cabin on that river, and I and my grandchildren fish in that river. I have fed my grandchildren fish from the river. I hope that we have not done wrong by doing so," he told the four state representatives sitting on the elementary school stage Thursday night.
Del. Bennett informed the audience that $370,000 had been spent on the four volume, 800 page fish study, copies of which will be placed for public review in the Brookneal, Halifax, Pittsylvania and Charlotte Court House libraries.
Also a transcript of the Thursday night public hearing will be placed in the four area libraries for public perusal.
Before hearing comments from those anxious to ask questions in the audience, Larry G. Lawson of the DEQ admitted, "We didn't do everything right."
The Director of Office of Water Program Coordination said, "We didn't include the public to the extent we should have, and we took too long to issue our report. We recognize that now, but we ended up with a good report, and now we have to go forward."
And going forward, according to Del. Bennett, includes a commitment from DEQ Director Dennis Tracy for an immediate follow-up fish study.
"He promised me this week that a follow-up study will be done right away with a revalidation of data and a search for the PCB source and then see what can be done to clean it up," Del. Bennett said.
And the delegate said cries of not having sufficient funding in the budget will not be accepted as an excuse.
"They will not have to wait for approval of funding because the DEQ has a $157 million budget that includes a lot of money for monitoring," Bennett continued.
"The trick now is for people in this area to see these (state) people out in the river doing these tests and looking for the (PCB) source. Until we see this, I'll not be satisfied. We're going to see if they're going to deliver on this promise," Bennett added.
He noted that he will appoint a citizen advisory committee comprised of representatives from the Brookneal Sportsman's Club, Long Island Ruritan Club, Friends of the Staunton River, Citizens for the Preservation of the River, Staunton River Watch, the Scenic Staunton River Advisory Committee and the Vic Thomas Fish Hatchery to assist the state agency in their future river study.
Kizar Wasti, PhD., Director of the Division of Health Hazards Control for the Department of Health, assured citizens attending Thursday night's hearing there was no threat to humans if consumption is limited to the three species of fish included in the warning.
Dr. Wasti pointed out the level of PCBs found in the Staunton River fish are several times lower than the level allowed for fish served in restaurants.
"The risk is relatively very, very small," he added.
"This advisory is not a ban or restriction. It is a precautionary measure. It is merely a suggestion...not an order, and it is not enforceable.
"Had we found there was more of an immediate danger, we would have issued a restriction," Dr. Wasti said.
He noted that pregnant women and children are segments of the population deemed more at risk and should take added precautions.
Dr. Peter Sherertz, a toxicologist for the Department of Health, described the advisory as "a very conservative piece of advice" and then gave a detailed explanation of PCBs (see related chart). In experimental rodents, PCBs have been known to cause cancer in the liver and kidney, he stated.
In the employment realm, workers who have been exposed to high levels of PCBs have had throat, nose and lung irritations, skin rashes and acne, Dr. Sherertz said.
He stressed that "bottom feeders" - fish who eat sediment from the river floor - have higher concentrations because they feed from sediment containing PCBs.
Shelton Miles, who moderated the meeting, said that was a point which concerned many area fishermen who questioned why flathead catfish (bottom feeders) were not included in the study or advisory.
"We didn't find any when we tested," DEQ's Larry Lawson said.
Area fishermen in the audience responded with offers to catch the flathead catfish for the next study.
(Fish included in the study were electroshocked, and flathead catfish are not easy to shock due to their lack of gills, according to area fishermen.)
Gary Colbert, President of the Brookneal Dixie Youth Ball League, explained that the local league is sponsoring an upcoming 24-hour catfish tournament in the Staunton River and asked if the flatheads can be eaten.
Dr. Wasti responded that persons wishing to eat the catfish could take the same precautions as issued in the advisory for the other three species of fish.
"Since it's not for a lifetime of consumption, catfish can be eaten," Dr. Wasti added.
Area businessman and fisherman Watt Foster expressed concern that his young daughter may have been exposed to PCB risks since she has been eating fish from the Staunton River for the past five years.
However, Dr. Wasti explained there are no direct tests available to expose PCB levels related to liver dysfunction that can be conducted on humans.
After addressing numerous health related questions, the state panel then responded to questions about the study process.
Moderator Shelton Miles questioned what prompted the Staunton River fish study in the first place. Dr. Alan Anthony, Director of Environmental Quality Science Research for DEQ, explained that DEQ does a five year rotation of river basin studies of fish tissue.
When the Staunton River study was conducted, "we picked some sites we thought might contain some PCBs," Anthony explained.
Referring to the Altavista and Hurt industrial district, Miles questioned why the study contained no fish survey in a 30 mile stretch of the largest business community along this section of the Staunton River.
"Why wasn't any data collected in this area?" Miles asked.
"We do not have an answer for that," DEQ's Dr. Anthony responded.
Bill Herndon of Gladys questioned why advisory signs had not been posted further up the river towards Leesville Dam since the striped bass and white bass are migratory fish "that go that far if allowed to do so."
Following the meeting Thursday night, Herndon said he felt that he didn't receive an answer to his question.
Another area fisherman in the audience asked Dr. Wasti if he would feed fish caught in the Staunton River to his children.
Dr. Wasti responded, "I would not feed them too many of the three species for the rest of their life."
Hap Hagood questioned what future plans were in the works for identifying the PCB source.
"We plan to establish some type of follow-up plan," said DEQ's Larry Lawson.
"We really haven't looked at potential sources. That's the next step," he added.
J. D. Puckett, Brookneal's representative on the Campbell County Board of Supervisors, questioned why Campbell County has not received any notification of this problem (fish advisory)?
"I don't have an answer to that question, but we will correct it," Lawson assured.
J. T. Davis, a longtime river supporter, told the state representatives that when they look at the people attending the hearing, they should see "concern, anger and even some hostility."
"You set on this data for almost five years, and then you blamed each other. We look at fingerpointing as childish, and right now your credibility is at zero with us. We deserve a lot better.
"You investigated, but you did not follow up. You data is incomplete, and you did not inform the public in a timely manner," Davis continued.
He then called for the state agencies to take "immediate action" to correct the problems.
"We want some real down to earth answers to our questions...and there are still a lot of questions to be answered," Davis said adding, "We will only be satisfied after another comprehensive study is complete.
"We're dead serious about this river," he said pointing out past instances where people along this section of the Staunton River have "risen to the occasion."
"We can not be labeled as cream puffs here," he continued.
Davis concluded his address declaring, "The good Lord has blessed us, and we have entered into a relationship with the river. We look on the Staunton River as our bride, and we're going to honor her, cherish her and do whatever it takes to protect her."
Also addressing representatives of the DEQ and Department of Health were Appomattox Del. Watkins Abbitt, Cole Poindexter representing Staunton River Watch, Charlotte County Supervisor Haywood Hamlet, Bill Daniel of the Friends of the Rivers of Virginia, Douglas Powell, a Historic Staunton River Foundation trustee and Tom Stutts, Chairman of the Scenic Staunton River Advisory Committee.
Each called on the state agencies to work with a "blue ribbon committee" comprised of area persons who could assist in the completion of a new river study that would address all concerns expressed at the hearing Thursday night.
In all of the studying and surveying of the river and its fish, Stutts told the state representatives, "You have forgotten one species the people."
Jack Dunavant of Halifax urged the state officials to "take the politics out of this and give us the facts in a timely fashion.
"This whole meeting tonight could have been avoided if we had gotten the facts," Dunavant added. At the conclusion of the meeting Thursday night, moderator Shelton Miles urged the DEQ and Department of Health representatives "to partner with us...use us...be in contact with us."
And Del. Bennett reminded the two state agencies that "this river can not wait a year for you to plan.
"We need to know where the source of the contaminants are. I hope you don't need me to show you where the Altavista and Hurt area is, but I will," he concluded.
An early Thursday morning beating of a female guard at the Blue Ridge Adult Detention Center in Halifax has triggered an extensive investigation, according to Chris Webb, Director of the Blue Ridge Regional Jail Authority.
The guard was allegedly beaten by inmate Willard Crawford Hudson, 38, of Halifax who was arrested by the Tri-County Regional Drug Task Force on August 13, according to Webb.
Webb did not release the name of the guard, pending a completion of the investigation which is being conducted by the Halifax County Sheriff's Department.
She is recovering and her wounds "required many stitches," Webb pointed out.
"This was a reprehensible act and we are going to take every effort possible to prosecute the case to the maximum," Webb said. "We intend to send a message that this sort of behavior simply won't be tolerated."
At the time of the alleged beating, Hudson was being held without bond pending his trial on felony charges of abduction, use of a firearm while in the commission of abduction, and possession of a firearm after previously having been convicted of a felony.
When the guard opened the man's cell at approximately 2 a.m. Thursday, Hudson allegedly overpowered her and beat her severely, according to Webb.
Hudson is believed to have used the brass key ring and keys to beat her, police said.
New charges against Hudson could be along the lines of malicious wounding or "perhaps even attempted murder," according to Webb.
The incident will be studied closely to determine if any changes in policy or procedure may be needed, Webb said.
"However, if you get a mean enough person and given the slightest opportunity, something like this is unfortunately going to happen," Webb said. "But we are going to take steps to see that inmates realize ahead of time that we're not going to put up with such behavior."
By Beth Robertson
He has no desire to walk Omaha Beach or to see the graphic World War II invasion movie "Saving Private Ryan," not D-Day invader John "Buddy" Thaxton.
In the first Allied wave storming ashore at Omaha Beach, Thaxton and his Company F pals met murderous German fire that pivotal day, June 6, 1944. It is a scene the former staff sergeant would just as soon not revisit.
On that terrible day, too many boyhood friends fell mortally wounded on the beach killing field.
"It was violence, murder and mayhem in its highest form," recalled Thaxton.
"The movie would bring back too many unpleasant memories," said the veteran.
On Omaha Beach four or five hours on D-Day, F Company listed 79 casualties out of 180 men. Twenty-eight of those were killed with nine listed as missing in action.
From D-Day to June 30, the company recorded 111 wounded and 59 killed in action.
The first man out of Thaxton's landing craft was shot. "But the rest kept moving," recalled the Company F staff sergeant.
Thaxton's "frame of mind" prior to hitting the beach?
"After a personal conversation with God, my main concern was getting off that landing craft," Thaxton wrote a French citizen who posed the question. "The water was rough and we were going up and down with the waves like a seesaw.
"I recall thinking I would much rather fight than drown, and I was really relieved when we reached shore."
The one sound he will never forget: the screaming meemie.
"It was a weapon we referred to as a screaming meemie ...and there is no other sound like that on this earth," recalled Thaxton. "It was a rocket type weapon. It had a fin that, when it came down, made that sound."
Twenty-one years old at the time, Thaxton and his buddies served with the local National Guard Unit, Company F, 116th Infantry, 29th Division.
Although he chooses not to revisit Omaha Beach in person or in the movies, the Company F veteran compiled a book introducing the men of Company F to future generations.
He also helps children of men killed with Company F contact other veterans who might have known their fathers.
Through Thaxton, sand from Omaha Beach in Normandy was sent via mail by a French citizen, Yves Vercoutter, as part of a permanent exhibit for the South Boston-Halifax County Museum of Fine Arts and History.
"This sand is sacred to the families of those men killed June 6, 1944, while serving with the local National Guard Unit, Company F, 116th Infantry, 29th Division, during World War II. This small memorial to help us all remember their sacrifice is being presented to the South Boston Halifax County Museum of Fine Arts and History on behalf of the surviving members of the unit," reads the inscription.
Names of those killed crossing beach were Melvin H. Granger, Elvin T. Estes, Fulton E. New, Ernest N. Wise, Herman G. Hilscher, Louis J. Alberigo, Carl E. Bowen, Hershel E. Finke, Edward L. Gillingham, Roscoe E. Kidd, Anthony Krawfsky, Ralph T. Messervey, Daniel B. Schmidt, Cono R. Severino, David S. Shapiro, John A Sobecki, Thomas N. Ward Jr., Anthony J. Wlodarek, Frank I. Fissette, Paul R. Hardy, Earl Howe, Edward J. Siemion, Robert J. Slate, Eugene L. Weese, Joseph Trask, Frank H. Troxler, Franklin J. Polster and Richard P. Hall. The last two names, Polster and Hall, were recently added from the Missing in Action roster.
A Danville Braves game Thursday night took an unbelievable twist for one Halifax County resident.
Diane Armstrong and her husband, Mike, were among a group of employees and guests from Medical & Surgical Associates in South Boston attending the Danville game courtesy of a pharmaceutical company.
During a trivia contest held by the Braves during the middle of the game, a young man walked to home plate and posed his own question to announcers in the press box.
"If the young man can stump the announcers, he can win a free dinner to a local restaurant," explained Diane Armstrong.
His questions was: "Who was the winning pitcher of the 'Pine Tar Game with George Brett?'"
"The press box answered back 'Dave Righetti,'" she recalled. "But that couldn't be because Dave was with the Yankees - and the K.C. Royals won the game."
So who was the winning pitcher of that controversial game between the Royals and the Yankees?
He was there at the game, Diane's husband, Mike Armstrong.
The Armstrongs later learned the young man had taken his question from the back of a baseball card.
"Who would have thought - of all the questions this young man could have asked - his answer was sitting there in the stands?" asked Armstrong's wife.
A memorial service for former Halifax resident Nellie Mae (Bee) Parker was held Sunday afternoon at Beth Car Baptist Church.
The Rev. Charles Stewart conducted the service. A private burial followed in Halifax Cemetery.
Mrs. Parker, 84, died Friday, August 21, at Wake Medical Center in Raleigh.
A leader in opening new avenues of communication for the deaf here, Mrs. Parker worked extensively with the deaf in Halifax County establishing the Ministries for the Deaf at Beth Car Baptist Church. She is also remembered for the Christian ministry she shared with her husband, the Rev. Charles P. Parker, throughout the county. Mrs. Parker also was named Mother of the Year in the 1970's.
Mrs. Parker was born in Richmond on March 10, 1914, the daughter of Alfred N. Bousman and Stella Jolly Bousman. She was a member of Beth Car Baptist Church.
Her survivors include her husband; daughter: Bettie P. Ittenbach of Cary, NC: sons: Gary Williamson Parker of Boulder, CO and Walter B. Parker of Halifax; brother: Gary Bousman of Arizona, and six grandchildren.
For memorials please consider the American Heart Association, 4217 Park Place Court, Glen Allen, VA 23060.
Lance Antonie Chandler, of 2100 College Street, South Boston, died Thursday, August 20 at the age of 25.
He was born in Atlantic City, NJ July 21, 1972 and was the son of Henry Chapell and the late Nannie L. Chandler.
Mr. Chandler is survived by his father, Henry W. Chappell, of Atlantic CIty, NJ; eleven sisters: Angela Polk, of Halifax; Gela Nethercutt, of Effingham, SC; Tonya Chandler; and Tina Tuck, both of South Boston; Doris Ferguson, Vivian West, Joyce Easley, Sheila Womack, Carrie Jones and Jackie Cook, all of South Boston; Denise Harris and Barbara Barksdale, both of Baltimore, MD; five brothers; Rickie, Justin and Damon Chandler Henry and Shawn Chappell, all of South Boston; eleven brothers-in-law; and two sisters-in-law.
Funeral services for Mr. Chandler were held Sunday, August 23 at 4:00
p.m. with services at the New Mt. Olive Apostolic Church with the pastor,
Leonia Palmer, officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery.
James Darryl Guthrie, 41, of Acorn Road, Nathalie, died Friday evening, August 21, 1998 at his residence.
He was born in South Boston, August 31, 1956, son of Beatrice Tuck Guthrie of Nathalie and the late Robert James Guthrie. He was a mechanic and body technician.
In addition to his mother, he is survived by two brothers, Ryland Guthrie, and his wife, Velda, of Nathalie, Tony Guthrie, and his wife, Draye, of Nathalie; two sisters, Nancy G. Bailey, and her husband, Sam, of Phenix; Charlene G. Roane and her husband, Mark, of Nathalie; two nephews, Keith Guthrie, Casey Clowdis; four nieces, Anita Grove, Apryl Bailey, Tina Roane, Gina Guthrie; one great nephew, Brandon Guthrie; one great niece, Brandy Grove.
A funeral service will be conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday, August 25 at Henderson Funeral Home Chapel by Brother Doug Stacey with burial to follow at Childrey Baptist Church Cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Monday at Henderson Funeral Home and will be at his mother's residence other times.