Wednesday, January 12, 2005

Tax Chief Refutes Hogan

Says Delegate Had Access To Budget Figures In 2004

BY Keith Strange
G-V STAFF WRITER

Through the two money committees, legislators had access to accurate revenue forecasts during last year’s budget battle, Virginia Tax Commissioner Kenneth Thorson said this week.

Thorson responded to a statement attributed to Del. Clarke Hogan charging that Governor Mark Warner misled legislators and the public in pushing for a tax increase.

He said the budget forecasting process is now, as in the past, open to the legislators responsible for the state’s money issues. “Nothing is concealed, withheld or manipulated," he said.

Published in the January 3 edition, Hogan suggested Warner’s revenue forecasts were skewed and said that bills will be introduced this session to make the forecasting process more clear to both the legislators and the public.

“The bottom line is when you manipulate the forecasting to justify a tax increase, you undermine the way the government works,” he said in the earlier story. “There will be some bills this session to open up this forecast to the public and legislature.”

“Because forecasting Virginia’s revenue is a duty of the Department of Taxation, I want to give your readers an overview of how the process works and who is involved from the beginning of the process,” Thorson said.

According to the tax commissioner, legislators on the two General Assembly money committees, House Appropriations and Senate Finance, are kept abreast of the forecasts throughout the process.

“Virginia’s revenue forecast is developed using a consensus approach which involves participation by key members of the General Assembly, as well as legislative staff," Thorson said.

Last year’s budget forecasts were based on the March, 2004 income statement, he added.

“March revenue activity was reported in detail, categorized by each major revenue source, to the General Assembly’s money committees on April 14, two weeks prior to the vote (on the House version of the omnibus tax bill)," Thorson said. “In addition, the legislative staffs of the money committees receive, every business day, the same daily deposit sheet prepared by the Department of Taxation that is sent to the Secretary of Finance.

“In other words, both the executive and legislative branches have full access to the same revenue-receipts information at the same time," he added.

But Hogan feels the General Assembly should have some input into the forecasting mechanism.

“The General Assembly is advised, at certain points, of certain information," he said yesterday. “But it is the sole responsibility of the executive branch (Warner) to forecast it.

“While certain members of the General Assembly are informed at certain points, they have no input at all as far as the forecast.," Hogan added.

Hogan said his comments weren’t simply the result of last year’s extended session, but were addressing what he sees as an ongoing problem.

“My point was not to assault either the current governor or past governors," he said, but “we’ve had some problems we need to address.

“I made my comments about the forecast in the context of both the 2001 budget impasse and last year’s session," Hogan added. “I can’t imagine that anyone would suggest that a more open process including the legislature, who are responsible for taxation and where to spend the money, would not benefit the public because it would go a long way toward dispelling the fact that we spent a fair amount of time last year arguing about how much money we had."

Thorson said the surplus, currently estimated at approximately $950 million, could not have been predicted because it is the result of “unprecendented growth" during the final quarter of the fiscal year.

“It is simply unreasonable to assume that the governor and his revenue forecasting team could have predicted such a strong finish to fiscal year 2004," he said. “It would also be misguided to assume that the General Assembly and its money committees – with access to the same information at the same time as the governor – could have foreceen collections surging the way they did at the end of the year."

Drakes Plant Closing

DRAKES BRANCH – Charlotte County, as well as Halifax County workers, received a devastating blow Monday night when West Point Stevens announced it was closing its Drakes Branch manufacturing facility, with a loss of 450 jobs.

As part of its 2005 restructuring plan, West Point Stevens announced it will cut a total of 2,465 jobs at facilities in Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Indiana.

Company officials said preparations for closing the plants will begin this month, with final closure of those facilities to be completed by March or early April.

According to company officials, the plant closings and workforce reductions are directly related to the removal of textile quotas from low-wage countries.

While some of the company’s production will be shifted to other facilities, a significant amount will be imported from other countries, officials said.

“This is another move in our ongoing strategy of adjusting as necessary to meet the challenges of doing business globally,” said West Point Stevens President and CEO M.L. (Chip) Fontenot.

“We must be flexible in maintaining the most profitable balance between our domestic manufacturing and goods sourced from overseas. This becomes more critical with quotas removed.

“This restructuring will strengthen the company, with better-aligned capacity and greater freedom to market in a cost-efficient way those products most in-demand. Our goal, of course, is to ensure the company’s growth and profitability in a global economy,” he added.

Along with the Drakes Branch facility, the company will close its Alamance plant and distribution center in Burlington, N.C., at a loss of 560 jobs; close its Clemson, S.C., fabricating and distribution center at a loss of 760 jobs; close its Clemson Greige plant at a loss of 340 jobs; close its Middletown, Ind., facility at a loss of 110 jobs; and reduce the workforce at its Clemson finishing plant by some 245 jobs.

“We deeply appreciate the associates at these locations - indeed all our associates,” said Fontenot. “Their skills and perseverance over the years have made West Point Stevens a leader in our industry, and we sincerely regret that this restructuring is made necessary by today’s global marketplace, where so many of our products can be produced much less expensively in countries other than the U.S.”

He added that the company would apply locally for assistance for laid-off workers under the Trade Act of 1974, and attempt to place some laid-off workers at other company facilities.

The announcement of the county’s leading employer closing its doors came much to the dismay of Charlotte County officials and citizens.

“The impact of the closing of West Point Stevens is a critical matter.” said R. B. Clark, county administrator.

Clark went on to say that he and Gary Walker, chairman of the Board of Supervisors have met with key elected officials and the Tobacco Commission in an effort to obtain assistance for the county.

“We have put in motion requests from state and federal agencies for assistance.” said Clark. “We are doing everything we know to do.”

In addition, Walker has announced that he will be calling a special meeting of the Board of Supervisors, although the date has yet to be determined.

Assistant County Administrator Stephanie Heinzleman added that the county is striving to find a solution for the 450 jobs that will be lost.

Director of the Virginia Work Force Center in Charlotte Court House, Shawn Rozier, met with officials from the plant late Tuesday to discuss options for those who will be unemployed come spring.

“The Workforce Center will be assisting those who have been affected by the layoffs at West Point Stevens in every manner possible,” Rozier said. “This assistance will include help with searching for jobs, assistance with obtaining retraining for other occupations, and help to access other community resources that are needed at this difficult time in their lives.”

Rozier added that his office will be coordinating efforts with West Point Stevens, the Virginia Employment Commission Southside Virginia Community College and other partners in the community.

Those seeking assistance from the Workforce Center can call (434) 542-5605.

In addition to the loss of jobs, a significant amount of revenue will be gone from the county. According to Charlotte County Treasurer Mary Anne Thorpe, $305,433 was paid to the county in 2002. Due to a bankruptcy claim filed by West Point Stevens in 2003, the county was not allowed to collect revenue from the company in the following years although the company made a partial payment in 2003, and recently paid approximately $215,000 toward their 2004 dues.

While operating under different names, the Drakes Branch facility has been a major job and revenue provider for Charlotte County since 1949 when it opened as a Pacific Mills manufacturing plant.

That company merged with Burlington Industries in 1954, and produced men’s woolen suits until 1971, when the plant closed for approximately 10 months.

Burlington reopened the plant, and produced terry-cloth towels until 1986, when the operation was sold to J.P. Stevens.

Two years later the plant was taken over by Pepperil, and the name of the facility was officially changed to West Point Stevens in 1991.

Since that time, it has continued to produce bath and towel products.

 

School Board Accepts SoBo Land Offer

Stapleton Hopes To Bring Issue Before Supes In February For Funding

The Halifax County School Board unanimously voted to accept approximately 20 acres of land offered by the South Boston for a new school during Monday night’s meeting at Sydnor Jennings Elementary.

Superintendent Paul Stapleton told the Board the proposed land, located near the DMV office, was the best the town had to offer.

“The land has water, it has sewer and electrical,” he said. “So you already have three items that will not cost you anything in construction costs.

“You have very little site development,” added Stapleton. “You also have two streets on either side of the school so you will have the opportunity to put parent traffic and visitor traffic on one side of the school and all of your bus traffic and service traffic on the other side. You will also have the opportunity to have a separate faculty parking lot.”

Stapleton told the Board he would try to address funding for the project with the Board of Supervisors at their February meeting.

“But they appropriate funding, they need to have something in writing from the town offering an appropriate tract of land,” he told the Board.

Board members Kelly Hill and Sandra Rister questioned the Board’s ability to select another site for the school should one become available.

“You have a lot of wiggle room,” said Stapleton. “But I don’t think the town has anything better to offer than this.”

As part of the agreement the School Board will cede ownership of Washington-Coleman Elementary School to the South Boston IDA in exchange for the offered land, according to Stapleton.

“I think the town’s intent for Washington–Coleman is to preserve it historically and make it a historical landmark for the town of South Boston, and to use it to offer recreational opportunities,” explained Stapleton. “I think they are very willing to give options to the school system without any sort of payment for use of classes in the future. The town will work with you any way it can.”

The proposed school would consolidate students from Washington-Coleman and C.H. Friend elementary schools.

No discussion has been held on how the C.H. friend property would be used after the new school was constructed, according to Stapleton.

He said he was optimistic the Board of Supervisors would appropriate funds for the new school project.

“I think we are going to get consideration for it,” he said yesterday. “They realize the importance of all of this.

“If the Board decided they will appropriate the money, we will kick up the design process,” he added. “In 12 months time, we could potentially have that school completed.

“As soon as we know what the supervisors will do, then we will have a better idea of where to go.”

The School Board also addressed their annual reorganization, unanimously re-electing Arthur Reynolds as chairman and Sandra Rister as vice-chairman.

Paul Stapleton was appointed to serve as clerk with Larry Clark serving as deputy clerk.

The board also recognized Alyssa Walden, editor-in-chief of HCHS’s The Star, for winning the WDGJ-7 Roy Stanley Miller Scholarship.

Pamela M. Clark, HCHS’ journalism teacher, told the Board she was extremely proud of her student’s achievements.

“From day one Alyssa has had a style and passion to write,” said Clark. “She has an instinct and conviction to fight against discrimination and tackle issues of concern within the school environment.

“Alyssa came to the newspaper class with an innate sense of creativity that totally redesigned the look and content of out paper. Her insightful editorials and colorful feature stories have sparked and maintained the interest of our readers.

“Through her writing, leadership and perseverance, Alyssa has accomplished something extraordinary for The Star,” added Clark. “As her teacher for four years, I have had the chance to see this young woman mature and develop into a fine person, an outstanding scholar, and a genuine free spirit. I believe that Alyssa represents the very finest qualities of today’s high school students.”

 

Obituaries

Bertha Jones

Bertha Jones, 75, of Danville died January 9 at Danville Regional Medical Center.

Born March 19, 1929, in Pittsylvania County, she was a daughter of the late Nathan Thompson and the late Sarah Barber Thompson and was married to James Jones.

Mrs. Jones was an employee of Lorillard Tobacco Company.

Her survivors include eight daughters, Annie Chandler Ferrell, Wendy Jones and Faye Jones, all of Danville, Nannie Jones of Halifax, Sarah Robertson of Edward, N.C., Patsy Dixon of New York, N.Y., Marilyn Lee of Sutherlin, and Martha Jones of Charles Town, WVa.; five sons, Johnny Carter, Jerry Jones and Larry Jones, all of Danville, James Jones of Vernon Hill, and Marvin Jones of Ashville, N.C.; one brother, Herman Thompson of Danville; four sisters, Sue Pannell of Danville, Thelma Thompson of New Haven, Conn., Helen Edmonds of South Boston, and Carolyn Adkins of Brooklyn, N.Y.; and a host of grandchildren.

The family is receiving friends at the home of Sue Pannell, 348 Old Quarry Road, Danville.

Funeral services for Mrs. Jones will be held January 15, at 1 p.m. from Fisher and Watkins Funeral Home Chapel. Bishop Walter Anderson will officiate. Burial will follow in Highland Burial Park.

Lee Andrew Polk

Lee Andrew Polk, 41, of 80 Poplar Creek Street, South Boston died January 9 at Halifax Regional Hospital.

Mr. Polk was born in Pittsylvania County on January 1, 1964, the son of Howard Lee Polk and Martha Logan Reed and was married to Angela Chandler Polk. He was a member of New Mt. Olivet Apostolic Church.

Survivors include his wife; five children, Corey Barley, Adrienne Barley, Christopher Polk, Quincy Polk and Aleathia Polk; five grandchildren; his parents; his stepfather, Lewis Reed; grandfather, Roosevelt McMillian of Washington, D.C.; his grandmother, Maude Polk of Vernon Hill; step-grandmother, Pauline Reed; two sisters, Jeanette Tucker and Monica Farrar; three brothers, Chrison Polk, Timothy Polk and Robert Donyell Reed.

Funeral services for Mr. Polk will be held January 15 at 2 p.m. at New Olivet Apostolic Church with the Rev. Leona Palmer officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the services and other times at his home, and the home of his mother, 1109 Blue Rock Road, Vernon Hill.

 

Surging To The Front

The HCHS Girls Indoor Track Team Is Emerging As A District Contender

BY Joe Chandler
G-V STAFF WRITER

The Halifax County High School girls indoor track team appears to be hitting its stride at just the right time.

Last weekend the Comets won the Heritage Invitational indoor track and field meet, giving the school’s girls indoor track program its first major indoor invitational event win since 1998.

That 1998 season also marked the last time a Halifax County High School girls indoor track team won the district championship meet.

Can the Comets repeat that accomplishment this season?

Comets coach Mary Douglas says she feels they can.

“The way I look at it right now, I think we have a really good shot at winning the district," said Douglas.

“We have some things we have to work on, of course. We’re going to do some shuffling of people and events to gather as many points in the field events and the sprint events as we can because we still don’t have a lot of distance runners. We’re going to have to do some things like that to win the district, but we think we’re capable of doing it."

The victory last weekend did a good deal to solidify that belief.

“We were able to beat Charlottesville High School this past weekend (at the Heritage Invitational) and they’re actually tougher competition that E.C. Glass (the annual favorite to win the district title),” Douglas pointed out.

“When we look at that, we think we’ll do okay (in the district championship meet) but we’re not doubting anyone because things can change on any given day. A lot of schools are at the point where they’re not any better in a particular event than you are. Kids see what somebody else did and they think they need to step it up. We look at everyone as a challenge.

“We’re just going to go in with the attitude that we’re going to do our best in practice and do our best in the meets and continue to prepare ourselves for the district meet," she added.

While the Comets came away with a big win and some outstanding individual performances in last Saturday’s Heritage Invitational, Douglas said the team realizes it cannot rest on the laurels of that one day.

“We won but I think all of us took it as being just a stepping stone,” said Douglas.

“This is just incentive to get where we need to be. The win on Saturday was good, but we all realize that in order to win our district and in order to get more people qualified for regionals and the state meet we still have a lot of work to do.”

More of that work will come Thursday when the Comets will journey to Lynchburg to compete in a quad meet that was added to their schedule over the weekend. That meet will be the final formal tune-up the Comets will have prior to the February 5 district championship meet.

Douglas said she will take that opportunity to shuffle some people into some different events as she continues to look toward finding a combination of people and events that will maximize the team’s chances of winning the district title.

“We’re going to try some new things on Thursday and see what we can pull out of some of the kids and try to overload as many sprint events and field events as possible," she said.

“There will be new events for people. Some people are going to try some things they haven’t done before but, with a little work, should be capable of doing. For some of them it’s going to be a little fun, for some of them it’s not going to be a little fun. For the most part, once they get started doing it, they’re okay."

A case in point is the Comets’ Shemelia Brandon.

Brandon, who led the Comets in scoring 42 of the team’s 72 points in last Saturday’s Heritage Invitational, competed in the triple jump for the first time last weekend and had an outstanding effort.

Brandon not only won the event but her jump of 37 feet and six inches was a new Halifax County High School record and qualified her for the Northwest Region and Group AAA state meet.

“Shemelia said she couldn’t triple jump, that she didn’t know how to triple jump," explained Douglas.

“We took her out New Year’s eve and taught her how to triple jump. She had never done it in a meet before Saturday. Now, she loves it. I think it’s her favorite event.

“A lot of them have no idea what they can do and sometimes it’s just a matter of introducing them to things," continued Douglas.

“Sometimes they find themselves being a little more successful in the new things than they are in the old. That balances it out. Once that happens, you can usually talk them into trying something else."

The surge of the Comets’ success has been a gradual one. Douglas said she saw early on that this team, a team loaded with a large group of freshmen, has talent.

“I think we’ve made a lot of progress, a lot more than they (the girls on the team) thought," Douglas said.

“When I saw them out in conditioning, I felt like they were going to be pretty good. But, I think as far as they’re concerned, they’ve made a lot more progress than they thought they were capable of.

“We have a bunch of ninth-graders and they were a little timid the first couple of meets," continued Douglas.

“A lot of them were able to recognize the difference in the level of the competition and that made them tense. I think they’re relaxing a lot more now because after the competitions we have had, they are better able to see what they need to do in order to be successful."

The Comets will be looking for a strong performance in the district meet from a large handful of individuals.

That group includes Brandon, Ashlee Coleman and Juanita Kincy, as well as the team’s key group of freshmen.

“We will need everybody to step up," Douglas said.

We’re trying Shemelia in more open events now because she will pull in more points for us in open events. A lot of the ninth-graders are making up our relay teams so we can free her up to help bring in those points.

“We need to get Ashlee Coleman throwing further in the shot put," continued Douglas. “She’s been throwing pretty well, but we’d like to see her throw 39 or 40 feet. Juanita Kincy will be a big determining factor for us based on what she does in the high jump. We’re also going to try her in the 60-yard dash on Thursday. She’s also running two relays for us."

One area Douglas is trying to shore up is the distance running events. The Comets are somewhat thin there but, hopefully can improve some there by the time of the district meet.

“We have a couple of ninth-graders that are working at it, including Amey Totherow in the 1,000-meter, the mile and two-mile," Douglas said.

“She’s doing a good job. She’s come a long way since she started. Cassie Green has been running the 1,000-meter and the two-mile relay and is improving a lot. She still has a long ways to go. She hasn’t advanced as much as Amey or as much as we would have liked to have seen her at this point.

But, she has been working hard.

“We’re looking at Clarissa Aguilar, Siobhan Howerton and possibly Crystal Burden to help out in the 4x800-meter relay to try to pick up some points there," continued Douglas.

“We may possibly try to get Crystal ready for the 1,000 as well. A lot of the other ninth-graders, including Tanashia Medley, Felicia Bowman, Koren Daniel, Marteia Ferrell and Donise Newton will also have to step it up.

“Everyone is going to have to step it up," added the Comets coach.

We need to get as many kids qualified (for the region and state meets) as possible. A lot of schools have only two or three people throwing and running and we want to go in with at least five people doing each event and not just doing it, but performing at a level where they’re going to place."

 

AWNC I Hits Century Mark In Win

AWNC II Remains Unbeaten Heading Into All-Star Break

BY Doug Ford
G-V STAFF WRITER

Undefeated AWNC II isn’t the only team putting up impressive numbers this season in the South Boston Business & Industrial League, its brethren from AWNC I hitting the century mark Sunday in a 100-58 win over Lasco.

The win improved AWNC to 11-1 on the season, while Lasco fell to 3-9.

AWNC II stayed unbeaten (12-0) with a 56-45 win over ABB (5-7), while Dollar General improved to 10-2 with a 73-49 win over Presto (5-6).

O’Sullivan defeated South Boston/GCR 66-55 to improve to 9-5, SoBo/GCR falling to 6-6 with the loss.

In other action, Georgia Pacific defeated Halifax County School System/Food Lion 68-64 to improve to 5-7 on the season, HCSS/FL dropping to .500 (6-6) with the loss.

In a non-league game, H&M Logging defeated McBride Construction 61-50 to go to 9-3 on the year.

Named Players of the Week for their performances Sunday were Robbie Revis of Georgia Pacific and Travis Fields of AWNC II.

Revis scored 21 points, including three treys, and was six for six from the foul line in his team’s win over HCSS/Food Lion, and Fields scored 15 points and was a perfect six of six from the charity stripe in his team’s win over ABB.

All-Star activities kick off this Sunday at the South Boston Recreation Center with player introductions at 6:25 p.m., followed by the all-star game between the Red and Blue squads at 6:30 p.m.

AWNC I 100, Lasco 58

AWNC I put five players in double figures to hit the century mark in a 100-58 drubbing of Lasco.

Eric Smith hit a game-high 20 points for AWNC I, Traval Staten scored 18 points and Jarad Hayes scored 17 points, while Tim Dixon and Tavalas Staten chipped in 14 points apiece.

It was 49-28 at halftime in favor of AWNC I, Smith with four treys the first half and Jerome Coleman scoring all of his nine points for the game.

Dixon broke loose after halftime, scoring 13 points for AWNC I and Tavalas Staten added 10 points to help give their team a breakaway win.

Lasco had two players finish in double figures, David Byrd with 17 and Mark Hudson with 11 points, respectively.

AWNC II 56, ABB 45

AWNC II overcame a 21-18 halftime deficit to keep its record unblemished with a win over ABB.

Marcus Boyd 12 of his team-high 23 points and Travis Fields 11 of his 15 points after intermission to fuel the comeback.

Rodney Chandler put on a one-man scoring show for ABB, hitting four 3-pointers among his 29 points. Michael Jackson finished with nine points for ABB, which hurt itself at the foul line, hitting only two of 10 free throws.

AWNC II in comparison was 11 for 16 from the charity stripe as a team.

Dollar General 73, Presto 49

Andre Sims scored a game-high 24 points and Tyrone Dunkley and Joey Barksdale scored 18 and 16 points, respectively, as Dollar General opened up a big halftime lead on the way to a 73-49 victory over Presto.

Dunkley had 14 points in the first half and Sims added 13, as Dollar General surged to a 39-24 lead at intermission.

Barksdale came alive after halftime, hitting 14 of his points, and Sims added 11 more, as Dollar General pulled away.

Chuck Mosley and Daniel Brandon scored 14 points each to lead Presto, with Mosley hitting four treys and Brandon two 3-pointers, but it wasn’t enough to catch Dollar General.

O’Sullivan 66, SoBo/GCR 55

Treymayne Boyd and Lamont Boyd scored 20 points apiece, with a combined 26-point effort in the second half, as O’Sullivan pulled away for a win over SoBo/GCR.

SoBo/GCR trailed by only one point at halftime 26-25, Freddie Jeffress scoring eight of his team-high 20 points and Matthew McCargo scoring 11 of his 19 points before intermission.

Treymayne Boyd and Lamont Boyd took over for their team in the second half, the duo canning three treys in the second half, as O’Sullivan won by 11 points.

Freddie Jeffress, who finished with 20 points, including three treys in the second half to keep his team close, led SoBo/GCR.

Matthew McCargo added 19 points and Ronnie Edmonds chipped in 10 points for SoBo/GCR, which was five for 12 from the foul line as a team.

O’Sullivan was six for nine from the charity stripe for the game.

Georgia Pacific 68, HCSS/Food Lion 64

Robbie Revis scored 21 points to lead four players in double figures, as Georgia Pacific defeated HCSS/Food Lion in the closest game of the day.

Clyde Lindsey finished with 18 points, 12 in the first half, Dominik Short 11 points and Jerome Gooden 10 points for Georgia Pacific, which led at intermission 35-32.

Georgia Pacific held HCSS/Food Lion at bay from the foul line in the second half, hitting 10 of 18 foul shots to win the game. Georgia Pacific was 15-23 as a team for the game, with Revis six for six from the line.

Kenneth Day scored a game-high 22 points to lead HCSS/Food Lion, including six 3-pointers, while Kelvin Davis added 16 points.

HCSS/Food Lion was eight for 14 at the charity stripe for the game.

H&M Logging 61, McBride Construction 50 (Non-League)

Maurice Miller scored a game-high 18 points and Chatterias Harris added 17, as H&M Logging defeated McBride Construction in a non-league matchup.

H&M had a 27-25 lead at halftime, Miller’s nine first-half points and Harris’ two treys leading the way.

Harris counted two treys among his nine second-half points, Torrance Dunkley scored seven of his 11 points and Waverly Harris nine of his 14 points after intermission as H&M pulled away to the win.

Johnny Wilson led McBride Construction with 16 points and Jason McBride added 13 points, both players with two treys. David Ashwell chipped in 11 points, but it wasn’t enough.

H&M Logging was eight for 16 from the foul line for the game, while McBride Construction was six for nine from the charity stripe.