Friday, February 11, 2005

Harris Is Fighting Extradition

The Riverdale man wanted in North Carolina on murder charges in connection with the death of an Alton woman is fighting extradition, according to Halifax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Kim White.
Jessie James Harris, 43, was told he was wanted on murder charges in Roxboro when he went for advisement in Halifax County General District Court last Friday.
“At that time, he could have signed a waiver of extradition,” White said. Signing a waiver of extradition means the suspect doesn’t intend to fight being extradited to a jurisdiction where he is wanted.
“He said something like, ‘I don’t want to go back there right now. It makes me sound guilty and I’m not guilty, I just don’t want to go back there right now,’” White said.
While Harris’ refusal to sign the papers could delay the extradition process, she said, “it’s just a matter of paperwork.”
“North Carolina will have to obtain what is called a governor’s warrant,” White said. “That will authorize North Carolina authorities to come here and Virginia to release him into their custody.
“I would anticipate that all of the formalities will be completed within the next 30 days," she added.
Harris was arrested last Thursday when he went to the Dollar General plant to pick up his paycheck.
Maj. R.S.B. Pulliam of the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office said Harris had worked at the plant, but had “recently been fired.”
He is being charged with murder in connection with the death of Barbara Jean Link, 53, aka Barbara Jean Cunningham, of Huell Matthews Highway.
The victim was found dead in the Roxboro Days Inn on January 30 by hotel staff.
Pulliam confirmed yesterday that when Cunningham’s body was discovered, a two-year-old boy was also in the room.
The Roxboro paper reported that the child was the grandson of the victim. The child’s mother reportedly lives in Durham.
According to published reports, the Department of Social Services was called last Sunday and the child was placed in a Mecklenburg County foster home.
The Roxboro Courier-Times reported that police believe Link died from “major injuries” to her head.
Sgt. Dewey Jones, Roxboro Police Department investigator, told the North Carolina paper that police had located what they believe to be the murder weapon, but he declined to identify the item.
“We feel sure we know what the murder weapon was,” he said, “but we are withholding that information right now.”
Jones said the suspected weapon has been sent to the North Carolina State Bureau of Investigation to be processed as evidence.
Investigators with the SBI are also processing a 1984 Honda Civic that was registered to the victim.
The car was discovered in South Boston at an undisclosed location.

 

U.S. 360 Crash Kills Driver

The driver of a tractor-trailer heading to the New England area from Presto Products died early Wednesday morning in a fiery crash in Charlotte County, the Virginia State Police reported.
The 33-year-old driver, identified as Benjamin Peace of Nashville, Tenn., died on the scene of the single-vehicle crash on U.S. 360, approximately 1.1 mile east of the intersection with Route 47, First Sgt. Jeff Lane said.
Efforts to notify the next of kin proved fruitless for most of the day Wednesday, Lane said yesterday.
“Through the trucking company, the man only had one physical address listed in Tennessee," he said. “We went to notify the family and no one was at the address. He’s supposedly married but we weren’t able to locate his wife until (yesterday)."
Charlotte County Trooper J.V. Bavely was called to the scene of the accident at approximately 1:51 a.m., and arrived moments later.
Police believe the 1998 International tractor-trailer ran off the left side of the roadway, striking several trees, rupturing the fuel tank and bursting into flames, Lane said.
Bavely said the conflagration spread rapidly, burning the truck until all that remained was a charred steel frame.
Despite the damage, investigating officers were able to determine the tags on the trailer as originating in Maine.
Much of the load of plastic products was strewn across all four lanes of the highway, forcing U.S. 360 to be closed for several hours as workers struggled to clean up the debris, according to Bavely.
“Late (Wednesday) afternoon, Route 360 was still down to one lane while the efforts to clean up the wreck continued," Lane said yesterday. “All lanes should be open today."
After the fire was extinguished, rescuers discovered the body of the driver in the charred remains of the cab, according to police.
Firefighters with both the Bacon District, Drakes Branch, Chase City and Keysville fire departments responded to the scene of the accident, according to police reports.
Bavely estimated the damage to the tractor-trailer at between $50,000 and $60,000, according to police.
Lane said that company records indicate Peace left the South Boston plant at 11:50 p.m. en route to Newburgh, New York, and Manchester, New Hampshire.

Supes To Get First Look At EDA Hopeful

The Halifax County Board of Supervisors will meet in closed session Monday to meet one of the final three candidates for executive director of the Economic Development Authority.
Board members will convene at 8 a.m. in the conference room of R.O. Harrell.
EDA Chairman Rick Harrell said yesterday that EDA staff began the search in December and has considered around 15 candidates.
“We narrowed that down to seven or eight candidates and now have the field narrowed down to three,” he said.
One of the candidates is from Halifax County and the other two are “outside” candidates, according to Harrell.
“We hope to be making a decision within the next 30 days,” he added.
During Monday’s interview process, members of South Boston Town Council will also meet with the prospect.
“Those (the Board of Supervisors and South Boston Town Council) are the two Boards who appointed the members of the EDA, so they are the ones we look to when making a decision,” Harrell said. “There isn’t much more we can say until we make a decision and offer a person the job and they accept.”

 

Obituaries

Alien Lorenzo Boyd

Alien Lorenzo Boyd of Nathalie died February 7 at his residence. He was born in Halifax County on June 25, 1939, the son of the late Hulie Boyd and Helen LaPrade Boyd.
Mr. Boyd is survived by his wife, Gladys Boyd of the home; five children. Alien Boyd, Jr. and wife, Heather, and Frank William Boyd and wife, Tashawa, all of Kentucky, Henry Hulie Boyd and wife, Elizabeth, Wanda Selah and husband, Mohammad, and Rhonda Jones and husband, Kenneth, all of Nathalie; one brother, St. John Boyd of Brookneal; two sisters-in-law, Angeline Boyd and Alice Boyd; and 10 grandchildren.
Funeral services for Mr. Boyd will be held today, February 11, at 11:00 a.m. at New Shiloh Baptist Church in Nathalie with Rev. Sylvester Crawley officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Dwayne Ray Hatten

Dwayne Ray Hatten, 45, of Marble Falls, Texas died February 4 at Seton Medical Center in Austin, Texas.
He was born February 22, 1959, in Norfolk the son of Patsy Ruth Hatten Maki and the late Donald Eugene Hatten. He was a former resident of Halifax County for over 20 years.
Survivors of Mr. Hatten include his mother of Marble Falls; three sisters, Brenda Watkins and Patricia Hatten-Konzem, both of Marble Falls, and Jeannie Marie Hatten of Semora, N.C.; one stepson, Brian Roehl of Marble Falls; one niece, Briana Konzem of Marble Falls; and one nephew, Justin Dwayne Konzem of Marble Falls.
Funeral services were held February 9 at 2 p.m. at Powell Funeral Home Chapel in South Boston. The Rev. Dr. Michael Parnell and Mr. John Woodward officiated. Burial was in Oak Ridge Cemetery in South Boston.

James Edward ‘Bobby’ Holt

James Edward ‘Bobby’ Holt, 66, of Detroit, Mich., formerly of Halifax County, died February 5 in Detroit.
He was born on January 14, 1939, to the late Robert ‘Jack’ and Sudie Goode Holt, and was married to Barbara Holt.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Holt is survived by five children; eight grandchildren; two sisters; and one brother.
Funeral services will be held tomorrow, February 12, at 2 p.m. at Dunn & Sons Funeral Home Chapel in Halifax. Pastor Leonia Palmer will officiate. Burial will follow in New Arbor Baptist Church Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the home of John Henry Holt, 2183 Thompson Store Road, Vernon Hill.

Sarah Elam James

Sarah Elam Janes of Lakes of Litchfield died February 8 at the Medical University of South Carolina.
Born January 8, 1914, in Buffalo Junction, Mrs. James was the daughter of the late Daniel Corrin and Pattie Ray Chandler Elam, and was married to the late Harry T. James. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Cheraw, S.C., a member of South Boston O.E.S., and was a retired teacher.
Surviving are son, H. Thomas James and wife, Sarah Jane, of Murrells Inlet, S.C.; grandchildren, Thomas Bennett James and wife, Beth, Mark Edward James and wife, Heather, and Lara Lyn Yarborough and husband, Eddie; and six great-grandchildren.
Graveside services will be held at 11 a.m. today, February 11, at Oak Ridge Cemetery in South Boston.
Memorials may be made to Belin UMC Endowment Fund, P.O. Box 528, Murrells Inlet, S.C. 29567.

Laura Ann Dunkley Penick

Laura Ann Dunkley Penick, 83, of 308 Glendale Drive, South Boston died February 4 at Fauquier Hospital in Warrenton.
Mrs. Penick was born on June 6, 1921, to the late General Washington Dunkley and Alberta Smith Dunkley and was married to the late Calvin Penick. She was a member of Ellis Creek Baptist Church.
Her survivors include four daughters, Shirley Ann Penick, Margie Irene Penick, Elisa Bellfield and JoAnn Crowder, all of Alexandria; nine sons, Arthur Dunkley of Arlington, Charlie Gordon Penick, Michael Penick and Harold Penick, all of Alexandria, David Penick of Boston, Mass, Norman Penick of South Boston, James Penick of Manassas Park, Earl Penick of Chesterfield and Jerry Penick of Bealeton; one sister, Alice Dunkley of Lakeridge; 33 grandchildren; 8 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Penick was also preceded in death by three children, Dexter Penick, Clarise Brown and Thomas Edward Penick.
Funeral services will be held tomorrow, February 12, at 1 p.m. at Traynham Grove Baptist Church with the Rev. Moses Dixon officiating. Burial will follow in Oak Ridge Cemetery.
The family is receiving friends at the home.

Matthew Jerome Newton

Matthew Jerome Newton, 43, of Disputanta, formerly of Halifax County, died February 8 at Southside Regional Medical Center in Petersburg.
Mr. Newton was born in Halifax County on May 14, 1961, the son of the late Matthew Newton and Muriel King Jordan. He was an Army Veteran and was a member of Greater Mayfield Apostolic Church.
Survivors include his mother of Petersburg; stepfather, Leon Jordan Sr.; four sisters, Janet Bagby of Richmond, Sandra Newton of South Boston, Beverly King and Sharon Jordan, both of Petersburg; and one brother, Leon Jordan Jr. of Petersburg. Mr. Newton was also preceded in death by one sister, Paula Rena Newton.
Funeral services will be held February 13 at 2 p.m. at Greater Mayfield Apostolic Church with Elder Bernard Wilkins officiating. Burial will follow in Oak Ridge Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the home of Sandra Newton, 419 Traver Avenue, South Boston.

 

HCHS Faces Another Big Test Against GW

HCHS Is Playing For Third Place In The District In Tonight’s Senior Night Contest

BY joe chandler
G-V STAFF WRITER
Halifax County will face a big test tonight as it makes its last push in an attempt to grab a third-place finish in the Western Valley District standings.
Archrival GW, the team occupying second place in the district standings, comes to town for tonight’s Senior Night contest at Halifax County High School in what will be the final regular-season contest for both teams.
Any time Halifax County and GW lock horns on the hardwood it is a big game. But, for the Comets, a win tonight is crucial.
Halifax County, which fell to 10-11 overall after losing 70-64 on the road Wednesday night to Carlisle School, is 3-4 in Western Valley District play and needs a win to have its best shot at netting third place in the standings.
Patrick Henry, which is also battling for third place, was 2-4 in district play entering its game last night against Franklin County. The Patriots also close out the season tonight with a contest against E.C. Glass.
In next week’s opening-round tournament lineup, the fourth-place team in the standings will travel to Rocky Mount to face regular-season champion Franklin County, which has already locked up one of the district’s two berths for the upcoming Northwest Region Tournament.
Also, GW will host the third-place team with the winner of that game advancing to next Friday’s district tournament title game and possibly gaining the district’s other regional tournament berth in the process.
Comets coach Garrett Dillard said his team, which lost a close 61-54 decision to GW in Danville earlier this season, will have to play well tonight if it hopes to lock down a win.
“This is a big game for us,” said Dillard.
“One of the things we’re going to have to do is stop GW’s power game. We’re going to make some adjustments to try to do that. We’ll make whatever adjustments we feel we need to make during the game to try to do that.”
The big thing, said the Comets coach, is that the team come out tonight mentally focused and mentally ready to play.
“We definitely have to come out with a mental focus,” he pointed out.
“If you’re not mentally focused, there is not a lot you can do.”
With that scenario setting the scene, a handful of Comets seniors, Chase Weddle, Nathan Lantor, Quintin Brown, Clyde Brooks, Travis Moore and Craig McCargo will be honored during the Senior Night festivities prior to their playing their final regular-season home game in a Comets uniform.
While the Comets need a win to give themselves their best chance at grabbing the third seed for the district tournament, the Comets need a win to finish the regular season with an even .500 slate.
Playing with something of an odd lineup that included a couple of players from the jayvee team that were brought up for the contest, the Comets had a tough night of it Wednesday against Carlisle School in losing a six-point decision to the Chiefs.
The 70-64 loss marked the first time that the Comets have lost to the private school near Martinsville and the win was Carlisle School’s first victory over a Group AAA school.
“We never got into any kind of a good rhythmn,” Dillard said.
“We never got into any kind of a team concept.”
McCargo led the Comets with 20 points, Marcus Coleman followed with 14 points and Patrick Terry, who was brought up from the jayvee team, chipped in 12 points as three players hit double figures.
Weddle and Jeremy Jeffress each scored six points, Derek Brooks added three points to the total, Clyde Brooks scored two points and Allen Stephens, another member of the jayvee team who was brought up for the game, scored one point.
Carlisle jumped on top early, jumping out to a 6-0 lead and securing a 16-11 lead at the end of the first quarter and held a 31-26 lead at halftime.
The Chiefs extended their lead to 57-40 at the end of the third quarter. Halifax County rallied in the fourth period to outscore the Chiefs 24-18 but it wasn’t enough as Carlisle held on to finish off the 70-64 win.
“We’d go on a run and then we’d go dead for awhile,” said Dillard.
“We missed several shots inside from point-blank range and that caused us to have to throw up the long ball more.”

Halifax Lions Boys Win Tourney Opener 72-9

Halifax Holds Amelia To One Field Goal In Win

BY Doug Ford
G-V STAFF WRITER

The Halifax County Middle School boys basketball team encountered an overmatched Amelia squad here Wednesday in the quarterfinal round of the Southside Middle School Conference Tournament, and the results were predictable.
Halifax, the one seed in the East Region, dominated East Region four seed Amelia from one end of the court to the other, holding the Raiders to only one field goal in a 72-9 blowout.
The rout advanced the Lions to the tourney semifinals here today against Russell at 7:30 p.m., the winner of that game playing the Park View-Central of Charlotte Courthouse winner tomorrow at 6:30 p.m. for the tournament title.
Four Lions hit double figures in the win, Lemal Adams finishing with 16 points, Marcus Williams with 11 points, and Russell White and Deshon Dabbs with 10 points each. Eight other Lions scored, Tremel Lipscomb finishing with seven points, Tyler Truitt five points, Keon Chandler three points, and Durrell Chandler, Jeremy Dixon, Delquan Torian, Antonio Walker and Devin Walton two points apiece.
Steven Slayden led Amelia with five points, including his team’s only field goal, a 3-pointer with two seconds left in the contest.
The game was an “obvious mismatch” from the beginning, according to Lions coach Mike Hailey, adding the entire team played well in preparation for the semifinal matchup against Russell.
“It was a mismatch especially at the guard positions,” he continued. “We dominated the perimeter and the paint on both ends of the floor.
“Two of the four leading scorers for the game, Marcus Williams and Deshon Dabbs, are second team players. Everyone, including the subs, got a lot of floor time but our starters only played about one quarter.
“We hope that’s not a negative come Friday and Saturday, but we don’t think so.”
The Lions came out roaring against Amelia, leaving little doubt as to the outcome with a dominating first half,ºleading 15-0 after one quarter and 34-0 at halftime.
Halifax converted numerous Amelia turnovers into easy baskets and had its way on the boards, Adams and White controlling the paint for six of the Lions’ first nine points in the opening period. White added another basket, and Chandler, Lipscomb and Torian hit field goals to give Halifax a 15-0 lead after one quarter.
Adams and White again dominated the second quarter, Adams following his own missed shots twice in one sequence as part of his 10 points, while White added his final four points. Lipscomb added a basket and three of four shots from the charity stripe for a 34-0 lead at halftime.
Adams added his final four points early in the third quarter, but the rest of the game belonged to the Lions reserves, Tyler Truitt hitting a trey among his five points and Devin Walton adding a field goal. Williams added his first four points for a 49-4 lead with one quarter left.
Dabbs went on a tear for the Lions early in the fourth quarter, working inside to score four of his team’s first five baskets, while Williams added a trey among his seven points. Dabbs added his final basket, while Keon Chandler, Walker and Dixon added a bucket apiece to close out the scoring.
Hailey likes his team’s mindset coming into the tourney semifinals here today.
“I was very pleased with everyone’s intensity and energy,” said Hailey.
“We can almost see the end of the road now and our season’s goals are like a neon sign. Our starting five is playing with good savvy and we think that could be the difference maker.”

Lions Girls Run Past Lunenburg In MS Tourney Quarterfinals

Halifax County Runs Away In 73-18 Rout

BY Doug Ford
G-V STAFF WRITER

The Halifax County Middle School girls basketball team, showing no effects from a 10-day layoff, overwhelmed Lunenburg 73-18 here Wednesday in the quarterfinals of the Southside Middle School Conference Tournament.
Halifax will take on E.W. Wyatt here tonight at 6 p.m. in the tournament semifinals, the winner facing the Park View-Central of Charlotte Courthouse winner in the tourney finals tomorrow at 5 p.m.
The Lady Lions put five players in double figures Shakiyla Jeffreys finishing with 16 points, including four 3-pointers, while Myisha Younger worked the paint for 13 points. Brittany Roberts, Whitney McCargo and Tiffany Wilson each scored 10 points.
Lauren Daniel added seven points, Nia Brown six points, and Brittany Foster chipped in with one of two foul shots during the game.
DeAndrea Gaines led Lunenburg with 16 points.
Lions coach James Smith was pleased with all aspects of his team’s performance, especially considering the layoff.
“For being off so long, we shot the ball well, passed the ball well, played good defense and rebounded well," said Smith.
“We were sharp tonight. If we can keep this up, we can win this tournament, but the games down the road will be tougher."
The biggest advantage for Halifax against Lunenburg, as it has been all season, was its team speed, according to Smith.
“They were a decent team and had some size, but we were quicker and got down the floor faster," said Smith.
That advantage was no more evident than the first quarter, the Lions’ trapping defense creating numerous turnovers and leading to easy layups on the other end.
Four early steals gave the Lions eight points as it pulled away from a 4-2 advantage to a 31-4 lead after one quarter, McCargo scoring eight points, and Jeffreys hitting two treys among her seven points. Roberts had six points, Wilson and Brown two points each, and Younger a foul shot in the opening period.
The Lions turned off the jets in the second quarter, outscoring Lunenburg10-2 for a 41-6 halftime advantage. Brown scored her last four points of the contest, while Younger, McCargo and Wilson added a field goal apiece.
With the Lions starters getting a little more playing time, Halifax added 20 points in the third quarter while holding Lunenburg to four points.
Jeffreys hit two more treys among her seven points, Roberts added six points, Wilson four points, and Younger added a traditional three-point play. Daniel hit her last field goal of the game as Halifax cruised to a 61-12 advantage entering the fourth quarter.
Younger scored seven straight points for the Lions in the fourth quarter, Jeffreys and Wilson two points each, and Foster hit her foul shot for the final margin.
Balanced scoring will be a key to the Lions’ quest for another tourney title, according to Smith.
“We had balanced scoring, with five girls in double figures," said Smith. “If we can get that kind of scoring and score in the 50s, we’ll be hard to beat, because we can hold most teams under 40 points.
“Wyatt was the only team to score that many against us, and they had a good day shooting the ball [a 52-40 Halifax win here January 8].
“We’ll go over a few things to prepare for them and get ready to go."