Monday, February 12, 2007

Emswiler Diesel Fire ‘Suspicious

For the second time in two months, firefighters from across the county converged on Emswiler Diesel Thursday to quell a blaze in the business’s salvage yard.
Although no one was injured in the blaze, a spokesman for the South Boston Fire Department said that firefighters were on the scene of the Thursday fire from 4:08 p.m. until nearly 10:30 p.m. fighting a fire that investigators believe was deliberately set.
Shortly after arriving on the scene firefighters were kept at a safe distance while workers attempted to move cars from the scene of the blaze as multiple explosions reverberated through the salvage yard.
The fire eventually consumed between 50 and 60 cars, according to firefighters, and sent a cloud of black smoke into the air that could be seen as far away as Mecklenburg County.
South Boston Fire Chief William Murray said yesterday that it took eight fire departments and more than 100,000 gallons of water to quench the fire.
According to fire officials, firefighters were notified of the blaze when one of the workers at the salvage yard discovered smoke billowing from the property.
Virginia State Police Sgt. D.O. Cooper said investigators were on the scene Friday and determined the cause to be “suspicious.”
“The state police came down Friday and investigated it,” Murray said. “They were still down there when we left Friday morning and while they haven’t told me themselves, I’ve been told it was deliberately set.”
The latest fire is the second fire to strike Emswiler Diesel in two months, according to firefighters.
On Dec. 28, firefighters responded to a blaze in the junkyard that they described as a “large fire.”
The spokesman said no cause was ever determined in the December fire.

Crossing at the Dan celebration

A cold wind knifed through Constitution Square Saturday morning, exposing those celebrating the 226th Crossing of the Dan to the chilling realities confronting Gen. Nathanael Greene and his tattered army as they raced to the Dan pursued byLord Cornwallis.
Some in Greene’s Southern Army played their pivotal role without enough blankets, with tattered clothing and marching on bloody feet, according to historians speaking at the Saturday event.
Greene’s escape from Cornwallis allowed the Southern Army to regroup in Halifax County, renew provisions, rest and then return South to do battle.
Guest speaker and Greene expert Gerald M. Carbone described the Army’s survival as having “created the conditions for Yorktown” and America’s ultimate victory.
If the Southern Army had been lost, Carbone said that Cornwallis could have crossed into Virginia, linked with other British troops and the southern states would have been left with no protection. “It would have been over,” he added.
“Foresight was one of Greene’s great characteristics,” according to the author.
Prior to Greene’s Race to the Dan, the former quartermaster had ordered the Dan River mapped, an invaluable asset as his troops fled before the overwhelming forces of Cornwallis.
Planning included six boats awaiting Greene’s men for the crossing, according to Carbone, author of “Greene: A Biography of the American Revolution”.
There were none for Cornwallis, who had discarded provisions and wagons in an attempt to lighten his load and catch the fleeing American troops, a decision that exposed his men to hardships.
A victim of Dan Morgan’s successful battle at Cowpens, Cornwallis had vowed revenge, according to Carbone.
“He resolved to follow the Army to the end of the world,” said the author. “Guess that ended up being South Boston, Virginia,” he added with a smile.
During the battles leading up to the Race to the Dan, Cornwallis lost roughly half his troops, according to Carbone.
Earlier Saturday, local historians recalled that cold February day 226 years ago.
“Imagine for a moment this location being empty of buildings, roads and bridges, those around you being Greene’s soldiers after they crossed the river,” said Danville historian and SAR member Larry Aaron during opening ceremonies at Constitution Square.
“I believe that many of them stood exactly where we are standing right now - around a campfire, doing what Light-Horse Harry Lee said in his classic memoirs of the war: ‘rehearsing the hopes and fears that agitated every breast during the retreat.’
“Imagine too the reaction when Lee and Carrington stepped off the last boat to cross the river. Lee wrote that “In the camp of Greene joy beamed on every face, as if every man was conscious of having done his duty.’”
Today, South Boston, the Halifax County Historical Society, the county, the SAR and DAR are guiding a grassroots initiative to place a permanent exhibit in The Prizery, overlooking the site of the Boyd’s Ferry Crossing of the Dan.
The project has grown to a $315,000 project “to establish an education center and exhibit second to none in honoring and preserving one of the most remarkable achievements of the American Revolution,” South Boston Town Manager Ted Daniel told those gathered to celebrate the 226th Anniversary.
An official with the state SAR told the crowd Saturday that the SAR will publicize the Crossing of the Dan celebration and exhibit both statewide and nationally through its publications.
The Berryman Green Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution recognized winners of their Project IDEA poster and poetry contest, Rufus Jeffress and Jessica Conner, during the Saturday event.
The day’s events included lunch at The Prizery, a pilgrimage to “The Crossing” at Boyd’s Ferry and the display of Visit the Morning Star batteau.

‘No Contest’ To Murder Charge

Fred Allen Jennings, a 63-year-old Lula’s Trail resident, pleaded no contest Friday in Halifax County Circuit Court to the second degree murder of Lee R. “Ricky” Waller in January 2006.
In exchange for Jennings’ plea, the Commonwealth agreed to nol pros an additional charge against Jennings for the use of a firearm in the commission of murder and agreed to a sentence of no more than seven years in prison.
The shooting of Waller, a 52-year-old Brookneal resident, occurred during the late afternoon of January 20, 2006, after an argument turned violent, according to the Halifax County Sheriff’s Department.
The Sheriff’s Department said that deputies were dispatched to the scene following an initial report of a possible DOA.
Emergency services personnel had determined upon an examination of the victim that he (Waller) had been shot and that the assailant (Jennings) was still at the scene.
Sheriff D.J. Oakes said that Jennings was taken into custody by Sheriff’s Department deputies without incident at the scene.
A 22-caliber rifle, believed to be the murder weapon, was also recovered at the scene, added Oakes.
Jennings and Waller were long-time acquaintances who got into a verbal altercation accelerated by alcohol the day of the shooting, according to evidence presented during the plea hearing.
Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Mike Freshour said that Deputy Tiffany Bratton was told by Jennings upon her arrival that he “could not stand up” because he’d been drinking.
“There he is, I shot him,” Jennings allegedly told Bratton in reference to Waller.
Freshour added that investigators found a rifle next to where Waller’s body was found in addition to a spent shell casing.
Defense attorney Buddy Ward pointed to a possible self defense motive for the shooting.
“There was anger and there was fear. Jennings is frail, Waller had a criminal record and he liked to get in your face,” said Ward, noting both men were found to have a blood alcohol content in excess of .4 at the time of the shooting.
Judge Charles L. McCormick III continued sentencing for Jennings to the March court term.

Obituaries

William Lynn Rice Sr.

William Lynn Rice Sr., 54, died Saturday, February 10 at Duke University Medical Center.
The son of William Booker and Martha “Tuny” Stigall Rice, he was married to Linda Jones Rice, graduated from Halifax County High School and worked for more than 30 years at Burlington Industries and subsequently worked with Revlon.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. today with services at Nelson Baptist Church. The Revs. James McAlister , Bill LaWall and Norman Talley will officiate.
Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
In addition to his wife and parents, Mr. Rice is survived by sons William Lynn Jr. and wife Kristen of Silverdale, Washington and Henry Doyle Rice of Roxboro; stepsons Jackie and Laurie Seate of Halifax and Chad and Tracy Seate of Nelson; sisters Wanda R. and Wade Thomas and Robin R. and Terry Wolford, all of Oxford.
Also surviving are grandsons William Logan Rice and Brady Alexander Rice of Silverdale, Washington and six step-grandchildren.
The family requests that anyone wishing to contribute memorials please consider the American Cancer Society.

Roger Lee Dunkley

Roger Lee Dunkley, 52, of Richmond died February 6, 2007, at his home.
Mr. Dunkley was born in Halifax County on March 27, 1954, to the late Abraham Dunkley and Pearl Bowman Dunkley. He was a U.S. Army Veteran.
Survivors include his fiance, Wanda Whittle, of Richmond; three daughters, Tonya Barksdale of South Boston, Mylesha Dunkley and Jalen Dunkley, both of Richmond; one stepdaughter, Carrie Whittle of Richmond; one stepson, Michael Whittle of Richmond; three sisters, Mary Ellis of Upper Marlboro, Md., Lucille Stephens and Martha Thorpe, both of Landover, Md.; five brothers, James Dunkley of New York, Milton Dunkley of Richmond, William Dunkley of Miss., Benjamin Dunkley and Frank Dunkley, both of South Boston; three grandchildren; and four special friends, Fredrick Ford, Dorothy Chapman, Doll Baby Harrison and William Boyd.
Funeral services for Mr. Dunkley were held February 10, at 11 a.m. at The Crawford House Chapel in Halifax with the Rev. Sandy Palmer officiating. Burial will be private.

Maxine Chilson Smith

Mrs. Maxine Chilson Smith, 66, died Friday, February 6 at her residence.
She was born in Napa, Idaho, the daughter of the late Paul Chilton and Mary Vettese Chilton Burke.
Memorial services will be held at 2 p.m. today, with services at the Watkins Cooper Lyon Chapel. The Revs. Rodney Barwick and Charles Clay will officiate.
Burial will follow at the Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery in Chase City.
Mrs. Smith is survived by her daughter and son-in-law, Angela Smith and M.C. Day of South Boston; a son and daughter-in-law, Joseph Cecil and Ann B. Smith of Danville; two brothers, Robert LeRoy Kurtz of Willow Creek, California and Don Edwin and wife Linda Kurtz of Keysville; five grandchildren, Joseph Bryan Smith, Marc Devid Smith, Michael Keith Smith, Ashley Faith Day and Jacob Mason Day; and special friend Cookie Pharr.
She was preceded in death by a son, Keith Randall Smith.
Online condolences may be made at www.wclfh.com.

George Chester Wade

Mr. George Chester Wade of Clover died Saturday, February 10 at the Chase City Nursing Home.
He was born in Halifax County on August 20, 1916 and was 90 years old.
Mr. Wade was the son of the late George Tucker Wade and Adeline Hazelwood Wade and was married to the late Sarah Seamster Wade.
Survivors include two daughters; Frances W. Reese of Danville and Joan W. Lacks and husband John Wayne of Clover; one son, Chester Wayne Wade and wife Gaynell of Clover; one sister, Marion W. Hamlett of Drakes Branch; one brother, Willie Wade of Clover; nine grandchildren; 15 great-grandchildren and six great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services for Mr. Wade will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, February 13, with services at the Powell Funeral Home Chapel. The Rev. Don Pizzeck will officiate.
Burial will follow in the Clover Cemetery.
The family will received friends Monday, February 12 from 7:00 until 8:30 p.m. at Powell Funeral Home and other times at the home of Joan and John Wade, 4211 Mt. Laurel Road, Clover.

Virginia Bailey Tucker Gordon

Virginia Bailey Tucker Gordon of Hurt died February 5, 2007, at Lynchburg General Hospital. She was the wife first of the late Robye James Tucker and is survived by her second husband, James E. Gordon.
Born April 14, 1921 in Pittsylvania County, Mrs. Gordon was the daughter of the late William Herbert and Lena Compton Bailey. She was a member of New Bethel United Methodist Church, a charter member of the UMW and a trustee and member of the official board. She retired from Leggett.
In addition to her husband she is survived by one sister, Shirley Bailey Briles and her husband, Garland, of Hurt; sisters-in-law, Susie D. Bailey of Hurt and Mary Ann Royster and husband, Alvin, of South Boston; brother-in-law, Franklin Gordon and wife, Minnie, of Chase City; and her caregiver, Shirley Hull. One daughter, Linda Dale Tucker; and one brother, William Paul Bailey, preceded Mrs. Gordon in death.
A funeral service was held at 2 p.m. on February 8 at New Bethel United Methodist Church with the Rev. James Brown officiating. Burial followed at Straightstone Baptist Church Cemetery.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider New Bethel United Methodist Church, 7061 Dews Road, Hurt 24563, or Altavista EMS, P.O. Box 1, Altavista 24517

Four To Be Inducted Into Hall

By Joe Chandler
Sports Editor
Four local athletes, the late Sanford Ray “Dock” Ballou, Mason C. Day Jr., William E. “Scooter” Dunn and Donald Testerman, will be inducted into the Halifax County-South Boston Sports Hall of Fame,
This year’s Sports Hall of Fame Induction Banquet will be held Saturday, April 14 at 6:30 p.m. at C.H. Friend Elementary School in South Boston.
Tickets are priced at $20 in advance and $25 at the door and may be purchased from any member of the Board of Directors or at area business locations that will be announced at a later date.
In addition, tickets may be ordered by contacting Addison Marable at 572-3031.
Ballou was an outstanding athlete at C.H. Friend High School from 1942 through 1945. He played halfback on the school’s football team, played forward on the school’s basketball team and played shortstop for the baseball team.
For his accomplishments, Ballou was presented the T.C. Watkins Outstanding Athlete Award in 1946.
Ballou attended Randolph-Macon College and played football for legendary coach Taylor Sanford. He played for three years at Randolph-Macon College and then joined the army and played football in England and Germany.
It was noted that Ballou once punted a football from his own 10-yard line to the opponent’s 10-yard line, a punt of 80 yards. That record stood for a lengthy period and may still be in the record books.
Ballou died in July of 1993 but will be long remembered by his peers.
Day began playing Dixie Youth Baseball in 1954 and made the all-star team that went to the Dixie Youth Baseball World Series in Columbus, Miss. in 1958.
He played through all of the local Babe Ruth Baseball and Connie Mack Baseball leagues and played midget football and basketball.
A graduate of Halifax County High School, Day went into business for himself in Halifax County. He then began coaching in the South Boston Dixie Youth Baseball League, coaching the team he had played for – the American Legion.
Day coached for 35 years in the South Boston Dixie Youth Baseball League. In 1980, he coached the South Boston team that won Virginia Dixie Youth Baseball state championship and coached that team in the Dixie Youth World Series in Goodletsville, Tenn. That team narrowly missed winning the World Series title.
Day left Goodletsville, Tenn. with a dream of seeing South Boston have a baseball complex such as the one in the Tennessee town. After many years of hard work and planning and with the help of many people, that dream became a reality.
Dunn began playing baseball at the age of nine, playing with the Vaughan’s team in the Halifax County Dixie Youth Baseball League. In 1964, Dunn was a member of the Halifax County Dixie Youth Baseball all-star team that finished second in the Dixie Youth Baseball World Series in Columbus, Miss.
After graduating from Halifax County High School, Dunn attended Elon College in North Carolina and played for the Fighting Christians’ baseball team.
Dunn returned to Halifax County and, in 1974, was named as coach of the Halifax County Middle School baseball team. During the 11 years that he coached the team, Dunn compiled a record of 142-28 and had a 59-game winning streak at one point.
In 1985, Dunn became the head coach of the Halifax County High School varsity baseball team. During his 10 years as coach of the Comets, he compiled a record of 138-57, won several Western District championships and took the team to the Group AAA state championship game in 1995.
Dunn is currently the head coach of Danville’s George Washington High School baseball team.
Testerman, a Danville native, got his start at the Schoolfield YMCA at the age of 11. His family moved to Halifax County and he played football for the Blue Devils in the local midget football league. He also played baseball for the Lions in the South Boston Dixie Youth Baseball League.
While in the tenth grade at Halifax County High School, Testerman joined the United States Navy and, after his stint in the service, returned to Halifax County High School and played football on the varsity football team.
One of the top running backs to ever play at Halifax County High School, Testerman was named to the All-Western District Team, the All-Northwest Region and the All-Group AAA State Team.
Testerman was also named as a High School All-American and was named as the Most Valuable Player in the annual Virginia High School League Coaches Association All-Star Football Game.
He went on to attend Virginia Tech, Ferrum Junior College and Clemson. Upon his graduation from college, Testerman was drafted by the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League (NFL) and was later traded to the Philadelphia Eagles.
The Eagles traded Testerman to the Seattle Seahawks where he played for three years. Testerman was later traded to the Washington Redskins and ultimately finished his pro football career with the Miami Dolphins.
The former Halifax County High School football standout was an assistant coach for the GW High School football team this past season.

Trio Win WVD Track Titles

By Joe Chandler
Sports Editor
Three members of the Halifax County High School indoor track team, Patrick Terry, Cory Jackson and Stacey Hamlett, won district championships Saturday at the Western Valley District Indoor Track and Field Championships in Lynchburg.
Terry, who has qualified for the state Group AAA meet, won the boys’ 55-meter race with a time of 6.57 seconds. Hamlett, a sophomore, won the girls 55-meter race with a time of 7.68 seconds.
Jackson, a senior, won the shot put with a throw of 48 feet and seven inches, a mark that topped his previous best mark of the season by two feet.
Seven members of the Comets boys team including Terry and Jackson qualified for the upcoming Northwest Region meet as did two members of the girls team.
The Northwest Region meet will be held Feb. 23 at Liberty University in Lynchburg.
The Comets boys track team placed fifth in the five-team field in Saturday’s meet, falling just three points shy of a deadlock with the GW boys team.
Halifax County’s girls team, which had only four participants, placed fifth in the five-team field and was well out of contention.
Brian Turpak, Halifax County High School’s track coordinator, said he was pleased with the effort turned in by the team.
“Overall, we did better than I thought we would do,” Turpak said.
“We have the fastest runners in the district with Patrick and Stacey. Stacey had a great run. She started well, her transition was good and her finish was really smooth.
“Cory had a tremendous effort in the shot put,” added Turpak.
“It’s not every week that you can see and improvement of two feet.”
Bryan Clarke earned the right to advance to the Northwest Region meet with a third-place finish in the 55-meter race with a time of 6.7 seconds. He also finished in a tie for third place in the high jump with a leap of 5-8.
Jamond Edmonds qualified for the Northwest Region meet with a third-place finish in the triple jump. His mark in that event was 41-11.5. He also qualified for the regional meet with a sixth-place finish in the long jump with a mark of 19-11.
Amanual Coleman qualified for the Northwest Region meet with a fifth-place finish in the 500-meter race with a time of 1:15.97.
Erik Mosley also competed in the meet, finishing tenth in then 300-meter race with a time of 42.57 seconds.
The Comets’ 4x200-meter relay team consisting of Travis Stevens, Clyde Scott, Terry and Clarke, placed third with a time of 1:58.24, good enough to earn a spot in the Northwest Region meet.
Among the girls, LaDonna Canada placed third in the shot put with a throw of 35-10 and qualified for the Northwest Region meet in that event. Cherena Canada placed eighth in the 55-meter dash with a time of 8.2 seconds but did not make the finals. Jasmine Pointer placed seventh in the triple jump with a leap of 31-2.50, missing advancing to the regionals by one position.
The Comets’ 4x200-meter relay team consisting of Hamlett, Cherena Canada, LaDonna Canada and Pointer placed fifth with a time of 2:08.17, not good enough to qualify for the regional meet.
E.C. Glass, as expected dominated both the boys and girls meet, winning by large margins. This was the 14th consecutive district indoor track crown for the E.C. Glass boys team and the fifth in a row and 13th in the last 14 years for the E.C. Glass girls team.
Glass won the boys met with 188 points, finishing well ahead of Patrick Henry (97), GW (56, Franklin County (55) and Halifax County (52).
In the girls meet, the Hilltoppers tallied 142 points and were followed by Franklin County (109), Patrick Henry (104.5), GW (80.5) and Halifax County (18).

Comets Face E.C. Glass Tonight In Play-In Game

By Joe Chandler
Sports Editor
The Halifax County High School varsity boys basketball team has one last chance tonight to salvage what has been a disappointing and bizarre season.
That opportunity comes in the Western Valley District Tournament play-in game, a game which will see the Comets, the last-place team, return to Lynchburg to face fourth-seeded E.C. Glass in a contest set for a 7 p.m. tip-off.
Halifax County (6-15 overall 0-8 district) fell to E.C. Glass 62-46 Thursday night in Lynchburg in the regular-season finale for both teams.
The Comets were beset with yet another round of misfortune strike in that game. First, point guard Morgan Brown’s knee locked up at halftime, preventing his return for the remainder of the game.
Later, a crucial point in the game in the fourth quarter, the Comets were nailed for a technical foul when reserve Yarnick Ford entered the game wearing a different numbered jersey than his regular number 40.
Ford was listed in the official score book as wearing jersey No. 40 but entered the game wearing a different number.
That foul took the Comets from 11points down to 14 points down with 3:03 left in the game, essentially taking them out of contention.
“It’s the craziest thing I’ve ever seen,” Comets head coach Ron Parson remarked.
“We came out in the second half and Morgan Brown couldn’t play. His knee just locked up while he was walking. Just out of the blue his knee locks up.”
Then comes the unusual technical foul.
“For 20 games, he’s been wearing number 40,” Parson pointed out about Ford.
“Suddenly, he’s wearing No. 24. He didn’t tell anybody he switched jerseys. The rule is in place and it’s his fault.”
Now, Parson and the Comets must regroup for tonight’s play-in game, a game in which the winner will advance to Tuesday night’s tournament semifinal round and a meeting with regular-season champion GW in Danville.
“We’ll just come back and play and hope everybody’s healthy,” Parson said of tonight’s play-in game against E.C. Glass.
“I think the key will be Morgan’s knee. If his knee is well enough for him to play, I think we’ll come in and play well. I think we had the mindset to play well tonight.”
The Comets had two players, Leon Glenn and Allen Stephens, who scored 12 points and 11 points respectively, in double figures in Thursday night’s game with Michael Ferrell following with nine points and Brown chipping in five points in the first half.
The game was close through the first half with the contest being deadlocked six times before the Hilltoppers hit an 8-0 run in the final 2:22 of the first half to take a 27-20 lead at halftime.
With Brown out of action, Parson then had to go Ferrell at point guard for what was the second time this season.
“Morgan is still our floor leader regardless of what goes on out there,” Parson said.
“Without him on the floor it makes it tougher for us.”
Despite that, the Comets held their own, falling behind by as many as 11 points in the third quarter, but also managing to get as close as seven points during that eight-minute stanza.
Continuing to hang on, the Comets, with a basket by Stephens, were down by only eight points at 51-43 with 4:42 left in the game. Glass then went on an 8-0 run, a run aided, in part, by the technical foul against Ford.
That run left the Comets trailing 59-43 with 2:19 left in the game and essentially sealed the win for the Hilltoppers.
“For 20 games, he’s been wearing number 40,” Parson pointed out.
“Suddenly, he’s wearing No. 24. He didn’t tell anybody he switched jerseys. The rule is in place and it’s his fault.”
The Comets were down by 11 points at the time the technical foul was called with 3:03 left in the contest. After the technical foul was called, the Hilltoppers’ Justin Henry canned two free throws for a previous foul and hit one of the two free throws assessed for the technical foul, putting the Comets down 57-43.
A basket by the Hilltoppers’ James Hobson with 2:19 left ended the Glass run and buried the Comets’ bid.
Despite the loss, Parson was not upset by his team’s effort.
“After all was said and done, the guys still kept playing,” the Comets coach said.
“ I didn’t think we quit.”