Drawing New Lines

The Halifax County School Board will hold an all-day retreat on Feb. 22 to address new attendance zones for the county’s schoolchildren next year.
The decision was made to hold the retreat when trustees met for their regular monthly meeting Monday night in the public meeting room of the Mary Bethune Complex in Halifax.
Prior to approving the schedule that will ultimately determine the school system’s attendance zones last year, Superintendent Paul Stapleton said staff is currently compiling information Board members will need to determine the school zones for next year.
“We believe this is a workable schedule for staff to get you the information you need to make the decision,” he said.
According to the schedule approved Monday, following the work session where Board members will receive staff reports concerning this year’s zones and projections for next year’s attendance at each county school, a public hearing will be held during the March 6 School Board meeting.
“On March 12, you (the School Board) could vote and adopt the plan for next year’s zones,” Stapleton said.
When the Board first addressed the issue last November, Stapleton said a big question concerns how many parents will want to send their children to the new schools in South Boston and Cluster Springs.
This year, 327 students are attending schools out of their zone, with 71 of those attending C.H. Friend Elementary School and 63 of those attending Washington-Coleman Elementary School despite the fact that they live in another school’s attendance zone.
Under current policy, students may attend school out of their zone based on the availability of space and considering extenuating circumstances such as the parent being employed by the school system, work schedules, babysitting arrangements or health requirements.
Based on enrollment projections for next year, he said the new school in South Boston is expected to house 593 students next year and the new Cluster Springs school will house 562 students.
But Stapleton noted that each school is being built large enough to hold additional students, if needed.
During the November meeting,, he told the School Board that the South Boston school has the capacity to accommodate 850 students and Cluster Springs can hold 750 students.
“That is 250 additional students you can put in South Boston and 190 in Cluster Springs,” he said.
In other business, during Monday’s meeting the School Board approved a request for a waiver that will allow the county’s school system to open before Labor Day.
Assistant Superintendent Larry Clark said that the Code of Virginia provides for the waiver if the school system has closed an average of eight instructional days for five of the previous 10 years due to weather, energy shortages, power failures or other emergency situations.
According to Clark, the Halifax County average was 9.6 days.
School Board members also set Friday, March 30 as the official dedication of the track facility at Halifax County High School.
The date was set in order to allow for track standout and Olympian Tisha Waller to attend the ceremonies.
“The primary reason for choosing March 30 – besides the fact that Tisha can be there, is it’s spring, it’s track season and our track athletes can be there,” Clark said.
During Monday’s meeting the Board also voted to authorize Director of Technology Terry McGhee to proceed with tentative plans for the school system to co-host a technology exhibition with the Southern Piedmont Technology Council.
“We’re going to target this exhibition to normal people and try to get them to understand the technology we’re using in the school system and how that can help them in their businesses and homes.
“This is an opportunity for the public to come and see some of the impacts of technology in our school system,” McGhee said. “They’ll get to see some of the nicest technology available today without having to drive somewhere else to see it.”

Founders Rezoning Approved

Founders College Development’s request to rezone 223 acres from R-1, one family residential, to PD-R, Planned Development-Residential, sailed through South Boston Council following public hearing Monday night.
The property is owned by Eva Harris and is under contract with Founders College Development LLC.
With the rezoning, Founders College Development will complete the purchase of the Berry Hill property, the Harris Property and some additional Harris property adjacent to their Berry Hill tracts, Town Manager Ted Daniel said prior to the public hearing, which opened with a presentation by Earl Dickerson, president of Hurt & Proffitt Inc. of Lynchburg.
Dickerson addressed the project’s planned development, traffic impact, and reminded Council of the developers’ plan to seek a boundary adjustement to bring the Founders’ project within town limits.
The unanimous Council vote of approval Monday night sets the stage for the March 19 joint town/county public hearing on the boundary line adjustment,
At a previous meeting Tamara Fuller, president of Founders College Development, estimated 400-500 acres would be transferred to South Boston with boundary adjustment approval.
Founders plans to construct 562 residential units on the property already located in town limits and plans 335 units for the land currently in the county.
About a dozen speakers addressed the rezoning issue Monday night with all but one, Minnie Tingen, speaking in favor of the Founders Development project.
Tingen, who lives on Berry Hill Road, told councilmen she was worried about traffic in the area following the proposed development.
“I am concerned,” she said. “I understand about the good possibilities, but what about us?”
The only other objection to the project is a letter submitted by Terry Blevins, pastor of Berry Hill Church, at a previous meeting.
But Monday night, as during the previous Planning Commission hearing, support for the project was overwhelming.
A parade of speakers, including Industrial Development Authority Chairman Larry McPeters, IDA member Bill Kelehar, area businessmen and residents lauded the proposal.
Kelehar described the proposed college and planned community as a boon. “I really think it is going to be the likes of which South Boston hasn’t seen,” he said. “It would be a mistake not to do it.”
“Colleges bring lifelong learning,” said YMCA Executive Director Marcus Hargrave, also an IDA member. “Something active adults are looking for.”
He said the college and development would bring employment, taxes and business to the community. “These are the kinds of businesses we want to come to our community.”
Blakely Swanson, Charlie Payne, Bob Cage and David Saunders urged councilmen not to lose the opportunity, with Swanson noting the development could help generations of county residents.
Halifax County Historical Society President Barbara Bass noted Berry Hill’s architectural renown, adding the Founders College people “are committed to Berry Hill.”
“It is a jewel that really belongs to the county,” she added.
McPeters urged support of the project, noting its fourfold benefits: a four-year college that will bring money to the economy; the planned development sector will help the for-profit college project; the expansion of hotel and conference center facilities; and the protection and preservation of Berry Hill.
McPeters estimated 300-500 jobs could come as a result of the project, with salaries ranging from $22,000 to $225,000 over the ten-year development period. He also emphasized that the for-profit college will pay taxes.
At $125 million, McPeters said the project will be the second largest private capital investment in the history of Halifax County, with ODEC, the power plant at Clover, the largest. “And that is huge,” he added.
The IDA chairman also noted the college’s $200,000 scholarship fund for local and area students.
In other business, following public hearings, Council unanimously approved the following:
n A resolution clarifying that a portion of the June $5,015,000 public improvement bond will be used to finance the landfill’s closure in December. The closing cost are estimated at $1.25 million, according to town officials.
n Survey plats will be required for new construction for single family dwellings.
n Approved the proposed 2007-2012 Capital Improvement Plan which provides $685,000 (General Fund) and $15,760 (Water/Sewer Fund) for capital improvements for the first year of the five-year CIP. In the General Fund, the following projects: Planning and Community Development, Church Hill Community Development CDBG Project (last year) $380,000; Railroad Heritage ISTEA, $250,000; Police Department evidence filing/secure storage, $35,000; Public Works Dept. traffic signal controller upgrade, $20,000. Water/Sewer Fund, meter replacement program, $15,760. Total, $700,760.00.
However, councilmen turned back an amendment to the town’s zoning ordinance that would regulate electric fences in residential zones, asking the Planning Commission to revisit the issue.
Councilman Chris Elliott raised the regulation issue, questioning whether the amendment would affect those protecting small family gardens from deer and other predators.
“Is there a way to have a fence for gardeners?” asked Councilman Ed Owens. Elliot, with a second by Owens, moved that the proposal be sent back to the Planning Commission for review.
During the Monday night meeting councilmen also unanimously approved adoption of a Regional Natural Hazard Mitigation Plan Resolution, which was presented during Council’s prior work session by South Boston fire official “Sput” Jones. The plan is mandated by FEMA prior to any funding.
Council also authorized a resolution asking the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to conduct a feasibility study regarding the development of a flood control project at the Dan River, Riverdale business district, U.S. 501.
The feasibility study is federally funded up to $100,000 with 50/50 cost share beyond that figure. Town officials will have to authorize any study beyond the federally funded portion and would call for a contract with the town prior to any flood control construction by the Corps.
Council also recommended to the court the appointment of Mrs. Sterling Byrd-Roberts to the Board of Zoning Appeals. She is eligible for reappointment.
During citizen comment, Sam Palmer asked councilmen for help regarding two items, the crosswalk at Mt. Olive Baptist Church, and a tree that blocks the view as vehicles come up College Street.
Town Manager Ted Daniel said that the town’s police chief and public works officials were working on Palmer’s concerns, adding that the issue was going to the Transportation Safety Commission for a recommendation. In addition, Daniel said the town was still trying to work on off street parking for the church.

Obituaries

Edwin Julius Pounds Sr.

Edwin Julius Pounds Sr., 80, of 1205 Old Grubby Road, South Boston died February 11, 2007, at his home.
Mr. Pounds was born in Halifax County on November 12, 1926, to the late Edwin B. Pounds and Sophronia Logan Pounds and was married to Bessie Womack Pounds. He was a member of Foundation Ministries of Faith Apostolic Church.
Survivors of Mr. Pounds include his wife of the home; two daughters, Terri P. Jennings and Tiffany P. Glass, both of South Boston; three sons, Elder Jasper W. Pounds of South Boston, Kelvin M. Pounds of the home, and Edwin J. Pounds Jr. of Ashland; three sisters, Emily Griffith of South Boston, Annie Ford and Helen Brown, both of Washington, D.C.; 15 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; two sons-in-law, Quentin Jennings and Antonio Glass, both of South Boston; two daughters-in-law, Margaret Pounds of South Boston and Mia Pounds of Ashland. Three brothers, Billy, Felix and Wildy Pounds; and three sisters, Mabel Hill, Edith Borders and Maggie Foy, preceded Mr. Pounds in death.
Funeral services will be held tomorrow, February 15, at 1:30 p.m. at Household of Faith Apostolic Church on Mountain Road, South Boston with Elder Jasper Pounds officiating. Burial will follow in the Pounds Family Cemetery.
The family will receive friends this evening, February 14, from 6 to 7 at Jeffress Funeral Home Chapel and other times at the home.

Maxine Chilson Smith

Maxine Chilson Smith, 66, of Clarksville died February 9, 2007, at her residence.
Memorial services were held February 12 at Watkins Cooper Lyon Chapel, Clarksville with Revs. Rodney Barwick and Charles Clay officiating. Interment of cremated remains followed at Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery, Chase City.
Mrs. Smith was born in Napa, Idaho to the late Paul Chilson and Mary Vettese Chilson Burke and was married to Joseph Randall Smith.
Survivors are her husband; 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, Calif. and Don Edwin and wife, Linda Kurtz, of Keysville; five grandchildren, Joseph Bryan Smith, Marc David Smith, Michael Keith Smith, Ashley Faith Day and Jacob Mason Day; special friend, Cookie Pharr. She was predeceased by a son, Keith Randall Smith.
Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.wclfh.com.

Joseph Benjamin Streat Sr.

Joseph Benjamin Streat Sr. was born in Halifax on April 18, 1929, to the late William and Augusta Streat, and was married to Rosa E. Streat.
He served 30 years in the United States Navy, retiring as a Chief Petty Officer. Mr. Streat attended Norfolk State University and received a Bachelors of Science Degree in Automotive Mechanics.
He spent several years teaching Industrial Education.
Mr. Streat was a charter member of the Dome of Canaan Baptist Church where he served as a deacon, taught Sunday School and bible study.
He served as the first director of the Ushers Ministry of Canaan.
Survivors include four sons and one daughter: Joseph B. Streat Jr. of Virginia Beach, Darnell Streat of Houston, Texas, Charles A. Streat and Keane L. Streat, both of Chesapeake, and Cheryl A. Streat-Harris of Norfolk; his grandchildren: Jamie Harris, Richard Harris, Alexandria Harris, Lacey Streat, Chelsea Streat, Jasmine Streat, Caleb Streat, Darnell Streat, Jr. and Joshua Streat; one great-grandchild, Jailyn Wheeler; and one sister, Annie M. Bailey of Halifax.