Friday, February 18, 2005

Middle School Gets ‘Extreme Makeover’

Superintendent Plans To Ask Supes For Additional $28 Million For Two New Elementary Schools

Members of the Halifax County School Board got their first look at plans for an extensive renovation to the Halifax County Middle School Tuesday night, and gave the nod to plans for a new 850-student South Boston elementary school in the J. Aubrey Houghton Industrial Park.
Trustees also asked architects Dewberry & Davis to design a new school to replace the aging South of Dan and Cluster Springs elementary schools.
To fund the two new elementary schools, Superintendent Paul Stapleton is expected to ask the Board of Supervisors for an additional $28.8 million during their March 7 meeting.
“I had to get past the architectural design meeting to get things ironed out to go back to the supervisors and ask for more money,” Stapleton said.
Supervisors approved $25 million during their October 2004 meeting to fund improvements at the middle school and design plans for the two elementary schools.
School Board approval for the new school in the Cluster Springs community followed Stapleton telling Board members that renovations to Cluster Springs and South of Dan would carry an estimated $12.7 million price tag.
Another option, renovating South of Dan Elementary School to house students from both schools, would cost around $13.2 million, Stapleton said.
The superintendent said he was hoping the Board would see the benefits in constructing a new school.
“It really was bothering me that to spend that kind of money would not be an efficient use of taxpayers money,” Stapleton said. “If we’re going to spend it, we need to do the right thing. That renovation just didn’t seem to be the right thing to do.”
After hearing that a new school could be built for around $13.5 million to house the students in both schools, Board members agreed to the new facility.
The new school is expected to be around 80,850 square feet and will house five kindergarten and first grade classrooms and four second, third, fourth and fifth grade classrooms. In addition, it will have five classrooms for gifted, reading and testing programs and two classes for learning disabled students.
In South Boston, the new 91,000-square-foot elementary school will house seven kindergarten and first grade classrooms, and six classrooms for second, third, fourth and fifth grade students.
The school will also feature a 4,000 square foot media center and computer lab, a music room and multipurpose room with stage, and a science lab, according to the plans.
Five classrooms for gifted students, reading, testing and learning disabled students will also be included in the plans.
A Facelift For The Middle School
“What we’re planning is not a normal renovation,” Stapleton told the school officials gathered Tuesday. “This is extensive renovation. When we’re through, you will have a brand new middle school.”
Stapleton described Tuesday’s meeting as “very, very preliminary,” noting that several more meetings will be held before the final plans for the renovation are approved.
“This is the first step of a long journey before this process is complete.
“These plans are the starting point of the process for the architectural design phase at the middle school,” he said. “They will go through several transitions before being adopted.”
Before final approval, Stapleton will present the proposals to both supervisors and the community for comments on the plans.
Stapleton was joined by Architect Allen Burchette and J. Paul Lewis, described as Dewberry & Davis’ “number one designer,” in presenting plans that include moving the county’s sixth grade students to the middle school.
Although the sixth grade students will be moved to the new school, the superintendent was quick to point out that they would be housed in a separate addition, essentially a “school within a school.”
“The sixth grade wing of the building will be a totally separate complex,” he said. “They will have no contact with the older students. They won’t even be in the hallways with the others.”
According to Stapleton, the only time the younger students will be in the main building will be to use the cafeteria and gymnasium.
Security is also an issue, and Stapleton said an assistant principal’s office will be located in the sixth grade building.
Stapleton said the move will offer sixth graders access to better facilities.
“They will have band, art and access to extracurricular activities at the middle school,” he said. “This is the best of both worlds. We’re offering them the very best we can offer them by putting them in the middle school.”
The addition to house the new students will be a two-story addition at the rear of the existing building.
On the ground level of the existing building, seventh-grade students will be housed, eighth grade science and technology labs will be located on the second floor of the addition.
Stapleton described the planned renovations for the middle school as an “extreme makeover.”
“We want to take the best of the existing building and play upon that to give it an updated theme,” Lewis told the group. “We want it to be simple and clean.”
Much of the renovated space will be topped off with a pitched roof, while glass will be prominent throughout.
“We want to buffer the school with a natural pathway and extensive landscaping to play off the natural grounds on the campus,” Lewis said.
Plans also include circular entrances to all parts of the building.
“We basically have a whole new system of walkways that create a sense of welcome for the students,” the designer said.
Plans also include banded windows with a curved façade throughout.
“What we want to do is take the best of the existing building and play upon that to give it some contemporary features,” Lewis said.
The building will feature a curved glass front of the existing library and outside seating for the cafeteria.

Heavy Court Payouts Are Under Fire

WASHINGTON (AP) — Congress sent President Bush legislation Thursday aimed at discouraging multimillion-dollar class-action lawsuits by having federal judges take them away from state courts, a victory for conservatives who hope it will lead to other lawsuit limits.
The legislation the House passed, 279-149, is the first of Bush’s 2005 legislative priorities to win congressional approval. The Senate voted 72-26 for the bill Feb. 10. The president has described class-action suits as often frivolous, and businesses complain that state judges and juries have been too generous to plaintiffs.
‘‘This bill is an important step forward in our efforts to reform the litigation system and to continue creating jobs and growing our economy,’’ said Bush, who is expected to sign the bill Friday.
But Democrats say the legislation is aimed at protecting GOP business donors and hurting trial lawyers, a traditional part of their base. They also warn that Republican changes to the legal system will only make it harder for people to sue over injuries caused by corporations.
The legislation is ‘‘a payback to big business at the expense of consumers,’’ said House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.
Changing the legal system — including class-action, medical malpractice and asbestos injury lawsuits — has been a priority of Bush, the GOP and the business community. They have criticized what they see as a litigation crisis that enables lawyers to reap huge profits while businesses and consumers are stuck with the bill.
‘‘This is the beginning of meaningful efforts by the Congress to curb lawsuit abuse,’’ said House Judiciary Committee Chairman James Sensenbrenner, R-Wis.
The legislation would ban state courts from hearing large multistate class-action lawsuits. Such courts have been known for issuing multimillion-dollar verdicts like they did against tobacco companies.
When the bill becomes law, cases against corporations and businesses accused of wrongdoing against large groups of people will be heard by federal judges. Critics of the current situation have said federal jurists are not as likely to let multimillion dollar class action lawsuits move forward.
Bush and other Republicans say greedy lawyers have taken advantage of the state class-action lawsuit system by filing frivolous lawsuits in certain states where they know they can win big dollar verdicts. Meanwhile, those lawyers’ clients get only small sums or coupons giving them discounts for products of the company they just sued, GOP lawmakers contend.
In response, Republicans said, companies have had to raise prices on products to recoup their costs, Republicans said.
House Majority Whip Roy Blunt, R-Mo., said that moving those cases to federal court will ensure that state judges will no longer ‘‘routinely approve settlements in which the lawyers receive large fees and the class members receive virtually nothing.’’
But Democrats say Republicans just want to protect corporations from taking responsibility for their wrongdoing by keeping them clear of state courts that might issue multimillion-dollar verdicts against them.
Federal courts are expected to allow fewer large class action lawsuits to go forward, which Democrats say means more businesses will get away with wrongdoing and fewer ordinary people will be protected.
‘‘It’s the final payback to the tobacco industry, to the asbestos industry, to the oil industry, to the chemical industry at the expense of ordinary families who need to be able go to court to protect their loved ones when their health has been compromised,’’ said Rep. Ed Markey, D-Mass. ‘‘And these people are saying that your state isn’t smart enough, your jurors aren’t smart enough’’ to hear those cases.
Republicans will try the same thing with other types of lawsuits, Democrats warned.
‘‘Today we will attempt to pre-empt state class action,’’ said Rep. John Conyers, D-Mich. ‘‘Next month we will take up a bankruptcy bill that massively tilts the playing field in favor of credit card companies and against ordinary consumers and workers alike. On deck are equally one-sided medical malpractice bills and asbestos bills that both cap damages and eliminate liability to protect some of the most egregious wrongdoing in America.’’
The legislation is not retroactive, and cases already in court will go forward in their current courts. For example, it would not affect Vioxx cases already being heard in courts, where people assert that the drug causes problems ranging from stroke to irregular heartbeat to heart attack.
Under the legislation, class-action suits seeking $5 million or more would be heard in state court if the primary defendant and more than one-third of the plaintiffs are from the same state. But if fewer than one-third of the plaintiffs are from the same state as the primary defendant, the case would go to federal court.
The bill also would limit lawyers’ fees in so-called coupon settlements — when plaintiffs get discounts on products instead of financial settlements — by linking the fees to the coupon’s redemption rate or the actual hours spent working on a case.

Police Warn Citizens Flim-Flam Operations

Investigators with the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office are warning citizens of a flim flam scheme.

An elderly Halifax County woman was recently contacted by someone claiming to represent a company named Coastal Solutions, according to Maj. R.S.B. Pulliam of the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office.
The caller told the woman that Coastal Solutions was working on accounts for Bank of America and by professional conversation convinced the victim to share her bank account information.
After receiving the victim’s account information, the suspects withdrew monies from the account, Pulliam said.
Sheriff D.J. Oakes urges everyone not to give out personal information to unsolicited callers. The proper way to share information is to first ask the caller for their name, address and phone number, and offer to call them back. Then contact the bank and verify that the request or inquiry is legitimate, the sheriff said.
In other police business, Otis Nelson, 21, of North Main Street in South Boston, was arrested Tuesday and charged with the assault and battery of Monnique Lashawn Smith.
The alleged offense occurred January 31.
Deputy T.N. Bratton was the arresting deputy.
Donny Vaughan, 45, of Hogan Road in Virgilina, was charged Tuesday with making harassing phone calls.
The alleged offense occurred December 26.
Deputy R.C. Lipscomb was the arresting deputy.
Kelvin M. Logan, 39, of Pine Ridge Trail in Vernon Hill, was charged Tuesday with passing bad checks.
The alleged offense occurred July 10, 2004.
Deputy D.D. Irby was the arresting deputy.
Dantavious Adams, 31, of Hunting Creek Road in Clover, was charged Wednesday with making harassing phone calls.
The alleged offense occurred January 27.
Deputy S.W. Gilliam was the arresting deputy.

 

Obituaries

Sallie Dora Richardson Davis

Sallie Dora Richardson Davis, 85, of 2124 Vaughan Street, South Boston died February 15 at her home.
Mrs. Davis was born March 4, 1919, in Pittsylvania County the daughter of the late Emma Hall Richardson and Carson Richardson, and was married to the late Willie Nathan Davis.
Graveside services were held February 17 at 11 a.m. at Halifax Memorial Gardens. The Rev. Raymond Bucklew officiated.
Survivors of Mrs. Davis include one daughter, Ruth Saunders of South Boston; three granddaughters, Janet Dawson and her husband, David, of Halifax, Lisa King of Huntersville, N.C. and Donna Griffith and husband, Mike, of Cary, N.C.; and two great-grandchildren, Stacie Nicole Dawson and Davis Michael Griffith.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Halifax Regional Hospice, 2204 Wilborn Avenue, South Boston.

Francine Deborah Henderson

Francine Deborah Henderson, 47, of 2133 Wilson Memorial Trail, Vernon Hill died February 15 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Ms. Henderson was born in Washington, D.C. on September 23, 1957, the daughter of Olivia Henderson.
Survivors include her mother; a companion, Thomas J. Womack; one sister; and one brother.
Funeral services for Ms. Henderson will be held today, February 18 at 2 p.m. at Mt. Pleasant C.M.E. Church with the Rev. William Howerton officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

William Archie Mayo

Willie Archie Mayo, 77, of 3120 Howard P. Anderson Highway, Halifax died February 15 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Mayo was born in Halifax County on July 1, 1927, the son of the ale Charlie Billy Mayo and Mamie Baynes Mayo and was married to the late Joyce Martin Mayo. He was a member of Winns Creek Baptist Church.
Survivors include one son, William Bruce Mayo and wife, Dana, of Halifax. He was preceded in death by four sisters, and one brother.
Funeral services will be held today, February 18 at 2 p.m. at Winns Creek Baptist church with the Rev. Richard Cook and the Rev. Dr. Timothy Madison officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the Halifax County Cancer Association, P.O. Box 875, South Boston.

Rose Jane McPhail McLeod

Rose Jane McPhail McLeod, 80, of 1029 Memorial Drive, South Boston died February 13 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mrs. McLeod was born on January 22, 1925, the daughter of the late Odd McPhail and Bettie Ann Green McPhail and was married to the late Oscar McLeod. She was a member of Memorial Baptist Church.
Survivors include a daughter, Carol Clauden of South Boston; one son-in-law, Rev. Jerome Clauden; four grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; four stepchildren; and11 step-grandchildren. Mrs. McLeod was prededed in death by two sisters, Edna Mae McPhail Gravitt and Nannie McPhail; and two brothers, William McPhail and Francis McPhail.
Funeral services will be held tomorrow, February 19, at 11 a.m. at Memorial Baptist Church with the Rev. Richard Terry officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family is receiving friends at the home.

 

GW Ends Comets’ Season

Halifax County Fell To GW 57-50 Tuesday Night In The Western Valley District Tournament Semifinals

BY Joe Chandler
G-V STAFF WRITER

Craig McCargo, Derek Brooks and Quintin Brown carried the Halifax County High School basketball team on their backs in Tuesday’s Western Valley District Tournament semifinal game against GW.
But, when they needed help down the stretch, it didn’t come.
The Comets’ offensive firepower ran dry in the final four minutes, opening the door for GW to pull off a 57-50 win to end the Comets’ season, clinch a regional tournament berth and advance to tonight’s district tournament championship game against Franklin County in Rocky Mount.
“Down the stretch, Craig and Quintin carried us but we couldn’t find someone else,” said Comets head coach Garrett Dillard.
“We didn’t have another offensive threat. We stuck some guys out there and they just couldn’t get a shot to fall. We just did not get enough offensive consistency all through the night.”
Brooks, with 11 points, and McCargo, with 10 points, accounted for all of the Comets’ scoring in the first half as the Comets found themselves trailing 27-21 at intermission.
In the second half, it was McCargo and Brown doing the bulk of the scoring with Brown netting all 13 of his points on the night and McCargo chipping in nine more points.
With nobody else able to step up on the offensive end, it wasn’t enough.
“Early on, Craig and Derek got some really, really good looks,” Dillard pointed out.
“Late in the game the shots just weren’t there.”
The Comets made a great run against their archrival.
Scoreless in the first four and a half minutes of the third quarter, Halifax County fell behind by 13 points at 34-21 when GW’s Ridge McKeither hit a layup with 3:47 left following a second consecutive steal by teammate Eurich Carter.
But, the Comets bounced back with a dramatic 18-5 run in the final three and a half minutes of the third quarter to deadlock the game at 39-39 at the end of the quarter.
The run included four baskets from McCargo, one of them a trey, a traditional three-point from Brown, a long-range 3-pointer from Brown and a 3-pointer from sophomore Patrick Terry.
In the fourth quarter, the Comets fell behind again, this time by three points, and rallied to deadlock the game at 43-43 with a tip-in by Brooks of a missed shot by Terry.
The Comets were unable to sustain the momentum, however, as missed shots cost them two opportunities to grab the lead. With only three shots tickling the nets in the final 3:16, the door opened for GW to close out the contest.
Down the stretch, GW got a layup from Shaun Hughes and knocked down eight of 11 free throws to pull away from the Comets to lock up the seven-point 57-50 win.
Dillard noted afterward that he felt his team would have a good chance to win if it could hold GW to 60 points or less.
“Our goal was to hold them below 60 (points),” said Dillard.
“ I thought we would shoot a little bit better, but we just couldn’t find the shots when we needed them.
“It was a very low scoring game,” added the Comets coach.
“The last three games we’ve played we’ve been above 60 (points). I thought we’d come in tonight and shoot the ball well.”
The Comets led the first six and a half minutes of the game and were up by as many as five points. GW closed out the quarter with a 10-0 run to take a 17-12 lead at the end of the first eight minutes.
A 3-pointer by Brooks with 6:44 left in the half drew the Comets to within two points. But, an 8-2 run by GW over the course of the ensuing four minutes put the Eagles up 27-19. A shot by Derek Brooks with 1:13 left in the half pulled the Comets to within six points and made the score 27-21 at the half.
While Dillard was proud of the effort his team gave in the season finale, Tuesday night’s loss ended a disappointing season for the Comets, a season that ended with four consecutive losses and a losing 10-13 record.
“You’re proud the kids played hard,” said Dillard.
“ We didn’t come here for a moral victory. We didn’t come here to play our hearts out. We came here to get a win and we didn’t get it and, from that standpoint, it’s disappointing.”

SVCC Force Downs Virginia Western CC

KEYSVILLE - The Southside Virginia Community College Force men’s basketball team won its third straight game to improve to 9-6 on the season with a 118-89 win over Virginia Western Community College in Lawrenceville last Sunday afternoon.
SVCC jumped out to an 18-3 lead to start the game and took a 61-39 lead to the halftime break.
Everyone on the roster scored in the game for SVCC.
Rodney Palmer led the scoring for SVCC with 28 points while Jonathan Haskins scored 19 and Anthony Owen added 17 points and 12 assists.
Delonta Hughes scored 14 points and added nine assists while Keshawn Pickens also finished in double digits for the Force with 14 points.
Jeff Pillow scored 12 points and pulled down 17 rebounds while dishing out six assists.
The Force will return to action on February 25 when they travel to Martinsville to face Patrick Henry Community College before heading to Fredericksburg to face Germanna Community College on February 27.
SVCC….61 57 – 118
VWCC…39 50 - 89
SVCC Force – A. Owen 17, R. Palmer 28, J. Haskins 19, D. Hughes 14, S. Debnam 2, K. Pickens 14, S. Johnson 3, J. Pillow 12, J. Williams 7, J. Wiley 2, C. Debnam 2.