Wednesday, February 21, 2007

J. Burton To Speak At Chamber Fete

South Boston’s Jeff Burton, who finished third in Sunday’s Daytona 500, will be the guest speaker at the Halifax County Chamber of Commerce Annual Meeting and Banquet on March 13.
The event will be held at the World of Sports. A social hosted by South Boston Speedway will kick off the activities at 5:30 p.m. with the dinner set for 7 p.m.
Individual tickets are priced at $30 each and corporate sponsor tickets are priced at $350 each. The deadline for purchasing tickets is March 5.
Burton, who drives the No. 31 Richard Childress Racing Chevrolet, will speak on “The Business Side of Racing.”
Among the highlights of the annual meeting will be the presentation of the Business of the Year and the Business Person of the Year awards.
New officers and members of the Halifax County Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors will also be installed during the annual meeting.
Larry Sneed of Burnett & Sneed, C.P.A.s of South Boston will replace Bill Kelehar as the immediate past chair and ex-officio member of the board.
Morris Bryant, a member of South Boston Town Council, Kathy Farley of Cherokee Tobacco Company, LLC, Nookie Green, treasurer of Distinct Impressions, Inc. of South Boston and Bob Reisch of Presto Products Company will be joining the board of directors.
They will replace current board members Evelyn Hunt, Lee Pambid, Garland Ricketts and Kelehar, who will be rotating off of the board.

A Bold Blue Hello

Bold blue and demanding orange slits, circles, flat surfaces, and a blue burst of geometric shapes with designs taller than a tall man beckon the viewer.
Sit on it, contemplate it, walk around it, the steel sculpture is a design for all seasons, but for now it’s cooling its steel heels at The Prizery.
Nearby, a cool “bronze green” collection of circles, arcs, rectangles and pear shapes awaits its final destination, but not for long. This gentle blue/green piece will join three other pieces of sculptor Bob Cage’s work to be exhibited in South Boston.
The project is sponsored by Destination Downtown South Boston.
For Cage, the project is about stewardship.
“I think anyone who lives in a town should have stewardship,” said the sculptor, who is opening his artistic treasure house to the town.
Four sites have been approved by South Boston Town Council for the sculptures: the lawn at the South Boston Fire Station on Broad Street; the corner of North Main and Charles Street; the alley between Mike’s TV and Distinct Impressions on Main Street; and the southern point of Constitution Square.
“I think it’s another way to incorporate the arts into the community,” said Barbara Bass, South Boston Historical Society president. “We are very fortunate to have a sculptor of Bob Cage’s caliber in our community. This is a rare opportunity for our young people to enjoy more of the arts, an opportunity that larger communities take for granted.”
Cage, who has a farm teeming with sculptures, enjoys sharing his work.
Whether it’s his enormous bird sculpture - “I think I have the biggest bird in the world” - a simple wagon or a piece so truly abstract the viewer is left to ponder, Cage loves the artistic exercise of creating.
“And I really like color,” he adds. “I think the color is another dimension. I see it (the orange/blue sculpture) as something interesting. I like interesting shapes.”
For the sculptor, the sculptures also remind him of an Eric Fischl quote: ‘”Abstraction is an esoteric language.’”
“I like for my art to engage people, to have them question it, to question what’s going on,” he explains.
The artist, who also enjoys painting, is currently producing work at a frenetic pace, often working throughout the night.
“The Muse has me,” he says.
From “interesting shapes” to vertical pieces suddenly emerging as horizontals, Cage says he never knows what he is going to do.
“I constantly look for a happy surprise, a happy account,” he explains. “If it’s not surprising to me, it will not be to an onlooker,” adds Cage, who disdains boredom. “If six different people see six different things, to me it is a success.”
Passionate about art, tennis, life, Cage’s philosophy is consistent.
“I think the biggest game in town is making a difference in other people’s lives,” he adds. “Art, creating it, can become pretty selfish if not viewed by other people. That makes it complete.
“Art,” said Cage, “is a blessing.”

Halifax Man Guilty Grand Larceny, B&E

A 20-year-old Halifax man was convicted Tuesday in Halifax County Circuit Court of three charges, including grand larceny, breaking and entering and felony obstruction of justice.
Judge Leslie M. Osborn convicted Lashane Rontez Kirby of breaking and entering the property of Malcolm Glass, the grand larceny of property belonging to Glass and obstructing police officer Nathaniel Caddle in the performance of his duty.
The court sentenced Kirby to five years in prison each for the three convictions, with all time suspended conditioned on Kirby’s good behavior for 15 years, beginning immediately.
Judge Osborn ordered Kirby to pay $1,361 restitution both jointly and severally, undergo a substance abuse evaluation, and to have no contact with Officer Caddle.
The court additionally ordered the defendant be placed on probation for one year.
Other Court Cases
• George Samuel Wagner, 57, of Roanoke, was convicted Tuesday of the assault and battery of Officer L.I. Kozlik.
Wagner also entered Alford pleas during the trial to a pair of separate charges for resisting arrest.
Under terms of an Alford plea, a defendant does not admit guilt but realizes prosecution evidence would make a guilty finding at trial almost a certainty.
The Commonwealth moved to nol pros two additional charges against Wagner during the trial, one for obstruction of justice and the other for possessing a Schedule III controlled substance.
The court sentenced Wagner to five years in prison, with all but six months suspended, for the assault conviction, and to a pair of three-month suspended sentences for resisting arrest.
The court ordered the suspended portion of Wagner’s sentence be conditioned on his good behavior for five years and ordered him be placed on probation for one year following his release.
The court authorized work release for the defendant.
n Robert Lee Moore, 22, of Nathalie, was convicted Tuesday of receiving stolen property.
The court dismissed an additional charge against Moore during the trial, one for conspiring to commit larceny.
The court ordered Moore be evaluated for the Detention and Diversion programs before sentencing in the November court term.
n Raashaun De’Shay Newman, 20, of South Boston, was convicted Tuesday of a probation violation.
The court continued sentencing for Newman to the March court term.
n Marlo Jermaine Owen, 31, of South Boston, was convicted Tuesday of a probation violation.
The court revoked six months of Owens’ previously suspended prison sentence.

Obituaries

Willie Hall Midkiff

Willie Hall Midkiff, formerly of Halifax County, died February 18, 2007, at Belaire Health Care Center in Gastonia, N.C. She was born in Halifax County June 27, 1912, the daughter of the late Elisha Byrd Hall and Mattie Adams Hall, and was married to the late Byron Harold Midkiff. She was a member of First Baptist Church of Millstone.
Survivors include three daughters, Loretta Midkiff Denson and husband, Dick, of Maryville, Tenn., Faye Midkiff Wallace and husband, Charles, of Charlotte, N.C., and Joyce Midkiff Menge and husband, Dan, of Spout Spring; three grandchildren, Dr. Melody Graves of Maryville, Charles Wallace Jr. of Charlotte, and Robert B. Wallace of Halifax; one great-granddaughter, Peyton Wallace of Halifax; and one sister, Mattie Hall Dismuke of Gastonia. One grandson, Major Todd Denson; two brothers; and three sisters, preceded Mrs. Midkiff in death.
Funeral services will be held today, February 21, at 1 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Millstone with Chaplin Dick Denson and the Rev. Bob Watts officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the church today from 12:30 until the funeral time and other times at the home of Rob and Pam Wallace, 1219 Woodbourne Road, Halifax.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider a charity of choice.

Ruby C. Reagan

Ruby C. Reagan, 70, of 1136 Newton Farm Road, South Boston died February 18, 2007, at his home.
Mr. Reagan was born in Oxford, N.C. December 26, 1936, to the late Luther Merritt Reagan Sr. and Hester Whitt Reagan, and was married to Henrietta Robertson Reagan. He was of the Baptist Faith, a member of Tinker’s Car Club, and a retired mechanic with Shade Tree Auto Repair.
Survivors of Mr. Reagan include his wife of the home; one daughter, Terry Comer and husband, Gene; one son, Ken Reagan and fiance’, Dena Walker, all of South Boston; two brothers, Tincy Reagan and wife, Mary Ann, and James Reagan and wife, Mary, all of Alton; four granddaughters, Mary Beth Elliott, Jennifer Forbes and husband, Aaron, Amy Barker and husband, Craig, and Heather Reagan; one grandson, Curtis Reagan; and four great-grandchildren, Kyle Elliott, Erin Comer, AnMarie Forbes and Julia Forbes. Four brothers, Armstead, Luther M., Onard, and Billy Reagan, preceded Mr. Reagan in death.
A funeral service will be held today, February 21, at 2 p.m. at Brooks Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Jack Stewart and Bill Daniel officiating. Burial will follow in Grace Baptist Church Cemetery.
The family is receiving friends at the home of Gene and Terry Comer, 1133 Newton Farm Road, South Boston.
Online condolences may be sent to brooksfh@earthlink.net

Rena Delores Taft Keith

Rena Delores Taft Keith, 78, of South Boston died February 18, 2007, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mrs. Keith was born in Clarksburg, W. Va. on January 24, 1929, the daughter of the late John Bernard Taft and Ressie Langford Taft, and was married to Bobbie Conrad Keith. She was a member of Halifax United Methodist Church and Halifax Regional Auxiliary.
Survivors include her husband; one daughter, Rhonda K. Lee and husband, James, of Greensboro, N.C.; one sister, Eudora T. Constable of Clarksburg; one brother, William Howard Taft of Clarksburg; and two grandchildren, Brian Lee and Stephanie Lee, both of Greensboro.
Funeral services for Mrs. Keith will be held at Powell Funeral Home Chapel today, February 21, at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Randy Williams officiating. Burial will at Floral Hills Memorial Park in Quiet Dell, W. Va. Friday, February 23, at 1 p .m.
The family will receive friends at Davis Funeral Home in Clarksburg Friday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. prior to the Mausoleum service at 1 p.m.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Halifax United Methodist Church. Online memorials may be directed to powell@gcronline.com.

Henry Wilson Conner

Henry Wilson Conner, 81, of 6025 Mt. Laurel Road, Clover died February 19, 2007, at his home.
Mr. Conner was born in Halifax County September 17, 1925, the son of the late Paul Davis Conner and Fannie High Conner and was married to Dorothy Moorefield Conner. He was a member of Mt. Laurel Ruritan Club and was an Army Veteran of World War II.
Survivors include his wife of the home; one daughter, Linda C. Dunn and husband, William, of Randolph, one son, Richard Conner of South Boston; one sister, Ruby C. Ferrell of Chase City; three grandchildren, Christy Dunn of Randolph, Michelle D. Gallimore and husband, Mike, of Charlotte Court House, and Amanda Dunn of Randolph; and three great-grandchildren, Jacob Lewis of Randolph, Loren Gallimore and Dustin Gallimore, both of Charlotte Court House. One brother, Earl Davis Conner, preceded Mr. Conner in death.
Funeral services will be held today, February 21, at 2 p.m. at Powell Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Carol Mann officiating. Burial will follow in Clover Cemetery with Military Rites.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Halifax Regional Hospice, 2204 Wilborn Avenue, South Boston 24592.

Horatio Scott Bragg Jr.

Horatio Scott Bragg Jr. of Scottsburg died February 18, 2007, at Riverside Health & Rehab Center in Danville.
Mr. Bragg was born October 27, 1921, in Howardville the son of the late Horatio Scott Bragg Sr. and Lillian Grace Powers Bragg, and was married to Frances McKay Bragg. He was a member of Scottsburg United Methodist Church.
Survivors include his wife of Danville; one cousin, Bob Bragg of Charleston, W.Va.; and one brother-in-law, Maynard McKay and wife, Patsy, of Mebane, N.C.
Graveside services for Mr. Bragg will be held tomorrow, February 22, at 3 p.m. at Halifax Memorial Gardens with the Rev. Bonnie Pizzeck officiating.
The family will receive friends this evening, February 21, from 7-8:30 at Powell Funeral Home.

Parson Out As Basketball Coach

By Joe Chandler
Sports Editor
Citing the need for “a change of direction,” Halifax County High School officials have fired head varsity boys basketball coach Ron Parson.
Parson’s Comets basketball team finished the season with a 6-16 overall mark, failed to win a Western Valley District game and finished the season with 11 consecutive losses.
During the 2005-06 season, the Comets varsity boys basketball team finished 7-15 overall and was 4-4 in Western Valley District action during the regular season.
“This is basically a change of direction,” HCHS Principal Albert T. Randolph said yesterday.
“We have monitored the situation over the past two years and the principal and athletic director felt there was a need to make a change in the direction of the boys basketball program.”
Randolph said the search for a replacement for Parson will begin immediately.
“We will solicit applications for the position,” Randolph said.
“The process usually takes 30 to 60 days to advertise the position, interview applicants and name a replacement.”
Parson said he is not bitter about the way his tenure as head basketball coach ended.
“As long as I can look in the mirror and know I did my best, I’m at peace with it,” Parson said.
“I did all I knew how to do. Sometimes things just don’t work out. Maybe this is best for everybody concerned.”
Parson said he is appreciative of the opportunity he was given to coach at Halifax County High School.
“I appreciate Mr. Stapleton (Halifax County School Superintendent Paul Stapleton) and Mr. Clark (Deputy Superintendent Larry Clark) giving me the opportunity to come here and try to turn this program around,” Parson said.
“I also appreciate Mr. Randolph letting me know now so I can go ahead and begin looking for another position. I hope things work out for the best for Halifax County High School and for the kids here.”
The 2006-2007 season was a tough season for the Halifax County High School varsity boys basketball team, a season in which circumstances stacked the deck against the team in terms of its having a successful season.
First, because of the late arrival of a small handful of football players, the entire team was together for only four practices prior to the start of the season. Further complicating matters was the fact that the team had only three players on the roster that had had any previous varsity-level playing experience.
Parson was beset by health issues during the opening week of practice and tryouts and was out for two or three weeks while recovering from surgery. And, down the stretch of the last three or four regular-season games, injuries and illness among some of the players threw another obstacle into the team’s path.
When the season ended, the Comets had failed to beat any of the Group AAA teams on its schedule and, for the first time in at least three decades, HCHS had failed to win a single district game.
“I don’t think it was a lack of effort on the part of the players,” Parson said.
“The only regret I have is the number of wins and losses. I saw other things change among the players, like how they started to take responsibility for such things like being dressed and at practice on time. I knew we were making progress in areas like that.”
Parson said this year’s Comets team, with its lack of experience and being down on talent, faced an uphill battle.
“I felt like the guys gave a good effort,” Parson noted, “ but we were just outmatched a lot of times.”
Parson said he does not know what is in store for the future but said he will begin his search for another job immediately.
“I would still like to go somewhere and be a head coach,” Parson said.
“However, if a good assistant varsity coach job opens up I’ll consider that too. If I have an opportunity to go to somewhere like GW and be a varsity assistant, I would consider it.”

Spring Has Sprung

By Joe Chandler
and Doug Ford
The distinct ping of baseballs and softballs slapping against aluminum bats were heard at Halifax County High School Monday afternoon as the Comets baseball and softball teams opened practice and try-outs.
Action wasn’t confined solely to the baseball and softball fields, however, as soccer teams, tennis teams and track teams also began practice Monday.
Comets head varsity baseball coach Kelvin Davis and head varsity girls softball coach Melanie Saunders both saw a good turnout of players on opening day.
Davis said 22 players came out Monday to compete for spots on the varsity baseball team and that Comets head jayvee baseball coach Dennis Seamster welcomed 30 players trying to land a spot on that team.
“We’re always excited when we have good numbers of players to take a look at,” Davis said.
“We saw a lot of good things. We saw a lot of players that have tools that we need to develop. I was real pleased at the level of the talent we had out there.”
Davis said that neither he nor Seamster have settled on the number of players they will retain on their respective rosters this season.
He did note, however, that all of the players that have come out will be given a fair opportunity to showcase what they can do.
“We’re going to give the guys opportunities to display their talent,” Davis pointed out.
“We’re going to try to give the kids a week before we make our final cut.”
Davis said the players on the baseball field have shown a good desire to play.
“I’ve seen a hunger from the guys, which is what e want to see,” Davis said.
“We have been conditioning, running and doing things like that for weeks and we have seen guys that are willing to do the little extra things they need to do to prepare for the season.”
The Comets softball teams welcomed a total of 31 prospects to the first day of tryouts Monday, Saunders said.
Saunders and jayvee head coach Jill Pritt will select the varsity and jayvee softball teams from the group of hopefuls who spent the majority of the first day in infield and outfield drills.
A lot of the prospects had spent the past month in conditioning to prepare for the upcoming season.
The loss of six seniors from last year’s varsity softball team has created a leadership vacuum of sorts, according to Saunders.
“I’m pleased with who we have coming out this season, but we lost a lot of leadership from last year,” she noted.
Saunders said that she and her coaching staff would spend the majority of time during tryouts evaluating the prospects at different infield and outfield positions, as well as at the plate.
“I really haven’t seen a lot of them. I need to see them take some swings at the plate and move them around in the field to see what they can do there,” said Saunders.
She termed this year more of a regrouping effort than a rebuilding one, and is looking for the players to step up and take charge as the season approaches.
“We need to start early and have some one step up, so we’ll see what we can come up with.”

Six Comets Earn Western Valley District Honors

By Doug Ford
G-V Staff Writer
Six Comets basketball players, five from the varsity girls basketball team and one from the varsity boys, have been named to the All Western Valley District teams.
Seniors Taniqua Younger and Kemper Russell of the Comets varsity girls basketball team were First Team, All Western Valley District selections, while senior Key Ferrell and juniors Shauna Harris and Lashunda Davis were Second Team selections.
Senior point guard Morgan Brown of the Comets varsity boys basketball team was named Honorable Mention, All Western Valley District.
Comets Girls Place Five On All WVD Team
Younger, Russell, Ferrell, Harris and Davis were each named to the All-Western Valley District girls basketball team, Younger and Russell First Team selections, while Ferrell, Harris and Davis were each named to the Second Team.
Vontisha Woods of Western Valley District champion GW Danville was named Player of the Year, leading a group of four Eagles selected to the First Team and two others to the Second Team.
Woods, Erica Warren, Ashlynn Massey and Narcissa Grayson were First Team selections, while Eagles teammates Ashley Houston and Jasmine Hairston were selected to the Second Team.
Patrick Henry, E.C. Glass and Franklin County each had two First Team selections, Bianca Jones and Latoya Flint making the First Team for Patrick Henry, while Jessica Watkins and Ginny Wescott of Glass also made the First Team.
Brittany Nelms and Shea Smith of Franklin County round out the First Team.
Ashley Umberger and Lindsay Campbell from Franklin County and Mary Grace Lemon and Whitney Moss from E.C. Glass, along with Kate Norbo of Patrick Henry were Second Team selections.
Younger, Russell, Davis, Harris and Ferrell were the starting five for coach Ray Reaves during the majority of the season, which saw the Comets finish with a 9-14 record, including three wins in Western Valley District play.
That marked an improvement of seven wins from last season, the Comets finishing with a 3-5 district record, tied for third with Franklin County.
Halifax lost at Patrick Henry in the semifinals of the Western Valley District Tournament.
Younger led her team in scoring with 296 total points this season, and also in rebounding, finishing with 206 for the year, 109 on the offensive boards and 97 on the defensive glass.
She had 38 blocks to lead the Comets in that category, along with 39 steals.
Russell had 213 total points this season, along with 82 rebounds, 31 offensive and 51 defensive, while she collected 75 assists.
She had 37 steals and 10 blocks for the year.
Davis led the Comets in steals and assists, with 42 steals and 88 assists for the season, while scoring a total of 138 points.
She finished with 53 total rebounds, 10 offensive and 43 defensive, while contributing six blocks.
Harris scored 165 total points and finished with 86 total rebounds, 32 on the offensive end and 54 on the defensive end.
Harris had 37 assists, 18 steals and eight blocks on the season.
Ferrell scored 127 total points for the season, adding a total of 67 rebounds, 29 offensive and 38 defensive.
She finished with 36 assists, 24 steals and five blocks for the Comets.
Player of the Year Woods averaged a double-double for GW this season, scoring 11.5 points and snaring 12.3 rebounds per game for the Eagles.
Woods averaged 3.5 blocks a game and had a 80 percent free throw percentage from the line.
Brown Named Honorable Mention All WVD
Comets senior point guard Morgan Brown was the lone Comet named All Western Valley District this season, Brown an Honorable Mention selection.
District champion GW-Danville had three First Team selections, seniors Ridge McKeither and J.C. Chaney, along with junior Nick Barbour.
Rounding out the First Team were sophomore J.T. Edwards of Franklin County and senior Mike Banks of E.C. Glass.
Second Team, All Western Valley District selections include GW juniors Mike McGeough and Travis Tarpley, along with senior Juan Holder of E.C. Glass and senior Ajee Elliott of Patrick Henry.
Seven players were named Honorable Mention All Western Valley District. Joining Brown were juniors Anthony Banks and Marvin Asonte, along with sophomore Gerard Payne of Patrick Henry, senior James Hobson and junior Cordaro Ferguson of E.C. Glass and senior D.J. Willis of Franklin County.
GW swept both Player of the Year and Coach of the Year honors, with McKeither being named Western Valley District Player of the Year and GW head coach Bobby Martin being named Coach of the Year.