Closing Halifax Proposed

Historic Halifax Elementary School could see a new beginning and the Halifax County School System could expand the county’s academy program under a redistricting plan approved by trustees yesterday.
Faced with the necessity to re-draw attendance zones in the county due to the opening of two new elementary schools in the Town of South Boston and the Cluster Springs community, Board members held a retreat in the conference room of the School Board office to address the issue.
During the meeting, Superintendent Paul Stapleton told the Board that the time has come to present a plan to the public in advance of a public hearing scheduled for March 6 to address the issue.
“Hopefully, what you’re going to do today is finally put an end to all the rumors and speculation going on out there in the public,” he said, adding that any decisions made should have the welfare of the county’s school children in mind.
“Anytime you’re going to do this you want to try to frame your thoughts based on what is best for the children of the county,” he said. “The bottom line is your focus is on the the children and if you keep that in mind, you’ll do a good job as a Board in dealing with this.”
Stapleton also reminded the Board that every decision made is only preliminary until a public hearing is held and a vote is taken.
“Keep in mind that everything you do today is just a proposal and will ultimately depend on the public’s input after it hits the paper,” he said.
Asked by School Board member Doug Fisher about streamlining the efficiency of operations in the school system, Stapleton was frank in saying that two new schools opening will impact existing schools in the county.
“It’s pretty hard to be cost-efficient when you’re re-drawing district lines without closing schools,” he said. “Combining our facilities is the single best way to save money based on both facility costs and personnel.”
With the current layout of the schools around the county, the logical choice wasn’t difficult to discern, according to the administrator.
“When we looked at this we knew that we had three schools, the new South Boston school, Sinai and Halifax elemetary schools in very close proximity to each other,” he said, adding that totalling the attendance at the three schools would translate to between 925 and 975 students. “You could conceivably put them all in one school but I don’t think you’d want to do that,” he said.
Stapleton told the Board that administration had been looking at the issue for months.
“We tried to look at the numbers of students and the facilities available and you know that you have a brand new facility in South Boston and when you look at the other two schools a couple of things jump out at you pretty quickly,” he said. “If you took all three and tried to combine them into one, that would be too much, but there aren’t enough students there to keep all three open.
“I would say the one you need to look at closing is Halifax Elementary,” he said. “Sinai is located in a more densly-populated student area.”
In an effort to keep enrollment up at the Halifax school, Stapleton said the school system is bussing children from near Ernies Restaurant. “We’re hauling kids from the east side of South Boston to Halifax and that just doesn’t make a whole lot of sense.”
With the current condition of the Halifax school, Stapleton said numerous options are available..
“We can move the School Board offices there or use it to expand our academy program or any number of things,” he said. “There are a lot of options for the use of the facility. It could even be used as a multipurpose facility.”
Drawing The Lines
One advantage of the plan approved yesterday is what Stapleton called “proper alignment” of the grades throughout the school system.
“All of the elementary schools will now be K-5, the middle school will hold grades 6-8 and the high school will be grades 9-12,” he said.
Projected figures indicate that next year’s K-5 class will total 2,926 students, compared with 2,639 this year, the superintendent said.
Stapleton said the logical place to begin any redistricting efforts is with the Town of South Boston.
“You have to deal with South Boston and decide how many students are coming there and that will affect all of the rest of redistricting,” he said.
With Halifax Elementary School closed, and under the current plan of action, the K-5 South Boston school will house approximately 762 students in an expanded South Boston district, Stapleton said. This year, the two schools the new facility is replacing - C.H. Friend and Washington-Coleman elementary schools - house 716 students.
The new Cluster Springs school, which will combine the existing South of Dan and Cluster Springs elementary schools, is expected to enroll 604 students when it opens next year. The two schools it is replacing currently enroll 717 students, according to Stapleton.
Under the plan, Turbeville Elementary School’s enrollment next year will be 117 students, compared to 143 this year. Stapleton noted that this year’s enrollment includes the sixth grade, which will not be included next year.
Wilson Memorial Elementary School is projected to enroll 133 students next year without the sixth grade, the same enrollment currently in the school with the sixth grade included.
Meadeville Elementary School’s enrollment is projected to be 181 students in the K-5 school, under this year’s 237-student enrollment that includes the sixth grade.
Sydnor Jennings Elementary School is projected to house 264 students next year under the new district, down slightly from the 282 enrollment this year that includes the sixth grade.
Enrollment at Clays Mill Elementary School is projected to be 232 next year with the K-5 alignment. This compares to the 265 students enrolled this year.
In Scottsburg, projected enrollment figures for next year put the K-5 school at 275 students, compared to 295 students enrolled currently with the sixth grade included.
The combined Halifax/Sinai school is projected to house 358 students in grades K-5, compared with a total combined enrollment of 598 students.
While some students will be attending different schools next year, Stapleton said every effort has been made to make travel time as short as possible.
“Any students we’ve moved, we’ve tried to move the students to the school closer to their homes,” he said.
During yesterday’s meeting, Board members set a tentative second work session on the issue for March 8 at 7 p.m. in the School Board Conference Room if necessary following the public hearing.
At the conclusion of the meeting, Stapleton said he was proud of the work of the School Board on a difficult issue.
“I think you have a reasonable plan,” he said. “Everyone may not like it, but it’s reasonable.
“You’ve done this in a reasonable manner and taken the time to make changes you wanted to make.
“You’ve done more than adjust attendance zones, you’ve accomplished a proper alignment of grades throughout the county, you’ve helped some schools survive and are going to be making a big difference for the county’s sixth-graders,” he added. “Because of what you’ve done here today, I believe everyone is going to be more comfortable.”

Gov. Kaine To Tour School, Prizery, SoBo On March 1

Gov. Tim Kaine, who campaigned on a pre-K program for Virginia’s four-year-olds, has asked to visit an existing county pre-K program here on March 1.
“We are very excited by his visit and very pleased to be selected the first school system that he is going to visit following the adjournment of the General Assembly, because we believe that we can be a model program for pre-K education in Virginia,” Larry Clark, assistant superintendent of schools, said yesterday.
Clark said the governor plans to visit a pre-K program, the four-year-old art program the school system offers in conjunction with The Prizery, a fifth grade and tour South Boston during the March 1 visit.
“We’re going to show him a kindergarten class, a science lab and introduce him to the fifth-grade class because it is in the fifth grade that Virginia SOLs are tested,” Clark said, “so it brings Virginia history and Virginia government to life to see the chief executive of the Commonwealth standing in your classroom.”
Clark described Kaine as “keenly interested” in pre-K education “as it is so important for future success in school.”
“Gov. Kaine has proposed a pre-school initiative throughout the public schools of Virginia,” added Clark.
South Boston Community Development Director Tamyra Vest said yesterday that the governor’s office contacted South Boston about the visit on Wednesday.
“Basically, South Boston officials will welcome Gov. Kaine in downtown and brief him on recent town accomplishments,” she said.
The governor is also expected to tour the area, including the Church Hill revitalization project.

Wilmouth Pleads Guilty To 26 Drug-Related Charges

Dennis James Wilmouth, aka Rat, a 42-year-old Halifax resident, faces up to three life sentences plus 575 years in prison after pleading guilty Thursday in Halifax County Circuit Court to 26 charges relating to an elaborate drug distribution network conducted in large part from his work vehicle.
Wilmouth, a gutter contractor, pleaded guilty to five drug distribution conspiracy charges, one each for cocaine, morphine, oxycodone, methadone and marijuana.
He also pleaded guilty to conspiring to steal property with a value greater than $200 and conspiring to possess stolen property with a value greater than $200.
The defendant pleaded guilty to five separate charges for possessing with intent to distribute Schedule I/II drugs, including two for morphine and one each for cocaine, oxycodone and methadone, along with a charge for distributing marijuana.
Wilmouth pleaded guilty to two charges for distributing a Schedule IV controlled substance to a person under the age of 18, one each for lorazepam and diazepam, and three charges for possessing with intent to distribute a Schedule I/II controlled substance within 1,000 feet of a school, one each for cocaine, oxycodone and methadone.
Wilmouth pleaded guilty to two charges for possessing a mixture of hydrocodone and chlorpheniramine, both Schedule III controlled substances.
The defendant pleaded guilty to possessing a firearm as a convicted felon, two charges for possessing stolen property with a value greater than $200, and one charge for possessing marijuana.
Wilmouth also pleaded guilty to one charge for possessing a firearm while possessing oxycodone, a Schedule I/II controlled substance.
Wilmouth entered Alford pleas to possessing a firearm while possessing methadone and possessing a firearm while possessing a Schedule I/II controlled substance.
Under terms on an Alford plea, a defendant does not admit guilt but realizes that prosecution evidence would make a guilty finding at trial almost a certainty.
The Commonwealth nol prossed three additional charges against Wilmouth at the hearing, two for possessing with the intent to distribute a Schedule I/II controlled substance and one for possessing a Schedule I/II controlled substance.
Deputy Commonwealth’s Attorney Brendan Dunning proffered evidence indicating the scope of Wilmouth’s criminal enterprise, one which involved several employees and the exchange of stolen merchandise for a veritable smorgasbord of illegal drugs, which were either sold for profit or bartered.
Dunning said that Wilmouth and some of his employees used Wilmouth’s work van as a base of operations, both for drug distribution and casing possible targets for theft while on the job.
Stolen property was exchanged for everything from pharmaceutical pills to cocaine.
Dunning told the court that investigators set up a sting operation using an informant who bartered what Wilmouth believed to be stolen items for drugs, everything from a chainsaw to a laptop.
The break in the case came after a sheriff’s deputy observed Wilmouth distributing drugs from his van to a juvenile, according to Dunning.
A subsequent search of the defendant and his van uncovered a firearm and approximately 161 illegal pharmaceutical pills, the prosecutor said.
A subsequent search warrant served at Wilmouth’s residence uncovered stolen items with an estimated value greater than $150,000, while a search of a storage unit belonging to Wilmouth uncovered over 100 firearms, many of them stolen.
Defense attorney Charles Crowder, while admitting the serious nature of Wilmouth’s crime, said that the Commonwealth may have been over zealous with the number of indictments against Wilmouth.
“I’ve never seen anyone as fully charged as the defendant,” said Crowder.
Ten to 15 charges could just as easily have been three to four charges, added Crowder, who added that one of the indictments indicated possession of what could be described as cough syrup.
The events surrounding the traffic stop at which Wilmouth was arrested could be interpreted a different way, said Crowder.
“The pills weren’t for the juvenile, but for a [family member]. It was 9:30 at night and the juvenile flagged [Wilmouth] down.
“It was unfortunate that it was within 1,000 feet of a school, and there was no intent to distribute drugs to anyone in the school.”
Dunning and Commonwealth’s Attorney Kim White explained the large volume of indictments as necessary, considering the scope and nature of the crime.
“It was the extremely large volume of drugs and the significant variety of drugs involved that made [Wilmouth] doubly dangerous,” said Dunning.
“When you have someone who sold and gave away as many pills as he has, you have to have the number of indictments that we had,” said White.
“Wilmouth is responsible for people losing their jobs and careers, people becoming addicted to drugs, people committing larcenies and burglaries.
“When you have 100 guns, thousands of pills, and $100,000 worth of stolen merchandise, the number of indictments in this case cannot be considered overkill.”
Judge Leslie Osborn found evidence sufficient to convict Wilmouth of the charges for which he entered Alford pleas, but withheld his finding of guilt and continued the case to April 2.

 

Obituaries

Julius Lipscomb

Julius Lipscomb, 80, of Milton, N.C. died February 19, 2007, at Danville Regional Hospital.
Mr. Lipscomb was born in Mount Union, Pa. on March 25, 1926, to the late George Lipscomb and Mattie Hicks Lipscomb, and was married to Exie Cunningham Lipscomb. He was a member of St. Thomas Catholic Church in Washington, D.C., was a United States Army Korean War Veteran and was a retired supervisor with the Department of Interior.
Survivors include his wife of the home; one son, Julius Lipscomb Jr. of Bowie, Md.; one daughter-in-law, Stephanie Lipscomb of Bowie; four grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; two sisters, Georgette Williams of Manhattan, N.Y. and Betty Richmond of Milton, N.C.
Three brothers, Sherman, Sylvene and Shirlee Lipscomb; and one sister, Joylette Burns, preceded Mr. Lipscomb in death.
Funeral services will be held tomorrow, February 24, at 1 p.m. at Mason Chapel Baptist Church with the Rev. Archie Richmond officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends this evening, February 23, at Jeffress Funeral Home from 6 to 7, and other times at the home.

Arbie Lee Barley

Arbie Lee Barley, 61, died February 19, 2007, at his home in Linden, N.J. He was born March 15, 1945, in Halifax County, to Mitchell and Norva Tucker Barley.
Mr. Barley was preceded in death by his father, mother, and three brothers, Wilson, Clarence and David Barley.
Survivors include his wife, Frances Barley of the home; two stepdaughters, Linda Fowler and Wanda Woods; two brothers, Pearlie Barley of South Boston and James Barley of Dumfries; five sisters; Geneva and husband, Beaufort Brown of Bronx, N.Y., Carol Turner of Teaneck, N.J., Barbara Barley of Norfolk, Marjorie and Clara Barley, both of Woodbridge; three grandchildren; three great-grandchildren.
Mr. Barley served with the 82nd Airborne Division in Fort Bragg, N.C.
Funeral services will be held at Elkhorn Baptist Church, 1010 East Elkhorn Road, Nathalie tomorrow, February 24, at 1:30 p.m., with burial in the Barley Cemetery.

Catherine Patricia Taylor

Catherine Patricia Taylor, 94, of 2000 Doctor Merritt Trail, Nathalie died February 20, 2007, at her home. She was born March 17, 1912, in Pennsylvania. She was a retired Registered Nurse and was of the Catholic Faith.
Survivors include two daughters, Jackie Tomlin of Nathaliie and Mary Lou Hickox of Ceffner, Fla.; three grandchildren, Kathleen Zovko and Theresa Oakley, both of Md., and John Kevin Graham of Fla.; and five great-grandchildren.
A memorial service for Ms. Taylor will be held today, February 23, at 4 p.m. at Powell Funeral Home Chapel with Father Steve Andes officiating.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider a charity of choice.
Online condolences may be directed to powellfh@gcronline.com.

Mary Wilburn Gravitt

Mary Wilburn Gravitt, 79, of 2031 Shady Grove Church Road, Virgilina, died February 22, 2007, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mrs. Gravitt was born in Person County, N.C. September 27, 1927, the daughter of S.M. Wilburn and Minnie J. Wilburn and was married to the late Herman Clayton Gravitt. She was retired from Burlington Industries and was a member of Shady Grove United Methodist Church.
Survivors include two daughters, Diane Gravitt Phillips of Virgilina, and Wanda Gravitt McDowell and husband, Mike, of Vernon Hill; one son, Barry Gravitt and wife, Becky, of Virgilina; her grandchildren, Keith Gravitt, Kathy Gravitt Payne, Kelly Gravitt Friend, Larry Wolfe Jr., Jeff Wolfe, Chris Wolfe, Angela McDowell Collins, Bridget McDowell, and West McDowell; six great-grandchildren; two sisters, Esther Oakley of Prospect Hill, N.C. and Dolly Troxler of Elon, N.C.
Funeral services for Mrs. Gravitt will be held February 25, at 2 p.m. at Shady Grove United Methodist Church with the Rev. Ray McGarr officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at Powell Funeral Home tomorrow evening, February 24, from 7:00 until 8:30, and other times at her home.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Shady Grove United Methodist Church General Fund, 4129 East Hyco Road, South Boston, 24592, or Halifax County Cancer Association.