Friday, February 25, 2005

Coleman Museum Included In Sculptor’s TAOS Program

Donald Brown Says Museum Is “Ideally Suited" To Participate In His TAOS (The Art Of Success) Program

Sculptor Donald Brown announced last night that the L.E. Coleman African American Museum will be included in his TAOS (The Art of Success) program.
As a result, the museum will receive fund-raising assistance from the program.
Brown said that for every two prints of his work sold by the museum, a percentage of the international sale of his prints will benefit the museum.
“The reason I’m doing it is so Halifax County residents will come to realize that the TAOS program will not only empower them visually as well as financially,” he said.
“The system will work because as the prints begin to sell globally, that will result in local scholarship donations, computers and educational equipment,” Brown added.
The recognition and inclusion of the museum in the TAOS program is special because Brown will only allow a specific number of organizations to be included.
Scheduled for a 2007 unveiling, the 16X22 prints of Brown’s Millennium Monument provide the funding for the TAOS program.
Created by Brown, the TAOS is designed to assist organizations in acquiring high-end sculptures and contribute to scholarships, investment portfolios and entrepreneur incentives for students. TAOS also generates revenue for humanitarian aid, philanthropic causes and can be a fundraiser for approved organizations.
“It’s about many of the same causes the museum is interested in," Brown said. “It’s about looking back at the past as well as the education and empowerment for the future. The museum is ideally suited to benefit from this program."

 

Landfills May Move Closer To Water Sources

Senate, House Of Delegates Support Measure

BY Keith Corum
Special to the Gazette-Virginian

With a 27-13 vote, the Senate voted Wednesday to support legislation that will reduce the distance that landfills could be constructed from drinking water sources.
The House of Delegates voted 67-30 to support the measure earlier this month.
Current restrictions state that a landfill cannot be constructed within five miles of a ground water or surface water supply.
The present guidelines are in place to protect the state’s drinking water in the event of a leak.
Republicans backed the new bill, but Democrats balked at the relaxed requirements.
If the bill, sponsored by Del. Watkins M. Abbitt Jr., I-Appomattox, is signed into law, distance restrictions would be reduced to allow the construction of landfills within three miles of water supplies, and within just one mile if certain conditions are met.
The bill also increases the acreage threshold for allowing a landfill to be constructed or expanded in a nontidal wetland.
Current law allows for the issuance of permits for construction or expansion of a landfill that would impact less than 1.25 acres of nontidal wetlands. The new bill would increase the construction or expansion perimeters to less than two acres for nontidal wetlands.
The bill gives power to the director of the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to issue a permit for landfills located in wetlands only if certain conditions exist.
One stipulation states that a proposed site would have to be at least 100 feet from any surface water body and one mile from and tidal wetland, and that a minimum two-to-one wetlands mitigation ration exist.
Senator Frank Ruff, a Republican from Mecklenburg County, sits on the committee that advanced the bill earlier this week.
Ruff, who voted in favor of the bill, said Mecklenburg County had set a precedent in the mid-to-late 90s by becoming one of the first in the state to receive exemption from the five-mile radius.
“Plans were already underway for a new landfill at the time,” Ruff said.
Ruff said he does not foresee a negative fallout from guidelines outlined in the new bill.
“As long as the DEQ is taking care of their job, I think we’ll be okay,” Ruff said.
Saying the DEQ oversight will protect the environment, Halifax County delegate Clarke Hogan also voted in favor of the measure.
“I do not believe that this bill hurts the environment," he wrote in a letter to a constituent. “It leaves the responsibility for landfill siting with (the) DEQ where it should provide some protection.”
Hogan also said the measure will offer municipalities more options for waste disposal.
“It… puts our localities in a better position and will give them options other tban making deals with private landfill companies to take their trash,” he said. “I believe this local flexibility is important to keep us from having too many private landfills in our state.”

Supervisors Get First Look At Middle School Design

Plans call for Middle School renovations and two new elementary schools.

BY Jeff Humber
G-V Staff Writer

Members of the Halifax County Board of Supervisors got their first look at plans for an extensive renovation to the Halifax County Middle School and plans for two new elementary schools Tuesday night.
“What we’re planning is not a normal renovation,” Halifax County School Superintendent Paul Stapleton told supervisors gathered Tuesday. “This is extensive renovation. When we’re through, you will have a brand new middle school.
“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.”
Dewberry & Davis Architects Allen Burchette and Darren Conner joined Stapleton in presenting the plans to the board.
Burchette presented middle school renovation plans to supervisors that include moving the county’s sixth-grade students.
Although the sixth-grade students will be moved to the middle 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 also 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. With the addition the school will accommodate roughly 1500 students, Stapleton said.
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.
“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.
Plans also include banded windows with a curved façade throughout. The building will feature a curved glass front of the existing library and outside seating for the cafeteria.
Also, plans call for the circle in front of the middle school to be removed and a one-way road installed for improved traffic flow and additional parking spaces, Burchette said.
As for a timeframe, the project is expected to go out for bid in June and officials are hoping to have a contractor on board by September or October, Stapleton told supervisors. The renovations have an expected completion date of September 2007.
Elementary Schools
Preliminary plans were also presented to the board for a new 850-student South Boston elementary school in the J. Aubrey Houghton Industrial Park as was the possibility of a new elementary school to replace the aging South of Dan and Cluster Springs elementary schools.
Stapleton said the design of the new Cluster Springs school would be a scaled down version of the South Boston one.
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.
Supervisors approved $25 million during their October 2004 meeting to fund improvements at the middle school and design plans for the two elementary schools.
Burchette told 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, Burchette added.
A new school could be built for around $13.5 million to house the students in both schools, according to Burchette.
“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.”
The new school in Cluster Springs is planned 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.
A new location for the school has yet to be decided on. According to the architects, a 20-acre tract of land would be ideal for the new elementary school.
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.
Supervisor Dickie Abbott inquired about plans for the existing schools after the new schools were constructed.
Stapleton explained that there are several options available to the county. Tentatively it is planned that Washington-Coleman would be returned to South Boston for recreational and educational programs, C.H. Friend would be an academy, Cluster Springs would house an alternative school and South of Dan would be utilized as a pre-school site. But these plans could change, Stapleton said.
The option of bidding the two new elementary school projects together was also brought up by the supervisors.
While there is the potential to save hundreds of thousands of dollars, there are no guarantees, Conner said.
The bidding climate at the time the bids go out will be the driving force, he added.
Each firm will have the option of bidding on both projects, or can bid on just one, and the county will proceed with whichever option results in the best deal, Stapleton said.
One of the advantages of bidding the projects out as a package is that it may attract larger firms from Richmond or Raleigh that would not otherwise be interested, according to the architects.

Willie Stanley Harris

Willie Stanley Harris, 51, of South Hill died February 22 at Community Memorial Healthcenter in South Hill.
Mr. Harris was born in Charlotte County on June 4, 1953, to the late James E. and Lucy Gregory Harris. He was a member of Shiloh Baptist Church in Drakes Branch, and was formerly employed in retail management.
Survivors include two sisters, Novella Saunders of Saxe and Claudine Thomas of Maywood, Ill.; three brothers, Chester Harris of Wilmington, Del., Edward B. Harris of New Castle, Del. and Harvey S. Harris of Saxe.
Funeral services for Mr. Harris will be at noon tomorrow, February 26 at Shiloh Baptist Church in Drakes Branch with the Rev. Hugo Womack officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

John Powell Rogers

John Powell Rogers, 79, of Finchley, husband of Minnie Allen Rogers, died at his home February 23.
Born in Mecklenburg County, he was the son of John and Louie Wilkerson Rogers. Mr. Rogers was a member of Fields United Methodist Church where he was a trustee, former treasurer, usher and chairman of the Cemetery Committee.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. today, February 25, at Watkins Cooper Lyon Funeral Home with the Revs. Pat Neilsen and Charles Davis officiating. Burial will follow in Fields United Methodist Church Cemetery.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Rogers is survived by his children, Brenda, Wanda, Mike, Mary and Joe; in-laws, Todd, Don, Jethro and Irene; a sister, Virginia Callahan; 10 grandchildren; 12 great-grandchildren; and one great-great-grandchild.

Carrie Lee Sizemore

Carrie Lee Sizemore died February 24 in Lynchburg.
Born October 11, 1914, she was a daughter of the late Charles Edmond and Carrie Smith Sizemore. Miss Sizemore was a retired employee of Gilliland’s Department Store and a member of Aarons Creek Baptist Church.
Survivors include one sister, Aurie Bowen of Virgilina; numerous nieces and nephews.
Private family services will be held at a later date.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider The Gideon Memorial Bible Society.

Lou Virginia 'Annie' Stevens

Ms. Lou Virginia “Annie” Stevens, 80, of Stafford, and formerly of Nathalie, died Monday, February 21.
A funeral for Ms. Stevens will be held Saturday, February 26, at 2 p.m. at the chapel of Jeffress Home And Cremation Service, 304 Lusardi Drive Brookneal. Burial will take place in the New Shiloh Baptist Church Cemetery in Nathalie.
The family will receive friends tonight from 7 p.m. until 8 p.m. at the funeral home.
Ms. Stevens is survived by one niece, Mrs. Joyce Carnegie of Stafford; four nephews, Robert Stevens of Alexandria, Larry Stephens of Philadelphia, PA, James Stevens of Nathalie and Eugene Stevens of Halifax and two aunts, Mrs. Lessie Davis of Maryland Mrs. Marie Davis of Roanoke.
Several great nieces, great nephews and other relatives also survive.

 

‘Cut Day’ Is On The Horizon

‘Cut Day’ Approaches For HCHS And HCMS Coaches And Players

BY Joe Chandler
G-V STAFF WRITER

For some prospective spring sports team hopefuls, the woeful day known as Cut Day has come and gone.
Cut Day is the day when coaches post the names of those prospective players that have made the roster.
For others, Cut Day awaits them today – or within the next few days - depending upon how much was accomplished through Wednesday and how much Mother Nature dampened coaches’ plans with yesterday’s cold rain.
Once Cut Day has passed and the rosters have been finalized, the real work gets started next week as coaches of the spring sports teams at Halifax County High School and Halifax County Middle School ratchet up their preparations for their rapidly approaching scrimmage games and season openers.
The week of tryouts is a tough week on everyone.
For prospective players, it is an anxious time as they have but a few days to dust off the rust and put their best foot forward in attempting to showcase their skills in front of coaches.
It’s tough on coaches as well.
Coaches have to make hard decisions about which players to keep and which ones to cut. That is a difficult thing to do, especially when the process reaches the point where the difference between some players is very, very slight.
“That part of it is no fun," said Comets jayvee baseball assistant coach Mike Lewis as he and head coach Shawn Torian watched youngster after youngster take a turn in the batting cage Wednesday afternoon.
“It’s very tough."
Lewis and Torian were faced with a tough chore this week with 32 players coming out to try to land one of the 16 or 17 spots on the roster. Their counterparts on the varsity baseball team – head coach Kelvin Davis and assistant coaches Kenneth Day and Ronnie Duffey – were having to choose among 24 players to fill their roster.
The list goes on.
Varsity softball coach Melanie Saunders had 17 hopefuls on the field this week and head jayvee softball coach Kirk Barnes had 19 players.
A total of 46 prospective players arrived to try out for the varsity and jayvee girls soccer teams which may be limited to an 18-player roster.
Greg Donner, the head coach of the Comets girls tennis team, had 23 players on the courts Wednesday.
“We’ll keep 13 to 15 players," Donner said.
“We’ve got a small group of girls back from last year’s team and a large group of underclassmen that needs experience."
Donner said three of the girls that were among the top six or seven on last year’s ladder are back, something that will give the Comets at least some measure of experience in the lineup.
The Comets boys tennis team is perhaps the smallest of all of the HCHS spring sports teams.
Coach David Riddle had nine players on the courts Wednesday with the possibility that a couple more may show up. He, like Donner, will have three to four players with some measure of experience returning to the lineup for the 2005 campaign.
Halifax County High School girls track coach Mary Douglas is doing something of a double duty. The winter indoor season has not yet ended, leaving her to work with those that have qualified for the Northwest Region and Group AAA state meets which come up next week while, at the same time, trying to get track hopefuls ready for the upcoming outdoor season.
“We’ve got it going pretty well," she said late Wednesday.
“We’ve got the girls that have run indoor track and a couple of new people. Our numbers are pretty good."
Over at Halifax County Middle School, girls track coach Mary Hamlett said 64 prospects are trying out for 48 available positions on her team, with the final roster expected next Friday.
“After the first week of practice, the girls who really want to be here will still be here," said Hamlett, who said the first few days of practice have been dedicated to conditioning and stretching.
“Some are already in shape from other sports, and we’re getting them familiar with the different distances. A lot of them aren’t familiar with the mechanics of track.
Hamlett and assistant coach George Brown have also begun evaluating athletes in specific events to determine which events best suit them.
“What has normally happened is that some naturally drop off on their own, but I’ll do the best I can to keep those who really want to compete," said Hamlett.
Lions boys track coach Frank Lee has dedicated the first few days to classroom instruction before his prospects hit the track.
Lee has about 35 prospects trying out for 48 spots on the boys track team.
“I’m still looking for a ‘few good men,’" said Lee, who has gone over track fundamentals and the team’s upcoming schedule.
“I’ve been teaching track, and we’ve been watching videos of the Olympics and a video of last year’s conference championship. I’m hoping for more numbers, and we may get a few more athletes after the rosters are complete for other sports."

 

South Boston Speedway Sets Open Practice Schedule

By Tim Chandler
SBS Public Relations

With the start of the 2005 race season closing in, it’s time for open practice sessions to get cranked up at South Boston Speedway.
In addition to having an open practice on Thursday, March 3, South Boston Speedway has also set an open practice session for all divisions on Saturday, March 5.
The schedule for March 5 calls for registration to begin at 9 a.m. Practice will be held that day from 10 a.m. until noon and then from 1 p.m. until 4 p.m.
At noon on March 5, South Boston Speedway will serve lunch to all competitors, crewmembers and working members of the media in attendance.
The Saturday, March 5, practice session is open to the public. No admission will be charged.
The Thursday, March 3 practice session will be the first of many throughout the course of the 2005 season. Each month, South Boston Speedway officials have set aside the first Thursday of the month for open practices.
The 2005 racing season at South Boston Speedway will get underway on Saturday, March 12. The 2005 campaign at South Boston Speedway consists of 25 events.

 

Relay For Life Benefit Basketball Game Scheduled For March 6

The South Boston Business & Industrial Basketball League will be assisting the local chapter of the American Cancer Society by hosting a Relay For Life benefit basketball game March 6. One team will consist of all-stars from North Carolina and Danville teams, while the other team will consist of all-stars from local businesses and industries.
The game is scheduled to start at 7:30 p.m., and admission is $2.
The North Carolina/Danville All-Star team includes: Jarad Hayes, Emmanuel Harris, Torri White, Eric Smith, Tavalas Staten, David Carver, Travis Fields, Marcus Boyd, Dennis Torian and Monty Jones, all of AWNC; Dominik Shortt and Robbie Revis of Georgia Pacific; and Joey Barksdale of Dollar General.
The Virginia All-Star team includes: Michael Jackson and Rodney Chandler of ABB; Matthew McCargo and Ronnie Edmonds of SoBo/GCR; Treymayne Boyd and Lamont Boyd of O’Sullivan; Tyrone Dunkley and Andre Sims of Dollar General; Kenneth Day and Garrett Dillard of Halifax County School System; Waverly Harris of H&M Logging; Clyde Waller of AWNC; and Earnest Williams of Presto.