Monday, February 27, 2006

Goode Taking Heat For Donation

Congressman Accepted $46,000 Donation From Businessman Facing Bribery Charges

From Staff and Wire Reports
Southside’s congressman to the U.S. House of Representatives has been identified as having received $46,000 in illegal political donations from a defense contractor who pleaded guilty Friday to making more than $1 million in bribes, according to published reports.
Rep. Virgil Goode was one of two lawmakers named in court documents that allege MZM Inc., paid former California Congressman Randy Cunningham around $1 million in exchange for millions of dollars in government contracts.
Mitchell Wade, 46, the company’s former president, also admitted making nearly $80,000 in illegal campaign contributions in the names of MZM employees and their spouses to two other members of Congress, identifiable from Federal Election Commission records as Goode, R-Va., and Rep. Katherine Harris, R-Fla.
The lawmakers were unaware the donations were illegal, prosecutors said.
Goode, who denied any wrongdoing, said that he didn’t realize that the contributions were illegal and has donated “all funds that we could identify” (as originating from MZM’s political action committee or employees) to charity.
“When we learned that the CEO of MZM was involved in illegal activities with (Cunningham), we sent all funds that we could identify as contributions to the campaign from MZM’s PAC (political action committee) and MZM’s employees to charities and non-profits such as volunteer rescue squads, volunteer fire departments and SPCA-type entities,” Goode said.
In a prepared statement released Friday, the congressman said he was “shocked and amazed” to learn the contributions were illegal.
“I had no knowledge that any of the contributions by MZM persons to our campaign were illegal,” he said.
“A number of months ago, when media reports surfaced that several employees alleged that they were coerced to make donations to our campaign, the campaign sent a letter to the donors who we believed had any ties to MZM offering a full refund of their donations. Only two individuals requested refunds, which were promptly made.”
‘‘Wade targeted these two members of Congress because he believed that they had the ability to request appropriations funding that would benefit MZM,’’ U.S. Attorney Kenneth Wainstein of Washington said at a news conference following Wade’s plea hearing.
According to published reports, Wade failed to alert the lawmakers that the contributions were illegal, a move some legal observers interpret as good news for Goode and Harris.
Because he didn’t know the contributions were illegal, prosecution is unlikely in Goode’s case, according to Melanie Sloan, a former federal prosecutor who was quoted in the Lynchburg News & Advance as saying she believes he and Harris have been cleared of any culpability in the matter.
In order for Goode to face legal charges, he would have to know the contributions were unlawful, Sloan pointed out in the Lynchburg story.
Tucker Watkins, chairman of the Fifth District Republican Party, said yesterday that Goode has committed no violations of any campaign finance laws.
“Both the prosecutor and every other person who has looked at this knows there is no evidence of any type that Congressman Goode had any knowledge of what Wade was doing,” he said. “Virgil has a 30-year record of integrity in government and no amount of mudslinging by Democratic operatives will change the opinion of the people of the Fifth District regarding his service to them.”
On Friday, Wade pleaded guilty to conspiring with Cunningham, among four corruption charges that carry a maximum prison term of 20 years.
‘‘I take full responsibility for my actions,’’ Wade told U.S. District Judge Ricardo Urbina of Washington.
Cunningham, R-Calif., quit Congress last year after he pleaded guilty to taking bribes from Wade and others.
Wade also admitted his role in a second, separate conspiracy in which he did favors for a Defense Department official, including hiring his son at MZM, and other employees in return for their help in awarding contracts to his company.
The Pentagon employees were not named in court filings, but The Washington Post has identified the official as William S. Rich Jr., who until 2003 was executive director of the Army’s National Ground Intelligence Center in Charlottesville, Va. Rich was later hired by MZM.
Wade has been cooperating with federal prosecutors in Washington and San Diego since last summer and is required to continue doing so as part of his plea agreement with the government, federal prosecutor Howard Sklamberg told the judge.
He is one of four co-conspirators in the plea agreement and sentencing memorandum for Cunningham. The co-conspirators are not named in court papers, but they have been identified elsewhere.
Among Wade’s gifts to Cunningham was the purchase of the congressman’s California home for a price inflated by $700,000. Cunningham, 64, used the money to move into a $2.55 million, five-bedroom, seven-bath mansion in the exclusive San Diego County community of Rancho Santa Fe.
A bribe of $140,000 in the form of a 42-foot yacht, the Duke-Stir, brought Wade an offer of $16 million in contracts, according to Cunningham’s sentencing memorandum, which calls for a 10-year prison term.
Wade bought Cunningham $190,000 in antiques over two years from one store alone, records show. Cunningham used the antiques ‘‘to feather his nest in San Diego,’’ prosecutors said.
The former ‘‘Top Gun’’ flight instructor and Vietnam War flying ace is scheduled to be sentenced March 3 in U.S. District Court in San Diego.
Besides Wade, the three other co-conspirators are Brent Wilkes, founder of San Diego-based ADCS Inc.; New York businessman Thomas Kontogiannis; and John T. Michael, Kontogiannis’ nephew.

 

Walker Is Arrested On Drug Charges

A 22-year-old South Boston man was arrested on drug charges Friday following two searches and an eight-month investigation, according to Major R.S.B. Pulliam of the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office.
Marques Jermele Walker, aka “Marcus,” of Love Shop Trailer Park, was charged with conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine between July 21, 2004 and January 20, 2006, Pulliam said.
The Halifax County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Department previously conducted searches of two residences in reference to Walker’s alleged operation on Friday, October 28, 2005.
After an extensive eight-month investigation involving alleged crack cocaine distribution within the county and surrounding areas, drug investigators began arresting individuals involved in the investigation, Pulliam said.
Walker was arrested in October as he attempted to leave Willow Oaks Apartments, according to Pulliam, and was charged with conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine, distribution of crack cocaine and subsequent offense of distribution of crack cocaine.
Also, in December he was charged with additional drug charges, conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine and three counts of subsequent offense of distribution of crack cocaine, Pulliam said.
As a result of the arrests and searches a large amount of cash, marijuana, crack cocaine and firearms was seized, according to investigators. Also seized were vehicles, televisions, stereos, VCRs, DVD players and various other electronics.
Walker is currently being held in the Halifax Regional Jail without bond, Pulliam said.
The investigation revealed numerous individuals obtaining large quantities of drugs from outside the county and redistributing the drugs within Halifax County and South Boston, investigators said.
Some of these individuals are also believed to be involved in firearm trafficking, Pulliam said.
The investigation is continuing, and additional suspects will be arrested, he added.
Halifax County Sheriff Jeff Oakes said the investigation is part of a broad effort to reduce the availability of narcotics in the county.
“This investigation focused on middle to upper level drug dealers,” Oakes said. “The extent and focus of this investigation was an effort to remove sources of drugs in an effort to reduce the availability of the drugs.
“I am committed to removing this criminal element from Halifax County and South Boston,” he added. “The time and energy my narcotics team invests in their investigations is a testament to their dedication to the community. We will continue to work hard for the citizens of Halifax County and South Boston.”

 

SoBo Work Session To Revisit Zoning, Parking, Poolroom Issues

Closing Unopened Alley And CDBG Project Real Estate On Agenda

A request to rezone 2.58 acres from R-2 to T-1 on Berry Hill Road, additional handicapped parking downtown and continuing discussion regarding an ordinance amendment governing poolrooms lead South Boston Council’s Current Issues Committee agenda tonight.
The meeting will get under way at 5:45 p.m. in Council Chambers at 502 Yancey Street.
The South Boston Planning Commission did not recommend the rezoning of the 2.58 acres from its current R-2, medium density residential district, to T-1, transitional district, during its February meeting. At the time, a number of Berry Hill community residents objected to the request by contractor Cedric Stovall for the rezoning.
Following the meeting, Stovall said he and partner James Clark were trying to provide housing for underprivileged seniors and handicapped only, citing a lack of safe housing for those residents. Clark/Personal Touch Corp., Upper Marlboro, Va., is listed as owner of the property in the rezoning request.
Other agenda items include a possible real estate purchase associated with the Church Hill CDBG project, and a request to close an unopened alley between Marshall and Spears Avenue. A public hearing and appointment of a Board of Viewers is required to close the unopened alley.
A recommendation for appointment to the South Boston IDA is also expected.
Finance Committee members will receive the monthly financial statement from Town Finance Director Erle Scott as well as an annual report on delinquent taxes.
During the work session, councilmen will also receive the fire department’s annual report and a quarterly report from Destination Downtown South Boston Main Street Manager Jerry Van Eimeren.

Obituaries

Billy Buford Throckmorton Jr.

Billy Buford Throckmorton Jr., 62, of Charlotte, N.C. died February 21, 2006, at his home.
Mr. Throckmorton was born in Halifax County on July 1, 1943, the son of the late Billy Buford Throckmorton Sr. and the late Anita Womack Throckmorton. He was a member of Winns Creek Baptist Church.
Survivors include his son and daughter, Jason Todd Throckmorton and wife, Brenda, of Charlotte, and Brittney Paige Throckmorton of South Boston; four brothers, Leonard Throckmorton and wife, Girdie, of Nathalie, Davis Throckmorton and wife, Linda, of Windsor, Roger Throckmorton of Vernon Hill, and Cecil Throckmorton and wife, Joann, of Halifax; two sisters, Frances T. Hilliard of Warrenton, N.C., and Carolyn T. Blanks and husband, Wayne, of Hampton; two grandchildren, Emerson and Avery Throckmorton of Charlotte; and a special friend, Sandra Shanks of Yorktown.
A memorial service for Mr. Throckmorton will be held by the Rev. Terry Scearce on March 4, at 2 p.m. at Scottsburg Baptist Church.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Halifax County Cancer Association.

John Clifton “Click” Smiley

Mr. John Clifton “Click” Smiley, of James D. Hagood Highway in Scottsburg, died Saturday, February 25, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
He was born in Halifax County on September 1, 1918, and was 87 years old. He was the son of John Sterling Smiley and Lettie Boss Russell Smiley.
Mr. Smiley was a member of the Scottsburg United Methodist Church, was a World War II Army veteran and was a member of the South Boston Sports Hall of Fame.
His wife, Juanita Wilkerson Smiley of Scottsburg, one brother, Harry Edward Smiley of Newport News, and four nieces survive Mr. Smiley.
Two brothers, Dewey Garland Smiley and Cabel Earl Smiley, and one sister, Effie Luck, preceded him in death.
Funeral services for Mr. Smiley will be held Tuesday, February 28, at 2 p.m., at the Powell Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Bonnie Pizzeck officiating.
Burial will follow in the Halifax Memorial Gardens.
The family will receive friends from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. at the Powell Funeral Home and other times at the home, 8015 James D. Hagood Highway, Scottsburg.
For memorials, please consider the Scottsburg United Methodist Church.

Robert Wendell Link

Mr. Robert Wendell Link died Friday, February 24, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
He was 61.
Mr. Link was born in Halifax County on October 8, 1944, the son of the late John Henry Link Jr. and Martha Cole Link. He was married to Nancy Clay Link.
Mr. Link was the retired owner of Link’s Windshield and Glass Shop and was a member of the Mt. Cana United Methodist Church.
Funeral services for Mr. Link will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday at the Mt. Cana United Methodist Church with the Rev. Randy Holmes officiating.
Survivors include his wife, two daughters, Wendy L. Lowery and husband Neil of South Boston and Cindy L. Irby and husband Adam of Roxboro, two sisters, Peggy L. Cole and husband Lloyd and Martha L. Clark and husband Zane, both of South Boston, and two grandchildren, Brandon and Dylan Lowery, two nieces and three nephews.
One brother, Lionel Link, preceded him in death.
Visitation will be held at Brooks Funeral Home today from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. and at other times at the home, 3119 East Hyco Road.

Elliott Bailey Betts

Funeral services for Mr. Elliott Bailey Betts will be held today at 11 a.m. in the chapel of Jeffress Funeral Home with the Rev. Thurman Betts officiating.
Burial will follow in the Memorial Baptist Church cemetery.
The family will receive friends tonight at the church one hour prior to the service.
Mr. Betts, 83, of South Boston, died Tuesday, February 21, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
He was born September 17, 1922 in Halifax County, the son of the late Bailey Sam Betts and Sally Owen Betts.
Mr. Betts was a member of Memorial Baptist Church.
He is survived by three sisters, Alneata Betts and Geneva Betts, both of South Boston, and Nannie B. Reed of Philadelphia; a brother, James Betts of South Boston; a brother-in-law, Walter Reed of Philadelphia; a sister-in-law, Shirley M. Betts of Madison Heights; three nephews, Rev. Thurman Betts and wife Louise, and Jerome Betts, all of South Boston, and Pastor Benjamin Betts Jr. of Madison Heights, and a host of great nieces, great nephews, other relatives and friends.

Wilson Lee Barksdale

Funeral services for Mr. Wilson Lee Barksdale will be held Tuesday, February 28, at 12 noon at the Sunflower Baptist Church with Pastor Robert Tucker Jr. officiating.
Burial will follow in the Oak Ridge Cemetery in South Boston.
The family will receive friends tonight from 6 – 7 p.m. at the Dunn & Sons Funeral Home on North Main Street in Halifax and one hour prior to services.
Mr. Barksdale, 73, of Brooklyn, N.Y., and formerly of Halifax County died Wednesday, February 22.
He was the son of the late Will and Annie Mae Clark- Barksdale and was married to Dolly Barksdale.
Mr. Barksdale was a member of the Sunflower Baptist Church.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Barksdale is survived by a daughter, Donna Lee Barksdale; two brothers, Lynwood and Clarence Barksdale; five aunts; five sisters-in-law; a brother-in-law and a host of nieces, nephews, cousins, other relatives and friends.

Larry Wesley “Hucky” Crenshaw

Funeral services for Larry Wesley “Hucky” Crenshaw will be held at 2 p.m. Wednesday at Grace Baptist Church.
Mr. Crenshaw, 58, died Sunday at Lynchburg General Hospital.
Born January 7, 1948, he was the son of Mary Crenshaw of South Boston and the late Johnny Crenshaw, and was married to Angela Crenshaw of South Boston.
He was a member and a deacon at Grace Baptist Church.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Crenshaw is survived by three daughters, Kimberly C. Hardy and husband Michael “Snapper” Hardy of Halifax, Sandy C. Wilborn and husband Chris of Alton, and Suzanne R. Crenshaw of Winterville, N.C.; five grandchildren, Micahel Wesley “Wes” Hardy, Kayleigh Dawn Hardy, Madison Brooke Hardy, Sydney Grace Wilborn and Lacey Faith Wilborn; one sister, Betty Wheeler and husband Gene of Halifax; and nieces and nephews.
Visitation will be Tuesday from 7:00-8:30 p.m. at Powell Funeral Home and at other times at the home, 1021 Holland Drive, South Boston.
In lieu of flowers, please consider donations to Grace Baptist Church, 1058 Buckshoal Road, Virgilina, Va. 24598.

Comets Boys Track Team Takes Third In Regionals; Eight Qualify For State Meet

Six Members Of The HCHS Boys Indoor Track Team And Two Members Of The Girls Track Team Have Qualified For The Group AAA State Meet

Eight members of the Halifax County High School indoor track team, six boys and two girls, have qualified for the State Group AAA Indoor Track And Field Meet which will be held Friday and Saturday at George Mason University.
David Anderson, Patrick Terry, Travis Word, Cory Jackson Jeremy Clauden and Jamond Edmonds will represent the Comets boys indoor track team in the state meet.
Anderson, who is still nursing an injury, placed third in the triple jump with a mark of 43 feet and 6.25 inches to qualify for the state meet. He also placed ninth in the long jump with a leap of 19-4.75 and placed 12th in the 55-meter dash with a time of 6.99 seconds.
Terry placed second in the 55-meter dash with a time of 6.44 seconds in a race that had a finish so close that officials had to review the videotape of the race in order to decide the winner.
Strangely, Terry was listed as the runner-up but was awarded a gold medal along with the race winner.
“If anything, it should have been a dead heat and both of them should have been given a gold medal,” noted Comets coach Ralph Robinson.
“They listed him (Terry) as second (place) and gave him a gold medal. If they saw fit to give him a gold medal he should have first place.”
Jackson placed second in the shot put with a throw of 48-1. Word placed second in the 55-meter hurdles with a time of 7.87 seconds to qualify for the state and placed ninth in the high jump with a leap of 5-6.
Clauden qualified for the state meet with a fifth-place finish in the triple jump with a mark of 42-1. He also placed 12th in the 55-meter hurdles with a time of 10.03 seconds.
Edmonds qualified for the state meet with a fifth-place finish in the long jump with a leap of 20-3.
Two members of the girls team, Juanita Kincy and LaDonna Canada, will represent the Comets girls team in this weekend’s state competition.
Kincy had previously met the state standard for the high jump, an accomplishment that served her well this past weekend. Kincy placed seventh in the high jump in the Northwest Region meet with a jump of 4-8.
Canada qualified for the state meet with an outstanding showing in the Northwest Region meet in which she placed second in the shot put with a throw of 34-2.
Having eight members of the Comets indoor track team to qualify for the state meet was a nice bit of icing on the cake for Halifax County High School which saw the boys team finish third in this past weekend’s Northwest Region meet.
E.C. Glass won the boys meet with 80 points, capturing the Northwest Region boys crown for the second year in a row. The battle for second place was a close one with Colonial Forge taking second place with 46 points and Halifax County placing third with 43 points. Brooke Point finished fourth with 40 points and Forest Park rounded out the top five with 37 points.
The Comets girls team finished 17th overall with 11 points. Brooke Point won the girls meet with 92.50 points and Osbourn Park was the runner-up with 72 points. Franklin County placed fifth, E.C. Glass was sixth and GW finished eighth.
“I’m very proud of all of the kids, the boys as well as the girls,” said Comets boys track coach Ralph Robinson.
“While the girls did not place very high, they have done very well considering where they were at the start of the season. They’re young and they’re getting better. It’s going to take a little time but they’re going to be good.”
The Comets boys team had a shot at second place and was in second place through 14 of the 15 meet events, with the 4x400-meter relay being the final event of the day. Unfortunately, Robinson noted, Ronnie Link, who was running the first leg for the Comets, collided with another runner and crashed to the floor, ending the Comets’ chances. The other three members of the relay team did not get to run.
As a result, the Comets failed to score any points and were forced to settle for third place.
“It’s not what we wanted, but third place isn’t bad,” Robinson said.
Several other members of the Comets track team took part in the Northwest Region meet. Among the boys team, Melvin Reynolds placed eighth in the high jump with a marl of 5-6 and placed 21st in the 500-meter race with a time of 1:13.10.
Link placed 14th in the 1,000-metere race with a time of 2:49.31.
The Comets’ 4x200-meter relay team consisting of Anderson, Clauden, Word and Terry placed fifth with a time of 1:35.26 and the Comets’ 4x800-meter relay team consisting of Link, Chris Pridgen, Amanuel Coleman and Justus Eisenbeiss placed 14th with a time of 8:59.27.
Among the Comets girls team, Marteia Ferrell placed seventh in the long jump with a jump of 15-8.50 and 10th in the triple jump with a mark of 32-9.50.
Shaday Coleman placed 10th in the 55-meter hurdles with a time of 9.70 seconds, Carolyn Reynolds placed 10th in the 55-meter hurdles with a time of 7.73 seconds and Erin Squires tied for 11th place in the high jump with a mark of 4-6.
Felicia Bowman placed 14th in the 300-meter race with a time of 46.23 seconds and Amey Totherow placed 16th in the 1,600-meter race with a time of 6:30.60.
The Comets’ 4x200-meter relay team placed ninth with Reynolds, Jasmine Pointer, Bowman and Kincy turning in a time of 1:53.59.
In addition, the Comets’ 4x400-meter relay team consisting of Reynolds, Cherena Canada, Bowman and Kincy placed 11th with a time of 4:29.83.
Two meet record were set in the boys meet. Dan Leyh of Colonial Forge broke a meet record in the 1,600-meter race with his time of 4:19.03. The previous record had stood since 1979.
Leyh was also one of the four runners on Colonial Forge’s 4x800-meter relay team which won that event in a meet record time of 8:02.12

 

Comets Tennis Teams Preparing For Spring Season

Optimism Is Abundant Among HCHS Girls And Boys Tennis Teams

The coaches and players of the Halifax County High School girls and boys tennis team have had only four days of preseason workouts.
Still, Comets girls coach Greg Donner and Comets boys coach David Riddle are pleased with their respective situations.
Donner had a young team last season and lost only two players to graduation. All but those two players are back and, with 11 players on the roster, Donner feels good about where his team is at this point.
“We have 11 players and that is a good number,” Donner said.
“The most I like to keep is 12 so we’re in good shape there. I’m happy with what we did the first week.”
This year’s Comets team is also going to be a young team, but it will be a team that Donner feels has potential to create some problems for the rest of the Western Valley District teams.
“We have only one senior, Colleen Barnes,” Donner noted.
“We’ve got a bunch of players that were freshmen and sophomores last year that have really developed their game. We had only three players last year that had any experience. Everybody else was new.
“Considering how young we were, we had what I thought was a great season last year,” Donner added.
“We won some matches and played some people tougher than what they expected.”
The experience the young players got last season will be a big plus to the team this season.
“I think we can have a good season,” Donner noted.
Riddle has 10 players on his Comets boys team and may possibly add others.
“I’m going to talk to a couple of people after the baseball cuts have been made,” Riddle said Friday.
Riddle, like Donner is optimistic about the season and, with three seniors on the team that have been involved in the tennis program for several years, he is looking for good things this season.
“We have some experience this year,” Riddle said.
“I’m definitely satisfied with the way the top six guys have come along. We still have plenty of time to work on things and the guys still have to play their challenge matches to decide the ladder.”
Overall, Riddle said, the players have shown some good things during the first week or workouts.
“As far as the first week, I’m very pleased,” Riddle said.
“You can see that the guys have worked on their off-season conditioning and have stepped it up.”
The Comets girls and boys tennis are slated to open their respective seasons on Monday, March 13 against Prince Edward County High School. The boys will play here at 4:30 p.m. that day and the girls will go on the road for a 4:30 p.m. contest in Farmville.

 

Middle School Teams Hold Tryouts, Gear Up For Spring Sports

Last week’s weather gave a hint of what’s to come this spring, as Halifax County Middle School held tryouts for all four of its teams, the Lions baseball, softball, boys and girls track teams hitting the field.
About 40 hopefuls tried out for the Lions baseball team, according to head coach Barry Powell, who is seeking a 10th consecutive Southside Middle School Conference title.
“We’ve been conditioning since last week, and so far we’re looking good, said Powell.”
The Lions return only a few players from last year’s undefeated squad, but Powell said he and assistants Will Hill and Brian Medley saw a lot of talent to choose from.
“We have a lot to choose from and a good group here, so I’m optimistic,” said Powell.
The Lions softball team is in a similar position, with only two returning starters from an undefeated conference champion.
Lions head coach James Smith and assistant Bonnie Bowen welcomed about 30 players to tryouts last week, with a lot of new faces figuring into Smith’s plans for this season.
“We knew what we had last year, but this is really a brand new team,” noted Smith.
It’s hard to tell now, but we have some good ball players and I’m pleased with the turnout.”
Both the Lions baseball and softball teams benefit from strong Dixie programs in Halifax County, but the Lions boys and girls track teams depend primarily on county elementary physical education programs for their athletes.
The showcase for that talent is the annual Elementary Olympics, which gives middle school track coaches a “head’s up” on the future of their programs.
That system seems to be working as well, with more than 40 athletes turning out for both the boys and girls track teams.
Coach Frank Lee returns as the boys track team head coach, with assistance from Jamie Layne and Lawrence Wilkerson, while Mary Hamlett and assistant Beth Scott will coach the Lions girls tracks team.
Lee said he was pleased with the turnout, which included about seven eighth-grade returnees.
“The majority of those coming out are eighth-graders, and I’m looking at some good raw talent,” said Lee.
He added that the process had begun to determine the best fit for each athlete, whether it is track or field events, short, middle or long distance running events.
Hamlett was also pleased with the numbers vying for a spot on the Lions girls track team, with over 45 hopefuls at the first days of tryouts.
“I’m pleased with the turnout,” began Hamlett. “I see a lot of new faces, and all but about 10 girls are new to the team.
“There’s a good mix of seventh- and eighth-graders, their attitudes are good and they’re excited about track.”