Hospital Employee Diagnosed With TB

A Halifax Regional Hospital employee has been diagnosed with tuberculosis, according to a press release issued by Halifax Regional Health System.
Those who have had close contact with the employee are being contacted for screening and possible TB testing.
The hospital, in conjunction with the Halifax Health Department, Southside Health District and Virginia Department of Health, are investigating the case .
The hospital and local and State Health Department officials have identified individuals internally (coworkers, physicians, others) and externally (prior patients, their families and others), who may have had prolonged, close contact with the employee, according to a hospital spokesman. Health Department officials will conduct all evaluations and screenings.
“Our priority has always been to provide for the safety of our patients and employees,” explained CEO, Chris Lumsden, “and we are pleased to have the assistance of Dr. Charles Devine, district director of the Southside Health District, and the local health department to coordinate efforts to screen those who may have been exposed to tuberculosis bacteria.”
“At this time, coworkers in close contact with the employee and close family members have tested negative for TB disease infection,” reported Dr. Devine, “and it has been determined by the state health departments’ division of Tuberculosis Control that the individual who has been clinically diagnosed with TB is minimally infectious.”
Dr. Devine also stated that contacts will be re-screened in 10 to 12 weeks, but with the current results, he felt that evidence shows that symptoms were recognized early. “I want to assure the general public that they are not at risk,” Dr. Devine said.
“One our first responsibilities is to report to the health department, any infectious diseases included on the Virginia Reportable Disease List,” added Millie Lavaway, Infection Control Practitioner at Halifax Regional Hospital. She and others on the staff have worked closely with the health department to identify any one who may have had contact with the employee.
“Guidelines for contacting, testing and evaluating those who may have been exposed to active TB bacteria,” said Dr. Devine, “have been established by the Virginia Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). These guidelines include the following:
n All persons identified at risk from this exposure, will be screened.
n Identified individuals with previously negative TB skin tests will be screened for symptoms and receive a TB skin test.
n Identified individuals with previously positive TB skin tests will be screened. If symptomatic, they will be required to have a chest x-ray.
Exposure to TB that results in active TB disease generally will only occur following hours of close contact with a person who has active TB. Even if an individual becomes infected after exposure, he or she may not have symptoms of TB. Preventive treatment can keep those infected from developing active tuberculosis. According to the CDC, tuberculosis is preventable, treatable and curable.
For questions concerning screening procedures currently being conducted, please contact the Halifax Health Department, 434-476-4863.

Facts about
Tuberculosis (TB)

TB is an airborne disease that is acquired through prolonged, close contact with a person who has active TB disease. TB disease usually affects the lungs, but can also affect other parts of the body, such as the brain, kidneys or spine. Active TB disease can be fatal if it is not properly treated.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one-third of the world’s population is infected with tuberculosis. In 2005, the Virginia Department of Health (VDH) reported 355 active TB cases, an increase over 2004, when 329 cases were reported. TB remains a significant public health concern in Virginia, which has a rate of 4.7 cases of TB per 100,000 people.
The majority of people who breathe in TB bacteria and become infected have strong enough immune systems to stop it from developing into active TB disease.
However, the bacteria remain alive in the body and can become active later if the infection is not treated. Each year, 9 million people around the world become sick with TB disease.
Symptoms of active TB disease include:
n Fever
n Night sweats
n Coughing that lasts three weeks or longer, with mucous and/or blood
n Fatigue
n Weight loss
n Loss of appetite
n Chills
Most people who have become infected with TB bacteria never develop active TB disease. However, some may be more likely to develop active TB disease than others. According to the CDC, those people at risk for developing active TB disease include:
n People with HIV infection
n People who became infected with TB bacteria in the last 2 years
n People who inject illegal drugs
n Babies and young children
n People with weakened the immune systems
n Elderly people
n People who were not treated correctly for TB in the past
The VDH Division of Disease Prevention supports local health departments and other medical providers in the prevention, surveillance and treatment of TB.
It offers continuing education programs for health care providers and the general public.

Students Face Charges After Fight At HCHS

Four female students are facing charges following a brawl Friday in the Halifax County High School cafeteria where a teacher was pushed to the ground, according to HCHS Principal Albert Randolph and Deputy School Superintendent Larry Clark.
The fight broke out before first period Friday following an argument by two female students, Randolph said, noting the incident was caught on tape by the school’s security cameras.
One of the student’s sisters was also in the cafeteria, saw the fight and jumped in, Randolph added. Then a friend of the other student jumped in, the principal explained, making it the sisters fighting against the other two students.
Benita Bagwell, who was on duty in the cafeteria, attempted to break up the fight and was reportedly pushed to the ground when she attempted to separate the girls, Clark said.
Bagwell was treated and released for injuries, Clark added.
Following the fight, Randolph said, he made an announcement that all students were to report to class immediately. Three students who were not involved in the fight were sent home for not reporting immediately to class, the principal said.
The four students involved were charged and transported to the W.W. Moore Juvenile Detention Center in Danville, Clark said.
The students were charged because they didn’t stop when the teacher told them to stop, Randolph said.
Clark said the school system will not tolerate fighting and violence.
“Our message to principals is that behavior that puts hands on teachers and disregards their instructions is very serious,” he said, noting that is why expulsion, long-term suspension and having the students involved arrested is appropriate.
“We have to send a clear message not only to the students involved, but to all students that this kind of disruptive behavior won’t be tolerated,” Clark said.
Randolph said after speaking with other students that he believes the motive for the fight was a personal dislike between two of the students.
There were no other incidents stemming from the fight at the high school Friday, Randolph said.
No information on charges filed were available at presstime.

Obituaries

Sterling Sue Bagby

Miss Sterling Sue Bagby of 425 Hamilton Boulevard in South Boston, died Friday, March 2, at Somerset Assisted Living.
She was born in Halifax County, March 1, 1918 and was 89 years of age.
Miss Bagby was the daughter of the late James Charles Bagby and Mamie Gravitt Bagby.
She was a member of the Grace Baptist Church for over 75 years, was a member of the Berryman Green Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Virginia Library Association.
Miss Bagby received a bachelors degree from Lynchburg College, taught in the Halifax County school system, then obtained a masters degree in library science from the College of William and Mary.
Upon returning to Halifax County, she was the librarian at the Halifax Town Library and then became the head librarian for the Halifax County and South Boston public libraries.
Miss Bagby will always be remembered as the instigator of the Halifax County Bookmobile program and for driving the Bookmobile vehicle throughout Halifax County.
Miss Bagby is survived by two sisters, Marjorie Bagby Blount of South Boston, Grace Bagby Shufflebarger of Portsmouth; a nephew, David Thompson Blount Jr. of Scottsburg; and three nieces, Reya B. Roller of Scottsburg, Cary S. Harrell and Ellen S. Swaffar, both of Portsmouth.
Funeral services for Miss Bagby will be held today at 11 a.m. at Grace Baptist Church with the Rev. Jack Stewart officiating.
Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the home of her sister Marjorie Blount, 1108 Marshall Avenue, South Boston.
For memorials, please consider a charity of your choice.
Online condolences may be directed to powell@gcronline.com.

Winifred Faulkner Harris

Winifred Faulkner Harris, 79, of Alton died March 1, 2007, at Danville Regional Health Center.
Mrs. Harris was born in Halifax County March 11, 1927, to the late Belt Faulkner and Nannie Scott Faulkner. She was a member of St. Mark Baptist Church and was a retired teacher from Halifax County Public Schools.
Survivors include two sons, Rodney ‘Jerry’ Hicks of Bowie, Md. and Whitney L. Harris and his wife, Sharon Mosley Harris, of South Boston; one sister, Alease Juanita Brown of Lynchburg; three grandchildren, William, Kenneth and Nicholas Harris, all of South Boston; one sister-in-law, Lydia D. Faulkner of South Boston. One brother, Hurley M. Faulkner preceded Mrs. Harris in death.
Funeral services will be held today, March 5, at noon at St. Mark Baptist Church with the Rev. Herbert Pettiford officiating.
Condolences may be sent to Jeffress Funeral Home, 2000 N. Main St., South Boston, or jeffressfh@yahoo.com.

Wilma Doris Blackstock

Miss Wilma Doris Blackstock, of Easley Street in South Boston, died Sunday, March 4 at The Woodview Nursing Home.
She was born in Halifax County on June 8, 1911, the daughter of Walter Scott Blackstock and Harriette Eliza “Hallie” Guill Blackstock, and was 95.
Miss Blackstock was a member of the First Baptist Church of South Boston since 1924 and was retired from the Leggett Department Stores of South Boston.
She is survived by several cousins and was preceded in death by her sister, Mabel Alene Blackstock.
Graveside services for Miss Blackstock will be held at 2 p.m. at the Oak Ridge Cemetery Wednesday, March 7. The Rev. Tim Cannon will officiate. The family will receive friends at Powell Funeral Home on Wednesday from noon until 1:30 p.m.
For memorials, please consider the First Baptist Church Organ Fund, 815 North Main Street, South Boston, Va., 24592.
Online condolences may be directed to powell@gcronline.com.

John Callon Miller

Mr. John Callon Miller, 87, of Nathalie, died Thursday, Feb. 27.
He was the son of the late Johnnie Miller and Millie Ann Miller and was married to Gelois Miller.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Miller is survived by four sons, Allen Miller and wife Joan of Concord, Wes Miller and wife Tracy, Gary Miller and wife Marguerite and Johnnie Miller, all of Nathalie; four daughters, Cynthia Miller and husband Cym, Debbie Tucker and husband Jimmy, Angela Miller and Tony Williams; a granddaughter, CaMisha, a niece Barbara Poindexter and a host of grandchildren, great-grandchildren, great-great-grandchildren, nieces, nephews, relatives and friends.
Funeral services for Mr. Miller were held Sunday, March 4, at the Republican Grove Baptist Church in Nathalie with the Rev. Chester Spruill conducting the service.
Condolences may be emailed to jeffressfh@aol.com.

Ruth Cage Anderson

Mrs. Ruth Cage Anderson, of Mt. Carmel Road in Brookneal, died Thursday, March 1, at Heritage Hall Nursing Home in Brookneal. She was the wife of the late Dorsey Edgar Anderson and was 99.
Mrs. Anderson was born in Halifax County on January 18, 1908, the daughter of the late John Burch Cage and the late Lula Lipscomb Cage, was a member of Catawba Baptist Church and attended Bethel Baptist Church for many years.
Survivors include two sons, Robert L. Anderson of Madison Heights and Edison O. Anderson of Brookneal; five daughters, Mildred Worsham of Madison Heights, Barbara Webber and husband Billy of Pamplin, Betty Davis and husband Phillip of Gladys, Ruby Reynolds of Brookneal and Connie Pollard and husband Stuart of Brookneal; 23 grandchildren;28 great grandchildren; 10 great-great grandchildren; a number of step-grandchildren; nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by one son, Vincent E. Anderson; daughters Alene Allred and Nancy Moorefield; three grandchildren; five brothers and a sister.
Funeral services were held at 2 p.m. Sunday, March 4, at Catawba Baptist Church. The Rev. Dan Davis officiated. Burial followed at the church cemetery.

Virginia Estes Vaughan

Mrs. Virginia Estes “Jennie” Vaughan, 83, of South Boston, widow of the late Judge Robert Turnbull Vaughan Sr., died Sunday, March 4, 2007 at The University of Virginia Hospital in Charlottesville.
Funeral arrangements were incomplete at press time and will be announced later by Powell Funeral Home.