Wednesday, March 9, 2005

Tie Vote Kills Attempt To Dissolve EDA

With Supervisor Bryant Claiborne Abstaining, 3-3 Vote Ends Supervisor Ronnie Vaughan’s Proposal

The Halifax County Economic Development Authority will continue to exist.
A motion made by Halifax County Supervisor Ronnie Vaughan to dissolve the newly-formed body failed on a split vote when Supervisor Bryant Claiborne abstained from voting during Monday’s Board meeting.
With Board Chairman William Fitzgerald absent, supervisors Vaughan, Lottie Nunn and R.E. “Dickie" Abbott supported the motion, with supervisors Doug Bowman, James Edmunds and Tom West opposing.
Supervisor Bryant Claiborne abstained from voting, and the motion failed on a tie vote.
The vote came following approximately 20 minutes of discussion on the issue, including prepared statements by Vaughan supporting the motion and Bowman opposing the action.
“We as a Board have had meetings with and without our lawyer on this EDA and IDA mess," Vaughan said. “I won’t rehash the details, but before I make my motion, I ask each Board member to think about your answer to the following questions:
• What was the intent of the Board of Supervisors in creating the EDA?
• What was the intent of the IDA resolution in creating the EDA?
• What has taken place?
• Have the BOS (Board of Supervisors) and the EDA acted illegally?
• What is best for the citizens of Halifax County? “Simply stated, there is no right way to do the wrong thing," Vaughan continued.
Vaughan’s motion asked supervisors to appoint Earl Scott and Frank Lee from the South Boston IDA to the Halifax County IDA, request the EDA Board to submit a resolution to dissolve the EDA, request that no additional funds be appropriated to the EDA, request the IDA to change its name to the EDA and request the IDA to hire (EDA executive director) Mike Eades as its new director.
In his plea supporting the EDA, Bowman said the intention when the EDA was formed has never been given an opportunity to come to fruition and Vaughan’s timing was inopportune.
“The issue(s) now raised would have been more appropriate between May and September of last year when the matter of the EDA was under consideration," he said. “While the new economic development structure may be debatable, the teamwork needed to make any program work is not…
“Too many people, local and regional, have contributed to this collaborative thinking and it would be irresponsible to neglect this effort. Thus the EDA formation.
“Managing change requires vision, leadership and courage," Bowman continued. “New fabrics are being weaved here now… technology, performance engineering, robotics, tourism, all unthinkable a decade ago.
“Defining moments in the history of Halifax County are at our doorstep. Inaction can be as costly as wrong action…
“While some missteps may have been made in this process, all action taken has complied with the intent, objective and spirit of the plan outlined to the governing bodies last May and subsequently approved by the Board of Supervisors and South Boston Town Council," Bowman said.
Much of Vaughan’s statement dealt with the lack of trust he feels could result from his intent to dissolve the EDA leaking to the press.
“I support the Constitution and have faithfully upheld my oath," he said. “I also support the Bill of Rights, which guarantees freedom of speech.
“I support freedom of speech. I support freedom of the press, but I do have one request: Mr. Keith Strange, the next time you decide to print a confidential and personal e-mail that I sent to my fellow Board members, please print the e-mail in its entirety rather than pick and choose those parts of the e-mail that serve your purpose.
“For any government Board to work in the best interest of its citizens, that Board must have trust and communication among its members," Vaughan continued. “My e-mail to this Board was to communicate with Board members in confidence and not to have it published on the front page of the newspaper.
“When that happens, what does it do to the trust among Board members? Someone has violated the trust of this Board. How many of you will continue to communicate personal and confidential information with fellow Board members now that you know that your e-mail may end up on the front page of a newspaper?"
But Edmunds told Vaughan that he had an opportunity to respond to the story prior to it being published.
“As far as the results of the EDA and the IDA working together, we haven’t given them a chance," he said. “In fact, right alongside (the story about) Vaughan’s e-mail was an example of the two boards working together.
“If we dissolve them after appointing them, we would do more toward dividing this county, not to mention alienating the people. I can’t imagine doing that to the county, even for personal reasons.
“Mr. Vaughan, I had gotten a call from Mr. (County Administrator Bryan) Foster saying your e-mail may go out in the paper. I could not believe that happened and was appalled and asked the paper not to run it because I couldn’t imagine it would be positive for the county.
“They indicated to me that they did not want to run that e-mail and were waiting for your response and if you had called, they would not have. You had every opportunity to stop that e-mail from going to the public," Edmunds said.
Claiborne said the most important thing at this point is for the political in-fighting to end and the two economic development bodies to work together.
“As Mr. Vaughan stated, the intention of the Board (of Supervisors) was the IDA would be dissolved upon the creation of the EDA," he said. “There were representations to this Board that the EDA could be created and we’d have control over the dissolution of the IDA. We don’t.
“Now we have a mess because we can’t work together. A mistake was made in forming the EDA, but we must have resolution.
“I disagree with this being made public, but it’s something we have to resolve, not the public. All this bickering isn’t helping the county.
“We have this mess here," Claiborne added. “What are we going to do about it? We have to stop this bickering and do what’s best for Halifax County. The main focus we should have is to resolve this in a peaceful manner. If we have Halifax County in our heart, that’s what we should be doing.
“I challenge everyone in here – everyone – to start working together."

 

Supervisors Set Hearing On New Schools Funds

A public hearing will be held during the Halifax County Board of Supervisors’ April meeting to gauge public opinion on funding for two new elementary schools.
During Monday’s meeting, supervisors heard a request from School Superintendent Paul Stapleton for an additional $28.8 million to fund construction of the two schools.
The school superintendent said the funds represent much more than bricks and mortar improvements to the county’s schools.
“I think the decision you’re going to make on these schools will impact on this county in more ways than you can think of,” Stapleton said. “This is a historic moment and the School Board is walking hand-in-hand with you for the economic development of this county.
“I appear before you tonight to request an appropriation of $28,825,440 to build two new elementary schools,” he said.
Stapleton told the Board that projected costs for the two schools are:
• $15,288,000 for a new 850-student school in South Boston.
• $13,537,440 for a new 650-student school to replace the aging South of Dan and Cluster Springs elementary schools.
The superintendent told supervisors that in addition to providing better educational opportunities for students, the schools will make the county more attractive to potential industry.
“In order to keep everything on track to open the schools in the fall of 2007, we would request your approval of this appropriation,” he said.
“I’m all for education and we need to do something with the schools,” Supervisor Ronnie Vaughan said. “But we’re looking at another $28 million the citizens will have to pay.”
Vaughan said he would prefer to get public input before allocating the funds.
“When you expend taxpayers’ money, you have every right to get their opinion on the issue," Stapleton said.
“The reason for the request of the appropriation is to keep all three projects on track as far as our schedule goes,” he said. “Keeping all three projects together will give us the opportunity to gain a small advantage by bidding all three projects together.”
The superintendent estimated the county could save as much as 20 percent in architectural design costs by bidding the projects at once.
“Opening in the fall of 2007 is a really tight timeline,” he said.
Supervisors approved $25 million during their October 2004 meeting to fund improvements at the middle school and design plans for the two elementary schools.
If the second allocation is approved, the total cost for the three projects will be an estimated $53.3 million.
According to estimates that assume a two-percent annual growth in real estate values, debt service on loans to fund the construction will peak in 2009, Finance Committee Chairman Doug Bowman told the Board.
“(The debt service) equates to 16 cents over where we are now," he said. “We’d be looking at 16 cents above the 37 (cents per $100) we have right now."
Bowman said the total of 53 cents per $100 will put Halifax County in the range of surrounding counties.
“Looking at our neighbors around us, Mecklenburg is around 43 cents, Charlotte is 62 cents, Campbell is 53 cents and Pittsylvania is 52 cents," he said. “If we approve this, we’re right in the ballpark with our neighbors."
“We’ll defer to your wisdom on this," Stapleton said. “You’re the ones with the money, but I don’t want it to get off track.
“People have indicated they’re willing to donate land in the Cluster Springs area," he added. “The people I’ve talked to are all for it and are just wondering when we’ll be moving forward."
Other Business
Supervisors, on a motion by Bowman and with a second by Supervisor Tom West, approved a user agreement that will include Halifax County in the Southside Regional Public Service Authority.
As passed, the approval is contingent on the other participating localities joining the authority.
“This commits us to participate in the regional landfill," West told the Board. “A lot of studies have been done and it seems this is the least expensive way of handling our trash. As of December 31, 2007, the South Boston landfill is closed and we’ll have nowhere to send our trash."
Supervisor R.E. “Dickie" Abbott asked how much money the move will cost.
County Administrator Bryan Foster told the Board that while the numbers could be in the $150,000 range, the money will be returned to the county once bonds are issued to fund the project.
“It could be as much as $150,000 to carry us until we issue bonds in the fall," he said. “When they are issued, we’ll get that money back."
No one spoke in opposition during two public hearings on a proposed new day care center and an amendment to county code held during Monday’s meeting.
Following the hearings, supervisors voted to authorize a conditional use permit for KidzKazoo Day Care to locate near R.O. Harrell on Philpott Road.
Supervisors also unanimously passed an amendment to county code to conform to state code regarding minors working with county fire companies.
Finance Committee
Supervisors put off any action on a moral obligation agreement to fund infrastructure for the Virginia International Raceway VIPER and JOUSTER initiatives.
The item was put on the agenda for the March 21 joint meeting.
Bowman told the Board that the request is for $1.1 million for the VIPER project and $1.4 million on the JOUSTER project.
“These two projects have been strongly supported by both federal and state entities and Virginia Tech," he said. “This is a good sparkplug for what we believe is going to be a new economic development engine around performance racing and engineering.
“I think we’re pretty well protected as far as our moral obligation to the project," Bowman added.
During a finance committee meeting earlier this month, Bowman told the committee that the obligation for the $2.5 million to cover both projects could be a good move.
“What it obligates us to is if something should happen and the projects went away and no other source of revenue is available for us to pay the debt service, the county would step in and pay off the debt," he said.
“The issue is how the buildings are owned, financed and leased," Bowman added. “We aren’t talking about the merits of the projects. It’s about the structuring of the real estate deal. At this point, it seems to me that there is value in us participating in the form of a moral obligation."
Industrial Development Authority Chairman John Cannon told the Board that the IDA passed a resolution for moral obligations for the two projects Monday afternoon.
“We feel that at this time we’d like to put together a definitive package so everyone can see the details and bring it back to you at the joint meeting," he said. “This is extremely important. The viability of these two projects is being held right now until the Board of Supervisors takes action on it. But we want you to have all the details."
After extensive debate on whether the Board would continue to exist, supervisors voted to appropriate enough money to the EDA to make payroll on March 15.
Bowman had previously asked both the EDA and the IDA to submit a request for funding to get them through the fiscal year ending in June.
The EDA requested $100,000 to make payroll and pay the in-coming executive director and the IDA request was for $60,000, Bowman told the Board.
“I will note that the second half of our budget for economic development was $169,600," Bowman said. “To date, $45,000 has been appropriated to the EDA. If we appropriate the requested amounts, we’ll be over by $35,000 for the year."
Saying, “they have staff to pay," Bowman made a motion to appropriate the requested amounts to the two Boards.
“I don’t understand how you’re going to appropriate money for the EDA and the IDA when you just tied on a vote to disband one of them," Abbott said.
“This is one time I agree with you, Dickie," Supervisor Bryant Claiborne said. “We’re going to have to resolve the problems we have. Why funnel money into places where we have conflict? It needs to be resolved. Now.
“We need to make a decision now about what we’re going to do with these two Boards. This is for the good of the county."
After Bowman told the Board the EDA would not be able to make payroll without an appropriation, Vaughan offered a substitute motion to appropriate the necessary funds to “pay the staff this month."
With a second by Supervisor Lottie Nunn, the motion unanimously passed.
Supervisors also deferred action on a proposed moral obligation bond totalling around $400,000 to run an additional fire suppression line to the proposed motorsports park at Virginia International Raceway.
Bowman told the Board he met with the developers, AC Development, last week to discuss options for the funding.
“The proposal floated calls for the county to pay to have it put in and then have a performance agreement with the developer paying the money back via an impact fee on each lot," he said.
Not counting VIPER and JOUSTER, 30 lots remain in the proposed park.
“The county will recoup the funds through an allotment on the first 20 lots," Bowman said.
If the proposal is approved by all parties, the impact fee will amount to around $18,500 per lot paid to the county as the lots are sold.
The developers will have a maximum of 10 years to repay the funds advanced to them, Bowman said.
“If, at the end of 10 years, less than 20 lots are sold, AC Development will be responsible for repayment of the impact fee," he said. “But I think we should defer this issue because there needs to be more negotiation over the ownership of the VIPER/JOUSTER sites."
Closed Session
Following the regular meeting, supervisors met in closed session and emerged to take the following actions:
• On a motion by Nunn with a second by West, supervisors unanimously voted to authorize the disbursement of $35,000 in incentive funding to Cherokee Tobacco, contingent on the company providing documentation of meeting their employment obligations.
According to Foster, supervisors had approved the incentive in 2004 to entice Cherokee to locate their operations in Halifax County.
• On a motion by Nunn with a second by Bowman, the Board voted to authorize the disbursement of $75,000 in incentive funding to Lindstrand, USA, contingent on the execution of a performance agreement.
The agreement will specify Lindstrand’s commitment of capital investment within the county and the creation of 50 new jobs.
Supervisors had also approved the funds in 2004 in an effort to lure the company to Halifax County.
• With a motion by Nunn and a second by Claiborne, supervisors voted to approve $62,500 in deal closing funding to an unnamed company to locate in Halifax County.
• On a motion by Claiborne and with a second by West, supervisors unanimously approved the county administator’s employment agreement.
• With a motion by Vaughan and a second by Bowman, supervisors voted to adjust the salary of the county’s building official from $41,200 to $44,233.

 

Tower Fight Heads Back To Zoning Board

Opponents Of E-911 Tower Want Construction Permit Revoked

A Halifax resident opposing the location of a communications tower at the E-911 center at the Mary Bethune Complex has filed an appeal seeking to revoke the tower’s permit.
The Board of Zoning Appeals, a body that serves both the county and Town of Halifax, has scheduled a public hearing for 7 p.m. on March 29 to hear the appeal filed by Ballou Trail resident Frank Lovelace.
Lovelace filed the appeal through Rustburg attorney Bryan Selz, claiming the tower violates the town’s height regulations.
“(The) building/zoning permit…issued by county/town of Halifax with zoning approval by Town of Halifax zoning officials for communication tower in excess of structure height limitation of Town of Halifax zoning ordinance is improper and such approval of permit should be reversed and the permit rescinded," Selz wrote in the application for the appeal.
The building permit was issued on January 13 and was signed by Halifax Town Manager Carl Espy.
The site of the proposed tower is zoned R-2 residential, according to Espy.
Contacted Monday, Espy asserted that town code authorizes an exemption to the height limitation for radio towers.
“The zoning ordinance offers certain exemptions on tower height," he said.
Section 4-6-3 of Halifax Town Code stipulates that “church spires, belfries, cupolas, municipal water towers, chimneys, flues, flag poles, television antennae and radio aerials are exempt" from the town’s 35-foot height restriction in residential zones.
Halifax County planning and zoning official Jerry Lovelace said the county’s position is that all proper steps were taken in the permitting request for the tower.
“We have legal counsel working with us and are prepared to present our position at the hearing," he said.
Both Lovelace and Espy agree the permit was issued in accordance with town and county code.
“The town has gone through a pretty extraordinary review process to make sure everything was handled properly," Espy said.
On behalf of Frank Lovelace, who lives approximately 250 feet from the tower site, Selz filed a “bill of complaint to enjoin and prevent the construction of the communications tower" in early February, claiming the structure violates the Town of Halifax zoning ordinance and the procedures used to obtain a building permit were improper.
The litigation filed by Lovelace is the second suit filed to halt the construction of the tower.
Halifax County Circuit Court Judge Leslie M. Osborn dismissed a suit on November 23, 2004, filed by Halifax resident Frank Carr against the Halifax County Board of Supervisors and the Halifax Town Council seeking to halt the tower’s construction.

 

Obituaries

Dorothy Agnes Lewis Green

Dorothy Agnes Lewis Green, 88, of South Boston died February 28 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mrs. Green was born in Halifax County on June 21, 1916, the daughter of Charles Edward Lewis Sr. and Mary Edith George Lewis and was married to the late Frank Green.
Survivors include one sister, Elsie Lewis Moore of South Boston; and one brother, Eugene W. Lewis of Mt. Laurel.
Memorial services for Mrs. Green will be held March 12 at 2 p.m. at Halifax Memorial Gardens with the Rev. Terry Blevins officiating.

Nancy Blanks Keever

Nancy Blanks Keever, 87, of Hampton, died on March 2, at her home.
She was born August 4, 1917, in Halifax County, a daughter of the late George T. and Millie J. Blanks.
Mrs. Keever was preceded in death by her husband, Charles K. Keever; and a daughter, Delores Murrell, of Hobart, Ind.
She is survived by brothers, Jasper M. Blanks of South Boston and Marshall L. Blanks of Alton; a sister, Peggy Blanks Richardson of Richmond; daughters, Victoria A. O’Neill of Newport News, Eunice M. Haines of Hampton, Sylvia J. Moore of Hayes; a son, Dalton E. Hobgood of Hampton; grandchildren, Elizabeth Bailey, Dianna Dearden, John O’Neill, Betty Jean Hobgood, Dalton Hobgood III, Debbie Elixson, John Green, Don Murrell, Linda Yeager, Cherie Altman and Terry J. McCoy; 29 great-grandchildren and a number of great-greatgrandchildren.
A graveside service was held 2 p.m. Friday, March 4, at Parklawn Memorial Park, officiated by Pastor David Robinson of West Hampton Baptist Church.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider West Hampton Baptist Church, 631 Aberdeen Rd., Hampton.

Deanie Martin McCormick

Deanie Martin McCormick, 99, of South Boston died March 6 at The Woodview.
She was born January 29, 1906, in Virginia, the daughter of the late John David Martin and the late Mary Tatum Martin and was married to the late Louis R. McCormick. Mrs. McCormick was a member of Clover United Methodist Church.
Funeral services will be held at Clover United Methodist Church today, March 9 at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Bonnie Pizzeck officiating. Burial will follow in the Martin Family Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the church from 10 a.m. until the funeral hour on Wednesday.
Survivors of Mrs. McCormick include numerous nieces and nephews; a friend, Billy Snead of Scottsburg; and one sister-in-law, Elizabeth Martin of Clover. She was also preceded in death by her brothers, Clarence, Robert, Crayton, Jack and Elijah Martin; and sisters, Sallie Saunders, Florence Frank and Annie Hudson.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Clover UMC, c/o Brenda Snead, Mill Road, Clover 24534.

Mary Elizabeth Harris Miller

Mary Elizabeth Harris Miller, 88, of Virginia Beach, formerly of South Boston, died March 5.
She was born in South Boston on April 13, 1916, the daughter of the late John C. Harris and Sally Lovelace Harris and was married to the late Robert Morton Miller. Mrs. Miller was a member of First Presbyterian Church in South Boston and the Colonial Dames.
Survivors include one son, Robert Morton Miller Jr. of Virginia Beach.
A memorial service will be held today, March 9, at 2 p.m. at First Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Dr. Russell Lee officiating.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider First Presbyterian Church, 800 North Main Street, South Boston 24592.

Byron Lenerial Reese

Byron Lenerial Reese, 85, of Grayson, Ga. died March 6.
Mr. Reese was born in Scottsburg, the son of the late William Washington and Nannie Snead Reese, and was married to Gertrude Fulp Reese, who survives.
Other survivors include five children and their spouses, Karen Reese Wilkins and John, of Lynchburg, Dixie Reese Collins and Harry of Burke, Judith Reese Helmer and Hans, of Atlanta, William Byron Reese of Tequesta, Fla. and Rebecca Reese Dodd of Atlanta; seven grandchildren, Matthew Scott Wilkins and wife, Leigh, of Richmond, Dana Suzanne Wilkins of Lynchburg, Melissa Collins Nester and husband, Mike, of Warrenton, Rachel Collins Couturier and husband, Steve, of Graham, N.C., Jeanette Collins Wagner and husband, Richard, of Centreville, Michael Cameron Dodd of Zurich, Switzerland and Carter Alexander Dodd of Atlanta; nine great-grandchildren; and one brother, Julius Hudson Reese and his wife, Patsy, of Scottsburg. Mr. Reese was also preceded in death by his stepmother, Cameron Hudson Reese; two brothers and two sisters, Roy Wilson Reese Sr., William Emmett Reese, Cornelia Kate Reese and Inez Coates Reese.
He was educated in Halifax County schools and Johns Hopkins University, and worked for the U.S. Navy Department as an aircraft inspector and later served in the U.S. Army during WWII. Mr. Reese retired from Bland Terry Corporation where he worked in Northern Virginia and Atlanta. He was an active member of First Baptist Church of Grayson.
Funeral services took place in the Lawrenceville Chapel of Tim Stewart Funeral Home March 8 at 3 p.m. with Dr. Charles Parrish officiating. Burial will take place tomorrow, March 10, at 1 p.m. at Oakland Cemetery in Scottsburg, Halifax County.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider First Baptist Church of Grayson Building Fund, P.O. Box 965, Grayson, Ga. 30017.

 

Crews Proved His Skeptics Wrong

Former High School, College And Pro Basketball Standout Calvin Crews To Be Inducted Into HC Sports Hall Of Fame

BY Joe Chandler
G-V STAFF WRITER

When Calvin Crews was a young basketball player at Halifax County High School, one of his coaches told him he would never make it in basketball.
“That thought motivated me to prove to him that I could make it," said Crews.
“It stuck in my mind then and still sticks in my mind now. He probably said it to motivate me but I took it the other way and used it to my advantage. I’m the type of person that if somebody tells me I can’t do it, I want to prove to them I can."
Crews did just that.
He went on to become one of Halifax County High School’s top all-time basketball players and a standout player in junior college, college and professional basketball in Europe.
In recognition of his outstanding achievements, Crews has been selected as one of this year’s three inductees into the Halifax County-South Boston Sports Hall of Fame.
Crews, who lives in Danville and is employed at Dan River Mills, says he is proud to have been selected as an inductee into the Halifax County-South Boston Sports Hall of Fame.
“I’m very proud to have been selected to be inducted into the Hall of Fame," Crews said.
“It’s the biggest honor I’ve ever received. It truly means a lot to me."
At 6-9, Crews went on to become of the top all-time centers in Halifax County High School basketball history and waged an often-noted outstanding performance against NBA star Moses Malone when the Comets faced Petersburg High School and its center, Malone, in the Group AAA state championship basketball game.
Malone entered that game averaging 33 points per game. But, when he took his first shot of the contest, Crews batted the ball back into his face. The Comets lost to Petersburg that night but Crews, in a stellar performance, held Malone to just 14 points.
“That was the biggest highlight of my high school career," Crews said.
“I thought I was just as good as he was. But, during the years, like in my sophomore and junior years, I didn’t get the kind of publicity he (Malone) had received.
“We had a very good team that year," Crews continued.
“ We had a very good team in my sophomore and junior year too. In my junior year, I thought we were a better team than we were in my senior year because of the athletes we had. We had Jack (his brother, Jack Crews) Howard (White), and a bunch of good guys but things just didn’t go our way.
“Going into my senior year, the talk was what if you get the chance to play against Moses," Crews added.
“ At the time, I never thought I would. But we had a good season, made it to the state championship game and I did well."
Crews went on to attend North Florida Junior College where he became the leader in rebounding and blocked shots. He made Junior College All-American honors and played in the Junior College All-American game.
From there, Crews moved on to the University of Southwestern Louisiana where he became the top rebounder and shot blocker for the Ragin’ Cajuns.
In his first year there, he started all 26 games, was the top rebounder in 10 games and the top scorer in four games. He averaged 9.5 rebounds and 12.8 points per game that year and upped his stats in his second year, becoming one of the country’s top centers in 1977.
Crews was drafted by the NBA Atlanta Hawks but didn’t sign.
“When I was drafted, they (Atlanta) drafted (Clemson star) Tree Rollins in the first round," explained Crews.
“ They signed him straight out with no cut. There just wasn’t a place on the team for me. Coach Hubie Brown told me it would be best for me to go to Europe and play."
Crews traveled to Europe and landed a spot on the Falcon Jeans team of Amsterdam, Holland. He emerged as one of the team’s top players and led the team in rebounding and blocked shots.
He played only one season of pro ball in Europe.
“I could have gone back," Crews said.
“ But, at the time, I was having family problems and I laid out and ended up getting a pretty good job. I just didn’t try anymore after that."
Still, Crews had accomplished a good deal during his basketball career. His success has led him to wonder at times how things would have turned out if he had started playing basketball at an earlier age.
“I really didn’t start playing basketball until I was in the seventh grade," Crews pointed out.
“I played one year at Sinai (Elementary School) and didn’t play again until I was a sophomore in high school. If I had started like the kids now, say at six or seven-years-old, there’s no telling how good I could have become.
“The opportunity really wasn’t there for me at the time," he continued.
“ I was 25 miles up in the country and had no ride back and forth. When I played at Sinai, I had to stay with the coach overnight to practice. In high school we (he and his brother) had to thumb and catch a ride back and forth to practice every day. But we made it because we wanted to make it."
The drive to succeed in life has carried Crews a long way down the path of life.
“I got married while I was in high school," he said.
“ I had a family. Having to look after my family and look towards a college career kept me out of trouble. That developed me into an adult early. When I went off to junior college I decided I’m going to make the best of it and that it was a way for me to get ahead in life.
“I think all of it has developed me into a good human being," he added.
“ I appreciate what everybody in Halifax County and South Boston has done for me. If it wasn’t for people in Halifax County, I wouldn’t be the person I am today."

HCHS Teams Face Busy Scrimmage Schedule

Halifax County High School’s spring sports teams, attempting to dodge bouts of inclement weather, face a busy time over the next few days –that is – if Mother Nature cooperates.
Today, the Comets varsity and jayvee girls soccer teams are scheduled to travel to Lynchburg to face Heritage in scrimmage contests that will be played at 5 p.m. (jayvee) and 7 p.m. (varsity).
On Thursday, the Comets varsity baseball team will hit the road to face Heritage at 4:30 p.m. while the jayvee team will square off against the Heritage jayvees here at 4:30 p.m.
Preseason action continues Friday with the Comets jayvee and varsity girls soccer teams facing Brookville at 5 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. respectively.
On Saturday, the Comets varsity boys baseball team is set to host Brookville for a 4 p.m. contest while the Comets jayvee baseball team is scheduled to hit the road to face the Brookville jayvees at 1 p.m.
Soccer action is also on tap Saturday with the Comets varsity and jayvee boys soccer teams traveling to GW to take part in GW’s annual soccer jamboree. Action starts at 9:30 a.m.
Rain and wet field conditions forced cancellation of yesterday’s Comets varsity and jayvee softball scrimmage games against Chatham. HCHS Athletic Director Allen Lawter said those games likely will not be rescheduled.
Also, yesterday’s jayvee and varsity boys soccer scrimmage games against Bluestone were cancelled due to rain and wet field conditions. Those games will also likely not be made up, Lawter said.
Next week’s preseason action calls for the Comets varsity girls softball team to hit the road to face Dan River Monday in a 5 p.m. contest.
Also on Monday, the Comets jayvee boys and jayvee girls soccer teams will travel to Martinsville for scrimmage contests with the jayvee boys playing at 5:30 p.m. and the jayvee girls playing at 7 p.m.
Regular-season play starts next Tuesday and Wednesday for all Comets teams with the Comets tennis teams kicking off the season on Tuesday.

 

SVCC Panthers Down SVCC Force 107-102

Lawrenceville – The Southside Virginia Community College Panthers from the Christanna Campus downed the SVCC Force from the John H. Daniel Campus 107-102 Sunday night in the regular season finale for both teams.
The Panthers jumped out to a 12-2 lead to start the game but the Force battled back to take a 42-39 lead to the halftime break.
The Force led by as many as six points midway through the second half but the Panthers battled back to take a 10-point lead late on their way to the win.
Melvin Taylor and Jeff Haskins paced the Panthers with 26 points apiece in the contest while Sherman Thomas scored 22.
James Jones added 16 for the Panthers.
Anthony Owen led the SVCC Force with 25 points while Keshawn Pickens and Jeff Pillow scored 15 points apiece and Stephen Debnam added 14.
Jonathan Haskins finished with 12 for the Force while Delonta Hughes scored 11.
Both teams will open play in the VCCS State Tournament in Hampton this weekend.
The SVCC Force will open against Patrick Henry Community College at 9 a.m. on Saturday morning while the SVCC Panthers will play Danville Community College at 10 p.m. on Friday night.
Force….42 60 – 102
Panth….39 68 – 107
SVCC Force – A. Owen 25, R. Palmer 8, J. Haskins 12, J. Pillow 15, D. Hughes 11, S. Debnam 14, K. Pickens 15, J. Williams 2.
SVCC Panthers – M. Taylor 26, J. Jones 16, J. Haskins 26, T. Crayton 7, S. Thomas 22, D. Tucker 8.
Force Downs Tidewater 71-69
The SVCC Force downed Tidewater Community College 71-69 on Friday night in Norfolk for their tenth win of the season.
The Force got off to a slow start and trailed 35-33 at the halftime break.
The Force got 15 points from Pickens in the second half to pull out to a six-point lead.
Pickens led the Force with 25 points on the night while Rodney Palmer added 20.
Haskins added 11 points in the win for the Force while Debnam scored 10.
SVCC….33 38 – 71
TCC……35 34 – 69
SVCC Force – R. Palmer 20, J. Haskins 11, J. Pillow 2, S. Johnson 1, S. Debnam 10, K. Pickens 25, J. Williams 2.
TCC – R. Wesson 13, N. Evans 4, J. Henry 7, B. Toopet 3, C. Dowers 2, E. Robinson 17, J. Thomas 17.