Wednesday, March 16, 2005

Toddler Dies In Monday Crash

Eighteen-month-old Blake Skyler Laughorn died in an early Monday morning crash on Thompson Store’s Road when the car his mother was driving collided with a loaded log truck.
Virginia State Trooper Dan Cline said it was about 6:50 a.m. when Jennifer F. Laughorn hit the crest of the hill and met the log truck driven by Todd H. Stahlman of Evington, Va.
“When she saw him, she attempted to get on her side of the road but she struck his left rear wheel,” said Trooper Cline. The trooper said the car went airborne before it came to rest off the right side of the roadway.
Blake Laughorn was in a safety seat in the backseat of the four-door 2003 Mitsubishi Galant driven by his mother, according to Cline.
Cline described the scene as a bad location with a narrow road, 15-ft.-8 inches wide, with no marking on it. The accident occurred on Route 676 about .3 miles east of Route 770.
Jennifer Laughorn, of 1110 Chapel Trail, was transported to Halifax Regional Hospital but was released several hours later, according to Cline. Stahlman was not injured.
The log truck, a 1995 Mack tractor-trailer, was registered to J2 Enterprises of Moneta, Virginia.
Cline said no charges were filed.

IDA To Offer Eades Job

Following a lengthy meeting yesterday afternoon, the board of directors of the Halifax County Industrial Development Authority “agreed in principle” to hire Mike Eades as its executive director.
Eades, who was originally hired as the executive director of the Economic Development Authority, is due to begin his duties in Halifax County Monday.
“I’m looking forward to coming to Halifax County to work with the Industrial Development Authority,” he said shortly after the meeting.
Board Vice-Chairman Larry McPeters was drafting a letter of intent, a preliminary step to a full contract, at press time.
While many of the details of the contract were unavailable, McPeters said much of Eades’ contract will remain the same as the contract with the EDA.
“We made some changes to the contract that we hope will bring it up to IDA policy and procedures, as well as hopefully clarify and improve some points,” he said.
The contract will not pay Eades’ civic and social club dues, but does stipulate the IDA will pay for 180 days storage for his household belongings during his housing search.
The letter of intent is contingent on a review by an attorney, funding from the Halifax County Board of Supervisors and subsequent to Eades’ contract with the EDA prior to a contract being offered, McPeters said.
Board member Carlyle Ramsey made the motion to offer the position of executive director to Eades, with a second by Board member Garland Ricketts. The motion unanimously passed with Chairman John Cannon absent.
“We’re hoping to have a signed contract to present to the Board of Supervisors during their joint meeting Monday,” McPeters said. “We’re excited about the possibility of Mike coming to Halifax County and he’s excited to be in here working Monday.
“This IDA Board’s decision on the employment of Mr. Eades was made easier by the comprehensive search and the confidence we have in the Board of Directors of the Economic Development Authority."

School Calendar Set Through Spring 2007

Calendar Features Short First Semester, To End Prior To Christmas Holidays
When students start school this fall they will be beginning a year unlike any other, according to the new calendar approved by the School Board Monday during their regular meeting at Clays Mills Elementary School
The key change in the new school calendar will be the length of the first semester, which is scheduled to end before Christmas break, according to Director of Instruction Joe Griles.
In previous years the first semester had ended in January after students returned from the Christmas holidays.
In the 2005-06 school year there will be 84 teaching days in the first semester and 96 teaching days in the second semester.
In the 2006-07 school year there will be 85 teaching days in the first semester and 95 teaching days in the second semester.
Griles said the change would help schools, especially the high school, have a smoother transition between semesters.
“For the past couple of years you would come back and teach for a few days, end the semester, and then have two work days and then the Lee-Jackson and Martin Luther King holidays,” he said. “Students would be in school for a couple of days and then have a six-day holiday. It was a start and stop type of thing.”
Under the new calendar, administrators and teachers will have time during the Christmas holiday to prepare for the semester change, according to Griles.
He said the other major change was the decision to protect the spring break holiday from being used as make-up days.
That decision was based on input from both teachers and parents, according to Griles.
In the new calendar, the first five days missed due to inclement weather will be made up at the end of year while the second five days will be made up through bank time.
“Anything over 10 days will come back to the board,” said Griles.
Classes are scheduled to begin on August 22 for the 2005-06 school year and August 21 for the 2006-07 school year.
School is scheduled to end on May 31 in the 2005-06 school year and May 24 in the 2006-07 school year.
Teacher Salaries
School trustees were asked by Bonnie Bowen of the Halifax Educational Association to reevaluate the county’s teacher salary schedule when working on the 2005-06 budget.
“What are you doing for Halifax County teachers so that we will have the best and brightest?” she asked the board. “The Halifax Education Association endorses the concept of a professional teacher salary schedule with lanes which compensate for advanced course work and a limited number of steps that maximize career earnings
“A salary schedule developed with this framework would ensure a competitive salary scale from entry-level through out an entire career in education,” Bowen added. “You should get from the bottom to the top in a consistent manner.”
According to figures provided by Bowen, entry-level teachers are currently paid $30,648 in Halifax County compared to the $31,924 state average.
Teachers with 10 years of experience are paid $33,590 compared to a $36,574 state average.
With 20 years of experience Halifax County teachers are paid $38,886 while the state average salary is $43,245.
Bowen said the maximum teacher salary in Halifax County is $46,742 while the state average is $50,774.
“We are not taking care of our teachers in the middle,” she told the trustees. “One of the things that really concerns me is that we train them for four or five years and then they go teach somewhere else for better salary.”
In the proposal presented to trustees, Bowen asked the board to establish a second year salary which is at least $1,000 more than the first year salary to compensate for signing bonuses, to create a salary schedule with consistent patterns of increments between steps, to have an average salary equal to the state wide classroom teacher’s salary and increase the Master’s Degree supplement to $2,500.
The proposal also asks for full funding for the cost of health insurance and for the provision of unlimited accumulation of sick leave.
“We have a lot of needs on the table right now for capital improvements, but please remember the teachers," said Bowen. “This can’t be something we fix overnight, but we need to start somewhere."
Teacher salaries and benefits will be a key part of this year’s budget process Assistant School Superintendent Larry Clark said yesterday.
“Those are the two focuses of our deliberation," he said. “We have placed great emphasis on improving salaries and doing all that we can to lessen the portion of health insurance that the employees have to pay."
Offsetting health insurance costs is particularly important, according to Clark.
“A lot of our employees’ raises were eaten up by the increase in health insurance premiums that the individuals were responsible for last year," he said. “This year we are doing everything we can to allocate monies that we hope will be enough to offset any other increases."
New Personnel
Trustees appointed David Guill as the new Director of Transportation and Harvey L. Throckmorton as Assistant Supervisor of Transportation.
Guill will replace Jim Wagner while Throckmorton fills the position currently held by Harold Newcomb.
Wagner and Newcomb are both retiring this year.
“We had a good pool of applicants for both positions," said Clark. “We are very pleased with the recommendations that we made to the board."
Guill formerly served as Director of Support Services in Prince Edward County.
He has also served as the principle of Bacon District and Eureka elementary schools in Charlotte County and as a Virginia State Police trooper.
Throckmorton is the co-owner/operator of Scottsburg Auto Service and has served as a U.S. Postal Service rural carrier since 1990.
“Both will come on board before Newcomb and Wagner leave," said Clark. “That way we can ensure a smooth transition."
School Census
The 2005 County School Census will begin this week, Clark told trustees.
“It is extremely important that every child be counted," he said. “We need to have the cooperation of the community on this."
The census is taken every year, and is used by the state to determine the distribution of state sales tax revenues to school systems.
“We are doing it a bit different this year," said Clark “We will use all of our schools and other community agencies to get a list of students. We will then cross-reference our addressees with the E-911 list and send a letter to every resident not listed on a school report.
“This method will not pose the security issues that going door to door poses," he added. “In the past we have had census takers treated unkindly. We will still have an accurate count but it will be done in a different format."

 

Obituaries

Kevin Mark Chipps Sr.

A memorial service for Kevin Mark Chipps Sr. will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. at Powell Funeral Home Chapel, with the Rev. Vance Midgett officiating.
Kevin Chipps Sr., 36, died March 6.
He was born May 4, 1968, in Bethesda, Maryland, the son of Sarah and Steve Chipps Sr., and was a lead electrician at Huber in Broken Bow, Oklahoma.
Kevin Mark Chipps Sr. is survived by his wife, Lorieise Chipps of Broken Bow; his parents, Sarah and Steve Chipps Sr. of South Boston; one son, Kevin Chipps Jr., of Broken Bow; two daughters, Cheryl and Melinda Chipps of Broken Bow; one brother, Steve Chipps Jr. and wife Nancy of South Boston; one sister, Kelly Ahearn and husband Owen of South Boston; and several aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews and a host of friends.
In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to your favorite charity.

Virginia Chappell

Virginia Chappell, 40, of 1198 Blue Rock Road, Vernon Hill died March 14 at her home.
Ms. Chappell was born in Halifax County on September 7, 1964, the daughter of Bradie Dixon Chappell and the late Randolph Chappell. She was a member of New Zion Baptist Church.
Survivors include her mother of Vernon Hill; three sisters, Dorothy Barbour of South Boston, Linda Dixon of Vernon Hill and Bradie Adams of Blairs; two brothers, Harrie Lee Chappell and Christopher Randolph Chappell, both of Vernon Hill. Ms. Chappell was preceded in death by one brother, Lonnie O. Chappell.
Funeral services will be held tomorrow, March 17, at 1 p.m. at New Zion Baptist Church with the Rev. Willie N. Yancey officiating. Burial will follow in Christ Temple Blue Rock Pentecostal Church Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the home.

Blake Skyler Laughorn

Blake Skyler Laughorn, 17 mos. old, of 1110 Chapel Trail, Vernon Hill, died March 14. He was born October 1, 2003 in South Boston, the son of Chad David Laughorn and Jennifer Ferris Laughorn.
His survivors include his parents; paternal grandmother: Barbara Laughorn of Vernon Hill; maternal grandparents: Mr. and Mrs. Malcolm Ferris of Danville; paternal great-grandmother: Gracie Wilborn of South Boston; and maternal great-grandparents: Mr. and Mrs. Wilford Matherly of Danville and Jane Ferris of Danville. He was preceded in death by his paternal grandfather: Thomas B. Laughorn; and maternal great-grandfather: J.W. Ferris.
A funeral service will be held tomorrow, March 17, at 2 p.m., at Mt. Vernon Baptist Church with the Revs. Bill Wilkins and Lamar Mooneyham officiating. Burial will be held in the church cemetery.
Visitation will be held tonight, from 7-8:30 p.m., at Powell Funeral Home and other times at his home.

Franklin Randolph Younger Sr.

Franklin Randolph “Randy" Younger Sr., 69, of 2052 Cluster Springs Rd., South Boston, died March 14 at The Woodview.
Mr. Younger was born November 22, 1935, in Halifax County, to the late Henry Thomas and Selma Henderson Younger. He was employed by Slagle Fire Equipment and was a member of Black Walnut Baptist Church and Cluster Springs Volunteer Fire Department.
His survivors include his wife: Charlotte Ford Younger of South Boston; son Franklin R. Younger Jr. and wife Sheila of South Boston; grandson: Andrew Thomas Younger; step-grandson: Brandon Harris. He was preceded in death by his sister: Margaret Rudder; and brother: Robert Henry Younger.
A funeral service will be held at Brooks Funeral Home Chapel today, March 16, at 2 p.m. with the Rev. H.V. Conner officiating. Interment will be held at Black Walnut Baptist Church cemetery.
For memorials consider the Halifax Regional Hospice, 2204 Wilborn Ave., South Boston, VA 24592; Black Walnut Baptist Church, P.O. Box 20, Cluster Springs, VA 24535; or the Cluster Springs Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 110, Cluster Springs.

Mattie Sue Logan Bauldwin

Mattie Sue Logan Bauldwin, 84, of Nathalie died March 13 at her home.
Mrs. Bauldwin was born in Halifax County on November 29, 1920, the daughter of the late Clifton T. Logan and Mary Pringle Logan and was married to the late Rev. Nathaniel H. Bauldwin. She was a member of Crystal Hill Baptist Church, was a retired beautician and for many years assisted her father in the operation of a family owned funeral business.
Survivors include numerous nieces and nephews including the devoted Morrell Jennings and his wife, Margaret, of Hurt; and Ellen Traynham and her husband, Roy, of Crystal Hill.
Funeral services for Mrs. Bauldwin will be held today, March 16, at noon at Crystal Hill Baptist Church with the Rev. Louis S. Leigh officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Billy H. Ferrell

Billy H. Ferrell of Richmond, formerly of Halifax County, died March 7.
He is survived by his wife, Sadie Ruth Ferrell; children, Shirley F. Helms and her husband, Evans, of Portsmouth, Kenneth W. Ferrell and wife, Tammie; one brother and four sisters; grandchildren, Kelsie and Kolbie.
Mr. Ferrell was employed with C&P Telephone Company, and was an Army Veteran.
Funeral services were held March 10 at noon at Bliley Funeral Homes’ Chippenham Chapel in Richmond. Burial followed in Dale Memorial Park.
Mr. Ferrell was preceded in death by his brothers, Jim and Sam Ferrell.

Garland F. Ferrell

Garland F. Ferrell, 92, of South Boston died March 14 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Ferrell was born July 1, 1912, and was married to the late Ola Mayhew Ferrell. He was retired from the Virginia Department of Transportation.
Survivors include two sons, Carroll O. Ferrell of Portsmouth and Roy J. Ferrell of Opelika, Ala.; and five grandchildren.
Funeral services for Mr. Ferrell will be held at Powell Funeral Home Chapel at 11 a.m. on March 19, with the Rev. Doug Gibson officiating. Burial will follow in Dan River Baptist Church Cemetery.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Dan River Baptist Church or a charity of choice.

Nannie Spencer Wright Shough

Nannie Spencer Wright Shough, 89, of Stuart died March 13 at Blue Ridge Nursing Center in Stuart.
Mrs. Shough was born in Patrick County on June 9, 1915, to the late Charlie H. Spencer and Fannie Hancock Spencer, and was first married to the late James R. Wright, and then to the late Edwin Shough.
Survivors include two sons, James M. Wright of Halifax and Douglas W. Wright of Martinsville; one stepdaughter, Ella Mae Martin; three stepsons, Herman, Charlie and Ray Shough; one grandson; and two great-grandchildren. She was also preceded in death by a brother, Harvey Spencer.
Funeral services for Mrs. Shough will be held at 11 a.m. today, March 16, at Patrick Springs Pentecostal Holiness Church in Patrick Springs with Minister Jack Foley officiating. Burial will follow at Roselawn Burial Park in Martinsville.