Duckett Charged With Murder, Child Neglect

A 20-year-old South Boston man has been charged with one count of murder and one count of abusing and neglecting a child causing serious injury, according to South Boston police.
Sgt. Tim VanAernem said Michael R. Duckett was arrested without incident Friday following an investigation of an incident that occurred Dec. 19 at Duckett’s residence.
As a result of the investigation, it was alleged Duckett was responsible for the death of his infant child, VanAernem said.
The sheriff’s office and the Halifax County Department of Social Services assisted in the investigation.
VanAernem said Duckett is being held without bond in the Halifax Adult Detention Center.

Supes, Trustees Begin Budget Work

Supervisors are expected to get down to business paring the proposed school budget tonight following a budget public hearing that begins at 6:30 p.m. in the second floor meeting room of the Mary Bethune Complex.
A joint meeting with school board members will present an opportunity for supervisors to delve deeper into the school’s proposed $66,401,560 budget.
Some $15,913,480 of that amount is requested local appropriations.
The proposed total budget is $4.5 million higher than the present budget representing a 7.29 percent increase, and the request for local funds is $2.6 million higher than the current local appropriation, a 20.17 percent increase from last year.
Funding for the school system has the most significant impact on the county budget representing approximately 65 percent of total expenditures, according to County Administrator Bryan Foster.
With the completion of the $61 million school construction program, Foster pointed out this is the first budget in three years that does not have significant school capital expenses.
However, the county is now realizing the full effect of the school debt service on the budget — $5.1 million annually.
Included in the request from the school system is to spend $777,000 to purchase 10 new school buses.
Foster said he had discussed this issue with Superintendent Paul Stapleton and School Finance Director Bill Covington, and he indicated the county would be better off to lease-purchase the 10 buses over a five-year period than to purchase them outright.
The lease-purchase would allow the county to eliminate $500,000 of this expense in FY 2009, Foster pointed out.
He further explained that as the useful life of a school bus is expected to be 12 model years, it is much more appropriate to incur the cost over a period of time than all at once.
“I am recommending the board of supervisors and the school board agree that all future school bus additions be by lease-purchase,” said Foster. This will allow the board to manage this expense over a five-year period until we reach a constant figure for the annual purchase of 10 buses that will only vary with purchase price and interest rate.
“In essence, we can take five years to reach the $777,000 figure for inclusion in the annual budget, yet we will be able to purchase 10 new buses each year during that period,” he added.
School officials have told the county administrator that by moving towards lease-purchase, the school system’s flexibility is limited in managing unforeseen expenses such as fuel. (See related fuel story)
Previously, the system could delay the purchase of one or more buses and use those funds to cover increased fuel expenses.
However, if an inordinate increase in fuel prices were to be seen in the coming year, the school system now would be forced to ask for a supplemental appropriation to cover this expense.
The proposed school budget contains an increase of $648,088 in fuel costs over the current year.
Covington said the amounts proposed for vehicle and heating fuel were increased due to the rising costs of fuel, $1,075,000 for vehicle fuel and $461,000 for heating fuel.
Also in this year’s school budget is a 5 percent salary increase for employees.
Although school board members are requesting a pool of 5 percent of personnel costs in order to grant pay increases to all employees, the amount of raise for specific employees may be more or less than five percent, Foster explained.
The schools are forecasting no reduction in personnel from the current year and have included two new state-mandated special education positions in their budget.
The proposed 2008-09 school budget was submitted to the board of supervisors on Feb. 29.
After a thorough review, the county administrator is recommending supervisors only increase the school budget $693,000 in additional local funds instead of funding the $2.6 million extra local dollars the school board has requested.
“This amount (local funding totaling $693,000) should be sufficient to give teachers a pay increase and fund all critical needs,” Foster said. However, this amount will not fund any new programs or initiatives.
There is a “finite amount” of local funds to contribute to the schools, Foster said. Fully funding the school budget would translate to a 7.5 cents increase in the real estate tax rate – or an 18 percent increase above the lowered rate of 41.5 cents.
Supervisors will hold a public hearing on the entire county budget on March 31.
Another public hearing to establish the tax rate for county residents will be held April 3, with supervisors setting the tax rate and adopting the final budget April 7.

G-V Staffers Win Awards

Gazette-Virginian staff members Joe Chandler and David Conner claimed five awards in the annual Virginia Press Association Contest Saturday night in Roanoke.
Chandler won first-place and third-place awards in the Sports News Photo category and Conner won second place in the Sports News Photo category, giving the two staff members a sweep of all three awards in the category.
Conner also won second place in the Picture Story or Essay category with his series of photos on the flooding of the Dan River.
Chandler and Conner teamed up to win third place in the Special Editions/Special Sections category with the publication of the newspaper’s tabloid section last summer on the 50th anniversary of South Boston Speedway.
Judges from the New Jersey Press Association judged this year’s VPA competition.
Chandler’s first-place winning photo was of a pair of volleyball players battling for a ball at the net during one of the Halifax County High School varsity volleyball games this past fall. Judges remarked that the photo showed “a nice abstract composition.”
Conner’s second-place winning photo from a Halifax County High School soccer game also drew favorable comments from the judges with the judges writing” you can feel the intensity of the play. Chandler’s third-place winning photo was of an airborne Halifax County Middle School football player being collared by a defender. The judges wrote, “You can feel the football player being jerked to the ground.”
Conner’s series of photos winning the second-place award in the photo story or essay category was described by judges as “a nice, quiet collection of photos.”
Judges also had favorable comments for the Gazette-Virginian’s tabloid section on the 50th anniversary of South Boston Speedway.
The judges wrote, “(It’s an) interesting history of the event and the people involved in it.”
In addition to the awards won by Chandler and Conner, the Gazette-Virginian placed sixth in the competition for the Sweepstakes Award in its circulation category.

Obituaries

Helen Thomas Burnett
Helen Thomas Burnett, 87, of 1097 Seven Oaks Drive, South Boston died March 14, 2008, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mrs. Burnett was born November 12, 1920, in Rhodell, WVa. The daughter of the late John Worley Thomas and Mahalah Taylor Thomas, and was married to the late Paul Gleaves Burnett Sr. She was a member of South Boston Church of God.
Survivors include one son, Paul Gleaves Burnette Jr. of Danville; one daughter, Karla Burnett Rowe of South Boston; one special son-in-law, L.M. ‘Mickey’ Rowe; four grandchildren; and five great grandchildren.
One son, Ronnie Lee Burnett, also preceded Mrs. Burnett in death.
Funeral services were held at Brooks Funeral Home Chapel March 16, at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Roger Collins officiating. Burial followed in Halifax Memorial Gardens.

Loretta Francis Guthrie
Loretta Francis Guthrie, 75, of L.P. Bailey Memorial Highway, Nathalie, died at her home March 14, 2008. She was the wife of the late Aaron M. ‘Dood’ Guthrie.
Mrs. Guthrie was born in Halifax County, August 29, 1932, daughter of the late Louis Walter Francis Sr. and Hilda Bomar Francis. She was a member of Childrey Baptist Church and former employee of Appomattox Garment Company.
She is survived by three sons, Darrell Guthrie and wife, Kathy, of Nathalie, Tony Guthrie and wife, Robin, of Halifax, Lester Guthrie and wife, Donna, of Nathalie; one daughter, Vicki Guthrie and friend, Daniel Jones, of South Boston; seven grandchildren, Keith Redd and wife, Beth, Kimberly Gordon and husband, Scott, Leslie Holt and husband, Doug, all of Virgilina, Renee Guthrie and Zachary Guthrie, both of Nathalie, Lewis Guthrie of Halifax, and Clint Guthrie and fiancé, April, of South Boston; one great-granddaughter, Logan Redd; one brother, Stuart Francis of Drakes Branch; two sisters, Faye Smith of Gladys and Marie Johnson of Lynchburg. She was preceded in death by one son, Dennis Guthrie, four brothers and two sisters.
Funeral services for Mrs. Guthrie will be held at 11 a.m. today, March 17, at Childrey Baptist Church by the Revs. Jerry Stanfield and Rodney Barwick. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Samantha Ann Jordan
Samantha Ann Jordan, 18, daughter of Emmett L. Jordan of Nelson, and the late Priscilla Jordan, died March 13, 2008, in Duke Medical Center, Durham, N.C.
She was a 2007 graduate of Bluestone Senior High School and was a member of Buffalo Baptist Church.
Funeral services for Miss Jordan were held March 16, at 2 p.m. at Buffalo Baptist Church with the Rev. Jim McAlister officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery.
In addition to her father, survivors include a sister, Sarah Jordan; and a brother, Jonathan Jordan, both of Nelson; maternal grandparents, Carolyn Winstead of Clarksville and Jay Deal of South Boston; and her paternal grandmother, Patricia Brown.
Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.wclfh.com.

Nancy Lovelace Ferguson
Nancy Lovelace Ferguson, 68, of Ridge Road, Vernon Hill, died Friday, March 14, 2008, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
She was born in Halifax County on November 9,1939, a daughter of the late Charlie James Lovelace Sr. and the late Sally Francisco Lovelace and was married to Charlie Wayne Ferguson Sr.
She was retired from Craddock Terry Shoe Corporation and was a member of Oak Level Presbyterian Church where she played the piano for many years. She also was an honorary member of the Oak Level Volunteer Fire Department Ladies Auxiliary.
In addition to her husband, Mrs. Ferguson is survived by one son, Charles Ferguson Jr. of Vernon Hill; three sisters, Frances L. Satterfield and husband Joe of South Boston, Sadie L. Light and husband Chuck of Fairfax, Margaret L. Brown and husband Jack of Greensboro; one brother, Charlie James Lovelace Jr. and wife Coralee of Roanoke; two grandchildren, Travis Ferguson and wife Ashley of Vernon Hill, Joshua Ferguson and fiance’ Sasha Doss of South Boston; and their mother, Jackie Crews of Halifax.
Funeral services for Mrs. Ferguson are today, March 17, 2008, at 1 p.m. at Powell Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Dr. Ed Melvin officiating. Burial will follow at Halifax Memorial Gardens.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the Oak Level Volunteer Fire Department or the Oak Level Presbyterian Church.
Online condolences should be directed to powell@gcronline.com.

Anne Moss Covington
Anne Moss Covington of Woodview Road, Halifax, died Sunday, March 16, 2008, at Halifax Regional Hospital at the age of 77.
She was born in Richmond on July 4, 1930, the daughter of the late Garland Edward Moss and the late Ruby Calbert Moss and was married to Dr. William Register Covington Jr.
She was a member of St. John’s Episcopal Church, the Berryman Green Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Halifax Garden Club and the Halifax Woman’s Club.
In addition to her husband, Mrs. Covington is survived by one daughter, Lindsey C. Ryan and husband Kevin of Charlottesville; one son, William R. Covington III and wife Margaret of Halifax; five grandchildren, Katherine Manning Covington of Charlottesville, Edward Lovelace “Ned” Covington of Harrisonburg, Ian Covington Ryan of Austin, Tx., Anna Fox Ryan of Savannah, Ga., and Eva Gates Ryan of Evanston, Illinois.
Funeral services for Mrs. Covington will be held at 11 a.m. Wednesday, March 19, at St. John’s Episcopal Church with the Rev. Jack Nietert officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
Memorials may be directed to the St. John’s Episcopal Church or the Halifax County Rescue Squad.
Online condolences may be directed to powell@gcronline.com.

Comets Ready For Busy Week

By Joe Chandler
Sports Editor
After having scored a 10-run, 12-2 win over Martinsville High School Friday night, the Halifax County High School varsity baseball team faces a busy three-game week.
The week will get off to an early start when the Comets host Great Valley High School, a high school located just outside of Philadelphia, Penn., today at 3 p.m. at Comets Field.
It is the first of three games the Comets will play this week against Northern teams. Garden City, N.Y. High School will be at Comets Field for a 7 p.m. game Wednesday and, on Friday, the Comets will face a team from Loyalsock Township, Penn., a team coached by former HCHS baseball standout Casey Waller, here at 7 p.m.
Head coach Kelvin Davis says this week’s trio of games are big ones for his team.
“I’m looking forward to it and so are the guys,” Davis said.
“They always get pumped up to play these teams. Those are three big ballgames for us. We hope we can come out and do the little things to win ballgames.”
The Comets got their season off to a good start at home Friday night, downing Martinsville High School 12-2 in a game that was stopped in the bottom of the fifth inning under the slaughter rule.
“It was a good first win for us,” Davis said.
“It was a good effort all the way around. It gives us good momentum going into Monday.”
Halifax County scored five of its 12 runs off of wild pitches on the part of Martinsville hurlers and one run, the run that ended the game, scored on an error.
Still, the Comets had a big day offensively with 12 hits. Justin Bagbey led the team with three hits. Eric Brandon and Josh Williams each had two hits. Daniel Wilborn, Michael Ferrell, Kaleb Long, Kyle Long and Dale Trent all had one hit each.
The Comets opened by taking a 2-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning, taking advantage of a hit from Bagbey. Both Bagbey and Brandon, who reached base on a fielder’s choice, scored on a wild pitch.
Halifax County added four runs in the second inning with one run scoring on a wild pitch, one run scoring when Wilborn grounded out to first base and two runs scoring on a triple by Ferrell.
Leading 6-0, the Comets added four more runs in the bottom of the third inning, two of which scored on a wild pitch and Bagbey and Brandon each had a run-scoring single to put the Comets up 10-0.
Trent reached base on an error with one out in the bottom of the fourth inning and scored on a single by Wilborn to put the Comets up 11-0.
The game appeared to be all but over in the top of the fifth inning but Martinsville High School’s Luke Martin produced a two-RBI single to cut the Comets’ lead to nine runs at 11-2 to keep the game alive.
Martinsville didn’t remain alive very long as the Comets produced a run in the bottom of the fifth inning, with Kaleb Long, who had reached base on a single to open the inning, scoring on an error to end the game.
“My coaching philosophy is to try and jump on a team,” Davis pointed out.
“We got up on Martinsville really quick and that’s what we wanted.”
Tyler Lewis, playing his varsity regular-season game, went the distance on the mound for the Comets. Lewis got off to a shaky start by hitting the first Martinsville High School batter he faced. But, he quickly settled down and finished the game having yielded just four hits and having walked two batters. Lewis struck out seven Bulldogs batters.
“I thought Tyler did a good job on the mound,” Davis said.
“This was his first varsity game and he was a little nervous. I thought he did what he needed to do. He still needs as lot of work and Tyler’s the type of kid that will work hard.”

Lady Comets Take Three In A Row

By Joe Chandler
Sports Editor
Talk about a way to start the season.
The Halifax County High School varsity girls softball team got its season off to a big start by downing Martinsville 15-0 at home Friday and sweeping Albemarle High School 1-0 and 6-0 in a doubleheader at HCHS Saturday.
Halifax County had little trouble in downing Martinsville in a game that ended after five innings under the slaughter rule.
The Comets pounded Martinsville with 13 hits that included three from Lashunda Davis and two each from Katie Barnett and Melissa Morris. Seven other players, Ally Thompson, Betty Rose, Amber Bowman, Stephanie Clark, Heather Hudson, Paige Rickman and Whitney Womack, all had one hit.
The Comets opened with a five-run first inning that included a two-RBI hit from Womack. Three runs in the second inning that included run-scoring hits from Bowman and Hudon ran the Comets’ lead to 8-0.
Another three runs in the bottom of the third inning that included run-scoring hits from Barnett and Rickman, pushed the Comets’ lead to 11-0.
A run in the fourth inning produced by a lead-off triple from Davis who later scored on a hit from Thompson, ran the Comets’ lead to 12-0. Three more runs in the bottom of the fifth inning extended the Comets’ lead to 15-0 and ended the game under the slaughter rule.
The Comets followed up their Friday victory by sweeping a doubleheader from Group AAA Commonwealth District member Albemarle High School of Charlottesville.
In the opener, Clark, who went the distance in the four and a half inning contest on the mound, spun a no-hitter. The only baserunner Albemarle had in the game resulted from a Comets error in the top of the third inning. Clark fanned seven of the 16 batters she faced in the contest.
The Comets’ lone run of the game was produced in the first inning when Rose, who had reached base on a fielder’s choice, scored on a hit from Lauren Daniel.
Halifax County had eight hits in the game with Clark and Thompson getting two hits each. Davis, Daniel, Hudson and Morris had one hit each.
In the nightcap, the Comets downed Albemarle 6-0 on the strength of a three-run homer by Womack in the fourth inning and a solid one-hitter pitching performance from Rickman.
The Comets opened with two runs in the first inning with Davis leading off with a triple and scoring when the second batter, Christine DeGeorgis, followed with a base hit. DeGeorgis scored later on a sacrifice fly from Clark to give the Comets a 2-0 lead.
Halifax County held the two-run edge until they added four more runs in the fourth inning, three of which came from a homer from Womack.
The Comets had six hits in the game with Davis leading the way with two hits. DeGeorgis, Rose, Daniel and Womack had one hit each.

Lady Lions Defeat Powhatan For Title

By Doug Ford
G-V Staff Writer
Jennifer Lacks and Kate Bane each had three hits, Lacks with a home run that broke the game open in the fourth inning, as the Halifax County Middle School softball team defeated Powhatan 14-1 Saturday for the HCMS Invitational Tournament title.
Halifax reached the finals with a 24-1 pasting of Northern Middle School (N.C.) in the semifinals, while Powhatan dispatched Ben Franklin Middle School to set up a rematch of last season’s conference tournament championship game.
Powhatan won that one to halt a 121-game winning streak for Halifax, but the Lions turned the tables Saturday.
Halifax coach James Smith said his team played well for the beginning of the season, led by his returning eighth-graders.
“Jennifer Lacks, Kate Bane and Kelsey White led the team today, and I expect that because the eighth-graders should be our team leaders,” said Smith.
“VeVe Brandon and Sydney Puryear also hit the ball today, and if all five of those players continue to hit, we’ll do alright.”
Halifax 14 Powhatan 1 (Championship)
Lacks hurled a five-inning one-hitter, contributing a homer, double and single at the plate, and the Lions broke open a scoreless game with four runs each in the third and fourth innings, before adding six more in the fifth to defeat Powhatan.
Kate Bane had three base hits, Brandon two singles, and KiAna Pierce, Meg Bane, Puryear and BriAna Pierce each chipped in a base hit for Halifax.
The Lions got base hits from Kate Bane (first inning) and BriAna Pierce (second) before breaking through for four runs in the third.
White reached base on an error to start the inning, Kate Bane singled and Lacks doubled, before Meg Bane reached on an error and Brandon singled.
Puryear drew a bases loaded walk to plate the final run of the inning.
A four-run fourth made it 8-0 for the Lions before they gave up a run to Powhatan as the result of a pair of errors.
While the Lions gave up a run in the bottom of the fourth inning, they countered with six more runs in the fifth inning to seal the win.
“We have some things to work on, but I’m pleased with the girls effort,” Smith said.
“Powhatan is a good ball club. I’m pretty sure we’ll see them again.”