Electric Utility Re-regulation Bill Challenged

Electric utility re-regulation legislation developed by Del. Clarke Hogan and state Sen. Tommy Norment in 2007 is being challenged in a brief to the State Corporation Commission filed by attorneys for the Southern Environmental Law Center.
The 60-page brief filed this week by SELC attorneys is also on behalf of Appalachian Voices, Chesapeake Climate Action Network, Sierra Club and Southern Appalachian Mountain Stewards.
“All we are saying (is) as part of the transition back to the regulated market, the law prohibits utilities from seeking rate increases for new plants until Jan. 1, 2009,” SELC attorney Cale Jaffe said yesterday. “But then the statue goes on to say that if you built a plan that utilizes Virginia coal you get a head start, you can apply for a rate increase immediately while everyone else is barred from petitioning the state corporation commission.”
The legislation - House Bill-3068 and Senate Bill-1416, formed the re-regulation law signed by Gov. Timothy M. Kaine in July of last year.
Hogan, who could not be reached for comment yesterday, said in an interview in the January issue of Mecklenburg Cooperative Living, that deregulation had not created competition.
“So deregulation really means you have an unregulated monopoly, which would mean higher prices for the consumer,” explained the delegate in an interview with magazine editor Bill Sherrod. “This is why I’ve been opposed to deregulation. My goal has always been to keep Virginia a low-cost (electric energy) state.”
The SELC brief alleges that because the 2007 Electric Utility Re-regulation Bill stipulates the plant “utilize Virginia Coal,” it is a violation of the U.S. Constitution’s interstate commerce clause.
In the brief, attorneys noted a U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Wyoming v. Oklahoma which addressed an Oklahoma law that required “All entities providing electric power for sale to the consumer in Oklahoma and generating said power from coal-fired plants located in Oklahoma” to “burn a mixture of coal that contains a minimum of 10 percent Oklahoma mined coal,” which the court struck down for violating the commerce clause.
The SELC brief asks that the State Corporation Commission issue an order rejecting the certificate of approval.
Dominion Virginia Power is seeking to build the Virginia City Hybrid Energy Center, a 585-megawatt electric generating power station that will use circulating fluidized bed technology, in Wise County near the St. Paul community.
“The application as a whole is premature and decidedly not in the public interest,” Jaffe said yesterday.
“One of the key points we’re raising is that this plant would be a bad deal for Virginia rate payers. As we note in our brief, the plant would have a net negative impact on the Virginia economy according to the testimony of Mark Carsley, a principal research analyst in the commission’s division of economics and finance.
“As he points out, the project would increase electricity rates for Dominion customers,” explained Jaffe. “As people are forced to spend more of their income on their electric bills, they will have less available for consumer goods and services. With Virginia on the brink of a recession that is going to hit small businesses especially hard, that’s why the SCC concluded that building this plant would cause a loss of nearly 1,500 jobs statewide.”

White, Burton Construction Take Top Chamber Honors

State Farm Insurance agent Dave White and J.E. Burton Construction Co. took top honors at the annual Chamber of Commerce banquet and awards ceremony Tuesday night, with White capturing the Business Person of the Year award and Burton Construction taking Business of the Year honors.
Incoming Chamber Chairman Michele Ah presented the Business Person of the Year award, describing White as “an excellent businessman with high morals in his business and community.”
The award recognizes the outstanding businessperson who has given unselfishly in time and expertise to further the chamber’s mission and the quality of life and business climate of Halifax County.
White currently serves as a member of the board of directors with the chamber and the Halifax Regional Health System. He served as chairman of the chamber’s board from 2005-2006 and chaired the Accreditation task force 2007-2008. White is also active as a volunteer in children’s sports.
Partners Brian Burton and Dean Elliott accepted the Business of the Year award for Burton Construction.
Outgoing Chamber of Commerce Chairman Sandra Thompson presented the award, recognizing the company as a leader in efforts to move Halifax County forward, and as having been involved in the SVHEC since its beginning. The company, which is celebrating its 70th anniversary, also was recognized as working extensively with Halifax Education Foundation and for its support in sponsoring numerous cultural enrichment activities for area residents and visitors. Brian Burton also chairs the Sponsorship Committee for the Virginia Cantaloupe Festival.
Other chamber award winners included: Chamber Champion, Halifax Regional Health System; Helping Hands Award, Chris Ward; Outstanding Volunteer Award, Gail Epps; Leadership Advocate Award, Halifax County Public School System; Business Educator Award, Dolly Fallen; Unpaid Helper Award, Carroll Thackston; Chairman’s Award, Kathy Farley; Slow Poke Award, Mike Eades for his Virginia International Raceway performance; and Distinguished Service Award, Shelia Bradley.

IDA To Recognize Member,
Approve Up-Fit Designs For Riverstone

Members of the Halifax County Industrial Development Authority (IDA) are scheduled to present a resolution Friday morning recognizing Jack L. Slagle for his 12 years of service on the IDA board.
The meeting will begin at 8 a.m. at Riverstone when members go into closed session to discuss financial, prospect, personnel and real estate matters.
When they convene in open session, the IDA board is expected to pass a resolution recognizing outgoing board member Slagle who has served on the board since 1996.
John Cannon will replace Slagle on the IDA board.
Board members also are expected to approve an architectural firm for the design of up-fits to the Riverstone Technology Building for the Modeling and Simulation Center of Excellence.
Earlier this year, Dr. Carole C. Inge, executive director of the proposed Modeling and Simulation (M and S) Center of Excellence, modified her request to the Halifax County Industrial Development Authority (IDA) for space at Riverstone.
After the Virginia Tobacco Commission approved a $1.2 million grant to create the M and S Center at Riverstone, Inge reduced her earlier request of 11,600 square feet of space to 7,250 feet that includes office space already occupied by the M and S Center.
This space is available on the first floor at Riverstone.
According to IDA Executive Director Mike Eades, Virginia Tech will continue paying for the space currently occupied on the first floor of Riverstone, while Tetra Tech has agreed to sign a five-year lease.
After the first 18 months rent free, Tetra Tech is slated to pay rent for three and a half more years.
Tetra Tech also has agreed to help with some of the architecture work, Eades added.
Virginia Tech currently occupies 1,400 square feet and is requesting an additional 5,853 square feet of downstairs space for a total of 7,253 square feet.
Earlier this year, Eades estimated it will cost $450,000 to up-fit the downstairs space, and the IDA has agreed to seek grants, Eades said.
During today’s meeting, IDA members are scheduled to submit a loan application to Lake Country Development Corporation to fund the up-fit of the M and S Center of Excellence space at Riverstone.
The M and S Center will serve as a catalyst to attract new business enterprises to Riverstone, Inge believes.
Creating a cluster of potential partnering companies and organizations in Riverstone in cooperation with the Modeling and Simulation Center is Inge’s top priority.
She explained the M and S Center is expected to employ 18 people during its first year of operation, with an additional dozen to be hired in year two, and nine more in the third year for a total of 39 employees over 36 months at an average salary of $65,000.
Once the center is up and running at Riverstone, Inge said she envisions collateral businesses springing from these high tech businesses.
Also during its meeting this morning, the IDA board is slated to receive updates on the ABB expansion and demolition of the Georgia Pacific building.
Other items on the agenda include a proposed increase in mileage allowance and a review of the executive director’s performance evaluation and employment contract.
Following the meeting, IDA members are expected to tour the ABB expansion facility.

Obituaries

Thomas Linwood Booker
Thomas Linwood Booker, 80, of Bristol, Tenn. died at VA Hospice Center in Johnson City, Tenn. on March 14, 2008.
Graveside services will be held at Ebenezer Baptist Church Cemetery in Naruna tomorrow, March 22, at 2 p.m.
Mr. Booker grew up in Naruna the son of the late Parham Hubert Booker and Maggie Pillow Booker. He was a member of First Baptist Church in Bristol, and the General William Campbell Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution in Abington.
Survivors include his wife, Virginia, of the home; one daughter, Rita Evans and her sons, Sterling and Morgan, all of Roanoke; a son, Roger Booker and wife, Lynn, and their daughters, Kassie and Kallen, all of Fredericksburg; and two sisters, Reba Fox of Lynchburg and Peggy Maddox of South Boston.
One sister, Linda Martin, also preceded him in death.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the local Hospice in South Boston, Ebenezer Baptist Cemetery Fund, or a charity of choice.

Teresa Ellen Burton
Teresa Ellen Burton of Goochland died March 18, 2008.
She was born in South Boston March 20, 1957, the daughter of Betty Crews Burton and John Edward Burton, and was married to John Wagener Bloxham.
She attended Appalachian State University and transferred to Virginia Commonwealth University where she received a B.A. in English and a degree in Accounting. At the time of her death, she was a systems analyst for Bon Secours Health System.
In addition to her husband, survivors include her sister, Mary Ruth Burton and her husband, Rich McClain; her brothers and sisters-in-law, John Burton and wife, Kay, of South Boston, Don Burton and wife, Sonya, of Asheboro, N.C., Lynn Burton and partner, Sylvia Lindsey, of Richmond, and Meredith Bowman and her husband, Doug, of South Boston; nieces and nephews, Burton Fuller, Ruth Harrison Fuller, Ward and Tabitha Burton, Brian and Judith Burton, and Jeff and Kim Burton; three half sisters, Barbara Oakes of Richmond, Jean Centner and Doris Robertson, both of Tenn.; her in-laws, John and Doris Savage of Charlottesville and Dr. Jack Bloxham and his wife, Beth.
Memorial services will be held outside at her church, St.John’s Episcopal in Columbia at 2 p.m. today, March 21. A graveside service will be held at Oak Ridge Cemetery in South Boston tomorrow, March 22, at 11 a.m.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Best Friends Animal Society, 5001 Angel Canyon Road, Kenab, Utah 84741, or another animal protection organization of choice.

John Wilfred Carr
John Wilfred Carr, 67, of 928 Ash Avenue, South Boston died March 18, 2008, at his home.
Mr. Carr was born in Alexandria January 16, 1941, the son of the late Fred Carr and Margaret Lacy Carr, and was married to Alice Bell Carr. He was a member of Ash Avenue Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife of the home; three daughters, Kim Ballard and husband, Mark, of Danville, Ky., Donna Teresa Carr of South Boston, and Tracy Carr of Halifax; three grandchildren, Brittany Carr, and Lane and Clay Ballard; one sister, Janie Sarkozi of Reva; and two brothers, Bruce Carr of Smyrna and Louie Carr of Culpepper.
Funeral services for Mr. Carr will be held today, March 21, at 3 p.m. at South Boston Church of God with the Rev. Bruce Hagy officiating. Burial will follow in Oak Ridge Cemetery.

Louis Elmer Conner, Jr.
Louis Elmer Conner Jr., 36, of Virginia Beach died March 17, 2008, at his home.
He was born in South Boston on October 28, 1971, the son of Louis E. Conner Sr. and Linda Day Conner, who survive.
Mr. Conner was a member of First Baptist Church of South Boston, a graduate of the University of Virginia and the Appalachian School of Law, and was an attorney with the Chris Falk Law Firm in Chesapeake and the Southside Utility Company.
In addition to his parents of South Boston, survivors include one sister, Edie L. Davidson of Danville; two nephews, Christopher Davidson of Danville and Justin Davidson of Jacksonville, Fla.; an uncle, Don O. Conner of South Boston; and a great-nephew, Isaiah Davidson of Danville.
A graveside service for Mr. Conner will be held today, March 21, at 2 p.m. at Oak Ridge Cemetery with the Revs. Stephanie Powell and Jocelyn Emerson officiating.
The family will receive friends at the home of his parents on Jeffress Boulevard in South Boston.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Patrick Henry Boys Home, P.O. Box 1398, Brookneal, 24535.

Bessie Petty Faulkner
Bessie Petty Faulkner, 81, of 6071 L. P. Bailey Memorial Highway, Halifax died March 15, 2008, at her home.
She is the daughter of the late Charlie and Lillian Harris Petty. Mrs. Faulkner was a member of both the Owens Grove and the Murphy’s Grove Baptist Churches.
She is survived by two children, Royse D. and husband, Calden Bumphus, of Silver Spring, Md., and Aundra R. Faulkner of the home; two siblings, Lillian P. and husband, Richard Hodges, of Colonie, N.Y. and the Rev. Dr. Charles L. and wife, Mae Frances Petty, of Detroit, Mich.; five grandchildren: Dr. Tracy V. Faulkner and husband, Dr. Tan-Lucien H. Mohammed, Lt. Calvin E. Bumphus, Nicole V. and husband, Randy Dailey, J. Keith and wife, Stephanie Faulkner, and Jewel D. Faulkner; four great-grandchildren; and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and devoted friends.
Funeral services for Mrs. Faulkner will be held tomorrow, March 22, at 11 a.m. at Murphy’s Grove Baptist Church with burial in the church cemetery.
A wake will be held today, March 21, from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at Murphy’s Grove Baptist Church.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the following organizations: Dr. Jesse J. Bates Scholarship, Attention: Carolyn Cook, Halifax Regional Health System, 2204 Wilborn Avenue, South Boston, VA 24592, P: 434-517-3309, E-giving: www.hrhs.org/giving.htm, or Murphy’s Grove Baptist Church Building Fund, Attention: Deacon C. R. Hill, P.O. Box 843, Halifax, VA 24558.
The family will receive friends at the home.

Hank Sherwin Hite
Hank Sherwin Hite, 44, of Clarksville died March 19, 2008, at his home.
Mr. Hite was born in Halifax County. He was a member of Aarons Creek Baptist Church and worked for Clarksville Painting.
Memorial services for Mr. Hite will be held at 11 a.m. today, March 21, in the chapel at Wakins Cooper Lyon Funeral Home.
Survivors include his wife, Tammy F. Hite of Chase City; sons, Shawn Lee Hite of Baskerville and Christopher Scott Hite of Chase City; a sister, Janet Hite Eastwood of Roxboro, N.C.; and his mother and stepfather, Maxine and Walter Thomas of Virgilina.
His father, Willie Sherman Hite, preceded him in death.
Online condolences may be expressed to the family at www.wclfh.com.

Mattie Lee Williams
Mattie Lee Williams, 82, of Manassas died March 16, 2008, at her home.
Mrs. Williams was born September 1, 1925, and was a member of Manassas Presbyterian Church. She was married to Raymond P. Williams.
In addition to her husband, survivors include her sons, Walter Neely of Vinton and Peter Williams of Manassas; her daughters, Ellen McEldowney and her husband, John, of Charleston, W. Va. and Penny Abernathy and her husband, Eric, of Bristow; one sister, Rosamond Brown of Mich; one brother, Leonard Collie of Verona; her grandsons, John McEldowney of Charleston and Nathan Abernathy of Bristow; and one granddaughter, Brooke Abernathy of Bristow.
Two brothers, Felix and Maynard Collie; and a sister, Hilda Bush, also preceded Mrs. Williams in death.
Funeral services will be held today, March 21, at 11 a.m. at Manassas Presbyterian Church with the Rev. Skip Ferguson officiating. Burial will follow at Quantico National Cemetery.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Capital Hospice, 10530 Linden Lake Drive, Suite 100, Manassas, 20109, or the Patrick Henry Boys and Girls Home, 860 Red Hill Road, P.O. Box 1398, Brookneal, 24528.
Friends may sign the online guestbook at www.foundandsons.com

Motorsports Academy Expands Effort

By Joe Chandler
Sports Editor
The Halifax County Motorsports Academy has expanded its offerings to add a second racing team to compete in the Limited Sportsman Division at South Boston Speedway this season.
Halifax County High School student, George Spencer of Halifax, a participant in the Motorsports Academy, and veteran driver, Steve Collins of Clover, will compete under the auspices of the Halifax County Motorsports Academy this season.
High school students enrolled in the Motorsports Academy, along with instructors Buddy Wilborn, Doug Newcomb and H.C. Phillips Jr. will be involved in working on the cars at both the school and at the speedway on race nights.
The No. 03 Pontiac Grand Prix that will be driven by Spencer will carry sponsorship from Virginia Farm Bureau Insurance as well as other local businesses. The No. 70 Chevrolet Monte Carlo to be driven by Collins will carry sponsorship from the Southern Piedmont Career Pathways Consortium as well as other area businesses.
Scott Crowder, a member of the Halifax County Farm Bureau Association, and Pat Reese, the president of the Halifax County Farm Bureau Ladies Committee and also a member of the Board of Directors, represented Virginia Farm Bureau at a brief press conference Wednesday afternoon at South Boston Speedway.
Christy Yaple, Director of Tech Prep and Career Placement at Danville Community College, represented the Southern Piedmont Career Pathways Consortium.
Both Crowder and Yaple said they were pleased to be involved with the Halifax County Motorsports Academy and its racing effort.
“This means a lot to Farm Bureau and Farm Bureau Insurance,” Crowder said.
“It provides a lot of exposure for us. In addition, the Motorsports Academy gives a lot of students an opportunity as far as exposure to the motorsports industry is concerned and in helping them in learning the technology.”
The Southern Piedmont Career Pathways Consortium is a partnership between Danville Community College, Danville Public Schools, Pittsylvania County Schools and Halifax County Public Schools.
“The consortium promotes career and technical education and career pathways, so we can gives as many options to students as is possible for their educational possibilities,” Yaple said.
“This year, we’re working with Halifax County to promote its motorsports program. I’m very excited to be working with Halifax in the motorsports program in particular. It’s always exciting for the students. It will be good for us, as a whole.”
For Spencer, who is in his second year of racing and is seeking to pursue a career in motorsports, said the opportunity to be able to compete out of te Halifax County Motorsports Academy stable is huge.
“One of the big things is finding the right kind of help,” Spencer pointed out.
“The motorsports class provides you with great help that you can work with. It also gives a lot to the kids. They get good hands-on experience to learn from. I learned a lot last year in my first year. Hopefully, now I can take what I’ve learned and teach them the way I learned it.”
Spencer pointed out he expects to continue his learning path alongside his fellow students and instructors.
“I don’t think there are many other high schools in the country that offer a class like this,” he said.
“I’m really glad that Halifax County does offer it in the school. It’s hard to find that opportunity to teach the kids and for me to learn at the same time. I’d like to have a great year. I’d like to start the year and, at the end of the year, be able to look back and see what all of the kids have learned. That would mean a lot to me seeing what the kids have learned. That’s what the Motorsports Academy is all about - to teach the kids.”
Collins, like Spencer, said he appreciates the opportunity to be involved with the Motorsports Academy.
“It’s a big opportunity for me and I’m honored that they considered me doing this,” Collins said.
“If it wasn’t for this, I probably wouldn’t be able to race, not a fulltime schedule anyway.”
Collins said that while the opportunity is a big one for him, he sees it as an opportunity to help students further their education.
“I’m really looking forward to working with the students,” Collins remarked.
“The kids have been extremely nice. They ask questions and they’re willing to do anything you ask them or tell them. They really want to get hands-on experience and that’s good. I’m looking forward to it because they show a lot of interest in it.”
The Clover resident said one of the neat things about the program is that students have the chance to learn at the racetrack as well as in the shop.
“It’s not just learning and doing things at the school, we’ll have kids coming to the racetrack with our team,” he pointed out.
“ I’m really looking forward to that. I want to be competitive, but the main thing is that the students can learn and put their hands on the car at the racetrack and see and learn how everything works at the racetrack.”
“This is a great program,” added Collins.
“I wish they had it when I was coming through school. I recommend that anybody having an interest try to get into the program.”

Girls Soccer Blanks PE

The Halifax County High School varsity girls soccer team rang up its third win in a row here Tuesday night with a 6-0 win over Prince Edward County High School.
Melissa Smith and Sarah Rosche scored two goals each with Mary Beale and Wishee Marable scoring one goal each.
“Megan Rosche, Lauren Faulkner, Emily Roshe, Meredith Elliott and C.A. Nichols played well on defense,” noted Comets coach Sid Young.
“We played all of the rserves. They are beginning to improve and are getting game experience.
The Comets wasted little time in getting on scoreboard with Beale scoring the team’s first goal just a minute and 45 seconds into the game. Smith scored the first of her two goals at the 4:18 mark. Rosche connected for the next two scores, hitting goals at the 10:30 mark and the 15:05 mark. Smith kicked in the second of her two goals at the 15:05 mark to put the Comets up 5-0, a lead they held until halftime.
Halifax County held a sizeable differential in shots on goal in the first half, getting off 13 shots at the Prince Edward County goal while the visitors got off only two shots against the Comets’ goal.
Reserves saw a great deal of action in the second half, a half that saw the Comets tack on one more goal, that coming from Wishee Marable at the 26:20 mark.
While the Comets had a good night on offense, Comets goalkeeper Nia Brown had a good night at the net, making one save in the first half and coming up with two more in the second half.
The Comets will be back in action today when they go on the road to face Tunstall High School. Game time is 5:30 p.m.

SB Speedway Season-Opener Saturday

By Joe Chandler
Sports Editor
A good handful of the region’s top NASCAR Late Model Stock Car Division competitors are expected to be on hand Saturday when South Boston Speedway kicks off its 2008 racing season with the Easter Bunny 150.
Saturday’s event will be an afternoon event with the first race getting the green flag at 2 p.m.
South Boston Speedway officials say that good weather and track conditions are expected for Saturday’s season-opener as weather forecasters from the National Weather Service are predicting temperatures at or above the 70-degree mark.
“South Boston Speedway is always known for its great racing action,” General Manager Cathy Rice said.
“Enthusiasm is high for the opening of another season and the weather forecast looks nearly perfect for us. It promises to be a great day of racing to start the new season.”
Saturday’s Easter Bunny 150 racing program at South Boston Speedway will be highlighted by a 150-lap race for the NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Late Model Stock Car Division. A good field of cars including many drivers familiar to South Boston Speedway fans is expected to be on hand for Saturday’s opener.
Five races are scheduled as part of the Easter Bunny 150 racing program. In addition to the NASCAR Late Model Stock Car Division race, there will be races for the Limited Sportsman Division, the Pure Stock Division and the Southern Vintage Modified Division. A race for the competitors in the INEX Legends Cars Series is also slated as part of the day’s action.
Along with the racing action, youngsters will be treated to a visit by the Easter Bunny. The Easter Bunny will join the kids for an Easter Egg Hunt, which will begin at 1 p.m.
Pit gates will open Saturday at 9 a.m. Practice for all divisions will start at 10:30 a.m. and will continue through noon. Grandstand gates will open at noon and qualifying time trials will begin at 12:45 p.m., shortly after a mandatory driver’s meeting at 12:15 p.m.
Tickets for Saturday’s Easter Bunny 150 are priced at $10 for adults. Youth, ages 7-12, will be admitted for $5 and must be accompanied by a paying adult. Children, ages six and under, will be admitted free when accompanied by a paying adult.
Saturday’s Easter Bunny 150 will be the first of 18 events South Boston Speedway officials have scheduled for this season. Track officials have scheduled 16 points races for its top three NASCAR racing divisions to be encompassed in 14 race dates, plus several special events.