Friday, March 23, 2007

Shootout At Ball Park Loop

Two armed men were arrested Tuesday after police were called to Ball Park Loop in Halifax for a report of multiple shots being fired, according to Halifax County Sheriff’s Office Major R.S.B. Pulliam.
According to witnesses, Glenn Palmer, 41, and Cordero Wilson, 18, both of Ball Park Loop, allegedly fired multiple rounds in the air and several rounds at individuals, Pulliam said.
“The Halifax County Central Dispatch Center received a call on Tuesday at approximately 3:41 p.m.,” Pulliam said. “The caller stated that shots were being fired on Ball Park Loop.
“Narcotics investigators with the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office arrived on scene within two minutes and witnessed several individuals in a yard,” Pulliam added. “Two of the individuals allegedly had pistols in their possession.
“One of the individuals, later identified as Palmer, was in a yard and found in possession of a .38-caliber pistol and the other individual, later identified as Wilson was running into his residence and found in possession of a .22-caliber pistol.”
A third individual later identified as Denise Elizabeth Wilson, 35, also of Ball Park Loop, was standing in the yard and was allegedly obstructing the narcotics investigators efforts to secure the scene, Pulliam said.
In addition to narcotics investigators, deputies, officers from the Halifax and South Boston police departments and Virginia State troopers responded to the scene.
Palmer was charged with possessing a firearm while being a convicted felon, Pulliam said.
C. Wilson was charged with attempted second degree murder, obstruction of justice, carrying a concealed weapon and resisting arrest, Pulliam added.
Denise Elizabeth Wilson was arrested and charged with reckless handling of a firearm and obstruction of justice, investigators said.
Palmer and Wilson are both being held without bail in the Halifax Regional Jail, Pulliam said, noting Wilson was released on her own recognizance.
The investigation is continuing, Pulliam said, requesting that anyone with any information contact the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office at 476-3339.

Recycling Ideas

The average American uses 580 pounds of paper a year.
A quart of motor oil can pollute two million gallons of drinking water.
Recycling one ton of glass saves nine gallons of fuel oil.
These facts, along with profitable tips for counties and an array of ideas on how to expand recycling programs were presented during a work shop on recycling at Riverstone Technology Park yesterday that was attended by recycling coordinators from counties throughout the state.
Fauquier County Commodity Coordinator Nathaniel Townley said during his presentation that approximately 25 percent of the solid waste generated in his county is recycled and the goal for this year is to raise the bar to 30 percent.
As a result of Fauquier County’s recycling program, every four years the county saves one year’s worth of landfill space, Townley said.
According to Townley, in addition to recycling the usual items like plastics, newsprint and aluminum, his county also recycles oil filters, propane tanks and car batteries.
Fauquier is also considering adding drywall, carpet, PVC pipe and vinyl siding to the list of materials that can be recycled, Townley said.
His job is to find outlets for the materials that the county collects for recycling.
Townley said there are publications and websites that track the commodity market for recyclable materials and their going rates on the open market.
Fauquier County diverted approximately 12,000 tons of recyclables from the county’s landfill in 2006, he added.
Recycling can also generate revenue for a locality, selling the recyclables to processors, but even when recycling isn’t a revenue generator, Townley said there are other benefits that should be considered like protecting the environment and persevering valuable landfill space.
Bedford County Recycling Coordinator Vicki Esposito told the crowd how Bedford got its recycling program off the ground in the early 1990s and is now branching out into other recycling-related fields like household hazardous waste (HHW) and e-waste.
The HHW program started in 2000, she said, with quarterly events at the landfill, but the program was so successful that HHW is now collected year-round.
Bedford then used a grant from Dell Computers in May 2006 for a one-day collection of electronic equipment for recycling, Esposito added. The county collected 10 tons of electronics in six hours.
Due to the success of the event, Bedford is planning to do two more e-waste days in 2007. The e-waste is collected from residents at no charge, she said.
Jimmy Brooks, recycling operations manager for Spotsylvania County, then told the audience how his county is dealing with its explosive growth.
On a busy day 4,000 cars come through the county’s convenience centers, he said. On a slow day it’s only 1,200.
The growth has led the county to invest in recycling infrastructure that allows much to be done ‘in house,’ he said.
Virtually all of the county’s recyclables are baled on site at the landfill, he said.
The recycling center will accept plastic, glass, oil and car batteries, paper, antifreeze and tires, he added.
The county has also gotten into selling compost to residents made from recycled lawn debris and processed sludge.
In 2006, the county raised $85,291 in revenue from the compost program and the county is seeking to triple the amount of compost it sells, Brooks said.
During the closing remarks of the conference Halifax County Improvement Council President Jenny Hochstein requested that the Halifax County Board of Supervisors issue a request for proposals to find a new recycling program for the county’s recyclables.
Her company, Recycling Works, is scheduled to close in three months, Hochstein said.

Pet Food Recall Scary, Food Recalled From Area Shelves

From Staff and Wire Reports
A recall of potentially deadly pet food has dog and cat owners studying their animals for even the slightest hint of illness and swamping veterinarians nationwide with calls about symptoms both real and imagined, but no animals have been affected in Halifax County, according to one veterinarian.
“We have had no animals affected by it,” said Cricket Cook, office manager of the Halifax County Veterinary Center in Halifax. “We didn’t have any food here that had to be taken off the shelves, but no animals have been brought in as a result of the recall.”
A spokesman from the Animal Medical Center in South Boston, Dr. Jeff Smith, said that kidney failure is very common in dogs and cats and there have been some cases, but no information is available to ascertain whether the food is to blame.
“We’ve had a lot of phone calls about the issue, but kidney failure is very common in dogs and cats and we can’t really link it to the food,” he said.
Which is little comfort to pet owners across the country, according to reports published in the Associated Press.
Since Friday, nearly 100 brands of the “cuts and gravy” style food manufactured between Dec. 3, 2006 and March 6, have been recalled by Menu Foods of Canada, including popular labels sold at Wal-Mart, Kroger, Food Lion and other large retailers.
Managers for two of the retailers located in Halifax County said yesterday that all tainted pet foods have been pulled from their shelves.
Some of the 60 million cans and pouches of food have been blamed for kidney failure in scores of animals and killed at least 16 pets. Neither the manufacturer nor authorities have been able to determine why the pets died.
Veterinarians are directing most questions to the Food and Drug Administration’s recall Web site. Some have agreed to run blood tests on pets, even though many of the animals have not consumed any of the recalled brands.
Pet owners with animals showing symptoms such as vomiting, lethargy and extreme thirst are being told to bring them in for immediate examination.
“The recall is huge. It’s unprecedented, and people are seeing their dog food is on the list and picking up the phone, wondering if there’s anything they can do or what to do,” said Tim Hackett, who runs a small-animal clinic at Colorado State University in Fort Collins. “Fortunately, most of these animals are absolutely fine.
Atlanta veterinarian Will Draper received so many calls and e-mails about the recall that he drafted a newsletter on it and e-mailed his customers.
“That helped tremendously,” Draper said. “It has calmed clients.”
Julie Benesh of Chicago brought her cat, Truffle, to a vet’s office Wednesday after realizing the animal had eaten some of the contaminated food. The cat was lethargic and had been drinking an unusual amount of water.
“That’s my baby,” Benesh said of the black-and-white cat she’s had since the animal was a kitten. “We’ve been through a lot together.”
The Animal Medical Center on the East Side of Manhattan has tested 143 animals for renal failure since Saturday. Of those, 10 were confirmed to be diet-related cases, and one cat died.
“I have people coming in who haven’t even said their pet’s eaten the bad food, but they’re worried that maybe the recall has not been broad enough so they want their pet tested to be sure,” said Ann Hohenhaus, a veterinarian at the clinic.
Los Angeles County officials have confirmed at least nine cases of kidney failure in dogs and cats exposed to the recalled food, said Jonathan Fielding, county director of public health.
The recall has led to at least three lawsuits against Menu Foods from pet owners who allege their animals got sick or died after eating recalled food.
Menu Foods CEO and President Paul Henderson said Wednesday that the company is still investigating the cause of the kidney failure because the food linked to the deaths has shown no signs of contamination. He apologized for the worry that the recall has caused.
Denise Tracy of Milford, Mass., said her first thought after hearing about the recall was, “Oh my gosh, I killed my cat.” Fluffy’s health deteriorated after Tracy fed her Special Kitty brand food, one of the recalled labels, and she had to euthanize the 11-year-old cat last week.
She said the family, including her five children, are heartbroken. Her husband contacted a lawyer, and she plans to contact her state’s attorney general.
“They’re killing animals because of somebody’s mistake,” Tracy said. “They should be held accountable for that.”
In California, a Yorkshire terrier named Pebbles has been battling kidney failure since eating Nutro dog food. Even hooked to an IV, she attempts to wag her tail. The dog’s owner, Jeff Kerner, said he has called and e-mailed Nutro, and hasn’t heard back.
“I want to give them an opportunity to do the right thing. Money can only do one thing, which is pay bills,” Kerner said. “I don’t want to end up with my dog not surviving and then owe $10,000. Or that she survives and I owe $10,000.”
The FDA has sent inspectors to Menu Food plants in New Jersey and Kansas. Most complaints stem from products made at the latter factory, though both received shipments of wheat gluten, identified as a possible source of contamination, from the same supplier, said Stephen F. Sundlof, the FDA’s chief veterinarian.
The ingredient is a protein source used to thicken the pet food gravy. The FDA is screening pet food samples for substances known to harm the kidneys, like toxins produced by molds.
Dr. Robert Davis, a veterinarian in Ashland, Mass., said most customers have remained calm _ in part because of detailed information available online.
“There’s been no panic that I’ve seen,” Davis said. “I think a lot of people, rather than becoming more nervous and concerned, they go to the Internet.”
For more information about the recall visit http://www.fda.gov/oc/opacom/hottopics/petfood.html

Obituaries

Delannie Lowery Terry

Delannie Lowery Terry, 81, of 1163 Memory Lane, Scottsburg died March 21, 2007, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mrs. Terry was born in Halifax County March 1, 1926, the daughter of the late Elijah ‘Juba’ Lowery and Cara Morris Lowery. She was a member of Black Walnut Baptist Church and retired from Sales Knitting.
Survivors include two nephews, Larry Throckmorton of Scottsburg and Mel Lowery of Chesapeake; and two nieces, Phyllis Hudson of Scottsburg and Peggy Downey of Fredericksburg.
One son, Grayling Oral Terry; one brother, Ozzy Lowery; and one sister, Beatrice Throckmorton, preceded Mrs. Terry in death.
Funeral services will be held today, March 23, at 2 p.m. at Black Walnut Baptist Church with burial to follow in the church cemetery.
Online condolences may be sent to brooksfh@earthlink.net

Emily Lee Woody

Emily Lee Woody, 77, of 1320 Porter Lane, South Boston died March 19, 2007, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mrs. Woody was born in Halifax County September 30, 1929, to the late Willie Lee and Mary Grant Strange Lee, and was married to Thomas C. Woody Sr. She was a member of Trinity Baptist Church.
Survivors include two daughters, Frances M. Kirby and Willie Dean Canada, both of South Boston; six sons, Calvin T. Woody, James E. Woody, Charles H. Woody, Tyrone A. Woody, Woodrow Woody, all of South Boston and Larry D. Woody of Durham, N.C.; one sister, Alice L. Edmonds of Petersburg; one brother, General W. Lee of Silver Springs, Md.; 25 grandchildren including three grandsons that she raised, Bradford Woody, Brian Woody and Bradshaw Woody; 27 great-grandchildren; two sons-in-law, Samuel Kirby and Dyrian Canada, both of South Boston; six daughters-in-law, the Rev. Shirley Woody, Carolyn Woody, Angela Woody, Nocola Woody and Isis Woody, all of South Boston and Jackie Woody of Durham.
One infant daughter; one son, George L. Woody; one granddaughter, Joy Stephens Woody; and two sisters, Geraldine Woody and Willie Mae Woody, preceded Mrs. Woody in death.
Funeral services will be held tomorrow, March 24, at 1 p.m. at Trinity Baptist Church with the Rev. James Carrington officiating. Burial will follow in Rose Garden Cemetery.
The family is receiving friends at the home.

Lions Solid

By Doug Ford
G-V Staff Writer
There’s good news for fans of the Halifax County Middle School baseball program - the Lions again have a solid and talented team that will challenge for an 11th straight Southside Middle School Conference title.
First-year head coach Mike Priest takes over the head coaching duties from longtime mentor Barry Powell.
He and assistant Jody Nelson will coach a group that includes five returnees and 10 newcomers to a team that finished with a 14-1 record last year.
Returnees include Tyler Long, Demetre Faulkner, Kelvin Davis, Travis Goode and Adam Hammock, all of them key contributors to the Lions’ title run last season.
New to the team are eighth-graders Aron Puryear, L.J. Barnett, Zack Clem and Kelsey Campbell, along with seventh-graders Will Nichols, Dylan Hendricks, William Worley, Ryan Puryear, Charles Beale and Dylan Sons.
Priest and Nelson are already reaping the benefits of a strong and successful Dixie baseball program and that’s making their job a little easier this year, explained Priest.
“This team works well together, and they all come from strong Dixie programs, having played together and against one another,” explained Priest.
“Middle school baseball is the stepping stone to high school ball, but they’re quality ball players and already know the fundamentals.
“You normally have to teach a lot at this level, but with the Dixie programs, travel teams and fall baseball, they know a lot already.
“Our job as coaches is to simply build upon the skills they already have and help develop them.”
What the coaches have seen thus far in practice and during the team’s first game at Franklin County (4-0 win) has been positive.
The Lions finished with six hits, but they were timely hits that produced runs, while Sons and Aron Puryear were solid on the mound, according to Priest.
The defense was also sound in the win, but the offense has the potential to be explosive, he added.
“We swing the bats really well, everyone one through nine can hit the ball,” noted Priest.
“The defense is good, the infield is really strong and there’re some good arms.”
Halifax has speed at the top of the order that will create scoring opportunities and cause havoc for opponents, and even those with less than super speed know how to run, said Priest.
“You don’t have to be super fast to be successful, you have to know when to get the jump, when to go, and these guys have those instincts.”
The Lions are pitching deep, with three left-handers and two right handed hurlers listed on the roster, and that is a big strength, said Priest.
Southpaws include Sons, Long and Ryan Puryear, while Aron Puryear and William Worley come from the right side.
“This amount of left handers is unusual at this or any level,” noted Priest.
“Our pitchers are really smart, work well with our catchers and control the tempo of the game.”
Beale, Sons, Nichols, Davis, Campbell, Goode, Barnett, and Aron Puryear are listed in the infield, while Clem and Hendricks are the catchers.
Faulkner, Worley, Ryan Puryear, Long and Hammock will see time in the outfield.
Priest said that this group has the potential to continue the winning tradition at the middle school, but that it will take more than potential to emerge with another title.
“All the coaches can do is develop a good relationship with the team and get to know them,” said Priest.
“I think that they’re responding well to us, but it’s up to them to put forth the effort necessary to play together.
“They have all the tools, but it’s all about desire, attitude and stamina to bring it all each day and to every game.
“The guys are excited about playing middle school baseball and it’s all about pride, so they want to go out there and prove they belong here.
“And, I’m not worried about putting them out there.”

HCMS Softball A Mix Of Youth, Experience

By Doug Ford
G-V Staff Writer
Youth and experience will need to merge and form a cohesive unit in order for the Halifax County Middle School softball team to extend its string of conference championships.
The Lady Lions have won eight consecutive Southside Middle School Conference tournament titles, and its current winning streak reached 109 games after a season-opening win at Franklin County last week.
Six players return for head coach James Smith and assistant coach Bonnie Bowen, including eighth-graders Brittany Long, Jill Trickey, Jameshia Smith, Jamilia Smith, Melissa Blanks and Dalyn Hall.
New to the team are eighth-graders Mayghan Strange and Caitlin Lawhorn, along with seventh-graders Kelsey White, Amber Oakes, Verlisha Brandon, Kate Bane, Jennifer Lacks, Sydney Puryear, Charlissa Ferguson and Samantha Gibson.
The Lady Lions are always a reflection of the powerful and talent rich Dixie Softball program in Halifax County, and this year is no exception, according to Smith, who begins his tenth year at the helm.
What may this group apart from some of the other teams he’s had, according to Smith, is the strength of the seventh-grade class and the team’s offensive potential.
“I’m really impressed with the group of seventh-graders this year, and the team as a whole is a little different than some others I’d had before,” explained Smith.
“We’ve had real good pitching and defense the past few years, but this group will swing the bats, and a lot of them have played both Dixie and travel ball, so they have some experience.
“This group may end up as one of my better hitting teams.”
Smith said the Lions have depth and strength throughout the defense, with the catcher, infield and outfield positions particularly strong at this point of the season.
“I have new players at several spots, at first, second and third base, but there’s experience everywhere else, and I have three or four girls to sub in and not miss a beat,” he noted.
The roster lists 13 players at different infield positions, in addition to six outfielders.
Infielders include White, Long, Trickey, Brandon, Jameshia Smith, Blanks, Bane, Lacks, Puryear, Ferguson and Gibson.
The roster lists White, Strange, Oakes, Jamilia Smith, Lawhorn and Hall in the outfield, while Strange, Trickey and Jameshia Smith are listed as catchers.
Trickey, Blanks, Bane, Lacks, Hall and Gibson will pitch for the Lions this year and that number of pitchers gives Smith a lot of options on the mound.
Smith is waiting to see which one steps up to be his number one pitcher this year.
“Usually, I’ve had one stopper on the mound to go out and shut people down, and I may not have that big stopper this year, so we’ll have to play a little defense.
“But, we’re strong enough defensively to back our pitchers, and if i can get two or three innings out of my starters, I have enough pitchers where I can bring in enough relievers to do the job.”
The Lions’ depth and versatility has Smith thinking he may need to juggle the starting lineup more than a few times this season, and that may prove to be a positive development, he explained.
“I may have four seventh-graders in my starting lineup, and that’s unusual, I usually have one or two,” said Smith.
“It’s the first time I’ve had this many potential seventh-grade starters, but the starting lineup for the first game may not be the same as the season progresses.
“That’s how much depth we have and that’s a good thing because it makes the starters really buckle down and play ball.”
With so much depth and talent, team chemistry can sometimes be an issue, but Smith emphasized that isn’t the case with this group.
“I think that this is a close-knit team. They play with and against each other in Dixie ball, and that chemistry means a lot at this or any other level.
“I’m really excited about this team.”

Strong Field For HCMS Invitational Tournament

By Doug Ford
G-V Staff Writer
The Halifax County Middle School baseball and softball teams will try and continue the tradition of winning performances at the annual Middle School Invitational Baseball/Softball Tournament here tomorrow.
Action gets under way at 9 a.m. with the host Lions taking on Martinsville in both baseball and softball, while Franklin County and Powhatan battle in baseball and softball at 11 a.m.
The losers from the first round of games play at 1 p.m., and the championship games for both baseball and softball are scheduled to start at 2:30 p.m.
Both the Lions baseball and softball teams are defending champions of the invitational tournament.
The Lions baseball team defeated Franklin County 8-5 a year ago in the championship game after routing Martinsville 31-0 earlier in the day.
The Lady Lions defeated Powhatan 10-1 in the championship game last year following a 15-0 romp over Dinwiddie to start the tourney.
Due to ongoing construction at the middle school, all parking for the tournament will be at the upper parking lot (bus parking lot).
Admission is $4 per person for all the days’ games, and barbecue (cooked on site), in addition to hot dogs, french fries, and soft drinks will be available.