Wednesday, April 6, 2005

Board Okays Construction Two Schools

$28.8 Million Package Will Build New Schools In South Boston, Cluster Springs Area

A cheer erupted in the audience Monday night when the Halifax County Board of Supervisors voted 6-1 to fund two new elementary schools in the county.
With Supervisor Tom West absent, Supervisors approved the funding package on a split vote with Supervisor R.E. “Dickie” Abbott opposing.
The action came as supervisors met for their regular monthly meeting at the Mary Bethune Complex.
Approximately 225 residents, many of them educators and parents, packed the audience to voice their support the $28.8 million funding package.
Plans call for a new 850-student school in South Boston – carrying a $15,288,000 price tag.
The second school, housing 650 students, will be located in the Cluster Springs area and will replace the aging South of Dan and Cluster Springs elementary schools at a cost of around $13,537,440, according to School Superintendent Paul Stapleton.
The Cluster Springs school is expected to be around 80,850 square feet and will house five kindergarten and first-grade classrooms and four second, third, fourth and fifth-grade classrooms. In addition, it will have five classrooms for gifted, reading and testing programs and two classes for learning disabled students.
In South Boston, the new 91,000-square-foot elementary school will house seven kindergarten and first-grade classrooms, and six classrooms for second, third, fourth and fifth grade students.
The school will also feature a 4,000 square foot media center and computer lab, a music room and multipurpose room with stage, and a science lab, according to the plans.
Five classrooms for gifted students, reading, testing and learning disabled students will also be included in the plans.
Supervisors approved $25 million during their October 2004 meeting to fund improvements at the middle school and design plans for the two elementary schools.
During their March 7 meeting, Stapleton told supervisors that bidding all three projects together could translate into significant savings for the county.
“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. “This will expedite the design phase and allow us to take advantage of a stronger position for the bid process and construction.”
Speaking in support of the plans, Donna Nunn, PTO President at South of Dan Elementary School, said the new facilities will not only provide a better educational environment for the county’s children, but will also make the county more attractive to new industry.
“Our county is growing and bringing in new industries,” she said. “The new facilities will help the county economically. With this construction, we can have facilities that will be attractive to those families moving into the county.”
When Nunn, the first speaker of the evening, asked the audience in support of the funding to stand, only a handful remained seated.
Parent Tanya Roberts agreed.
“State-of-the-art facilities are needed in South Boston,” she said. “We have a state-of-the-art arts center (The Prizery), and a state-of-the-art continuing education center.
“These things are bringing people into Halifax County and the first question they ask is how the schools are here,” Roberts added. “We need to be able to say we have state-of-the-art facilities for our children.
“We have excellent teachers and volunteers in our schools, we need excellent facilities also,” she continued. “It’s an investment in our children and worth every penny.”
Former school system worker Cheryl Watts said she was “in support of whatever the Board needs to do to facilitate better facilities for Halifax County’s children,” but questioned the School Board continuing to own the aging school buildings.
“Whether a school building is being used or not, it costs the same to replace a roof,” she said. “It seems to me that the maintenance of those buildings would be an undue burden on the county. I would encourage the Board to consider selling the old buildings.”
South Boston resident Joe Gasparini, with several children in the county’s schools, said he was concerned that more time spent debating the funding could make the costs of the construction rise.
“We’ve been looking at capital improvements for several years and we need to move before it costs even more,” he said. “I’m a firm proponent that education drives the economy, not the other way around.”
One of two residents who spoke in opposition to the funding, Otey Lewis of Cluster Springs questioned funding a project where the location of a new school is an unknown.
“I understand the need for the schools, but I have doubts about Cluster Springs and South of Dan,” he said. “I’d like to keep those schools. They are in a good location and I’d like to see you renovate those schools like you plan on doing to the middle school.
“The community supports the schools and I have a hard time supporting a plan where we don’t know where the location of a new school is.”
Kathy Roberts Jones said she had “no problem” with the plans for the elementary schools, but questioned the plan calling for moving the sixth grade to the middle school and the increased taxes necessary to pay for the school improvements.
“That’s entirely more students than need to be in one place,” she said. “Campbell County has three middle schools. We have one school fed by seven or nine (elementary) schools.
“And what about the taxes?” She asked. “Most of the people around here are senior citizens on social security. Some of these people can’t afford the taxes they pay now.”
But the vast majority of those in attendance echoed the sentiments of Lisa Rosche, parent of a Washington-Coleman student.
“We are in the midst of a(n) (economic) revitalization in our towns,” she said. “It’s time for the county to help with the revitalization of our schools.
“Our children work hard to achieve on the SOLs. Our teachers work hard to help our children,” Rosche added. “We need new schools to help as well.”
Mayor Carroll Thackston, who was joined at the meeting by members of South Boston Town Council, told supervisors they supported the investment in the schools.
“Town Council is 100 percent behind this project,” he said. “(And) urge you to take the action tonight to approve the funding. Let’s have some new schools in the county.”
Karen Walker, a controller at d-Scan and the parent of two students at Washington-Coleman Elementary School, said it made good fiscal sense to invest in the schools.
“One of the things we contend with is when we’re trying to recruit upper management to the area,” she said. “They judge the book by the cover when looking at the schools and don’t go in to see the caring and hugs inside.”
Perhaps the most poignant message of the evening was voiced by Tanner Bamberg, a seven-year-old second-grade student at Washington-Coleman Elementary School.
So small she had to climb onto a shelf in the podium to address the Board, Bamberg succinctly delivered the message of the evening:
“Please vote yes so we can have a new school,” she said.

Two-Year Tax Plan Approved

Also Sets No-Smoking Policy In County Buildings

Following a public hearing on the matter, the Halifax County Board of Supervisors voted to adopt an ordinance that will pave the way for property values to be assessed every two years.
The motion passed on a split vote with Supervisor Tom West absent and Supervisor R.E. “Dickie” Abbott opposing the measure during Monday night’s meeting.
During their August 2004 meeting, supervisors passed a resolution authorizing the biennial reassessment. County Administrator Bryan Foster said yesterday that a public hearing was necessary before the two-year assessment can be implemented.
Monday’s action adopted a county ordinance that will make the two-year assessment take effect beginning in January 2006.
During the public hearing, county resident Cheryl Watts said she opposed the measure, fearing it will be unnecessary and cumbersome.
“Even in this day and age with the technology available, every two years it will be a boondoggle of paperwork," she said, adding that she had recently sold some property. “If the records of sales are kept up-to-date, assessments will be up-to-date anyway.
“If the Board feels like (reassessment periods) need to change I feel like it should change to four years rather than two," Watts added.
No one spoke in support of the measure.
After the hearing was closed, Abbott said he feels the investment in in-house assessment will be a waste of the taxpayers’ money.
“I think we’d be spending our money unwisely doing it that (often)," he said. (Property value) isn’t going to change that much in those two years.
“You’d be going over the same ground over and over.
“(The Board) needs to start thinking about what you’re going to save instead of what you’re going to spend. Elections are coming up pretty quick," Abbott added.
But Finance Committee Chairman Doug Bowman, who championed biennial reassessment during discussions last year, said it would be fiscally irresponsible to not change the current six-year reassessment cycle because of the location of the Clover Power Plant in the county.
“The idea is in six years the assessed value will get too far off from the sale value and we don’t get the benefit of the power plant paying 100 percent of its assessed value," he said. “(Of) the counties that have major power plants, some do assessments annually and all of them do it at least every two years."
Bowman told the Board the county stands to gain around $265,000 annually due to the more frequent assessment.
Supervisor James Edmunds told the Board that county residents will actually benefit from the more frequent assessment.
“By doing in-house assessments, homeowners will be able to have more communication with the assessors," he said. “They can get in touch with the assessors and argue their case.
“This is a savings for the county and I think that at the end of six years (of three two-year assessment cycles) they won’t see (property values) go up any more than it is now," he added.
Speaking from the crowd, South Boston resident Kenneth Cassada said that it simply makes sense to reassess property more frequently.
“With the modern technology available, why give the power company more money when you can do something to collect that funding?" He asked.
Bowman’s motion to adopt the ordinance passed 6-1 with Abbott opposing.
No Smoking In County Buildings
The days of lighting up in Halifax County buildings are over.
On a motion by Supervisor William Claiborne and a second by Edmunds, supervisors voted 5-2 Monday to pass an ordinance that bans smoking in county buildings.
But supervisors stopped short of setting enforcement guidelines or imposing a penalty on those who violate the new ordinance.
The new policy was championed by Board Chairman William Fitzgerald, who said designated areas outside of county buildings would offer those who choose to smoke the opportunity without infringing on the rights of non-smokers.
“I know we live in the tobacco belt and the building we are sitting in tobacco funds helped renovate," he said. “But it’s time we recognize this and try to make the quality of life better (for non-smokers)."
Fitzgerald said he has received phone calls from county residents who claim they don’t attend Board meetings because of all the smoke in the hallway leading into the public meeting room.
“I would urge the Board to recognize those citizens and move forward to ban smoking inside county buildings," he said.
Abbott said he couldn’t support a no-smoking policy because of the county jobs that rely on the tobacco industry.
“I don’t smoke, but I still like it," he said. “And I’m not going to vote against smoking because we made our living on it for years and some are still making their living on (tobacco).
“When you’re making these decisions, you’d better think of the jobs out there," Abbott added.
“I don’t think the decision to limit smoking in this building will limit the economic growth in the county," Fitzgerald replied. “It just lets people control where (smokers) smoke."
Claiborne said all county residents should be considered when policies are made.
“Because of health concerns, we need to set aside a (designated) place," he said.
Claiborne made the motion to put a no-smoking policy in place in county-owned buildings with a second by Edmunds.
The motion passed with Abbott and Supervisor Ronnie Vaughan opposing.
Other Business
In his update on the King Village Trail road improvement battle, Foster told supervisors that a petition for condemnation of the right-of-way will be filed this (Wednesday) morning.
“We are giving them until today to try to reach a settlement," he said Monday. “But we were unsuccessful."
During his monthly update, VDOT Resident Engineer Joe Barkley told supervisors that work began Monday on deck repairs and the installation of a pedestrian railing on the Clarkton Bridge.
“We have an estimated completion date of July 1," he said.
Barkley also noted that this week (April 3-9) is Work Zone Safety Awareness Week.
“The message is slow up or pay up," he said, noting that a ticket for up to $500 can be issued to drivers speeding in a work zone.
The VDOT engineer said the work on the John Randolph Bridge is approximately 58 percent complete, with two deck pours remaining on the new bridge on Route 360.
“I would say we’re looking at having traffic on the new bridge in late May or early June," he said.
In a brief update on the VIPER/JOUSTER projects, Industrial Development Authority Executive Director Mike Eades told supervisors that although the developers of the property have a verbal commitment on private financing for the two projects, the IDA was moving forward with due diligence.
“I’m pleased to report our efforts may be futile because we have a report from AC Development that they have a verbal commitment (for private financing)," he said.

Obituaries

Dr. Harry Alleyn Johnson

Dr. Harry Alleyn Johnson died March 11.
He was born in Norfolk, the son of Ozeas and Blanche Johnson, and was married to Mae Coleman Johnson.
Dr. Johnson was a WWII U.S. Army Veteran, serving in the Pacific Theatre earning two oak leaf clusters, and retired as a Captain in the U.S. Army Reserves. After the war, he taught in the public school system and received his Doctorate in Education. He was one of the organizers for the World Council on Curriculum and Instruction in Asilomar, Calif., authored/compiled three books in the field of education, was the first African-American to serve as president of the Virginia Association for Educational Communication and Technology and was awarded its Lifetime Achievement Award.
Dr. Johnson was a long-time member of Gillfield Baptist Church, Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Phi Delta Kappa Fraternity, Kappa Delta Pi Honor Society, and Sigma Pi Phi Fraternity. He served as a member of the Chesterfield County School Board for the Matoaca District.
Survivors include his wife; one daughter, Lynne Johnson-Gilliam; one son, Jeffrey A. Johnson; two grandchildren, Jenna and Jeffrey Johnson Jr.; one daughter-in-law, Alecia Johnson; and one brother, William A. Johnson and wife, Louise.
Funeral services for Dr. Johnson were held March 15 in Petersburg.

James Henry Satterfield Jr.

James Henry Satterfield Jr., 47, of 308 Wagstaff Lane, South Boston died April 3 at his home.
Mr. Satterfield was born in Halifax County o April 18, 1957, the son of the late James H. Satterfield Sr. and Clara Lee Buster Satterfield. He was a member of First Baptist Church in News Ferry and was a U.S. Air Force Veteran.
Survivors include one sister, Gloria Jean Lipcomb of South Boston; one brother, Isaiah Satterfield of Taylorsville, N.C.; a devoted friend, Cathy Medley of South Boston; and other relatives and friends.
Funeral services for Mr. Satterfield will be held tomorrow, April 7, at 1 p.m. at First Baptist Church in News Ferry, with the Rev. Ronnie L. Keene officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery with Military Rites by American Legion Post 99.
The family is receiving friends at the home of Jean Lipscomb, 2307 Hamilton Blvd., Apt. D, South Boston.

Ronald Dayne Carter

Ronald Dayne Carter, 56, of Halifax died April 4 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Carter was born in Lynchburg on September 25, 1948, the son of the late Jessie Bryant Carter and Mary Cage Carter, and was married to Wanda Overby Carter.
Survivors include three sons, Ronald Dayne Carter Jr. and wife, Windy, of Danville, James David Carter and wife, Crimora, of Greenville, S.C., and Bruce Allen Carter of Chicago, Ill.; three brothers, Baker Carter of Halifax, Bobby Carter of Nathalie, and Don Carter of Lynchburg; and four grandchildren.
A private memorial service will be held at a later date.

Gladys Clark Dyer

Gladys Clark Dyer, 86, of 4080 East Hyco Rd. died Sunday at her home.
She was born February 16, 1919, the daughter of the late James Russell Clark and the late Edith Carpenter Clark, and was married to the late Eugene E. Dyer. She was a member of McCanless Memorial United Methodist Church. Mrs. Dyer was a retired secretary with Nationwide Insurance.
Funeral services were held at Brooks Funeral Home Chapel on April 5, at 11 a.m. with the Rev. Phil Showers officiating. Burial followed in Halifax Memorial Gardens.
Survivors of Mrs. Dyer include two sons, Elvin Dennis Dyer and wife, Debra P., and Jerry Dyer and wife, Dolly L., all of South Boston; three sisters, Shirley C. Stevens and Margaret C. Tingen, both of South Boston, and Evelyn C. Long of Chesapeake; two brothers, Delbert R. Clark and Leroy K. Clark, both of South Boston; two granddaughters, Angela Dyer Cannon and Katina Dyer Gunn; and two great-grandchildren, Taylor Layne Gunn and Michaela Starr Cannon.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Halifax County Cancer Association, PO Box 875, South Boston, 24592.

Arthur Seate

Arthur Seate, 77, of Roxboro, N.C. died April 3, at The Veterans Administration Hospital in Durham, N.C.
Mr. Seate was a retired farmer and a member of High View Baptist Church. He was also a Veteran of the United States Army.
Survivors include two sons, Larry Seate and wife, Jo, and Al ‘Pee Wee’ Seate, all of Roxboro; two sisters, Carrie Lee Tuck and Ruth Griffin, both of Roxboro; two grandchildren, Melissa Jo Seate and Kelly Martin Seate; one great-grandson, Auther James Seate; and a special friend, Florence Buchanan.
Funeral services for Mr. Seate will be held at 2 p.m. today, April 6, at High View Baptist Church by the Rev. Mike Whitt. Burial will follow in the Virgilina Cemetery in Virgilina.

John Bennett ‘J.B.’ Watts

John Bennett ‘J.B.’ Watts, 69, of 1067 S. Terry’s Bridge Road, Scottsburg died April 4 at his home.
Mr. Watts was born June28, 1935, in Halifax County, the son of the late John Richard Watts and the late Mary Elizabeth Bennett Watts, and was married to Helen Marie Long Watts. He was a U.S. Navy Veteran, and was retired from Champion International.
Survivors other than his wife include three sons, John Stephen Watts of South Boston, Vincent Todd Watts of Alton, and Christopher Scott Watts of Ringgold; one daughter, Sherry Yvonne Watts of Cary, N.C.; one brother, Earl ‘Swib’ Watts of Halifax; and seven grandchildren. Mr. Watts was preceded in death by one sister, Leone Hackney; and two brothers, Garland and Harry Watts.
Funeral services will be held tomorrow, April 7, at 2 p.m. at Dan River Baptist Church with the Rev. Doug Gibson, the Rev. Rudolph Jacobs, and C.W. Lacks officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends this evening, April 6, at Brooks Funeral Home from 7:00 until 8:30, and other times at the home.

William Bradford Smith Jr.

Mr. William Bradford Smith Jr., 76, of Brad Smith Trail, Nathalie, died Saturday, April 2, at Lynchburg General Hospital.
Funeral services for Mr. Smith were held Tuesday, April 5, at 2 p.m. at the Hunting Creek Baptist Church with the Rev. Tony Sisk, the Rev. W.D. Mills and the Rev. Leroy Davis conducting the service. Burial followed in the church cemetery.
Mr. Smith was born in Halifax County on Oct. 18, 1928, the son of the late Willie B. Smith Sr. and Ruby White Smith. He was married to Vivian Glass Smith.
He was a retired farmer and also was retired from Royster Clark.
Mr. Smith was a member of Hunting Creek Baptist Church where he was a Sunday school secretary for many years.
He also was a member of WOW Lodge 136, Huntng Creek, and was a former member of the Triangle Volunteer Fire Department.
Mr. Smith is survived by his wife, Vivian Glass Smith of Nathalie; one son, William Bradford “Bill” Smith III and wife Cindi of Nathalie; two granddaughters, Katie Marie Smith and Jill Nicole Smith, both of Nathalie; two special grandsons, Justin A. Poole of Halifax and Jeff D. Francisco of Nathalie; three sisters, Lorraine S. Chapman of Harrisonburg, Betty Lou Conner and husband Roy of Mint Springs and Wilma S. West and husband Tom of Nathalie; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the Triangle Volunteer Fire Department or a charity of your choice.