Supes Set Tax Rate At 44 Cents

Halifax County Supervisors voted 7-1 to adopt a $97.3 million budget for 2008-09 Monday night setting the real estate tax rate at 44 cents per $100, the personal property tax rate at $3.60, and the machinery and tools tax at $1.26.
ED-1 Supervisor R. E. “Dickie” Abbott cast the dissenting vote.
“I think we have worked hard to come up with a budget that hopefully we can live with,” Supervisor Board Chairman William Fitzgerald told the packed room of citizens.
“I would state that we have done a great job of making every department mad,” said ED-5 Supervisor James Edmunds as he offered the motion to adopt the budget. “We’ve cut just about every department with no increases for any department.”
Supervisors used $2,230,274 from reserve funds to balance the budget with another $250,000 expected to be drawn from reserves after July 1 to cover a state budget shortfall not included in the newly adopted budget.
Broken down, expenses in the 2008-09 budget total $2,021,097 for administration; $198,271 for parks and recreation; $2,529,315 for public works; $3,677,988 for public safety; $3,524,349 for judicial; $765,000 for economic development; and $3,112,296 for other general fund activities.
Other expenses include $8,886,400 for social services; $843,782 for the 911 system; $1,229,007 for grant activities; $78,000 for the airport; $64,074,080 for the school system; $500,000 for capital projects; $5,923,973 for debt service; and $30,800 for other funds.
Although supervisors adopted the budget Monday night, they delayed appropriating the funds until the end of June.
Following adoption of the $97 million budget, ED-6 Supervisor Wayne Conner suggested the board start the new fiscal year in July by spending a full day reviewing the new budget, meeting with the school board and other interested parties in an effort to consolidate and reduce expenses for next year’s budget.
The supervisor said the board’s goal should be to strive for a level funded budget next year to meet the needs of the county.
“If we need to we could meet one day each month after that (initial meeting in July) to address the budget and get down to the nitty-gritty to pursue a level funded budget for next year,” Conner added.
Fitzgerald also expressed his concerns about the assessment set by the board of equalization.
He requested county staff write a letter to Commissioner of Revenue Brenda Powell or Harold Throckmorton asking for a report on the process, explaining how many people appealed assessments, and how they went about changing them or the rationale behind not changing them.
“I’m not clear on that, and I think a lot of citizens are not clear on that,” Fitzgerald said. “If this board is not clear on it, I don’t know how citizens are expected to understand it.”
He told of assessment horror stories he has heard, offering an example of one landowner who sold timber off his property and had the value of that property increase after the assessment.
“That bothers me,” he added.
ED-4 Supervisor Doug Bowman said in the past the board of equalization has provided the board with such a report.
“Personally I think we ought to meet with the commissioner of revenue and Mr. Throckmorton to see how the process actually worked, particularly for the large rural parcels that seemed to have such variations in their amounts,” Bowman said, offering to participate in that meeting.
Commissioner of Revenue Brenda Powell attended Monday night’s meeting and told supervisors she believed the board of equalization already has that information available.
“I think we realize certainly from the public hearings that the assessments were probably more of an issue than the tax rate,” Bowman said.
Edmunds concurred. “As I said earlier, in my opinion, either the property values were grossly undervalued two years ago or either it’s been grossly overvalued this year.”
Supervisors instructed County Administrator Bryan Foster to seek a report on the recent assessment.

Farm Bureau Gives Fairgrounds $10,000

Farm Bureau representatives Page Wilkerson and Jay Reese presented a $10,000 check to the Halifax County Fairgrounds Committee Monday night during the supervisors meeting, asking in return that the fairgrounds livestock barn be named in honor of the Halifax County Farm Bureau.
ED-5 Supervisor James Edmunds, chairman of the fairgrounds committee, accepted the gift.
In making the presentation, Wilkerson said the donation could be used for penning at the livestock barn.
“We would like to ask that a sign be erected naming the livestock barn the Halifax County Farm Bureau Livestock Barn,” he told supervisors.
Edmunds promptly offered a motion to name the livestock barn in honor of the Halifax County Farm Bureau, and it was unanimously approved.
In other action during Monday night’s supervisors’ meeting, VDOT Residency Administrator Joe Barkley presented a revised Secondary Six-Year Plan after VDOT notified Barkley on Monday that state formula allocations would be cut 44 percent for the entire VDOT system including primary, secondary and urban roads for the period 2009-2013.
Barkley said the state reduction amounts to a 33 percent reduction in funding to the local residency with the unpaved road funding being cut 65 percent.
“As a result of that, we have recommended removal of the Route 602 project, delaying for three years the Route 716 project, and removing the Route 626 project due to lack of funding,” Barkley explained.
The updated Six-Year Plan includes $8,097,321 to fund the county-wide allocations, Route 642 (Meadville Road) and Route 716 (Wolftrap Road) projects.
Unpaved construction projects included in the revised plan include Route 817 (Arthur Ware Trail), Route 895 (Old Roxboro Road), Route 897 (White Lane), Route 717 (Hazelwood Mill Trail), Route 722 (Heath Road), Route 838 (Lilborn Trail), Route 849 (Coon Trail), Route 872 (Carter Trail), Route 876 (South Nichols Ferry Trail) and Route 916 (Pitt Trail).
Slated for construction next year are Routes 817, 895, 897 and 717.
The remaining unpaved roads are scheduled for construction in 2010, according to Barkley.
ED-2 Supervisor Tom West questioned what reasoning was used when Barkley removed Rt. 626 from the priority listing.
“It was your last priority, so that was the one we cut back on,” Barkley said.
West remarked Winns Creek Road should be given priority because of the large traffic count, including many logging trucks that travel it daily.
Barkley said the plan would be revised again next year and Route 626 could be included at that time.
Supervisors approved the revised Six-Year Plan by a 7-1 vote with West opposing the motion.
In other VDOT business, Barkley informed supervisors the week of April 7-11 is being observed as Work Zone Awareness Week, and the board adopted a resolution to temporarily close Route 730 (Ramble Road) for a culvert replacement.
In other county business Monday night, supervisors took the following actions:
n Delayed action until the April 21 joint meeting on a request from the Industrial Development Authority requiring a moral obligation from the board for the upfit of the Modeling and Simulation Center for Excellence at Riverstone after hearing an update from its director Dr. Carole Inge;
n Set a public hearing for the May 5 board meeting on a land use application by Albert R. and Mary Y. Vaughan for rezoning four parcels of land in ED#8 from A-1 to B-2;
n Approved a one-year extension of a conditional use permit requested by SBA Towers II, LLC to construct a telecommunications tower, and then acting on advice of the county attorney, rescinded the extension deadline on the conditional use permit issued June 7, 2006;
n Approved in concept a plan to lease ballfields for $1 a year at South of Dan and C. H. Friend to area leagues and to give four acres of land at Turbeville Elementary to the Turbeville Volunteer Fire Department with the remainder of these school properties being marketed for sale;
n Appointed William Fitzgerald, Catherine Curtis and Nancy Pool to the Workforce Investment Board; and
n Reviewed a proposal regarding agricultural and forestal districts (AFDs) in the county with possible action expected at a future meeting.
According to County Administrator Bryan Foster, the AFDs will be for a minimum of 200 contiguous acres of active farmland and/or actively managed forested land suitable for forestal production which can either be a single parcel or multiple parcels with different owners.
AFDs will automatically qualify for use-value assessment, and will require a $500 application fee, Foster explained.
The minimum term of the district will be 10 years with the application deadline for creation or modification of a district set for Sept. 1 each year.
Applications will not be accepted at other times of the year, and a decision on each application received will be made by the board no later than March 1, the county administrator said.
All property withdrawn from an approved AFD will be subject to five years of rollback taxes plus interest, and districts may be reviewed and renewed by the board at the end of each term, he summarized.
Under informational items, Foster explained the transfer station project continues to progress with the access road to Plywood Trail almost complete, and work on the scale house and personnel building now under way.
Requests for bids are now being solicited for the permanent hauling, the county administrator said, explaining the bids are due April 24.

 

Supes Give Thumbs Down To Motor-Cross, ATV Facility

Four public hearings and an anticipated vote on the 2008-09 Halifax County budget attracted a large crowd to the Mary Bethune conference room Monday night to hear supervisors approve three public hearing requests and deny one.
Supervisors originally had advertised six hearings, but two applicants withdrew their requests prior to Monday night’s meeting.
Many of those attending the meeting Monday were opposed to Brian Hitchon’s land use application to locate a motor-cross and ATV practice facility in the Hyco Road community.
Supervisors acted on the recommendation of the planning commission and unanimously denied Hitchon’s land use application.
The site of Hitchon’s proposed 21-acre commercial motocross and ATV practice facility, which was to be open Thursday through Sunday, is on the southeast side of East Hyco Road (Route 744), .60 of a mile south of its intersection with Cherry Hill Church Road (Route 658).
According to Planning and Zoning Administrator Robbie Love, county planners felt this business would “significantly change the character of the area, which is predominantly residential and agricultural, and increased traffic and noise from the facility could create a nuisance for area residents.”
Seven comments were received in opposition to the track during the planning commission public hearing, and five spoke against the track during the supervisors’ hearing Monday night.
Rev. Frederick Eily, pastor of Pleasant Grove Missionary Baptist Church, spoke on behalf of his church family saying, “As Christians we do not oppose the people but oppose what is being done to our community.”
Eily cited noise disruptions and air pollution resulting from the track, as well as the presence of alcoholic beverages, racing, gambling and partying that would result from a “snowball effect” of the track being permitted.
“We do not want it in our backyard,” he told supervisors.
Harold Owen, Blakely Swanson, Jeff Thrower and attorney Bill Watson, representing client and friend Charles Ware, each voiced reasons for their opposition.
Petitions containing over 100 signatures of persons opposing the track also were presented to the board.
No one spoke in favor of the proposed motor-cross track.
“Due to the overwhelming number of people who have called and written me or signed a petition, I recommend we turn this down,” ED-7 Supervisor Lottie Nunn said, with the board voting to deny Hitchon’s request.
Another public hearing was held on a proposal to relocate the Meadville Election Precinct in ED-3 from Meadville Elementary School to the Banister, Staunton River and Sunnyside Baptist Center approximately three-tenths of a mile away.
The board unanimously voted to approve this change, one scheduled to take effect for the November general election.
Supervisors unanimously approved a conditional use permit for a recreational vehicle campground to be located on a portion of the Halifax County Fairgrounds property in ED-5.
Planning commissioners unanimously recommended approval with 10 conditions being imposed with permit issuance.
The site of the proposed campground is approximately 1,200 feet east of Plywood Trail (Route 879), .20 of a mile south of its intersection with James D. Hagood Highway (U.S. 360).
The site will accommodate 22 recreation vehicles with electric and water hook-up with the Halifax County Service Authority supplying the water to the site.
Sewage will be disposed of using a dump station, according to Love. Rickey’s Septic Tank Cleaning will handle sewage disposal.
ED-5 Supervisor James Edmunds explained the Heritage Festival Committee has donated $5,000 to fund the installation of the RV hook-ups which are expected to generate additional income as well as enhance the fairgrounds.
RV owner Douglas Powell encouraged supervisors to approve the conditional use permit saying, “These are the kind of people you want here. It will be an asset to the county and is greatly needed.”
A final public hearing was held on Claude Allen Haynes’ request for a conditional use permit in ED-6 to hold an outdoor amusement/entertainment area for the 35th music festival reunion of the Goodtime Boogie organization.
Planning commissioners recommended approval of the permit for the May 22-28 event to be held on his farm located on the south side of Kerns Mill Road (Route 688), approximately one mile east of Hackberry Road (Route 656) after hearing two people speak in support of the event, and no one voicing opposition.
On Monday night, Haynes’ close neighbor and personal friend Joe Russell urged supervisors to permit the non-profit reunion to be held on Haynes’ 495-acre farm.
“He no longer raises tobacco, and if this event is allowed he will receive rent on the land for this period of time. His primary reason is to make some money off his land,” Russell said.
In a letter to Love, Haynes said there will be night activities, but the location of the site is such that no glare will be visible from nearby residences.
“There will be music, but I think the distance involved between the site and the two or three residences closest to the site pretty much negates a noise problem. All music will cease at 11 p.m., and it has been decided not to have an open bar for the serving of alcohol,” Haynes said. “No alcohol will be served. I am sure that the reality is that some of the participants will have something to drink with them, but there will be no centralized dispensing of alcohol.”
No person under the age of 18 will be admitted, and no person not a member of The Good Time Boogie organization will be admitted, Haynes said. No admission will be charged, and no weapons will be allowed.
“There is a gate into the property, which will be locked after the arrival of the participants,” he added. “This will prevent any party crashing.”
Haynes has hosted numerous motor-cross competitions on his property in past years with no problems, according to ED-6 Supervisor Wayne Conner who offered the motion to approve the conditional use permit.
In other action Monday night, Carolyn Young introduced her guest from Japan, Kazuko Yamasaki.
Yamasaki is the Japan Outreach Initiative (JOI) coordinator, who was sent from Japan to the United States for two years. Halifax County Schools became the first school division selected to serve as a host organization responsible for providing her with administrative support, assigning a supervisor and arranging host family housing.
Japan ranks as the fourth largest trading partner of the United States, behind Canada, China and Mexico. Still, many Americans have little knowledge and awareness of Japan, its culture, significance and contributions to the United States and the rest of the world.
The Japan Foundation Center for Global Partnership and the Laurasian Institution designed and co-administer the JOI. This program offers the opportunity to develop a deeper understanding of Japan by sending Japanese individuals to U.S. sites as volunteer coordinators of community outreach activities about Japan.
Yamasaki came to Halifax County in August 2007, and she is expected to remain until July 2009. She has made presentations in the county’s schools, as well as organizations and groups in the community.
The presentations may include Origami (paper folding), writing names in the Japanese language, Japanese story-telling (Kamishibai), Japanese schools, traditional Japanese foods, Kimono (traditional clothes), Japanese holidays, calligraphy and basic Japanese language.
Dr. Melanie Stanley assisted in acquiring a $4,900 grant to get information out to students. Yamasaki hosted four performances of traditional Japanese drumming, taiko, with drummer Takumi Kato. Three of the performances were held for students and the fourth was for students who were unable to attend the other performances as well as members of the community. She also put on six “culture capsules” at the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center on cooking, Kimono dressing, calligraphy, Origami and holidays.
As part of the cultural exchange program, selected families have the opportunity to host Yamasaki as a guest in their homes, similar to the foreign student exchange programs. For the past six months, Yamasaki has been the guest of Carolyn and Logan Young, and she is now a guest in the home of Dot and Hugh Hailey of Alton.
Yamasaki has a husband and two grown children in Japan. She holds a bachelor of arts degree in English Literature from Japan’s Kobe College, and she is fluent in English.
Anyone interested in learning more about this program or meeting Kazuko Yamasaki can contact Walter Kraft at 434-454-6610.

Berry Hill Management Change

Founders Land Company has assumed management at the Berry Hill hotel and resort property, according to a Monday press release issued by John E. Powell, director of marketing.
“The Berry Hill Estate is under new management,” according to the press release. “On April 3 the lease to Founders College Education ended. On that date the owner of the property, Founders Land Company, assumed direction of management.
“The exclusive focus of new management will be on hotel operations rather than the college,” continuted the press release. “Its goal is to develop this historic local treasure to its full potential as a destination hotel, resort and center for important events in the South Boston community.”
Founders Chairman/CEO Tamara Fuller was unaware of any press release when contacted at Berry Hill Plantation Resort yesterday.
Founders Land Company has been the corporate entity that has owned Berry Hill, according to Fuller.
Trish Miller, general manager, Berry Hill Estates, said Tuesday: “We are looking forward to serving the community in the hotel and resort.”

Obituaries

DeWitt Ray Fisher
DeWitt Ray Fisher, 77, of L.P. Bailey Memorial Highway, Nathalie, died April 4, 2008. at Halifax Regional Hospital. He was the husband of Audrey Stevens Fisher.
Mr. Fisher was born in Halifax County, August 26, 1930, son of the late Robert Glen Fisher and Mary Burton Fisher. He was a member of Republican Grove Methodist Church where he served as Superintendent of Sunday School for a number of years. He was an Army Veteran of the Korean Conflict and a retired employee with the Virginia Department of Alcoholic Beverage Control with 35 years of service.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by one son, Gregg D. Fisher of High Point, N.C.; two daughters, Lisa F. Fisher and husband, Bobby, of Nathalie, Susan F. Scott and husband, David, of Gretna; four grandchildren, Priscilla D. Fisher, Marilyn V. Fisher, Caitlin H. Fisher, and Grayson D. Fisher; two brothers, Robert B. Fisher and Felda B. Fisher; and one sister, Barbara F. Wheeler. He was preceded in death by an infant sister.
A graveside service was held at 2 p.m. on April 6, in Falling River Baptist Church Cemetery by the Revs. Shelton Miles III and Keith Williams.

William Wallace Clark
William Wallace Clark, 64, of 1424 Beard Street, South Boston died April 3, 2008, at his home.
Mr. Clark was born in Halifax County on May 20, 1943, the son of the late Mary Clark Chappell and Milton Wyatt, and was married to the late Elsie Irving Clark. He was a member of Piney Grove Baptist Church, was a former employee of J.P. Stevens Converter and retired from the Town of South Boston.
His survivors include two daughters, LaTonya F. Clark of Richmond and Felicia Hughes of South Boston; two sons, Anthony E. Clark of Richmond and Quentin W. Clark of South Boston; one grandson, Anthony R. Hutcherson of Goldsboro, N.C.; one God granddaughter, Jada N. Davis of Halifax; three sisters, Thelma Chappell of South Boston, Mary Lee Brandon of Washington, D.C. and Lucille C. Jones of Pennsauken, N.J.; three brothers, Sandra ‘Doc’ Wyatt of South Boston, Richard Chappell Jr. and George Chappell, both of Baltimore, Md.; two sisters-in-law, Charlene Chappell of Baltimore and Shirley Wyatt of South Boston. Two sisters, Roxie Clark Scott and Patricia Ann Wyatt, preceded Mr. Clark in death.
Funeral services will be held today, April 9, at 2 p.m. at Mizpah Presbyterian Church with the Rev. George Wilson officiating. The remains will be cremated following the service.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Mizpah Presbyterian Church, 308 Ragland Street, South Boston 24592.

Sharp Shooting Led Carter To Success

By Joe Chandler
Sports Editor
Lawrence Carter was well-known for his smooth ball handling and the long-range jump shots that tickled the nets while a basketball player at Halifax County High School during the early 1970’s.
Regarded as one of the better players to don a Halifax County High School basketball uniform, Carter also earned that reputation as a standout player at Lees-McRae Junior College and Belmont-Abbey College where he reaped numerous honors.
Carter will be honored for his outstanding high school and college basketball career Saturday night by being inducted into the Halifax County-South Boston Sports Hall Of Fame.
The induction banquet will be held Saturday at 6:30 p.m. at the Halifax County Middle School cafeteria.
Carter’s success as a student-athlete can be attributed in some measure to the influence of Gaitha Richardson, the former principal of Sinai Elementary School where Carter attended school as a youth.
“That’s where I started playing basketball,” Carter explained.
“He (Richardson) taught me a lot more about life and about sports. He taught me about staying in school and doing the right thing. He kept us straight.”
Carter embraced the game of basketball and developed a deft shooting touch while playing basketball against older and bigger players.
“I knew I could shoot,” Carter said.
“I went to basketball camp at Elon College (a camp run by former HCHS coach and Elon assistant coach Bill Morningstar and Elon head coach, the late Bill Miller) when I was going from the seventh-grade to the eighth-grade. I had to play with the high school and college kids. I was not allowed to go to the camp with my age group.
“I had to play with Howard White and Brad Ballou,” continued Carter.
“I learned to play by playing Howard White and Brad Ballou. I got beat up enough. I shot from half-court because if I got any closer they blocked it.”
Not only was Carter a good basketball player, he was also a good football player. Carter played football in the ninth-grade at Halifax County Middle School and played under coach Bristol Martin as a sophomore at Halifax County High School.
Those two years of playing quarterback were enough to make Carter realize that football wasn’t his cup of tea.
“I didn’t like getting hit,” Carter pointed out.
“I played quarterback, so I got hit a lot. I gave that (position) back to O.C. Hailey.”
Carter went on to forge a stellar high school basketball career, a career that included two straight appearances in the Group AAA state Final Four. On both occasions, Carter and his Comets teammates, coached by the late Don Thompson, lost to a tough Petersburg High School team with its All-American center Moses Malone, who went on to NBA stardom.
Carter was also named as a member of the West all-star team to compete in the annual Virginia High School League state all-star high school basketball game. He started the game and emerged as the game’s second-highest scorer.
“Of course, I’ll never forget that,” Carter remarked.
“I started in the state high school all-star game and I’ll never forget that, either.”
Carter proved himself to be among the elite conference and district basketball players while playing basketball at both Lees-McRae Junior College and at Belmont-Abbey College. Having the opportunity to play against some NCAA Division I schools made the college experience exciting for Carter.
One of his more notable experiences occurred when Carter’s Belmont-Abbey team defeated Old Dominion University in Norfolk in a game in which Carter put up 26 points. There was also a memorable game Belmont-Abbey played against Marquette.
“We played Marquette the year after they beat North Carolina for the national championship in 1977,” Carter noted.
“We played them at The Mecca in Milwaukee. I played the entire 40 minutes, had 10 points, five assists and two steals. Rick Majeris (the well-known former Utah coach) was the assistant coach then. He came up to me after the game and said ‘you’re one of the better point guards we’ve ever played against and walked off.
“My coach (Bobby Hussey) saw it and he came to me and asked what he (Majeris) said,” Carter continued.
“I told him what he said and I asked why he said that. He (Hussey) said that in Division I you get stats right after the game and I didn’t have any turnovers against their run and jump defense. Even though we lost, that was the most memorable game.”
Carter has remained active in basketball, spending the past 20 years conducting youth basketball camps for students in grades two through 12 for the Lincoln County, N.C. Recreation Department and officiating youth, high school and college basketball games.
“I enjoy giving back because I enjoy teaching fundamental skills,” Carter said of the basketball camps.
“I’ve had one kid go to Oak Hill Academy. I have one kid that is graduating this year from Western Carolina and another one that is in school in South Carolina.”
Carter has enjoyed a good deal of success in working with young people.
“First of all, I demand respect,” Carter explained.
“I’m going to respect the kids and they’re going to respect me. We’re going to have fun. Even if I have to yell at them, everything is ended on a positive note, nothing negative.”
Attitude, Carter says, also plays a key role.
“I believe that attitude is everything and that you have to have a good attitude,” he pointed out.
“By the time I get through with them, the kids are laughing and joking. I tell them before they start that if anybody has an attitude they need to go back out the door, leave it outside and then come back.
“It’s all in how you deal with them,” added Carter.
“You’ve got to be in control without showing you’re in control. You don’t have to be a boss.”
That same philosophy has brought Carter success as a basketball official.
“I officiate like I play - on instinct,” Carter said.
“I don’t pre-determine any call. You call what you see. I don’t look for things to call. I call what happens. I know basketball. I pay attention to detail. I’ve never ejected a coach from a basketball game. I call the fewest technical fouls of any official in the state of North Carolina because I know how to handle coaches.”
Carter says he makes it a point not to adopt a confrontational attitude with coaches.
“But, if they start it, I’ll finish it, always in a nice way,” Carter noted.
While he has been busy in basketball and with his job with the Opex Corporation, Carter places a big focus on his family. His daughter, Sade, is a senior at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, N.C. and is scheduled to graduate this spring.
His 13-year-old son, Lorenzo, 13, attends Lincolnton Middle School and is a budding basketball standout, having rung up big numbers in the scoring column in both junior high school and AAU basketball games.
“He will probably be playing varsity basketball next year,” Carter said.
“I’m going to go everywhere he goes to play.”
The younger Carter appears to be heading down the path his father followed.
“He can shoot the ball,” Carter added.
“He thinks he can shoot it like me.”

Comets Boys Soccer Striving To Improve

By Joe Chandler
Sports Editor
The story of last season’s Halifax County High School varsity boys soccer team is, unfortunately, repeating itself.
A combination of a low turn-out of players to start the season combined with early-season injuries has turned the 2008 season into an uphill struggle for the Comets.
“The numbers are extremely low this year,” Comets head coach Frank Shealy noted.
“We only had 20 to try out for varsity and, since that point, four of those have chosen to focus on other things and quit the team.”
That left Shealy with a 16-player roster, a roster that has been pared down even further due to injuries.
“We lost Zack King for four to six weeks with a broken foot, Lois Vogtman is out for four weeks for a bad sprain, J.W. Webb was out for two weeks because of a automobile accident, and Cameron Starke sprained his “kicking foot” and is unlikely to return to soccer,” Shealy explained.
The Comets have struggled, compiling a 1-4 record against non-district opponents entering last night’s home Western Valley District opener against Franklin County.
“The Western Valley District has always been tough,” Shealy pointed out.
“We are in an excellent soccer district, and will need to work hard in practice to become successful this year.”
The Comets have played well in brief stretches, but have not yet put together a complete game, something that must happen if the Comets hope to be competitive against district opponents.
“We have put together moments that look good, but we are having too much inconsistent play to be competitive,” Shealy said.
“We have not been playing together as a team. Coach Dyer (assistant coach Chris Dyer) and I have been working with the players on fundamentals. Ball touches and movement off the ball must improve for us to pick up more wins this season.”
In looking at the Comets’ roster, Shealy has a fairly large group of juniors that are returnees from last year’s team. That group includes Raleigh Powell, Andrew Wilkins, Tyler Truitt, Starke, King, Chris Velez, Webb, Cody Lewis, McCauley Hammond, and Luigi Ditommaso.
Joining the group of returning players are fellow juniors Josh Long and Stuart Muse, who are new to soccer and to the team.
There is one sophomore on the Comets roster, Dru Henderson. Henderson was brought up from the jayvee team during last season and spent most of the season playing on the varsity squad.
The Comets’ roster also includes three seniors, Vogtman, Drew Moser, and newcomer Gabriel Aguilar.
As a result of the early-season injury situation, Shealy has brought Jordan Keck up from the jayvee team to play with the varsity team for awhile.
In looking at the Comets’ defensive line-up, Aguilar is occupying the goalkeeper position, Wilkins plays the sweeper spot, and Moser and Lewis play at the fullback spots.
“Gabe has done an excellent job, as I expected,” Sheal said.
“Although he is new to soccer, he has great hands and is very athletic. Wilkins starts as our sweeper and is a tough player who works very hard. Moser and Lewis do a good job at holding opponents to the outside. Moser will play some as wing in the midfield and Lewis has continued to improved and impress me so far.”
Shealy has been using a double stopper approach with Webb, Long and Muse playing there.
“Webb is a scrappy defender that will challenge for the ball,” Shealy pointed out.
“Long adds size and toughness, and Muse adds much needed speed to the back.”
The midfield positions have been rotated among a group of players that have occupied various roles as Shealy and Dyer continue to search for the right combinations.
“Velez can be utilized in a number of positions,” Shealy said.
“Truitt has speed and size, King has good ball control and can finish around the goal and Ditommaso works hard on every possession.
“Hammond manages the middle of the field very well and communicates well with his teammates,” added the Comets coach.
“Keck has great knowledge of the game and looks to pass, Vogtman has good speed on the outside, and Powell has improved his shot and has already scored this season.”
Up front, Henderson and a couple of other players have occupied the forward position with Henderson having seen the majority of the playing time.
“Dru offers size, strength, and speed up front,” Shealy noted.

Girls Tennis Nets Pair of Wins

By Doug Ford
G-V Staff Writer
The Comets girls tennis team improved its season record to 5-1 with wins at Franklin County on Monday and at home against Prince Edward County last Friday.
In the Franklin County match, the Comets and Eagles were tied 3-3 after singles, but Halifax swept all three doubles matches.
The Friday win against Prince Edward was the second for Halifax this year over the Eagles, the Comets having defeated them 5-4 earlier in the season.
Halifax County Overcomes Franklin County
Shanna Luck, Seanna Bradley and Jessica Palmer won at numbers one, three and six singles, and Luck/Teylor Edmonds, Lauren Tetterton/Fallon Farmer and Blair Jeffress/Carlene Link all won in doubles to clinch the match win over Franklin County.
Comets coach Greg Donner saw several good performances from his team in the win.
“Lauren and Fallon dropped the first seven games of the match, but were able to come back and win the second set and then the tie-breaker,” said Donner.
“It showed great focus not to get down after dropping the first set. They never lost their direction and were able to pull out a great win.
“Carlene and Blair continued to win, which I think is great for two players with no experience before this season started, and Jessica Palmer also won her singles match, and all three are becoming important members of our lineup.
“Seanna Bradley played her best match of the year and gave her all to get our last singles win, pulling out the win in a tie-break that went back and forth.
“Shanna and Teylor continued their unbeaten streak in doubles, and with two district wins should be considered the team to beat in district play.”
Halifax County 6 Franklin County 3
Singles Results
1. Shanna Luck (H) defeated Kore Scott (F) 6-2, 7-5
2. Kristin Bowling (F) defeated Teylor Edmonds (H) 6-0, 6-0
3. Seanna Bradley (H) defeated Carrie Hughes (F) 7-5, 0-6, (11-9)
4. Jamie Venning (F) defeated Lauren Tetterton (H) 6-2, 6-0
5. Alexander Croken (F) defeated Fallon Farmer (H) 6-2, 6-1
6. Jessica Palmer (H) defeated Jessica Corn (F) 6-3, 6-4
Doubles Results
1. Luck/Edmonds (H) defeated Scott/Bowling (F) 7-5, 6-2
2. Tetterton/Farmer (H) defeated Croken/Venning (F) 0-6, 6-4, (12-10)
3. Jeffress/Link (H) defeated Corn/Logan Trout (F) 6-3, 6-1
Halifax County Defeats Prince Edward County
Luck, Edmonds, Bradley and Palmer won at numbers one, two, three and five singles, and Luck/Edmonds, Jeffress/Link and Tetterton/Bradley swept all three doubles matches to defeat Prince Edward.
Although short-handed with the absence of Farmer, the Comets stepped up in a big way, according to Donner.
“Jessica Palmer moved up to number five singles and scored an easy win, and Blair Jeffress, playing her first-ever singles match, pushed her opponent to the maximum number of games,” he said.
“Shanna and Teylor won at number one doubles and also looked strong in their singles matches, added Donner, pointing out the improvements made since the teams’ first meeting.
“We were much more in control of our matches than we were then, and even short-handed we were able to score three doubles wins,” said Donner.
“Blair and Carlene dropped a very close match the last time we played, but this time they moved up to number two doubles and were able to dominate, so that shows a lot of progress in a short period of time.”
Halifax County 7 Prince Edward County 2
Singles Results
1. Shanna Luck (H) defeated Kiera Hartsell (P) 8-2
2. Teylor Edmonds (H) defeated Caitlin Abrahms (P) 8-3
3. Seanna Bradley (H) defeated Lucy Hargrave (P) 8-2
4. Stacis Mahar (P) defeated Lauren Tetterton (H) 8-0
5. Jessica Palmer (H) defeated Briston Cook (P) 8-2
6. Rashara Couch (P) defeated Blair Jeffress (H) 8-6
Doubles Results
1. Luck/Edmonds (H) defeated Hartsell/Hargrave (P) 8-3
2. Jeffress/Link (H) defeated Abrahms/Maria Monk (P) 8-4
3. Tetterton/Bradley (H) defeated Cook/Couch (P) 8-2