Fire Destroys Clarkton Road Home Wednesday

Firefighters from five fire departments fought a house fire in the northern part of the county for approximately two and a half hours Wednesday night, fire officials said.
Chief Danny Bomar of the Triangle Fire Department said his department was called to the residence of Wayne Hailey at 5115 Clarkton Road just before 9:30 p.m. for a report of a house fire.
Bomar said the first firefighters on the scene reported fire showing from the front of the two-story wood frame structure and smoke billowing from all windows.
In addition to Triangle, units from Liberty, Clover, North Halifax and Brookneal fire departments responded to battle the blaze.
Bomar said it appeared that the fire started in the front part of the residence, but the exact cause has not been determined. He said the fire gutted the inside of the structure, resulting in what Bomar called “pretty much a total loss.”
Triangle responded with four trucks, Liberty responded with two, Clover brought one, North Halifax brought two, and Brookneal responded with two, Bomar said.
Firefighters remained on the scene until just before midnight, according to Bomar. He said the investigation into the cause of the fire is continuing.
The fire rekindled Thursday morning causing the Triangle Fire Department to return to the site to extinguish it, fire officials said.
Wednesday night’s fire is the 27th fire in the general area of Clarkton Road over the past few years, Bomar said.

IDA To Meet For First Time Since Eades Resignation

Members of the Halifax County Industrial Development Authority (IDA) are scheduled to hear an update on the Modeling and Simulation Center of Excellence this morning when they meet for the first time since the resignation of Executive Director Mike Eades.
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 approve an RFP for the construction of up-fits to the Riverstone Technology Building for the Modeling and Simulation Center of Excellence along with a loan application to Lake Country Development Corporation.
IDA members last month approved entering into a design/build contract for up-fits for the Modeling and Simulation Center of Excellence at Riverstone contracting with Blankenship and Associates to do the design/build request for proposals as well as oversee construction of the project.
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.
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.
Eades estimated it would cost approximately $400,000 to up-fit the downstairs space.
During last month’s meeting, IDA members agreed to submit a loan application for $400,000 to Lake Country Development Corporation to fund the up-fit of the M and S Center of Excellence downstairs space at Riverstone.
At the same time, IDA members requested the board of supervisors provide a moral obligation for debt service on the $400,000 15-year amoritization loan as well as pay interest on the debt service for the first 18-months.
Supervisors delayed taking action on the moral obligation request at their Monday night meeting this week with plans to address the issue at their April 21 joint meeting with the towns of South Boston and Halifax.
According to today’s agenda, IDA members are slated to be updated on the loan application to Lake Country Development Corporation this morning.
Also during its meeting today, the IDA board is expected to receive updates on the ABB expansion and demolition of the Georgia Pacific building and its appraisal.
Other items on the agenda include notification of the Virginia Department of Transportation’s (VDOT’s) acceptance of the IDA’s counter offer of $14,000 to purchase the remaining abandoned Sandy Beach Road right-of-way at Riverstone Technology Park.
The Commonwealth Transportation Board approved the sale to the IDA asking $15,600 for the .52 acres running northwest from the entrance to Riverstone to the new right-of-way of Sandy Beach Road.
However, VDOT right-of-way staff has the leeway to approve counter offers of 90 percent of the asking price, so IDA members have offered $14,000, 89.7 percent of the asking price.
The Tobacco Commission currently holds $27,500 in unspent funds from the original Riverstone Park grant and has granted the IDA permission to use these funds to acquire the right-of-way, develop the summary plat, publish and file the covenants and restrictions and other related matters.
However, these funds must be spent by June 30 or the IDA will lose the allocation, according to the former executive director.
Also included on the agenda for this morning is an update on AVID LLC’s lease.
Earlier this month, the aircraft design consulting and software design company announced its intentions to locate in the Riverstone Technology Building with plans to occupy 773 square feet of upstairs office space.
Halifax County native Sam B. Wilson III, AVID president and chief visionary officer, plans to locate his regional office at Riverstone, initially employing four people with plans for future expansion.
Eades said earlier this month AVID has agreed to pay $14 per square feet for an annual lease of $10,822 annually.
Headquartered in Yorktown with a research center located in Blacksburg, AVID specializes in aircraft design consulting, creation, dissemination and maintenance of open-source aircraft analysis and design software.
AVID provides design and software support for U.S. Government agencies and aerospace companies – both military and commercial sectors.
Following the meeting this morning, IDA members are expected to tour the ABB expansion facility.

Trustees Face Additional Budget Work Sessions

The Halifax County School Board will consider scheduling more budget work sessions when it meets Monday for its regular monthly meeting.
The additional work sessions are necessitated by the board of supervisors’ cutting the amount of local money requested by the school board.
The trustees had requested a total budget amount of $66.4 million, which included $2.6 million more in local funding over the current budgeted amount.
But the final county budget approved by the supervisors Monday night contains $343,000 in additional local funds for the county’s schools, considerably less than the $2.6 million increase in local funding sought by the school board.
The total amount of local funding for next year approved by the supervisors is $13.6 million, a cut of $2.3 million from the $15.9 million originally requested by the school board.
Superintendent Paul Stapleton said the school board will be looking at a minimum of two work sessions. “The first probably will be more informational,” he said. “The board will look at what was approved, give us instructions and then come back for another session.”
Stapleton said they will look at a number of non-mandated items and things not directly related to classroom instruction.
Bill Covington, school system finance director, said the school board will have a number of options to consider when making the final adjustment to its budget.
“There are only so many things that are not personnel,” Covington said. “Cutting that many dollars will require looking at salaries, benefits and actual positions that may be eliminated or reduced.”
“We may have to look at cutting several positions, not just one or two, but several,” Stapleton said. “We’ll look first at attrition, how many retirements and resignations we have, but then we may be forced to consider reduction in force.”
Transportation is a large factor in the school system’s budget, according to Stapleton. “We’re a large county,” he said. “Transportation is a major issue.”
The school system was looking at purchasing 10 new buses next school year, but County Administrator Bryan Foster had suggested leasing. “We’re looking at a lease/purchase plan for our buses rather than purchasing them outright,” Stapleton said. “There’s no way we can buy buses at this point.”
There was some concern that cuts to the budget may doom the proposed required personal finance class, but Stapleton said the class is not dead yet. “We may have to implement the course in phases,” he said. “The board will have to decide if the priority is to offer the course this year to ninth graders or let them begin it as 10th graders.”
The superintendent said the finance course carrying college-level credit would continue to be offered as an elective as in the past.
The school board will set its budget work sessions during Monday night’s meeting.
“There’s no easy solution,” said Stapleton. “We have some tough circumstances to work out.”

Obituaries

Rev. George Lee Compton
Rev. George Lee Compton, 80, of 184 Buffalo Road, Clarksville died April 8, 2008 at Meadowview Terrace in Clarksville.
Rev. Compton was born June 6, 1927, in Halifax County the son of the late John Henry Compton and the late Macey Bray Compton, and was married to the late Frances Vaden Compton. He was a member of Centerville Baptist Church and was a retired Baptist minister.
His survivors include three brothers, John Henry Compton of Henderson, N.C., Clarence Compton of Salisbury, N.C. and Frank Compton of Mexia, Texas; and one sister, Lillie Mae Atallah of Belton, Texas.
Two brothers, Robert T. and James Lewis Compton; and one sister, Mary Frances Compton, also preceded Rev. Compton in death.
The family will receive friends at Brooks Funeral Home tomorrow, April 12, from 1 to 2 p.m. The services will begin at 2 p.m. with the Revs. Bill Wingard and Bill Winstead officiating. Burial will follow in Oak Ridge Cemetery.
Online condolences may be sent to brooksfh@embarqmail.com

Joe Monroe Davis
Joe Monroe Davis, 76, of 10037 Mountain Road, Vernon Hill died April 9, 2008, at his home.
Mr. Davis was born September 14, 1931, in Halifax County to the late Shob Albert Davis and the late Sue Thaxton Davis, and was married to the late Norma Eubank Davis. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Maysville, N.C. and Woodmen of the World Camp 106, and was a retired contractor.
Survivors include three sons, Walter Monroe Davis and wife, Terri, of Chesterfield, Gregory J. Davis and wife, Sandra, of Alton, and Forrest Craig Davis and wife, Cindy, of Vernon Hill; two daughters, Rhonda Jill Davis and Becky Sue Davis, both of South Boston; one brother, Robert L. Davis and wife, Shirley, of Madison Heights, Mich.; 10 grandchildren; and three great-grandchildren.
One sister, Margaret D. Adkins, also preceded Mr. Davis in death.
The family will receive friends this evening, April 11, from 7:00 to 8:30, at Brooks Funeral Home, and tomorrow, April 12, at the home of Forrest and Cindy Davis, 10013 Mountain Road, Vernon Hill.
Graveside services for Mr. Davis will held April 13, at 3 p.m. at Oak Ridge Cemetery. Pastor Brad Adkins will officiate.
Online condolences may be sent to brooksfh@embarqmail.com

Edna Henry Drumwright
Edna Henry Drumwright, 87, of 2001 College Street, South Boston died April 6, 2008, at Berry Hill Nursing Home.
Mrs. Drumwright was born in Pittsylvania County on March 6, 1921, the daughter of the late Julius Henry and Lucy Anne Wilson Henry, and was married to the late Ivance Drumwright. She was a member of Ebenezer CME Church.
Survivors include two sons, Albert Drumwright of Clarksville and Larry Drumwright of South Boston; one sister, Sarah Edmondson of Danville; two grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; one daughter-in-law, Phyllis Drumwright; and a devoted friend, Virginia Williams.
One sister, Lucille Bullock; and four brothers, Pat, Leslie, Conway and Woodrow Henry, also preceded Mrs. Drumwright in death.
Funeral services will be held tomorrow, April 12, at noon at the Crawford House Chapel in Halifax. Burial will follow in Oak Ridge Cemetery.
Viewing for family and friends will be at Jeffress Funeral Home in South Boston today, April 11, from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
The family is receiving friends at the home.

Harry Hazelwood Jr.
Harry Hazelwood Jr., 71, of Amherst, formerly of Chase City, died April 8, 2008.
Mr. Hazelwood was the son of the late Roller and Gracie Hazelwood. He was a retired employee of D.B.L. Construction.
Survivors include his brothers, Joe Hazelwood of Clover, Mac Hazelwood of Kenbridge, Hampton Hazelwood of Scottsburg, Bradley and Jackie Hazelwood of Red Oak, Victor Hazelwood of Skipwith and Glen Hazelwood of Chase City; his sisters, Rachel Higgins of Red Oak, Nellie Snead of Scottsburg, Doris Hazelwood of Boydton, and Carolyn Wright of Red Oak; devoted friends and caregivers, Johnny Mason and Karen Allen.
Three brothers, Isaac and Jessie Hazelwood and Ricky Clay; and a devoted friend, Eva Mason, also preceded Mr. Hazelwood in death.
The family will receive friends this evening, April 11, from 7:00 to 8:30, at Wood Funeral Service in Chase City.
Services will be private.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Hospice of the Hills, 3300 Rivermont Avenue, Lynchburg, 24503.
Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.woodfuneralservice.com

William Willie Jones
William Willie Jones, 82, of Nathalie died April 8, 2008, in South Boston.
Mr. Jones was born in Pittsylvania County on August 9, 1925, the son of the late Nelson Jones and Georgianna Terry Jones.
Survivors include four daughters, Pastor Joyce Young and Vivian Hubbard, both of Nathalie, Gwendolyn Waller and Carolyn Wade, both of Lynchburg; one son, Roosevelt Jones of Nathalie; and one sister, Lucy Walker of Baltimore, Md.
Funeral services for Mr. Jones will be held tomorrow, April 12, at 11 a.m. at the Chapel of Jeffress Funeral Home and Cremation Service in Brookneal. Burial will follow in the Barbour-Tune Cemetery in Nathalie.
Condolences may be emailed to Jeffressfh@aol.com.

Sports Hall Of Fame Inductions Saturday

By Joe Chandler
Sports Editor
Four individuals, the late Hubert A. “Dude” Austin, Lawrence Carter, Robert “Frosty” Owens and Dr. Jim Priest, will be inducted into the Halifax County-South Boston Sports Hall Of Fame Saturday night during the 20th annual Sports Hall Of Fame Induction Banquet.
The event will be held at the Halifax County Middle School cafeteria at 6:30 p.m..
Advance tickets are $20. Tickets at the door will be $25.
Tickets are available at True Value Hardware and Electric Service Company in South Boston, at Halifax Pharmacy in Centerville and at Velro Christian Book Store in Halifax. Tickets may also be obtained from any board member.
Austin grew up in the Mt. Laurel area and was a baseball and basketball player at Clover High School. He was heavily involved in the Brookneal Dixie Youth Baseball program. He was elected to serve as a national director for Dixie Youth Baseball and served as a national director for 16 years.
Carter was an outstanding basketball player at Halifax County High School and was a member of the 1972 and 1973 Comets basketball teams that made it to the Group AAA state Final Four, one time making it to the state championship game. He also was a star player at Lees-McRae Junior College and Belmont-Abbey College.
The Halifax County native has remained active in basketball, having conducted youth basketball camps for the Lincoln County, N.C. Recreation Department for 20 years and having officiated youth, high school and college basketball for many years.
Owens, a South Boston native, was a four-sport athlete at Halifax County High School, excelling in football, basketball, baseball and track and field. He had a stellar football career at Hampden-Sydney College where he was a four-year letterman.
He returned to coach at Halifax County High School in 1978. Owens’ Comets varsity baseball teams won five Western District championships and won the Group AAA state title in 1984.
Priest played sports in Scottsburg as a youth, playing Dixie Youth Baseball, midget football and midget basketball. He went on to play football, basketball and baseball at Halifax County High School.
After returning to Halifax County in 1980, he became involved in youth sports programs, coaching babe Ruth, Tee Ball, and American Legion baseball.
In addition, Priest served as president of the Halifax County Dixie Youth Baseball League in 1994 and 1995. He has also served as an assistant baseball coach at Halifax County Middle School and continues to do.

Comets Look To Rebound

By Joe Chandler
Sports Editor
After having dropped its home Western Valley District opener to Franklin County at home Tuesday night, the Halifax County High School varsity baseball team is hoping to even up its district record tonight.
The Comets (4-3 overall, 0-1 district) will host William Fleming today at 5 p.m. to complete the opening week of Western Valley District baseball action, seeking a win to even up its district slate.
The Comets had a stressful time over the course of the past week with players, coaches and the community mourning the loss of hurler Tyler Hunt who was killed in an April 3 auto crash.
The Comets, who had dedicated the season to Hunt and his family, saw their bid to get on top of the district standings foiled in a 6-4 loss to Franklin County.
“The guys are really upset,” Comets head coach Kelvin Davis said after the loss.
“They wanted to win this game for Tyler and Tyler’s family. There is nothing we can do to get this back. It’s done. What we have to do now is concentrate on the rest of this season. We’ve got to play hard and try to win the rest of them.”
Davis said he is confident that his team can rebound.
“We can come back,” Davis said.
“We’ve got our spirit back. We’ve accepted what happened and are at peace in our minds with the loss of Tyler. It was very hard. These guys are fighters. They’re troopers. We’ll be back.”
A muffed play of a ground ball at third base to start the game put the Comets in an early bind. They worked themselves out of trouble and proceeded to take a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the first inning.
Michael Ferrell led off with a double, moved to third base on a single by Daniel Wilborn and scored when Justin Bagbey reached base on an error to put the Comets up.
Franklin County countered with three runs in the bottom of the second inning as Comets hurler Kyle Long struggled on the mound.
The Eagles’ Taylor Jones led off with a single, Jonathan France was struck by a pitch, and Long walked Zach Mabry and Ben Adkins in succession to force in the game-tying run.
Long fanned Seth Hammock, but the Eagles’ Tyler Brubaker punched a two-RBI single to put Franklin County up 3-1.
Halifax County picked up a run in the bottom of the fourth inning with a leadoff double by Long and a two-out single by Ferrell that plated Long’s pinch-runner, Bill Wooding.
Leading 3-2, Franklin County added a run in the top of the fifth inning with a two-out double from hurler Ryan Ward that was backed up by a single from Jones that scored Ward.
Two walks by Long with one out in the top of the sixth inning opened the door for Franklin County to add to its lead. With Adkins and Hammock on base, Brubaker reached base on a fielder’s choice that allowed Adkins to score. Nick Colliver followed with a single that scored Brubaker and put the Eagles up 6-2.
The Comets, with a single from Long and two struck batters by Ward, loaded the sacks in the bottom of the sixth inning. Long and Josh Williams scored when Bagbey reached base on an error to bring the Comets to within two runs at 6-4.
That, however, was as close as the Comets would get.
The Comets had seven hits in the game with Long leading the way with three hits. Ferrell had two hits and Wilborn and Bagbey had one hit each.
Franklin County had six hits with Jones getting half of them. Brubaker, Colliver and Ward had one hit each.

Lady Comets Get Big District Win At FC

By Doug Ford
G-V Staff Writer
Paige Rickman hurled a complete game two-hitter and slugged a solo home run, and Lauren Daniel went two-for-three with a run scored, as the Comets varsity softball team shut out Franklin County 2-0 Tuesday in Rocky Mount.
The key road win came in the Comets’ Western Valley District opener against a team that has battled Halifax County tooth and nail for district supremacy the last several years.
“The girls put their heart into it,” said Comets coach Melanie Saunders.
“It’s always hard to win at Franklin County, and they said they wanted this game for Tyler [Hunt], as is every other game Comets teams are playing.”
Rickman’s shot in the fourth inning gave the Comets a 1-0 lead and Daniel’s second hit of the contest, a one-out triple in the sixth, set the stage for an RBI groundout by Amber Bowman to give Halifax a two-run advantage.
That was enough for Rickman, who allowed two hits, a first-inning double by Jenny Law and seventh inning single by Kristen Montgomery, while striking out three batters and walking none.
She and the Comets defense retired 19 batters in a row following Law’s double in the first inning.
The Comets got only three hits off Franklin County pitcher Jessica Brown, Rickman’s home run and a double and triple by Daniel, the double coming in the fourth inning immediately following Rickman’s homer.
The Comets had base runners in the first and third innings but did not score until Rickman’s blast.
Stephanie Clark was hit by a pitch and got as far as second after an Ally Thompson sacrifice in the first, and Lyndsay Lawter and Thompson each drew a walk in the third.
Daniel doubled after Rickman’s home run but was stranded at second, and Clark got as far as third after a walk and passed ball in the fifth.
Betty Rose drew a walk in the fifth and Clark another walk in the seventh, with Rose getting as far as second base.
Saunders said that the Comets’ defense held a solid Franklin County lineup at bay until the offense could produce the runs it needed to win the game.
“Our bats were slow to begin with, but we played a heck of a game defensively,” noted Saunders.
“They’ve got some good hitters, but Paige pitched well and kept them off balance.
“Both pitchers were working well and keeping everyone off balance, but we finally got that solo home run to get us started and get our confidence going.”
Saunders noted the importance of getting off to a good start in district play and didn’t downplay the importance of the win at Franklin County,
However, she emphasized that many games remain to be played and this was just the first of many key district contests.
“We’re right where we need to be starting district play,” she noted.
“To pick up a win at Franklin County is big, but every team in the district is going to continue to get better with every practice and every game, so we’ve got to do the same thing.
“We can’t stop, we can’t be done and we’ve got to keep getting better, because we’re going to see them again and the other teams in the district will be ready to come after us.”