Wednesday, April 19, 2006

Supes Considering Tax Break For Farmers

Would Make Farm Equipment Tax Exempt

The Board of Supervisors is considering exempting farm equipment from personal property taxes.
During Monday’s budget work session, following a reconvened Board meeting, Supervisor James Edmunds said that due to a change in the way vehicles are assessed, next year’s proposed property tax rate would mean an additional 80 cents per $100 on all farm equipment.
“If you have a car, you pay the same. If you have a tractor, you pay more,” he said.
Currently, the personal property tax rate is $2.50, but County Administrator Bryan Foster noted that a change in the way motor vehicles are assessed – for the first time at loan value rather than retail value – resulted in a $3.30 rate because the change in assessment methods must be revenue neutral.
“The taxpayer paying taxes on a vehicle will pay essentially the amount they’re paying now,” he said yesterday. “But on farm equipment, the assessment method isn’t changing. If we alter the rate, it’s an effective increase on farm equipment but not on vehicles.”
“That’s going to directly impact the farm community as an extra burden,” Finance Committee Chairman Doug Bowman said during Monday’s meeting. “In my opinion, we need to eliminate that (farm machinery) from personal property taxes altogether.
“Rural property owners are paying a higher burden on real estate based on the last two assessments and this would be one way to eliminate some burden from the agricultural community.”
At the current $2.50 tax rate, $8,462,800 in assessed farm equipment results in $211,570 in revenue. At $3.30, $279,272 would be generated.
Foster told the Board that eliminating farm vehicles would result in a deficit of just under $280,000 that would need to be closed.
“We can do that by generating new revenue, lowering expenses or a combination of the two,” he said.
Supervisors are considering a proposed $129,785,741 fiscal budget for 2007, the largest operating budget in county history, Foster said.
Last year’s total budget was $96,616,342.
The proposed budget reflects a decrease in the real estate tax rate, to 37 cents per $100 from the current rate of 41 cents per $100 due to last year’s reassessment, but increases the real estate tax by six cents to cover debt service on a $60 million school construction project.
By law, the county cannot generate additional money due to an increase in the assessed value of property and real estate.
If approved, the county’s adjusted tax rate will be 43 cents per $100.
At existing rates, the current property tax assessment will result in $20,772,040 generated for the county.
Based on next year’s assessment levels, one cent of tax rate generates the following:
• Real estate - $327,643.
• Personal Property - $20,654.
• Machinery and tools - $12,728.
For next year’s budget, the school system is requesting an additional $854,177 in operating funds from the county, an increase of $6.9 percent from last year’s allocation.
But the proposed budget supervisors are considering cuts the schools’ request by $271,000, Foster told the Board Monday.
Facing skyrocketing personnel costs due to a 24 percent increase in health insurance and a 33 percent increase in the county’s investment in its retirement plan, supervisors said additional cuts could be made to the school request.
School Superintendent Paul Stapleton asked the Board to give the School Board the amount that needs to be cut and leave it up to school officials to determine where the cuts will be made.
“It’s a matter of going in there and looking at the budget and deciding what cuts will least affect the students,” he said.
One person spoke in opposition to the proposed school budget during a public hearing Monday.
Cody resident Bernard Metzger said the Board is spending money on the backs of the agricultural community.
“I realize you have to spend a lot of money, but I think you need to tighten your belts,” he said. “Us farmers can’t keep carrying the community.”
Supervisors are expected to adopt the school budget during their May 1 meeting.
Appointments
During Monday’s meeting, supervisors appointed Supervisor Wayne Conner, Board Chairman William Fitzgerald and citizen-at-large members Garland Ricketts and Roger Ford to the Southside Planning District Commission.

Breaking Ground, Building The Future

Officials Celebrate Construction Of New Elementary Schools

Monday’s groundbreakings in South Boston and Cluster Springs celebrating the construction of the two new elementary schools marked the culmination of a long effort to upgrade schools in two communities.
Guest speaker Dietra Y. Trent, a Halifax County native and Deputy Secretary of Education for the Commonwealth of Virginia, said Governor Tim Kaine extends his best wishes and reiterated education as the number one priority.
“I’m excited to be home where I was taught a strong sense of purpose,” Trent said at the South Boston groundbreaking. “I wouldn’t be where I am now if not for the education I received in Halifax County Public Schools.
“We’re celebrating the breathing of new life into the community as it enters a new phase of growth and expansion,” she added. “I’m looking forward to coming back for the ribbon cuttings.”
Local officials also said that the two new schools marked a major turning point in the county’s educational system and would be a key selling point to businesses looking to locate in the county and Town of South Boston.
“Education is the key to economic development and now we have something for (Halifax County IDA Director) Mike Eades to show prospective businesses,” South Boston Mayor Carroll Thackston said.
Eades agreed that the new schools would be an asset to the county’s economic development efforts.
“Companies and businesses invest in communities which invest in themselves,” Eades said.
Board of Supervisors Chairman William Fitzgerald commended the Board for its efforts in helping to accomplish financing for both elementary schools and thanked the public for its support.
School Board Chairman D.H. “Mac” McDowell thanked Fitzgerald and the Supervisors for their support in making the new schools a reality.
The new 91,000-square-foot elementary school in South Boston will replace C.H. Friend Elementary and Washington-Coleman Elementary and will house approximately 850 students.
The new 80,850-square-foot elementary school in Cluster Springs will replace Cluster Springs Elementary and South of Dan Elementary and will house approximately 650 students.
Classes are expected to begin at the new schools for the 2007-2008 school year.

 

South Boston’s Proposed Budget Carries Real Estate, Personal Property Tax Hikes

Councilmen reviewed staff’s proposed $16,821,l75 budget for FY2006-2007 during its first budget work session Monday night, a budget reflecting real estate and personal property tax rate hikes.
The proposed budget carries a real estate tax increase of two cents, from 19 cents per assessed $100 to 21 cents per assessed $100.
The personal property tax would increase from $1.46 per assessed $100 to $2 per assessed $100.
Increases in sewer rate are two percent with fixed rate (to seven cents) and volume rate (10 cents).
Increases reflected in the water rate include two percent in fixed rate and volume rate, at seven cents and 10 cents respectively.
For example, the two percent rate increase will mean an increase of $1.47 per billing period for in-town customers and $2.09 per billing period for out-of-town customers based on using 3,000 gallons of water and sewer service, explained Town Manager Ted Daniel.
Also proposed, the annual solid waste container rental fee increases from $300 to $400.
A proposed two percent cost of living adjustment for employees is proposed.
The water/sewer fund proposed is $4,413,893, up from last year’s
$2,905,080.
The FY 06-07 recommended general fund budget is $12,258,264, which is $3,849,304 more than last year’s $8,408,960.
The general fund total operating budget reflects growth of 46 percent due to capital borrowing and financing, explained Daniel.
Addressing debt service, Daniel noted an August $1.5 million loan due that the town took for cash flow purposes until taxes were paid into the treasury.
Also, a bond anticipation note for approximately $3 million is due in June. Of these funds, $1.6 million went to the general fund and included county and town funds to The Prizery, according to Daniel. About $1.4 million went to water/sewer.
The general fund budget growth less capital projects and debt service is 3.5 percent, according to the town manager.
The water and sewer fund total operation budget growth is 52 percent. Less capital projects and debt service, it is .02 percent.
“People are half of our expense,” Daniel observed.
And escalating medical costs – up 22 percent this year – are a factor. The town currently pays 90 percent of the individual’s premium coverage, according to staff.
The single rate (insurance) was estimated at $440 per month by Town Clerk Jane Jones.
Councilmen have scheduled a Monday, April 24, budget work session.
Additional meetings are scheduled May 8, May 22 and June 12. During the May 8 meeting, Council is expected to hold the first public hearing on any proposed real estate tax increase, as well as adopt the proposed Capital Improvements Plan budget.
On May 22, Council has scheduled a work session, which will include a public hearing on the FY 2006-2007 budget: adoption on first reading; appropriation resolution; fee and tax list.
The adoption of the budget on second reading is anticipated June 12.
During the Monday night review of the budget, Councilman Glen Abernathy suggested that with rising fuel costs Council might “possibly look at an overall fuel contingency” for the budget.
In a review with department heads, Council learned the town’s recreation department is running seven leagues – serving 603 people - out of the South Boston Recreation Center. Recreation’s director, Matthew McCargo, noted the department also serves a senior exercise group of approximately 60 participants on Monday, Wednesday and Friday. “This activity is one of our biggest and most appreciated programs,” said McCargo.
However, the recreation director also noted: “We have completely outgrown that building.” He said that he couldn’t offer leagues to some who want it because there is no space.
In other business, with the retirement of town attorney Chandler Nelson, Daniel said it would be necessary for the town to issue an RFP (request for proposal) for the position.
During the Monday night work session, Town Planner Lee Pambid told councilmen his department needs new equipment to reproduce maps.

Rolex Series Coming To VIR This Weekend

The Country’s Top Road Racing Teams And Drivers Will Converge On VIR This Weekend For The VIR 400

One of the world’s fastest-growing and most competitive professional road racing series will be strutting its stuff on the beautiful 3.27-mile VIRginia International Raceway circuit this weekend, when the Grand American Road Racing Association’s Rolex Sports Car Series presented by Crown Royal Special Reserve arrives for the VIR 400.
Grand American revolutionized professional sports car racing in America with its Daytona Prototype concept in 2003, creating a class of exotic prototype racers with strict specifications designed to contain costs and equalize competition.
The result has been unprecedented growth and remarkably close racing. The class has grown from seven entries in the 2003 VIR 400 to 26 cars entered this weekend, and has attracted some prestigious manufacturers as engine suppliers, including Porsche, BMW, Lexus, Ford and Pontiac.
Accompanying the Daytona Prototypes in the VIR 400 will be the equally successful GT class, featuring tube-frame coupes and sedans based on familiar road-going vehicles. A field of 21 GT cars is entered, including such familiar nameplates as Pontiac GTO, Porsche 911, Mazda RX-8, BMW M3 and Chevrolet Corvette.
The VIR 400 will be the fifth of 15 rounds for the Daytona Prototypes, and the fourth of 15 for the GT class. The series opened at Daytona International Speedway in late January for the legendary Rolex 24 at Daytona, won by NASCAR Nextel Cup standout Casey Mears, former IRL champion Scott Dixon and defending IRL champion and Indy 500 winner Dan Wheldon in a Target Lexus/Riley fielded by Chip Ganassi Racing with Felix Sabates.
The series moved on to Mexico City in early March, where former series co-champ Scott Pruett and hometown favorite Luis Diaz scored an extremely popular victory in a sister Ganassi Racing Lexus/Riley sponsored by Telmex.
In late March the series returned to Florida, where a shootout under the lights at Homestead-Miami Speedway was settled in favor of the new Alex Job Racing Porsche/Crawford co-driven by Patrick Long and Mike Rockenfeller.
The most recent race was two weeks ago at the prestigious Grand Prix of Long Beach, a stand-alone event for the Daytona Prototype that saw Pruett and Diaz hold off Long and Rockenfeller for their second win of the season.
In the GT class, the TPC Racing Porsche GT3 Cup of Randy Pobst/Michael Levitas/Ian Baas/Spencer Pumpelly won the season opener at Daytona, but since then everything has gone the way of the factory-entered Pontiac GTO.R of Kelly Collins and Paul Edwards, who won at both Mexico City and Homestead.
The Rolex Series will be joined over the weekend by the popular Grand-Am Cup Series for modified street-stock vehicles and the Skip Barber National Championship presented by RACER magazine, one of America’s most renowned training series for aspiring open-wheel racers.
On-track action will begin on Friday at 8 a.m. Friday’s schedule includes practice for all three series, plus a qualifying race for the Skip Barber National Championship.
Saturday’s schedule includes qualifying and the VIR 200 race for Grand-Am Cup, practice and two points-paying qualifying races for the Rolex Series and the first of two races for the Skip Barber National Championship.
Sunday’s schedule includes the second Skip Barber National Championship race and the Rolex Series’ VIR 400, which is scheduled to take the green flag at 1:00 pm.
This year’s VIR 400 features a new date, as the event has moved from its traditional October weekend. The benefit to fans and racers alike is that spring is in full blossom in Southside Virginia, and it is the most beautiful time of the year to enjoy VIR’s park-like grounds.
“We’ve been waiting all winter for this weekend,” said VIR co-owner Connie Nyholm. “The Rolex Series keeps getting better and better, and this competition this year has been fierce. VIR is the first true road-racing circuit on their schedule, and we’re expecting the best race of the year. To have the VIR 400 in April, with spring busting out all over, is like icing on the cake. It’s going to be a great weekend, and we can’t wait to get it started!”
Three-day Super Tickets for the VIR 400 weekend will be available at the gate, priced at $60. Also, single-day tickets will be available for Friday ($15), Saturday ($25) and Sunday ($50). VIR is a family-friendly facility, where children 12 and under are admitted free with a paying adult. Spectator camping is available. Call 434-822-7700, ext. 116 or 300 for advance ticket sales.

 

ACC Seniors Hoops Challenge Set Friday

North Carolina’s David Noel And Duke’s Sean Dockery Are Among The Top ACC Basketball Stars That Will Play Here Friday Night At HCHS

A handful of the top senior Atlantic Coast Conference basketball standouts will be here Friday night to play in the ACC Seniors All-Star Celebrity Challenge basketball game.
Friday night’s game, a fund-raising event to benefit the athletic departments at Halifax County Middle School and Halifax County High School, will be played at 7:30 p.m. at the Halifax County High School gym.
Tickets are priced at $8 each in advance and $10 each at the door. Children ages two and under will be admitted free.
Advance tickets are available at Halifax County Middle School, Halifax County High School, Greased Lightning, Italian Delight, Vintner’s Cellar, Halifax Exxon and Coldwell Banker Realty.
The roster of ACC basketball stars is headlined by University of North Carolina standout David Noel, Duke University co-captain Sean Dockery, and Wake Forest star Justin Gray.
Participants also include Duke’s Lee Melchionni who was a senior co-captain of the Blue Devils and University of North Carolina player Byron Sanders who was a member of the Tar Heels team that
The list of players confirmed for the event also includes University of Virginia player Billy Campbell who was a senior co-captain of the Cavaliers team this past season and Clemson University star Shawan Robinson who was the leading scorer for Clemson this past season.
Three players from the North Carolina State team, Ilian Evtimov, Tony Bethal and Cameron Bennerman are also on the list of players scheduled to be here. Evtimov and Bethal were co-captains of the Wolfpack basketball team this past season and Bennerman was an All-ACC pick this past season.
Rounding out the list of players confirmed for the game is Maryland’s Travis Garrison, who was an All-ACC pick this past season.
Officials of Chase Media, the agency assisting with staging the game, have noted that there may be additions or subtractions to the ACC player roster based upon player scheduling.

 

Comets Track Teams Have Off Day At Meet

Girls 12th, Boys 16th At Appomattox Invitational

The Comets girls and boys track teams didn’t have their best meets Saturday at the Appomattox Invitational, the Comets girls finishing midway through a field of 24 teams with 16.33 points.
The Comets boys track team was 16th out of 28 teams, finishing with 10 points for the meet, despite a win by David Anderson in the triple jump.
Marteia Ferrell had the best individual finish for the Comets girls, a tie for second in the triple jump.
Comets Girls Results
Ferrell tied for second in the triple jump at 33 feet, seven inches and was 11th in the long jump at 15’-.5”, while Shaday Coleman was fourth in the 100-meter hurdles in 17.28 seconds.
Juanita Kincy was seventh in the 100-meter dash in 13.31 seconds, and tied for fourth in the high jump at 4 feet, 10 inches, while Cherena Canada finished 20th in the 100-meter hurdles in 20.91 seconds and 21st in the 300-meter hurdles in 57.27.
LaDonna Canada finished sixth in the shot put at 34’-5”, and Brittany Gayles was 16th in the same event with a toss of 31’-2”.
Jasmine Pointer was 16th in the 300-meter hurdles at 56’-5” and 20th in the 400-meter run in 1:10.35.
Tyesha Brooks was 19th in the 400 meters in 1:09.32, while Markeshia Coleman was 19th in the discus throw at 73’-6”. Whitney Stanfield was 21st in the same event with a toss of 72’-5”.
Brittany Foster was 25th in the 100 meters with a time of 14.24 seconds, while the Halifax “A” 4x100-meter relay team finished fifth with a time of 52.10 seconds.
Comets Boys Results
David Anderson recorded the only win for the Comets at the Appomattox Invitational, winning the triple jump at 45’-9.25”, while also finishing seventh in the long jump at 20’-3.5” and 11th in the 100-meter dash in 11.96 seconds.
Melvin Reynolds was eighth in the 400-meter run in 51.91 seconds, while Jeremy Clauden was eighth in the 300-meter hurdles in 43.07 seconds and 10th in the 110-meter hurdles in 16.62 seconds.
Derek Brooks and Reynolds tied for eighth in the high jump at 5’-8”.
Jamond Edmonds was 18th in the triple jump at 38’-4.5” and 30th in the long jump at 17’-2”.
Ronnie Link was 24th in the 400-meter run in 56.68 seconds and 29th in the 800-meter run in 2:29.01, while Theo Coleman was 27th in the 300-meter hurdles in 46.88.
Rodale Pippen was 21st in the 200-meter run in 24.66 seconds.

 

Obituaries

Rev. James Crocker
There will be a memorial service for the Rev. James Crocker at Clover Bottom Baptist Church Sunday, April 23, 2006, at 2 p.m. Family visitation will follow in the church fellowship hall.
Barbara Jean Watts Davidson
Barbara Jean Watts Davidson, 68, of Carrollton died April 10, 2006, at Riverside Regional Medical Center in Newport News. She was a native of Halifax County.
Mrs. Davidson was a member of Ebenezer United Methodist Church and a former church secretary. She retired as a bookkeeper from Cedar Point Country Club.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Alvin R. Davidson; and one sister, Doris Talley.
Survivors include one daughter, Debbie Richardson and her husband, Michael Sr.; their son, Michael Richardson Jr. and his wife, Leslie, of Amelia; and daughter, Sharon Davidson Robbins and her daughter, Crystal Robbins, of Suffolk; her son, Kevin R. Davidson and his wife, Pauline, and their daughters, Elizabeth and Sarah, of Portsmouth; two sisters, Janie Wiley and her husband, Ron, of Charlottesville, and Maxine Lowery of Roxboro, N.C.; two brothers, Rufus O. Watts and his wife, Wilma, of Virgilina, and John H. Watts and his wife, Margaret, of Charlottesville.
Funeral services for Mrs. Davidson were held at 11 a.m. April 12, at Ebenezer United Methodist Church with Pastor Carl J. LeMon officiating. Burial followed in Meadowbrook Memorial Park.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Ebenezer United Methodist Church, Building Fund, 1589 Steeple Drive, Suffolk, 23432. Robert Yost Glascock
Robert Yost Glascock, 45, of 100 Lacy Lane, South Boston, died April 16, 2006, at his home. He was born May 12, 1960, the son of the late William Malcolm Glascock Sr. and Betty Jane DeJarnette Glascock.
His survivors include one sister, Catherine ‘Dell’ Satterfield of South Boston; one brother, William Malcolm ‘Mac’ Glascock Jr. of Fredericksburg; seven nieces, Cpl. Katy Satterfield Funke of Camp LeJeune,N.C., Sara Satterfield, Rebecca Satterfield and Caroline Satterfield, all of South Boston, Abigail Glascock and Anna Jane Glascock, both of Mechanicsville, and Ashley Paige Glascock of Fredericksburg; and two nephews, Trey Satterfield of Raleigh, N.C. and Michael Glascock of Fredericksburg. Mr. Glascock was also preceded in death by two brothers, Edward DeJarnette Glascock and Richard Addison Glascock.
A funeral service will be held tomorrow, April 20, at 11 a.m. at Powell Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Raymond Bucklew officiating. Burial will be private.
The family will receive friends at Powell Funeral Home for one hour prior to the service.
John Wilson’Johnny’ Hatcher Jr.
John Wilson’Johnny’ Hatcher Jr., 88, of 2200 Coleman Road, Scottsburg, died April 17, 2006, at his home. He was born November 27, 1917, in Halifax County the son of the late John Wilson Hatcher Sr. and the late Anna Rickmond Hatcher and was married to Innis ‘Oshie’ Boggs Hatcher.
Mr. Hatcher was a member of Scottsburg Baptist Church and also was a member of Scottsburg Volunteer Fire Department where he was a founding member with over 50 years of service. He was former chief and honorary Chief and Chaplain, was an original organizer of the departments 4 of July celebration, and organizer of the Scottsburg Food Booth at the Halifax County Fair. Mr. Hatcher was a retired tobacco farmer and a World War II Army Veteran.
His survivors include his wife; three daughters, Connie H . Glass, Marisa H. Perkins and Rachael H. Hudson and husband, Charles, all of Scottsburg; one son, John Feirl Hatcher and wife, Shannon, of Scottsburg; two sons-in-law, Malcolm Glass of Scottsburg and Thurman ‘Perk’ Perkins of Halifax; five grandchildren, Jennifer Glass,Destiney Perkins, John Feirl Hatcher Jr., Charles Hudson Jr., and Michael Curtis Hudson, all of Scottsburg; four great-grandchildren, Jasmine Lovelace, Shay Lovelace, Aliyah Chandler and Shekeria Chandler, all of Scottsburg; and a Godson, Issac ‘Mule’ Bouldin.
Mr. Hatcher was preceded in death by an infant daughter, Janifer Boggs Hatcher.
Funeral services will be held at Scottsburg Baptist Church tomorrow, April 20, at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Terry Scearce officiating. Burial will be at Oakland Cemetery.
Visitation will be held at the Scottsburg Volunteer Fire Department this evening, April 19, from 6:00 until 9:00.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Scottsburg Volunteer Fire Department or the Scottsburg Baptist Church Building Fund.
Jeanette Dunn White
Jeanette Dunn White, 83, of South Boston died April 16, 2006, at The Woodview Nursing Home. She was born in South Boston on May 24, 1922, to the late John Robert Dunn and the late Martha Tucker Dunn and was married to the late Samuel C. White.
Mrs. White was a member of Mt. Olivet Baptist Church, South Boston.
Her survivors include two sons; Tom S. White of N.C. and Eugene D. White of Fla.; one sister, Lydia Dunn Faulkner of South Boston; a devoted niece, Nanette Faulkner Crews; and a devoted Goddaughter, Joyce Ann Jackson.
Funeral services for Mrs. White will be held tomorrow, April 20, at 2 p.m. at Mt. Olivet Baptist Church with the Revs. Joseph Stone and James Crowder officiating. Burialw ill follow in Cross Roads Baptist Church Cemetery.
The family will receive friends one hour prior to the services, and other times at the home of Lydia Faulkner, 1830 Jefferson Avenue, South Boston.
Antoinette W. Norman
A memorial service for Antoinette W. Norman will be held at Cedar Grove United Methodist Church in Alton at 2 p.m. on April 21.
Mrs. Norman was the wife of William E. Norman Sr., formerly of South Boston.
Eunice Coleman Tucker
Eunice Coleman Tucker, 80, of 2505 Oakes Avenue, South Boston, died April 16, 2006, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mrs. Tucker was born in Halifax County on January 9, 1926, to the late John Coleman and Ila Miller Coleman and was married to the late Doc Tucker Jr. She was a member of First Baptist Church on Ferry Street, South Boston.
Survivors include one sister, Roberta Davis of South Boston; a devoted niece, Remonia Wright of South Boston; and a devoted nephew, Noah Shaheed of South Boston. Mrs. Tucker was preceded in death by three sisters, Bernice Tune, Annie Massey and Edna Coleman.
Funeral services will be held tomorrow, April 20, at 1pm. at Jeffress Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Sandy Palmer officiating. Burial will follow in Oak Ridge Cemetery.
The family is receiving friends at the home, and at the home of Noah Shaheed, 1610 Clay Street, South Boston.