Wednesday, April 20, 2005

Halifax May Get VDOT $287,000

Grant Is Tenative

If the Virginia Department of Transportation finalizes 2005 enhancement funds tentavily approved by its board of directors, the Town of Halifax will receive more than $280,000 in revitilization monies.
The funding will be used for streetscape improvements in the downtown area.
The Commonwealth Transportation Board (CTB) has released a tentative list of nearly $22 million worth of enhancement funding.
Halifax County requested $287,347 for streetscaping improvements in downtown Halifax, and was awarded $287,000, according to VDOT.
The listing was posted on the Virginia Department of Transportation website yesterday.
The funding would go toward approximately 108 new and ongoing projects such as bike trails, sidewalks, train station restorations and other streetscaping and beautification projects that enhance communities.
The projects are funded through the Transportation Enhancement Program. Funding is made possible through the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st Century (TEA-21 legislation). In accordance with TEA-21 requirements, each state must set aside 10 percent of its federal Surface Transportation Program funds for enhancement projects.
The Transportation Enhancement Program was started in 1991 to promote unique and innovative projects using federal funds that are available through an application process administered by the Virginia Department of Transportation.
The CTB will approve a final list when it adopts the updated Six-Year Improvement Program in May.
In Mecklenburg County, tentative funding has been awarded to the following towns and projects:
• Town of Boydton requested $132,996 for development of its Walking Trail, and was awarded $65,000.
• The Town of Clarksville requested $442,800 for streetscaping improvements and was awarded $300,000.
• The Town of La Crosse requested $723,276 for renovation of the La Crosse Hotel for use as a visitor center/transportation museum, and was awarded $200,000.
• Town of South Hill requested $167,300 for renovation of the historic Colonial Theatre to accomidate the Virginia Welcome Center, and was awarded $167,000.
Tentative awards were also designated for the following neighboring communities:
• Charlotte County requested $600,930 for
design and construction of a trail system throughout the historic Red Hill property, and development of a trailhead and installation of pedestrian amenties on the trail. The county was awarded $273,000.
• The Town of Lawrenceville requested $229,996 for design and construction of a system of trails throughout Southside Virginia, primarily adandoned rail corridors and public easements, and was awarded $230,000.

Southside Companies Form Leaf Partnership

Mecklenburg County’s U.S. Grown Leaf, Inc., Announces Distribution Agreement With Cherokee Tobacco. Products To Be Manufactured In South Boston

Mecklenburg County manufacturer U.S. Grown Leaf, Inc., the owner of Adventure cigarettes, has entered into an agreement with Cherokee Tobacco Company that officials hope will ensure national and international distribution of their products.
Both companies have contracted with South Boston manufacturer Virginia Brands to produce their products.
Established in November, 2004, U.S. Grown Leaf President and CEO Jim Jennings said Monday that he hopes the move will allow for an expanded customer base for his product.
“While Virginia Brands had all the manufacturing capabilities we needed to get our product on the market, we knew our small company would need assistance distributing our product outside the states of Virginia and North Carolina,” he said.
“As a start-up company with only five employees, it would have taken a considerable amount of time to develop a distribution operation capable of functioning on a national level,” Jennings added. “The larger distribution network available through Cherokee Tobacco Company will provide the access and manpower we need to be competitive with other cigarette companies in the worldwide market.
“This is just a great opportunity for me and my company,” he said. “They (Cherokee) will just slingshot my distribution farther than I could have done. It’s a plus for everyone.”
The move comes just days after Cherokee officials announced they were moving their production from Brazil in favor of having their products manufactured by Virginia Brands.
“It may be backwards,” said C.F. Fuller, president and COO of Cherokee Tobacco Company. Citing low costs, most cigarette companies are moving their manufacturing facilities oversees. “But we feel that from a marketing perspective this is the way to go.”
Headquartered in Halifax County, Cherokee employees approximately 40 people in South Boston.
Fuller said that the partnership with Jennings will benefit both companies.
“We wanted to expand our line (of cigarettes) with premium products,” he said.
After a six week search, Fuller said he knew that Adventure cigarettes would be a good fit with Cherokee.
“We’re very proud to add this product to our line-up,” he said. “I think we all believe it will be well-received by the public.”
Fuller said the addition of the Adventure line means Cherokee will market 26 different cigarettes at the 3,000 retail outlets they currently serve.
“This helps us as a company offer more products for the consumer,” he said.
During a press conference held Monday at their Riverdale facility, Virginia Brands’ co-owners Marvin Ligon and A.G. Fisher said they plan to begin manufacturing Jennings’ line of cigarettes in the near future.
“We’re looking at probably sometime in May,” Ligon said.
Jennings said the partnership will have a positive impact on Southside’s economy.
Fisher agreed, saying the increased production at Virginia Brands will mean several more employees will be needed.
“We’ve hired three people in the last two weeks and will add an additional six to nine people over the next few weeks,” he said.

‘Long’ Time Coming

Long-Time Radio Personality Nick Long Named General Manager Of WHLF-FM

A familiar voice in county radio will assume new duties when morning personality and sports broadcaster Nick Long takes over the reins as general manager of WHLF-FM.
Contacted Monday, longtime owner Johnny Cole, who recently announced the sale of the station to Lakes Media, said Long “was and has been such an integral part of what we do here that I can’t imagine us achieving the level of success we have achieved without his help.”
“I can’t imagine that (Lakes Media President) Tom Birch or anyone else could successfully run this organization without the continuity and experience Nick brings to the table,” he said.
Long has a history with WHLF-FM that dates back to the mid-1970s.
“Like many in radio, my first job here was in 1975 when I was hired to work weekends,” he said.
Cole’s father and longtime radio personality Preston Young interviewed Long for the position, he pointed out.
Once he felt comfortable with the ins and outs of on-air duties, Long began working in marketing for the station.
Since April 1, 1993, Long has held the positions of sports director and morning announcer. “When Johnny and (wife) Cathy bought the station, I came back full-time,” he said.
Although the station is under new ownership and management, both Long and Cole said the station’s audience shouldn’t expect any major changes in the near future.
“I’d had several offers over the years for the station,” Cole said. “But Tom (Birch) is the first person in whom I have complete confidence that they are as committed to community radio as we are.”
“We’ve made the decision to keep our commitment to the community by providing the same service we have been providing in the past,” Long said. “But our listeners will hear small changes as time progresses. We will keep on doing what we’ve been doing, it may just be packaged a little differently.”
And don’t worry, sports fans.
“We’ll continue our coverage of local games and races and other things that our audience has come to expect and we feel is important to the community,” Long said.
He also said the station’s current staff, including afternoon personality Kelly Redd and Sonny Riddle in the news room, will play an integral role in the station’s future.
Birch said the decision to promote Long was a no-brainer.
“The most important reason was the extremely high recommendation of Johnny Cole,” he said. “I asked for profiles of the staff and he thinks the world of Nick, not only as an on-air personality, but as a salesman.
“Basically, the face of WHLF is Nick Long.”

 

Obituaries

Margaret Shrader Shelton Haugh

A memorial service will be held for Margaret Shrader Shelton Haugh on April 24, at 3 p.m. at Main Street United Methodist Church with the Rev. Tom Brown officiating.
Mrs. Haugh died December 22, 2004, in Richmond and was 83 years of age at the time of her death.

Peachie Booker Jones

Peachie Booker Jones died at her home in Arlington on April 10.
Mrs. Jones was born in Halifax County on February 15, 1915, the daughter of Peachie Dorsey Booker and Dr. Frank E. Booker, and was married to John Phillip Jones. She attended Virginia Intermont College and Randolph-Macon Woman’s College where she was a member of Alpha Omicron Pi. She was also a member of Randolph-Macon Woman’s Alumni Association and was past president of its regional chapter. She was a member of St. Peter’s Episcopal Church.
Survivors include one daughter, Sally Jones Austin of Herndon; one son, John Phillips Jones Jr. of Arlington; and one brother, Archie E.D. Booker of Greenwood, S.C.
Funeral services for Mrs. Jones were held at St. Peter’s Episcopal Church in Arlington April 18, at 11 a.m. Graveside services will be held today, April 20, at 11 a.m. at St. John’s Episcopal Church Cemetery in Halifax.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, or St. John’s Episcopal Church Cemetery Fund in Halifax.

Sona Stovall Williams

Sona Stovall Williams of Richmond, formerly of Drakes Branch, died April 12 in Hopewell.
Survivors include her husband, Ellis Williams; one son, Markeese Stovall, both of the home; her mother, Gracie Stovall of Drakes Branch; brothers and sisters, Thomas, Freddie, Marial, James, Evelyn and Wilma Stovall, Effie Townsend, Ruby Allen, Gwendolyn Richmond and Margaret Young; and her mother-in-law, Gladys Edmonds.
Funeral services for Mrs. Williams were held April 17 at Beautiful Plain Baptist Church in Charlotte Court House with burial in Union Cemetery.
Condolences may be e-mailed to Jeffressfh@aol.com.

Lynwood Jones Yarbrough,

Lynwood Jones Yarbrough, 85, of Danville died April 18 at Roman Eagle Memorial Home.
Mr. Yarbrough was born October 7, 1919, in Caswell County, N.C., the son of Charles B. Yarbrough and Annie Slaughter Yarbrough Guthrie, both deceased. He was married to Myrtle Crumpton Yarbrough.
Mr. Yarbrough was a member of the former First Christian Church where he taught Sunday school, served as a deacon and was an elder emeritus. He retired from Railway Express Agency, and worked in security with Goodyear and with Danville Plywood for a number of years.
Survivors include his wife; two sons, Vance Yarbrough of South Boston and Tim Yarbrough of Mt. Herman community in Danville; three brothers, Burton N. Yarbrough of Providence, N.C., Wesley Yarbrough of Bedford and Marvin Yarbrough of Elon College, N.C.; three grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
Mr. Yarbrough was also preceded in death by one brother, Charles Bernice Yarbrough Jr.
Funeral services will be held at Swicegood Funeral Home in Danville tomorrow, April 21, at 11 a.m. with Thomas Dalton and the Rev. Don Davidson officiating. Burial will follow in Mountain View Cemetery.
The family will receive friends this evening, April 20, from 7:00 until 8:30, at Swicegood Funeral Home.

Halifax Comets Varsity Soccer Team Falls To PE

The HCHS Varsity Boys Soccer Team Took Its Fourth Loss Of The Season Here Monday Night With A 3-1 Defeat At The Hands of Prince Edward County

BY Joe Chandler
G-V STAFF WRITER

For a time, it appeared that the Halifax County High School varsity boys soccer team had the upper hand in Monday’s contest here against Prince Edward County.
But, the Eagles turned the tide in the second half and downed the Comets 3-1 here Monday night.
Monday night’s loss was the fourth of the season for the Comets who dropped below the .500-mark with a 3-4 overall record and a 0-1 record in district play.
“We didn’t play that badly, but we had a really hard time with our first touch on the ball," noted Comets head coach Frank Shealy.
“We must improve our first touch to compete the rest of the season. Ball movement, scoring, defensive efforts, and transitions all begin with ball control. Which sport doesn’t start here? Fundamentals will be a focus continuing into the season."
Junior Charles Crawley scored the lone goal for the Comets and Comets goalkeeper Les Powell, a sophomore, had 11 saves in the contest.
The goal by Crawley midway through the first half gave the Comets a 1-0 lead. Crawley’s goal came after a corner kick by Josh Shealy was deflected by the Prince Edward goalkeeper. The ball found its way to Robert Poirier and Poirier sent a shot that struck the top post of the goal and bounced back to Crawley who punched the ball into the net.
Prince Edward bounced back to tie the contest minutes later after a corner kick by the Comets failed to hit the mark.
The Eagles took the ball the length of the field on a fast break and dribbled the ball to Powell, the Comets’ keeper. Powell had to slide for the ball and had the ball briefly before the Eagles’ forward kicked Powell, dislodged the ball and scored.
That goal by the Eagles tied the game at 1-1 and the contest remained deadlocked at halftime.
At halftime, Prince Edward led in shots on goal 14-6 with Powell netting five saves while the Eagles’ keeper had two saves.
The Comets had the two corner kick opportunities while Prince Edward had five corner kicks in the half.
Prince Edward played very aggressively in the first half and received nine fouls in the first stanza. A yellow card was handed to Eagles midfielder John Cambell for an intentional foul. Cambell received a second yellow card in the second half and was
ejected from the game.
The second half didn’t get off the right foot for the Comets.as the Eagles scored about a minute and a half into the second half and grabbed a 2-1 lead on a somewhat controversial play.
A foul by the Comets gave Prince Edward a free kick from about 40 yards out. The Eagles’ player blasted a shot just over Powell’s hands to the top post. The ball apparently hit the post, bounced off the ground and Powell recovered it for what Powell and the Comets coaches and players thought to be a good save. However, the official linesman judged the ball to have crossed the goal line and awarded PE the goal.
The Comets’ defense misplayed the ball one other time and the Eagles capitalized on the opportunity and scored on the final goal midway through the second half.
While Prince Edward County out-shot the Comets again in the second half, the Comets had some opportunities to score but couldn’t put the ball into the net.
Although we had nine shots in the second half, including three each from Josh Fallen and Brennan Manning, we just couldn’t find the net," Shealy said.
Prince Edward continued its strong attack in the second half and upped its shot total to 18 in the half.
Each team had three corner kicks in the second half but failed to score on those opportunities.
Powell added six more saves in the second half and finished his night with 11 saves.
The Comets will be back in action tonight when they face Heritage here at Tuck Dillard Stadium. Game time is 7 p.m.
On Friday, the Comets will host GW in a Western Valley District contest.

 

Halifax Comets Boys Netters Fall At GW

Comets Fall To Eagles 6-3

BY Doug Ford
G-V STAFF WRITER

The Comets boys tennis team took two of three doubles events, but came out on the short end in five of six singles matches in losing Tuesday at GW by a 6-3 score.
Bo Palmore and Michael Boyd won at number two doubles and David Seamster and Josh Martin defeated their opponents at number three doubles, and Richard Evans won at number four singles, but it wasn’t enough.
GW had a much stronger squad than last year, but the Comets still had their chances, according to coach David Riddle.
“We also did not play as well as we could have," noted Riddle. “There were a few matches that we had the opportunity to win or at least take it to a third set, but we just didn’t capitalize."
Riddle liked the effort of Evans in winning his singles match and the play of his doubles teams against GW.
“Richard Evans did an excellent job at No. 4 singles," said Riddle. “He had a bad first set, but rebounded to take the next two sets.
“I was also pleased with the effort in doubles. We were already down 5-1 after singles, but the guys gave it their all in doubles, and we picked up two wins there. It’s great to have a team that just won’t quit."
The Comets boys tennis team, which fell to 0-5 in the Western Valley District and 2-8 overall with the loss, played district opponent Franklin County last night and will participate in the Heritage Invitational this weekend.
Halifax 3, GW 6
Singles Results
1. Michael DeJarnette (H) lost to Sonny Ahmed 0-6, 1-6
2. Michael Boyd (H) lost to Jeff Gignac 0-6, 1-6
3. Bo Palmore (H) lost to Brad Harris 4-6, 1-6
4. Richard Evans (H) defeated Will Sanford 6-2, 0-6, 6-2
5. David Seamster (H) lost to Austin Williams 5-7, 4-6
6. Josh Martin (H) lost to John Reynolds 0-6, 3-6
Doubles Results
1. DeJarnette Boyd (H) lost to Ahmed/Gignac 1-6, 0-6
2. Palmore/Boyd (H) defeated Harris/Reynolds 6-3, 2-6, 5-5 (injury forfeit)
3. Seamster/Martin (H) defeated Williams/Sanford 7-6 (7-4), 7-5
Exhibition Singles
Ricky Owens (H) lost 7-8
Ray Albert (H) lost 3-10
Exhibition Doubles
Owens/Albert (H) lost 0-6