Wednesday,
May 4, 2005
Draft
Calls For 7-Cent Tax Hike
Soaring
School Improvements Propel 17 Percent Increase Over Last
Year
The
Halifax County Board of Supervisors got their first look
at a $97.9 million draft budget Monday night, one that calls
for a real estate tax increase from 37 cents per assessed
$100 to 44 cents, a 19 percent increase in the county’s
real estate tax rate.
In preparing the budget, County Administrator Bryan Foster
told the Board that while the 2005-2006 county budget is
17 percent higher than last year’s $83.6 million budget,
“the bulk of this increase is attributable to the initial
costs of the school system’s $54.8 million capital
improvements program.Ó
“Without question, the school system has the most significant
impact on the budget,Ó Foster said. “In addition
to the ($740,000 debt service costs for) capital improvements,
the School Board is asking for an additional $1,567,125
in local operating funds for FY2006. This request is a 13
percent increase over the FY2005 appropriation of $11.871,131.Ó
According to the county administrator, excluding capital
expenditures, the school system represents approximately
71 percent of the county budget.
“When you remove this capital expense from the equation,
the FY 2006 budget is $83.9 million, or only a .28 percent
increase from the previous year,Ó he added..
Foster said that with all existing revenue sources level
at the 2005 rates, the projected revenue stream is $92.7
million, leaving a deficit of more than $5.23 million.
“In order to close this $5.23 million gap, we must
increase our revenue, decrease our expenses, make some use
of reserves or a combination of the above,Ó Foster
said.
He recommended a combination of the three, suggesting:
• Raise the real estate tax rate by 7 cents.
“This would increase projected revenue by approximately
$1.84 million,Ó Foster said. “For a person who
owns a home assessed at $175,000, this would amount to an
annual increase of $122.50.Ó
• Finance three capital projects – the animal
shelter, hangars at the airport and landfill leacheate collection
system - totaling $2 million for 10 years.
“There would be an annual cost of approximately $250,000
depending on the rate of interest, but it would lower the
expense side of the budget by $1.75 million,Ó Foster
said.
• Use approximately $500,000 of the county’s
fund balance to pay for one-time expenses like the new accounting
system, tax parcel mapping and economic development incentives.
• Raise the E-911 fee from $2.50 to the maximum
rate of $3.00.
“This would generate approximately $125,000 in additional
revenue specifically earmarked for expenses related to the
operation of the E-911 center,Ó Foster said, adding
that current revenue isn’t sufficient to meet expenses
in 911 services.
“Even with these suggestions, there is still a gap
of approximately $1 million to close,Ó the county
administrator said. “Easy solutions to this could be
to raise the real estate tax rate by another four cents,
increase other tax rates or simply use fund balance to cover
this differences.
“However, I submit to the Board that an easy solution
may not be the best solution.Ó
Next year’s budget also proposes a $2.5 percent salary
increase for county employees effective July 1.
Foster said the increase will help bring the salaries of
county employees more in line with the 4.4 percent increase
approved by the Virginia General Assembly.
“By having an implementation date of December 1, the
effective increase for the fiscal year for constitutional
officers and their employees is also 2.5 percent,Ó
he said.
In addition, the budget proposal includes four new positions
in the general properties budget.
“With the addition of Riverstone Technology Park, Edmunds
Park, the War Memorial and assuming maintenance responsibilities
for all other IDA properties, we simply do not have enough
resources to adequately maintain all of the county’s
properties and buildings,Ó Foster said.
Summary and Conclusions
In summarizing the draft budget, Foster said it is vital
to focus on long-term outcomes and not solely on revenue
generation.
“This is a critical decision to make,Ó he said.
“We must re-frame our decision making so that we identify
and delineate the outcomes we hope to achieve. Only then
will we be able to make the best decisions regarding revenues
needed based upon the outcomes we hope to achieve.
“While it is easy for us to say we do not wish to increase
taxes or fees, there is often a disconnect between the effect
that income has on our desired outcomes.
“The proposed FY2006 budget presents many challenges,Ó
he said. “I have tried to outline the major issues
for you along with suggestions for closing the gap. Normally,
I would present a balanced budget for the Board’s consideration,
but given the magnitude of change required, I decided it
is important to receive feedback and direction from the
Board before recommending any additional specific courses
of action.Ó
The Board will meet at 5:30 p.m. in the public meeting room
of the Mary Bethune Complex in Halifax on Wednesday, May
11, for a budget work session.
Historic
Independent Warehouse To Be Razed
One
man’s trash, another’s treasure.
“This is what they build mansions with,” said
Tony Wilson as he stepped carefully through the dimly lit,
debris-strewn path beneath the Independent Warehouse.
Ancient beams and thick brick walls abound.
“Down here is where the horses and mules were stabled.”
An estimated 70-80 individual stalls are partially exposed
by the rays of sunlight filtering through holes and cracks
in the floor above.
“There’s no telling how much money has been made
here.” said Wilson, who discovered several old records
books showing single sales of tobacco in excess of $300,000.
“They tell me they had some good times down here, “
said Wilson whose unwieldy task is to disassemble and salvage
as much as he can of what was once considered South Boston’s
premier tobacco warehouse.
Wilson and his single assistant seemed dwarfed by even the
thought of tearing down the foot-thick, brick-walled warehouse.
“Lumber is worth more than the bricks,” said the
Danville demolition expert. “Just more ‘of em
(bricks).”
By late yesterday, Wilson had removed several sections of
the tin roof in order to bring more light into the warehouse
that, of late, had served as a household and office furniture
outlet.
The warehouse is the property of George Tribble, the last
of South Boston’s tobacco warehouse owners and himself
a tobacco producer.
The Independent, somehow, survived warehouse fires that
claimed two structures in opposite blocks on the once, warehouse-lined
Wilborn Avenue
The Planters/New Brick was destroyed by fire near the close
of the tobacco selling season last fall. Bricks salvaged
from the warehouse were hauled as faraway New Orleans for
restoration projects.
Wilson figures his demolition project will take six months
or more to complete.
Before he begins removing the massive, pine timbers of the
century -old warehouse, he’s making an inventory. Every
piece of the valuable lumber will be accounted for and no
wonder. Much of it measures a full 2” X 12”.
As the bricks and timbers are removed, fill dirt will be
brought in to reclaim the property whose future use is unknown.
Efforts to reach the owner yesterday were unsuccessful.
County’s
First Gated Community Opens
At
least 10 of 17 lots have already been sold in the county’s
first gated subdivision located in approximately 200 acres
of rolling countryside in the Birch Creek area, according
to W.W. “Ted” Bennett, attorney for the Florida
developers.
Birch Creek Development Inc. is also seeking a permit for
a 2,000-ft. grass airstrip at the site formerly known as
Wellspring Academy.
Supervisors set a June 6 public hearing for the airstrip
request.
Lots at the site are one to one and one-half acres and average
$20,000 per lot, according to Bennett.
“Basically they are sold as second-home lots,”
he added.
Bennett said the developers bought the land at public auction
last year.
The subdivision will have a private road and has “very
extensive restrictions” on home design and building,
according to Bennett.
“They are trying to make it first-class,” he said.
All of the lots are waterfront on the pond.
Owners plan to develop the property in phases, according
to Bennett.
“It is a beautiful site,” he added. “I think
it bodes well for the community property values.”
Jerry Lovelace, assistant county administrator, agrees.
“This will offer diversity in housing and another source
of residential stocks for the county,” Lovelace said
yesterday. ”I think it is an excellent idea, and there
is additional acreage out there for the future.”
Obituaries
Stanley
Jerome Ballou
Stanley
Jerome Ballou, 45, of 1016 Crews Trail, South Boston died
May 2 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Ballou was born on June 14, 1959, in Halifax County
to Rosa Penick Ballou and the late James Ballou Sr. He was
a retired Virginia State Trooper and a member of New Arbor
Baptist Church.
Survivors include one daughter, Demesha Ballou of Marietta,
Ga.; his mother of South Boston; one sister, Gloria Majors
of Charlotte, N.C.; two brothers, James Ballou Jr. of South
Boston and Gregory Ballou of Danville; and one brother-in-law,
Joseph Majors Sr. of Charlotte.
Funeral services for Mr. Ballou will be held tomorrow, May
5, at 1 p.m. at New Arbor Baptist with the Rev. Nelson C.
Stamps officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family is receiving friends at the home of Rosa P. Ballou,
14044 River Road, South Boston.
Geneva
O’Neal Brandon Burton
Geneva
O’Neal Brandon Burton, 76, of South Boston died at
The Medical College of Virginia Hospital in Richmond.
Mrs. Burton was born in Johnston County, N.C. on June 4,
1928, the daughter of the late Lawyer H. O’Neal and
Cora Watkins O’Neal and was married to Lambous Burton
of South Boston. She was a retired educator, and was a deaconess
at Cathedral of His Glory.
Survivors include her husband; one son, Tracy Brandon of
Greensboro, N.C.; one daughter, Inga Pinnix and husband,
Ken, of Jacksonville, Fla.; her brothers, Reuben O’Neal
and wife, Nekoda, of Durham, N.C. and Jacob O’Neal
of Washington, D.C.; sisters, Emma Merritt of Philadelphia,
Pa., Zula Witcher and husband, Joseph, and Cora Dixon, all
of Washington; seven grandchildren; and her great-grandchildren.
Funeral services for Mrs. Burton will be held Friday, May
6, at 11 a.m. at New Ephesus Baptist Church in Alton. Burial
will follow in Lakeview Cemetery , Greensboro.
Gloria
Curry Debiec
Gloria
Curry Debiec, 58, of 1159 Dan River Church Road, Halifax
died May 2 at Duke University Hospital.
Mrs. Debiec was born in Reading, Pa. on September 21, 1946,
to Melvin and Marie Curry and she was married to James J.
Debiec.
Survivors include one daughter, Jennifer Debiec Lawson of
Richmond; two sisters, Susan Radcliffe of Dillsburg, Pa.
and Nancy Deal of Ft. Lauderdale, Fla.
A memorial service will be held May 9, at 11 a.m. at First
Presbyterian Church.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Halifax
County Cancer Association.
Louise
Kent Chappell Mills
Louise
Kent Chappell Mills, 88, of The Woodview in South Boston
died May 3 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mrs. Mills was born in Halifax County on June 19, 1916,
the daughter of the late James O. Chappell and Emma Dixon
Chappell and was married to the late William Dibrell ‘Billy’
Mills. She was a member of Second Baptist Church, was a
retired employee of Burlington Mills and was a homemaker.
Survivors of Mrs. Mills include seven children, Ann Marie
Spangler of South Boston and the late Cecil Spangler, Rev.
W.D. Mills Jr. and wife, Sue, of Halifax, Kent Mills and
wife, Jeanette, of Charlottesville, Bonnie Shotwell and
husband, Ray, of Turbeville, Bert Mills of South Boston,
and Dale Mills and wife, Linda, of Halifax; 19 grandchildren;
28 great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
She was also preceded in death by a son, Barry Mills; one
granddaughter, Teresa Spangler Bradbury; one great-grandson,
Scott Mills; and one step-grandson, Ted Powell.
Funeral services for Mrs. Mills will be held tomorrow, May
5, at 2 p.m. at Second Baptist Church with the Revs. Larry
Woolbrink and Doug Spurlock officiating. Burial will follow
in Mt. Vernon Baptist Church Cemetery in Vernon Hill.
The family will receive friends this evening, May 4, from
7:00 until 8:30, at Powell Funeral Home.
Claudia
Carrington Sims
Claudia
Carrington Sims, 80, of South Boston died at Halifax Regional
Hospital.
Ms. Sims was born in Halifax County on March 31, 1925, to
the late John B. Sims and Mary Thompson Sims.
Survivors include four daughters, Marion Louise Burton of
New York, Shirley McNear and Virley Reid, both of Nathalie,
and Margaret Dove of Lynchburg; four sons, George Carrington
Sims of Meadville, Marvin Randolph of Kansas City, Mo.,
Beverly Leon Sims of New York and Kevin Jackson Sims of
Halifax County; three sisters, Florence Hazel Lee of New
York, Edna Mays of Philadelphia, Pa. and Marion Kirby of
Paces; and nine grandchildren.
Ms. Sims was preceded in death by one brother, James L.
Sims of Alexandria.
Memorial services will be private.
Tillie
Logan Searvance
Tillie
Logan Searvance, 68, of New Jersey, formerly of Halifax
County, died April 27.
She was born on December 13, 1936, to the late Eddie Logan
and Rebecca Younger Logan and was married to the late Raymond
Searvance Sr.
Survivors of Mrs. Searvance include one daughter, Valerie
Lindsey; five grandchildren; three great-grandchildren;
one son-in-law, Thomas Lindsey; a devoted cousin, Derick
Jordan; and two special friends, Dr. Gara Somers and Lucille
Wooten. She was also preceded in death by one son, Raymond
Searvance Jr.
Funeral services will be held today, May 4, at 11 a.m. at
County Line Baptist Church with the Rev. Dr. Otis R. Dillard
officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the church.
Jeffrey
Allen Wilkerson
Jeffrey
Allen Wilkerson, 17, of 7011 L.P. Bailey Memorial Highway,
Halifax died April 30.
Mr. Wilkerson was born in Richmond on April 26, 1988, to
Richard Wilkerson and Emma Harris Wilkerson. He was an eleventh
grade student at Halifax County High School where he was
a member of the wrestling and track teams. He was a member
of Traynham Grove Baptist Church in Nathalie.
Survivors include his parents; three sisters, Janice Carrington
of Nathalie, Virginia Miller of South Boston and Sandra
Miller of White Plains, Md.; one brother, Lawrence Henderson
of Lynchburg; his paternal grandfather, Howard Wilkerson
of South Boston; and his maternal grandmother, Eliza Farrar
of Nathalie.
Funeral services for Mr. Wilkerson will be held Saturday,
May 7, at 3 p.m. at Traynham Grove Baptist Church with the
Rev. W.A. Keene officiating.
The family is receiving friends at the home.
Comets
Ready For Life On The Road
The
HCHS Varsity Baseball Faces The Second Of Back-To-Back Road
Games Today Amid A String Of Four District Road Contests
BY Joe Chandler
G-V STAFF WRITER
Every Western Valley District contest is a big one for the
Halifax County High School baseball team.
And, when you’re chasing the leader, the games become
even more important.
The Comets will hit the road again today, journeying to
Rocky Mount where they will face Franklin County. Today
will be the second of back-to-back district road games for
the Comets who had to travel to Roanoke yesterday to face
Patrick Henry.
These two games are the only games scheduled for the Comets
this week but they are important ones.
“It’s a tough situation,” said Davis, whose
team is having to play Franklin County today as the result
of a rain-out this past Friday.
“Two road trips on back-to-back days is tough. But,
you’ve got to do what you’ve got to do. We’ve
got to make sure we’re mentally ready for each game.”
The Comets were 11-3 overall and 2-1 in Western Valley District
play entering last night’s game against Patrick Henry
in Roanoke. They were one game down in the loss column to
district leader GW who is standing with a 5-0 district mark.
Franklin County was 10-4 overall and 1-2 in district play
and tied in the district standings with E.C. Glass.
Davis said yesterday he felt good about his team’s
chances in this week’s pair of district contests.
“The last game we played was last Wednesday against
Magna Vista, so we’re pretty well rested,” the
Comets coach pointed out.
“We needed a little time to rest. All of our pitchers
are rested and ready. If they can go out there and throw
strikes and the guys can give them some runs and play good
defense, we should be okay.”
Davis said he has his pitching rotation where he wants it
and that he felt good about his team’s situation.
“The pieces to the puzzle are falling in our favor
right now,” he noted.
Davis said he planned to start lefthander David Lacks in
last night’s contest against Patrick Henry. He has
also penciled in senior righthander Tyler Clarke for
tonight’s contest against Franklin County. Junior righthander
Jeremy Jeffress is in the wings and is available to step
in if circumstances dictate it.
“We’ve got three good pitchers that can throw
for us,” Davis pointed out.
“Hopefully, they will go out there and throw strikes
and the other guys can give them some help and we can come
out on top.”
In looking at the big picture, this week’s pair of
games comprise half of an important string of four Western
Valley District road games the Comets are facing.
After tonight’s game against Franklin County, the Comets
will travel to Lynchburg Tuesday to face E.C. Glass and
will go to Danville next Friday to face archrival GW.
“Winning these two games this week and keeping the
winning momentum going into next week is very important
for us,” Davis said.
“Playing four straight district games on the road is
tough but, to me, it doesn’t matter as far as playing
at home or away. If we have the winning momentum going our
way, I think we will play everybody tough wherever it is
we have to play.”
The eyes of Davis and the Comets are still focused on trying
to win the regular-season Western Valley District crown
and the automatic berth in the Northwest Region Tournament
that goes with it.
“We still have a good chance at winning this thing,”
said Davis.
“If we can win out and can get some help, I feel we
can have a good shot at it.”
Comets
Varsity Softball Rallies For 2-0 Win
Sixth-Inning
Rally Lifts Halifax County Over Heritage
BY Doug Ford
G-V STAFF WRITER
Tracy Nelson drew a key two-out walk, Lori Reeves hit an
RBI double, Cari Clark an RBI single, and Key Ferrell another
base hit in a sixth inning rally that gave the Comets varsity
softball team a 2-0 win Monday over Heritage in a non-district
contest.
Halifax had half of its six hits for the game during the
sixth inning uprising to back the pitching of Beth Throckmorton,
Jessica Morris and Jessie Lloyd, who hurled three, two and
two innings, respectively.
Throckmorton gave up one hit while striking out three batters
in three innings, Morris struck out two in two innings of
work, and Lloyd gave up one hit and struck out a batter
in the final two innings. Comets pitching didn’t walk
a batter.
Monday’s win over a solid Heritage team didn’t
follow the same pattern as recent Comets’ wins, but
coach Melanie Saunders couldn’t argue with the results.
“This was a good way to prepare for the district game
with Patrick Henry," noted Saunders. “All the
kids got a chance to play, all three pitchers got into the
game and pitched well
“Defensively, we moved some people around and they
all did a good job.
“Our bats were opposite of what they had been, we have
been coming out aggressively at the plate and scoring runs
in the first few innings.
“Tonight, we got a hit here and there early on, and
didn’t execute fundamentals such as bunting, but we
came back in the late innings. We got key hits with runners
on instead of bunting them over, and I’m pleased with
that.
“This win brings us into the game with Patrick Henry
with some momentum."
Monday’s game was a defensive-minded battle between
the two teams, but Halifax had the best of the scoring chances
early in the game.
Nelson had the first of her two base hits to lead off the
second, Lori Reeves advanced on a fielder’s choice
and Ferrell sacrificed Reeves to second, but a groundout
got Heritage out of the inning.
A big defensive play kept Heritage out of scoring position
in the top of the third, after a one-out single put a Pioneer
runner at first base. A Comets throw to second on a steal
attempt skipped through the infield, the Heritage runner
trying for third on the play.
Comets center fielder Jasmine Parker scooped up the ball
and threw to Ferrell at third to nail the runner for the
second out, and Throckmorton got a strikeout to end the
inning.
Halifax had another scoring opportunity go by the boards
in the fourth inning, Lashunda Davis and Nelson hitting
consecutive singles with one out, but a strikeout and groundout
kept the game scoreless.
Heather Oakes was stranded at first after a two-out walk
in the fifth, but Halifax broke through for the game’s
only runs in the sixth inning, all coming with two outs.
Nelson walked on a 3-2 count to start the rally, and Reeves
smacked a double to left center field to make it 1-0. Ferrell
singled to put runners at the corners, and Clark singled
home Reeves for the final run of the game.
The only Comets error of the game and stolen base put the
leadoff runner at second in the top of the seventh, but
three consecutive flyouts sealed the win for Halifax, which
improved to 7-3 on the season. The Comets were 3-0 in the
Western Valley District entering Tuesday’s game here
against Patrick Henry, and travel to Heritage tomorrow for
a rematch with the Pioneers. The game at Heritage is scheduled
to start at 6:30 p.m.
Comets
Girls Netters Lose To Glass 9-0
Halifax Competes In WVD Tourney Tomorrow
BY Doug Ford
G-V STAFF WRITER
The Comets girls tennis team closed out its regular season
here Monday against Western Valley District powerhouse E.C.
Glass, Halifax dropping an 0-9 decision to the Hilltoppers.
Despite the loss, Comets coach Greg Donner said his team
played with confidence and had moments of excellent play
against a team he described as one of the state’s best.
“The Hilltoppers are strong from top to bottom in the
lineup and we managed to force long points and games, especially
at the number four through six positions," said Donner.
“At number four singles, Shanna [Luck] came within
several points of winning to force a third set tie-break.
In doubles the numbers one [Luck/Anne Frazier Elliott] and
two [Amanda Holmes/Colleen Barnes] teams played their best
matches of the year, but were unable to win the big points,"
continued Donner.
“It was gratifying for me to see the real progress
we had made since our first match against Glass."
Donner added all of his seniors got playing time in their
last match, including Sharon Crews and Heather Tuck at the
numbers five and six singles spots.
“They performed well, and although the final scores
didn’t reflect it, the games were close and they forced
deuces in almost every game," said Donner.
The Comets, short on experience entering the season, have
come a long since then, according to Donner.
“We started the season with only three experienced
players and a lot of young players," noted Donner.
“We have progressed a long way in a short time and
it’s easy to see the progress of our younger players.
“It is nice to have a problem of having more good players
than we can play in every match. We have played at least
eight people in each match, and every member of the team
has played in at least one official match.
“I can’t remember any Halifax team with so many
players actually being able to participate in our match
play, and I think the future is very bright if these girls
continue to play and work on their games.
“We will travel to Glass [tomorrow] and Friday for
the tournament, and I think we have a chance to make a good
showing, especially in doubles. Both of our teams have been
playing well and with a good draw, we could progress in
the field."
Halifax 0, E.C. Glass 9
Singles Results
1. Anne Frazier Elliott (H) lost to Anne Day 0-6, 2-6
2. Amanda Holmes (H) lost to Claire Shenkel 0-6, 0-6
3. Colleen Barnes (H) lost to Lindsey Dawson 1-6, 0-6
4. Shanna Luck (H) lost to Kelly Will 1-6, 5-7
5. Sharon Crews (H) lost to Leigh Sheldon 0-6, 0-6
6. Heather Tuck (H) lost to Deniz Ataman 0-6, 0-6
Doubles Results
1. Luck/Elliott (H) lost to Day/Will 2-6, 0-6
2. Holmes/Barnes (H) lost to Shenkel/Dawson 1-6, 0-6
3. Lee Lewis/Sarah Bradford McCollum (H) lost to Ataman/Caroline
Gough 0-6, 0-6
