Friday, May 6, 2005

National Day Of Prayer

Prayers for the nation, its leaders, men and
women in the armed services at home and
abroad and families were aired yester
day as town and county residents gathered to observe the 54th Annual National Day of Prayer.
Over 100 gathered at Dan River Baptist Church early Thursday morning for a prayer service preceded by breakfast. The Rev. Doug Gibson, of Dan River Baptist, welcomed town and county officials, law enforcement officers, school personnel and citizens from throughout the county attending the 7 a.m. service.
Gene Riddle, a state police officer for 37 years and a member of Dan River Church, sought God’s blessing on the nation’s leaders, armed forces, law enforcement officers and all of the volunteers who protect, keep and serve the community.
The Rev. Bill LaWall, Dan River Baptist Association Missions Coordinator, called for “a restoration of this nation,” describing the nation as in crisis, besieged morally, ethically and culturally. He said “God’s word and prayer” were needed to bring the nation back where God intended.
At noon, approximately 45 attended a Community Prayer Service in Main Street United Methodist Church’s Prayer Garden in South Boston. The service included prayers for national, state and local leaders as well as families. Both services included special music.

 

Search For Missing Man Suspended

Efforts to find a missing Alton man were called off Wednesday after a day of fruitless searches, the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office reported yesterday.
Maj. R.S.B. Pulliam said that search and rescue teams from multiple jurisdictions were activated Tuesday to assist the sheriff’s office in their efforts to find Willie James Bonner, 78.
Pulliam said Bonner is described as a black male, 5’10", 175 lbs., who was last seen wearing brown pants and a blue sweater before disappearing from his Pointer Road residence.
No current photo is available, according to the major.
According to police, Bonner was reported missing by a relative around 4:19 p.m. Tuesday.
Pulliam said that volunteers and emergency medical personnel including a state police helicopter and canine units have conducted an extensive search of the area surrounding Bonner’s residence.
Efforts to locate Bonner were complicated by the fact that he wasn’t reported missing for nearly seven hours after he walked away from his home around 10 a.m., according to police.
“The search was called off today at noon due to the head start he had and the time that had elapsed (between Bonner disappearing and being reported missing),” Pulliam said Wednesday.
Although the search has been suspended, Pulliam said that anyone who spots a man matching Bonner’s description should call the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office at 476-3334.
“We are looking for help from the citizens of Halifax County to assist us in locating Mr. Bonner," he said. “We haven’t given up looking, but we simply don’t have the manpower to continue to conduct an around-the-clock search."
Pulliam said that law enforcement is continuing to keep an eye out for the missing man and have spread the word to surrounding jurisdictions to be on the lookout for Bonner.
In October, 2003, Bonner was missing for more than two days before being discovered by an employee of Virginia International Raceway at the track.

New King Village Suit Filed Wednesday

Battle Continues To Rage Over King VillageThe Lacy family has filed suit in Halifax County Circuit Court to stop the condemnation of their land for a state-maintained road to the King Village.
Halifax County attorney John Greenbacker Jr. filed the bill of complaint for declaratory judgement and injunctive relief on behalf of D. Epps Lacy and James P. Lacy Wednesday.
The suit names the board of supervisors and Assistant County Administrator Jerry Lovelace as plaintiffs.
Claiming that during eight previous property transfers the county failed to force the owners of property in the subdivision to comply with the county’s subdivision ordinance, the suit alleges the county has violated state code in dealing with the King Village residents.
“Commencing in 1979 and continuing to the present, numerous subdivisions of land in the King Village tract have been conveyed, recorded in the land records of the Circuit Court of Halifax County and maintained by their owners in violation of… the Code of Halifax County and… the Code of Virginia in that they were never submitted to and approved by the defendant Board of Supervisors, the Halifax County Planning Commission or the defendant Lovelace prior to their filing in the records of this court," the suit reads in part.
“Notwithstanding the fact that… Halifax County Code declares any violation of its subdivision ordinance to be a separate misdemeanor for each day such a violation continues, the defendants have refused to exercise their power by virtue of… the Code of Virginia to bring enforcement actions against the aforesaid subdividers and require that they submit their subdivisions to the planning and approval process of Halifax County," Greenbacker continues in the suit.
“As a result of the defendants’ refusal to enforce, the aforesaid subdividers have never been required to conform their actions to the Halifax County subdivision ordinance, which sets minimum requirements for lot size and configuration, setbacks, site suitability, sidelines, drainage, access, monuments and other aspects of orderly land development.
“As a result of the refusal of the defendants to enforce the law and the county ordinance, subdividers within the King Village tract have created and sustained forms of housing development that are inconsistent with good planning and devalue the plaintiffs’ property for future development purposes," the suit continues.
Because they claim the county failed to enforce the subdivision ordinance, the suit asks the court to “forthwith enforce the Halifax County subdivision ordinance against the King Village subdividers identified herein, commencing with the requirement that they submit their subdivisions to defendant Lovelace and subject them to the planning process of Halifax County."
The suit also asks the court to award them the costs of filing the suit.
Years of negotiations between the county and the landowners to transfer the property for the right-of-way broke down in April 2003 when the Lacy family declined to donate the property to the county.
Greenbacker’s suit is in answer to supervisors April 5 suit to condemn approximately three acres of the Lacy property for right-of-way acquisition and six drainage easements.
The Board filed the suit after adopting a resolution authorizing the condemnation during their March meeting.
Supervisors’ suit claims the board has the authority to condemn the property and take title to the property after paying the property’s owners “fair market value" as determined by the Circuit Court.
The Board cites state code as granting “the Board the power to acquire by condemnation title to land, buildings and structures, or any easement thereover, for the purpose of opening, construction, repairing or maintaining and road, of or for any authorized public undertaking, if the terms of purchase cannot be agreed upon."
Supervisors now have 21 days to respond to the suit.

Obituaries

Mary Catherine Hicks

Mary Catherine Hicks, 101, of Roxboro, N.C. died May 2.
Mrs. Hicks was born in Caswell County to the late Nathaniel and Ella Green Taylor Hicks.
Survivors include one son, Charles D. Hicks and wife, Debra, of Roxboro; four grandchildren, Christy Hicks Funk, Lori Hicks Loftis, Ronnie Smith and Donnie Smith; and six great-grandchildren.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. May 5, at Brooks & White Chapel in Roxboro with the Rev. Martin Hall officiating. Burial followed in Person Memorial Cemetery.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Home Health & Hospice of Person County, 325 South Morgan Street, Roxboro, 27573.

John Isaac Jordan

John Isaac Jordan, 86, of 1075 Paul James Road, Halifax died May 3, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Jordan was born in Halifax County on June 30, 1917, to the late Edward Jasper Jordan and Mary Ann Wade Jordan and was married to Dorothy Lee Owen Jordan. He was a member of St. Michael AME Church and was a Masonic Lodge member.
Survivors include his wife; one daughter, Barbara Jordan Ford of Halifax; one son, John Alvin Jordan Sr. of Columbia, Md.; three grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; one son-in-law, the Rev. George W. Ford Sr. of Halifax; and a Goddaughter, Serita W. Durham of Halifax.
Funeral services for Mr. Jordan will be held May 8, at 3 p.m. at St. Michael AME Church with the Revs. Gloria Skinner-Pettiford and Isaac T. Jackson officiating. Burial w ill follow in Oak Ridge Cemetery.
The family is receiving friends at the home.

Sara Wilburn Martin

Sara Wilburn Martin, 95, of 1044 Joel’s Lane, Nathalie died May 5, at her home. She was the wife of the late Thomas Bennett Martin.
Mrs. Martin was born in Halifax County on June 20, 1909, the daughter of the late Asa Vaughan Wilburn Sr. and Elizabeth Canada Wilburn. She was a member of Republican Grove Methodist Church.
Survivors include two sons, Ray W. Martin and wife, Georgia, of Granada Hills, Calif. And Robert B. Martin and wife, Laverne, of Lynchburg; two daughters, Madaline Crim of Winchester and Phyllis Griffin of Norfolk; one sister, Mattie Hardy of South Boston; 12 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; two special caregivers, Lucille Woosley and Barbara Stevens. Mrs. Martin was also preceded in death by one son, Asa Vaughan Martin; five brothers, Bryant, Obie, Claude, Lennis and A.V. Wilburn; two sisters, Ruby Davenport and Cordie Williams.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. on May 9, at Republican Grove Methodist Church by the Rev. Robert Newcomb. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends from 3 to 5 Sunday afternoon, May 8, at Henderson Funeral Home in Brookneal, and other times at the home.

James Kenneth Milam

James Kenneth Milam, 60, of 111 Rosehill Drive, South Boston died May 5, at The Woodview.
Mr. Milam was born June 13, 1944, in Sanford, N.C. the son of the late Woodrow Wilson Milam Sr. and Beatrice Hall White. He was a member of Ash Avenue Baptist Church.
Survivors include two brothers,Woodrow Wilson Milam Jr. of South Boston and Joseph Calvin Milam of Virgilina; devoted friends, Helen Coates and her daughters, Yvonne and Earle. Mr. Milam was also preceded in death by a sister, Audrey Frances Milam.
Graveside services will be held tomorrow, May 7, at 11 a.m. at Oak Ridge Cemetery with the Rev. John Eure officiating.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Halifax County Cancer Association, P.O. Box 875, South Boston, or Halifax Regional Hospice, 2204 Wilborn Avenue, South Boston.

Flossie Dabbs Teel

Flossie Dabbs Teel, 72, of Peekskill, N.Y., formerly of Clover, died April 30, at her home.
Mrs. Teel was born January 17, 1933, to the late James Dabbs and Lola Hudson Dabbs and was married to the late Reginald W. Teel.
Survivors include one daughter, Neishell Elam of Peekskill; one son, Reginald Teel of Peekskill; six sisters, Estelle Edmondson, Lillian Edmondson, Saluda Carrington and Mary Dabbs, all of Clover, Arlene Wagner and Lottie Morton, both of Albany, N.Y.; four brothers, Lovelist Dabbs and David Dabbs, both of Clover, Chester Dabbs and Jessie Dabbs, both of Peekskill; and one grandchild, Ashley Elam.
Funeral services for Mrs. Teel will be held tomorrow, May 7, at 11 a.m. at Bethlehem Baptist Church with the Rev. Whitfield Scott officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

Edward Francis Gillispie

Mr. Edward Francis Gillispie, 46, formerly of Clarksville, died May 1 at his residence in National City, California.
Edward Gillispie was born September 2, 1958, in Mecklenburg County, and was the son of the late Eva Belle Gillispie Mangum. He was a member of Second Baptist Church in Clarksville.
Edward Gillispie is survived by his father, Eugene M. Mangum, of Clarksville; his wife, Nancy Gillispie of National City, California; two sons, Angle and Marcus; three daughters, Cassandra, Katina and Quanito, all of California; eight grandchildren; four brothers, Erwin Gillispie (Theola) of Oxford, N.C., Eugene Gillispie (Emily) of Virginia Beach, Karl Revis (Shirley) of Clarksville, and Mark Smith of North Carolina; six sisters, Thelma Goode, Carolyn Mangum, Sheila Smith, all of Clarksville, Vanessa Hosmer of Livermore, California, Allyson Hilliard of South Boston and Brenda Love of Chase City; two uncles, four aunts, and a number of other relatives and friends.
A memorial service for Mr. Edward Francis Gillispie will be held tomorrow, May 7, at 2 p.m. at the Chapel of C.H. Harris Funeral Home, Clarksville, with the Rev. Chester Terry officiating.

Comets Notch Wins Over PH, Franklin Co.

Baseball Team Scored Two Big District Road Wins With A 12-1 Victory Over Patrick Henry And a 2-1 Win Over Franklin County

BY Joe Chandler
G-V STAFF WRITER

The Halifax County High School varsity baseball team faced a tough situation this week with two Western Valley District road contests in as many days.
And, it passed the test with flying colors.
The Comets kept the chase for the regular-season Western Valley District crown close with a 12-1 win Tuesday over Patrick Henry in Roanoke and held on to score a narrow 2-1 win over Franklin County Wednesday in Rocky Mount.
With the wins, the Comets (13-3, 4-1 district) stayed within a game of district leader GW while producing a two-game cushion over both Franklin County and E.C. Glass, their closest challengers in the district chase.
“When you sit back and think about what we accomplished this week, we had a big week," said Comets coach Kelvin Davis.
“These two wins relieves us a little bit. Unless something bad happens, we’re pretty much assured we will finish no worse than second place and get a home game in the first round of the district tournament.
“We haven’t given up on first place," added Davis.
“We still have a chance at first place and we’re going to try our best to get it."
Wednesday’s win over Franklin County was a big one for the Comets in that it came in a closely contested game in which pitching and defense were the keys.
Tyler Clarke, the Comets’ senior hurler, faced the Eagles’ Lincoln Garner in a tough pitching battle and prevailed despite yielding six hits and walk while fanning one batter. Garner, by contrast recorded 12 strikeouts and gave up one alk and four hits.
The statistics, however, weren’t the story for Clarke who picked up the win by keeping the Franklin County batters off balance throughout the night.
“Tyler did what he’s been doing all year – throwing strikes," said Davis.
“He threw his fastball for strikes and he threw his curve and change-up for strikes. Tyler didn’t strike out but one batter but that doesn’t indicate how well he really pitched. He did a good job of keeping the hitters off balance. He had a lot of confidence in his defense and our guys played real good defense behind Tyler."
The Comets scored their two runs in the top of the top of the first inning when Chris Conner led off with the first of the team’s four hits on the night and scored when Justin Armistead reached base on an error. A one-out single by Chris Perkins plated Armistead to give the Comets a 2-0 lead.
The Comets managed to get a runner on base in the third, fourth and seventh innings but could never mount a serious scoring threat.
Defensively, the Comets turned in a gem of a game, turning back Franklin County after the Eagles got their leadoff batter on base in the bottom of the fourth, fifth and seventh innings.
In the bottom of the fourth inning, Garner attempted to help his own cause with a leadoff triple. But, thanks to some good pitching by Clarke and some good defensive plays, the Comets retired the next three batters. One popped up to catcher Miles Thomas and the other two were retired on routine ground balls to the infield.
A leadoff single in the top of the fifth inning appeared to threaten the Comets but the Comets set the Eagles down again, this time with two fly balls to the outfield and a ground ball to the infield.
Things got interesting in the final inning when Franklin County got its leadoff batter on base with a hit. That runner was erased on a fielder’s choice play but another runner was left at first base as a result.
A one-out double by B. Flora scored a run, making it a 2-1 score. But a ground ball to Comets shortstop Clyde Brooks and a grounder back to the Clarke at the mound allowed the Comets to get the final two outs and preserve the win.
The Comets got half of their four hits in the game from Conner and got a hit each from Armistead and Perkins
In Tuesday’s contest, the Comets took advantage of seven hits, three of which came from Jeremy Jeffress, and a half-dozen Patrick Henry errors to roll up an easy 12-1 win in a game stopped after five inning under a slaughter rule.
Jeffress’ 3-4 night at the plate included two doubles and single, good enough to net him three RBIs.
David Lacks also had a good night at the plate with two hits that included a double, as he and Jeffress accounted for five of the team’s seven hits.
Chris Conner and Willie Stephens had one hit each.
Lacks had a good night all the way around for the Comets, going the distance on the mound, yielding only three hits and one walk while fanning four batters.
The Comets jumped on top early, scoring a run in the bottom of the first inning when Armistead was struck by a pitch, advanced to third base on a single from Jeffress and scored when Perkins hit into a fielder’s choice.
Three more Comets runs in the top of the third inning made it a 4-0 lead.
Conner reached base on an error with one out and Armistead followed by reaching base on another PH error. A double by Jeffress scored both Conner and Armistead and Jeffress scored when Brooks reached base on an error.
The Patriots scored their only run in the bottom of the third inning when D. Bagbey reached base with a one-out hit and A. Hart plated Bagby with a triple.
Leading 4-1, the Comets took advantage of a leadoff double from Lacks, three walks and a pair of Patrick Henry errors to score four runs in the top of the fourth inning and run the score up to 8-1.
Four more Comets runs in the top of the fifth inning put the contest out of reach for Patrick Henry.
The big inning started when Matt Conner, subbing for Brooks who was injured earlier in the game, reached base on an error, moved to third base on a hit from Lacks and scored on a sacrifice by Blake Waller.
A hit by Stephens and a run-scoring hit by Conner followed. Jeffress then came up with another double to add another run to swell the Comets’ lead past the 10-run margin.
Patrick Henry managed to get a runner on base in the bottom of the fifth inning when Lacks walked the first batter in the inning. But, the Comets’ defense held and the game was stopped at that point under the slaughter rule.

Halifax Comets Varsity Girls Soccer Team Lands Big Win Over PH

The HCHS Varsity Girls Soccer Team Scored A Key 1-0 Win Over Patrick Henry Tuesday But Fell To Franklin County 7-0 Wednesday

BY Joe Chandler
G-V STAFF WRITER

After eight years of trying, the Halifax County High School varsity girls team has pulled off a win against one of the traditional Western Valley District soccer powers.
The Comets pulled off the big win here Tuesday night, with a 1-0 shutout of Patrick Henry, a win that all but assured the Comets of finishing high enough to earn a berth in the Western Valley District Tournament.
“This is a great win for our program,” said Comets head coach Sid Young.
“This is the best we have played all year. The way I see it now, this win should get us into the tournament. The only way I could see that it would not be automatic for us would be if E.C. Glass completely falls apart and GW wins all of its remaining district games.”
Unfortunately, the ceiling fell in on the Comets here Wednesday night as Franklin County dominated the contest and blanked the Comets 7-0.
The split in the two contests puts the Comets at 6-4 overall and 2-3 in Western Valley District play.
“We just didn’t play well," Young said of the Franklin County contest.
“I think having played such a hard game the night before took a lot out of the girls. We didn’t play with the same intensity we did against Patrick Henry and GW.
“Franklin County has a good team," added Young.
“But, they’re not seven goals better than we are."
The Comets fell behind 2-0 in the first half of Wednesday’s game against Franklin County and never recovered.
“We were behind 2-0 at the half and I felt like we could still get back into the game and come back on them a little bit," Young said.
“But, Franklin County scored a couple of quick goals early in the second half and that really took us out of it."
The Comets managed to get off only nine shots at the Franklin County goal as compared to Franklin County’s 20 shots.
Libby Austin and Olivia Leonard, the Comets’ two goalies, combined for a total of 16 saves.
Not only did the Comets have the misfortune of the loss, they saw another injury hit the already injury-plagued team.
Defender Courtney McGill sustained a foot injury in the first half and did not return to action. Her status was not known yesterday at press time.
The Comets displayed a great effort in Tuesday’s win over Patrick Henry. While Young was more than happy to see his team come away with the big win, he said the margin could have been larger.
“We missed at least balls that I thought were scores in the first half,” he pointed out.
“Melissa Smith had a breakaway early in the game and was apparently rushed by the (PH goalkeeper and a hard shot missed. Mary Beale and Lacy Will also had opportunities but couldn’t convert.”
The result was a 0-0 deadlock at halftime. However, it was the Comets that had the edge as they out shot Patrick Henry 15-7 in the first 40 minutes. Leonard, the Comets’ goalkeeper, had a half-dozen saves.
That was a big turnaround from when the two teams met for the first time in Roanoke when the Comets managed to get off only six shots during the entire game.
The Comets scored their lone goal in the second half and it came with some controversy.
That goal, which came about four minutes into the second half, came when the Comets’ Emily Nichols kicked a long ball upfield. Smith ran under the ball, got control, went one-on-one against the Patriots’ goalkeeper and kicked it into the net.
“The coach from Patrick Henry thought offsides should have been called,” said Young.
“I looked at the film and as best as I could determine, Melissa was onside when the ball was played.”
Young said he was very pleased with his team’s effort in the contest.
“We played with a great deal of intensity all night,” Young said.
“I thought everybody played well. Our defense did a very good job. Olivia did a good job in the goal and had some big saves. Julia Rogers had an outstanding game at sweeper. Emily Nichols and Angel Wilkins did a good job as wing defenders and Courtney McGill played well at stopper.
“I’m very proud of all of the girls,” Young concluded.
The Comets were back in action last night with a road game against Nottoway, giving them back-to-back contests in a three-night span.

Halifax Comets Varsity Softball Defeats PH 4-0

Pitching, Defense, Key Hits Lead To WVD Win

BY Doug Ford
G-V STAFF WRITER

The Comets varsity softball team got a gutsy, complete-game pitching performance from an injured Beth Throckmorton, key hits to help score three runs, and three double plays from its defense to beat Patrick Henry 4-0 here Tuesday.
Tuesday’s win, the first Western Valley District win at home this season for the Comets, gave Halifax a 4-0 record in the district and 8-3 mark overall.
The Comets did what they needed to do, both at the plate and in the field to overcome a good Patriots team, according to coach Melanie Saunders.
“Our bats still weren’t as strong today as they have been, but we got hits when we needed them, and were able to execute the fundamentals, which was good," began Saunders. “We were able to lay down some bunts and get timely hits to move the runners."
Halifax also got a complete-game three hitter from Throckmorton, who struck out five batters in seven innings. Throckmorton went the distance, despite taking a line drive to the face in the second inning. She scattered three hits and walked none, getting a big third out on a strikeout in the fourth to end a Patriot threat after giving up a leadoff double.
Saunders later confirmed that Throckmorton suffered a hairline fracture of the jaw and is out for the remainder of the season.
“Beth pitched well again, despite being hit that hard in the second inning," noted Saunders. “For her to be that mentally tough and stay out there for us today was big.
“The kids realized that and got behind her.
“I told her [Throckmorton] no game is more important than a player, but she wanted to stay out there, and she came back."
Halifax got only two additional hits in Tuesday’s game after Amanda Rogers’ two-out double in the first, but the Comets made them count.
The Comets’ first run came in the second inning without the benefit of a hit. Lori Reeves and Keyara Ferrell reached on consecutive errors, Reeves scoring on the second miscue, but the Comets strung together two hits in the third to help plate its final three runs.
Jasmine Parker and Mallory Lawter got consecutive base hits to start the rally, Rogers reached on an error, and Lashunda Davis hit a sacrifice fly to score Rogers with the Comets’ third run of the game.
Halifax had only two other base runners the remainder of the game, Reeves and Ferrell reaching on consecutive errors in the sixth, but Throckmorton, with the help of her defense, kept the Patriots off the scoreboard.
The first double play came with one out in the second inning, a Patriot runner on first after her line drive struck Throckmorton. The junior right hander started a 1-6-3 double play to get out of the inning, and the Comets turned another double play an inning later.
That one came after an error put a Patriots runner at first base. Lawter snared a pop fly on an attempted sacrifice bunt and fired to Rogers covering first to double up the runner.
A key Throckmorton strikeout ended a Patrick Henry threat in the fourth, stranding a runner at second base, and another Patriots runner was stranded at first after a two-out single in the sixth, Throckmorton getting a flyout to end the inning.
The Comets turned another double play to end the game after a one-out single in the top of the seventh, shortstop Davis ranging to her left to scoop up a ground ball, before stepping on second and firing to first to end the game.
Tuesday’s game was a key win for Halifax, but there’s a long way to go in the district race, cautioned Saunders.
“We haven’t seen Franklin County yet, and I know they have a good team. This district is still very tight and very competitive, and anything can happen. This is a big win for us, and it keeps our momentum going forward."
Halifax, which played a non-district game last night at Heritage, returns home Tuesday to face district opponent E.C. Glass. Game time is 6p.m.