Friday, May 12, 2006

 

Durham Man Indicted

Charged With Stealing Credit Cards, Checks From Teachers

A 27-year-old Durham man was indicted by a Halifax County Grand Jury Monday on charges of stealing credit cards and checks from teachers at Sydnor Jennings Elementary School in Volens.
Conrad Alexander Burke, of Green Street, was indicted on three counts of stealing checks, one count of stealing a credit card and one count of breaking and entering.
The indictments stem from a May 2 arrest where Burke was allegedly found in possession of stolen checks and a visitor’s pass to Sydnor-Jennings Elementary School in Volens, according to police reports.
Earlier in the day on May 2, Halifax police issued an all points bulletin in connection with reports of stolen checks from Halifax and Washington-Coleman elementary schools.
Burke is being held without bond in the Halifax Regional Jail and the investigation is continuing into reported stolen property from other county schools, Halifax County Sheriff Jeff Oakes said.
In other police business, Levi Louis West, 22, of Indian Trail Road in Buffalo Junction, was charged Wednesday with the assault and battery of Benjamin Wyman.
The alleged offense occurred November 3, 2005.
Deputy Q.W. Clark issued the summons.
Michael Hare, 18, of Willow Street in South Boston, was charged Wednesday with contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
The alleged offense occurred between March 1 and April 28.
Deputy Q.W. Clark issued the summons.
Erica Ballou, 24, and Louise Ballou, 62, both of Sinai Road in South Boston, were charged Wednesday with the assault and battery of Pamela Brown.
The alleged offense occurred Tuesday.
Deputy Q.W. Clark issued the summons.
Jeff Bagbey, 45, of Ninth Street in Virgilina, was charged Wednesday with the assault and battery of Laurie Weindel.
The alleged offense occurred May 5.
Deputy Q.W. Clark issued the summons.

 

Noland Fair Day Kicks Off Saturday Morning

Two 1840s’s homes as well as the oldest Presbyterian Church in Halifax County will be open Saturday during the annual Noland Fair Day in Providence.
The John Carr House, circa 1845, is one that will be open Saturday. The house has a basic two room and center hall floor plan. The center hall between the main house of logs and the newer clapboard two-story addition was once a dog-trot. This ten-foot space was later filled in to create the central hall and stairway to the second floor.
Also open, the Blanks-Irby House, a replica of the house in which Ruth Irby and Elysee Blanks lived after their wedding in Halifax Church. The current house, which was built around 1840, was moved about five miles to the Noland Village site and rebuilt. The Blanks were married in 1917 before moving into their new home
Antique dealers, classic car collectors, antique farm machinery owners and crafters will exhibit on the grounds from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m.
Brunswick stew, hot dogs and homemade baked goods will be available at noon, and throughout the day Kermit Wright and The Liberty Band, along with the Sargent Family of Louisa, will provide entertainment.
Special guest Sherry Buttrick of the Virginia Outdoors Foundation will discuss conservation easements at 10:30 a.m. in historic Halifax Church.
The Virginia Outdoors Foundation’s mission is to promote the preservation of open space lands and to preserve the natural, scenic, historic, open-space and recreational areas.

 

Halifax Woman Dies In Martinsville

Police Investigating Suspicious Death

Martinsville Police investigators are collecting evidence related to the late-night death of a Halifax woman.
Two men transported Shelby Darlene Reagan, age 43, of L.P. Bailey Highway in Halifax, to Memorial Hospital of Martinsville and Henry County late Tuesday evening and then left, according to a police report.
Medical personnel were unable to revive Reagan.
An autopsy has been ordered at the State Medical Examiner’s Office in Roanoke.
Martinsville Police Department officers were dispatched to the hospital at 1:56 a.m. Wednesday morning regarding the suspicious death, according to the report issued by Matt Hankins, communications director.
Investigators G.C. Dove and C.H. Rhoads have been conducting interviews with persons who may have knowledge of the cause and location of death, according to the Hankins.

 

Comets Win Title; Earn Region Tourney Berth

With The Regular-Season District Title In Hand, HCHS Faces Archrival GW Here Tonight At 7 P.M.

It’s not very often that a Halifax County-GW baseball game doesn’t have critical implications for the Comets.
But, it will be that way tonight when the two archrivals square off here at 7 p.m. at Halifax County High School.
There is no pressure at all on the Comets as they will enter tonight’s game with the luxury of having already locked up the Western Valley District regular-season title and one of the district’s two berths in the Northwest Region Tournament.
The Comets locked up the regular-season district championship with a 7-2 win Tuesday over Patrick Henry in Roanoke in a game in which the Comets pounded PH with 10 hits that included a pair each from Willie Stephens, David Lacks and Bobby Owens.
“That was a huge hurdle for us to get over,” said Comets head coach Kelvin Davis.
“Getting into the Northwest Region Tournament was one of the goals that we had set for ourselves at the start of the season and we have accomplished that. We also know that we will play at home in the first round of the district tournament.
“Getting that win takes all of the pressure off of us,” added Davis.
“Now, we want to play well these last two games (GW tonight and E.C. Glass on Tuesday) and finish the regular-season on a successful note.”
GW, on the other hand, is in the midst of a dogfight with E.C. Glass for second place – another crucial spot as the second-place team gets a home game in the first round of the district tournament.
Regardless of the circumstances, tonight’s game is still what it is – Halifax County-GW – and, if for no other reason than the rivalry factor, tonight’s game is sure to be another good one for baseball fans.
Davis said he expects nothing less tonight than the usual tough Halifax-GW game.
“Anytime Halifax County and GW get together it’s a great matchup,” Davis said.
“This a big rivalry game and the tension is going to be up for both teams. With the rivalry it’s one of those games that neither team wants to lose. It’s going to be a great game.”
The big thing tonight, Davis said, is there is no pressure riding on this game.
“We’re going to come out and play Comets baseball and play to win like we do every game,” Davis said.
“The thing is that win or lose, we’re going to be fine.”
In Tuesday’s 7-2 win over Patrick Henry, the Comets got a solid effort from senior hurler Jeremy Jeffress who was battling a case bronchitis.
Jeffress went four and two thirds innings, fanning eight of the 17 batters he faced and allowing only one hit, a single in the bottom of the first inning.
Jeffress hit two PH batters in the bottom of the fourth inning and walked one batter after striking out the first two batters in the bottom of the fifth inning. After that walk, Jeffress’ day on the hill ended and Chris Fisher was brought in to take over.
“Jeremy did a great job,” Davis pointed out.
“He had bronchitis and still wanted to pitch. He gave us all he had. We were able to get some runs and get him out of the game and give him some rest.”
The Comets had scored six runs in the top of the fourth inning and added another run in the fifth inning and had staked Jeffress to a 7-0 lead before he left the game.
Halifax County rocked PH for six hits in the big fourth-inning rally with a two-RBI single from Lacks, a run-scoring single from Owens and a run-scoring double by Jacob Swillie and a run-scoring hit by Stephens fueling the rally.
The Comets added another run in the top of the fifth inning when Tony Barbour reached base on an error and scored on a double by Lacks to make it a 7-0 lead.
Fisher yielded two runs with two out in the bottom of the sixth inning as PH cut the deficit to five runs.
Owens came to the mound to relieve Fisher with one out in the bottom of the seventh inning and he and the Comets were able to seal the win.
In addition to getting two hits and three RBIs from Lacks, two hits and two RBIs from Stephens and two hits and one RBI from Owens, the Comets got a hit each from Justin Bagbey, Scott Gieselman, Barbour and Swillie.
The Comets had a good night defensively as well, committing only one error.

 

Comets Varsity Softball Team Rocks PH 10-1

Halifax Maintains Share Of WVD Lead

The Comets varsity softball team maintained a share of first-place in the Western Valley District with a big 10-1 win Tuesday at Patrick Henry, erasing a 1-0 deficit with eight runs in the fourth inning.
Patrick Henry had used a Comets error and two base hits to take the lead in the third, but Halifax pounded out five of its 12 hits for the game in its next at-bat for a lead it would never relinquish.
Halifax added three hits and a run in each of the last two innings for its final tallies, and that proved more than enough run support for Comets hurlers Beth Throckmorton and Jessica “Moo” Morris, who struck out a combined 16 batters, while walking none.
Throckmorton gave up one run on two hits in five innings of work, finishing with 12 strikeouts, while Morris struck out four batters in two innings of work.
Much like its previous game here last week against Franklin County, the Comets got off to a sluggish start, but put together a big inning to take the lead and eventually the win, according to coach Melanie Saunders.
“We started out slow at the plate, but our pitchers did a good job,” said Saunders, noting the performances of Throckmorton and Morris, who retired the Patriots in order six out of seven innings.
The Comets defense backed their pitchers with a solid game, committing only one error, that in the third inning when Patrick Henry scored its only run.
Halifax had its chances to score before the fourth-inning outburst, loading the bases on two Patrick Henry errors and a walk in the second, but a fielder’s choice and flyout got the Patriots out of the inning.
Halifax got all the runs it would need in the fourth, all coming with only one out. Key Ferrell and Jasmine Parker drew back-to-back walks, Throckmorton reached on an error to plate two runs and Shayna Oakes followed with a two-run base hit to make it 4-1.
Consecutive RBI base hits by Emily New, Liz Trickey, Heather Oakes and Lashunda Davis hiked the Comets’ advantage to 8-1.
Halifax struck again in the sixth and seventh innings for an even greater cushion, Davis hitting a double, Betty Rose an RBI single and Parker another base hit in the sixth.
Mandy Watts and Melissa Sims led off the Comets’ seventh with base hits, Jessie Lloyd reached on a fielder’s choice and Amelia Saunders collected a base hit, Watts scoring on an error for the Comets’ final run.
A total of 11 Comets got at least one hit against Patrick Henry, Davis finishing with two, and Trickey, Sims, Heather Oakes, Rose, Saunders, Parker, Throckmorton, Shayna Oakes, New and Watts with one each.
The Comets, now 5-1 in the district and 16-3 overall, have another must-win game here today at 5 p.m. against GW to stay in the hunt for the regular season title and an automatic berth in the Northwest Region Tournament.
The contest marks the final regular season home game for seniors Beth Throckmorton, Jessica Morris, Jessie Lloyd, Jasmine Parker, Heather Oakes and Mandy Watts.

 

Comets Girls Soccer Team Reaches Milestone

HCHS Downed PH And Nottoway To Give HCHS Its First Ever 10-Win Season In Varsity Girls Soccer

The Halifax County High School varsity girls soccer program has hit a milestone.
With a 4-1 win Tuesday over Patrick Henry and a 5-0 win Wednesday over Nottoway, the Comets varsity girls soccer team reached the 10-win plateau, marking the first time that a Comets varsity girls soccer team has won 10 games in a single season.
“It’s very rewarding,” said Comets coach Sid Young.
“I remember that the first year we had a girls soccer team we finished 6-4. A couple of previous teams came close. I know Jim Barczak had a couple of real good seasons when he coached. To my knowledge, this is the first time we’ve done this. I’m very happy for our girls.”
The good thing for Young and his Comets team is that it has opportunities to tack on more wins. Halifax County has a road game tonight against GW and will face E.C. Glass here Tuesday night to round out the regular season. The Comets will also play at least one district tournament game, giving them at least three chances to add to their win total.
Halifax County pretty much assured itself of a spot in the Western Valley District Tournament with a 4-1 win here Tuesday over Patrick Henry.
“That was a big win for us,” Young pointed out.
“I had told the girls that if we win that one it would put us in the tournament. The only way that we would not get in is if Patrick Henry upsets both E.C. Glass and GW and I don’t think that is likely to happen.”
Tonight’s game against GW in Danville is another big one for the Comets in that a win over GW could put the Comets in third place and give them a better seed for the district tournament.
“If we beat GW, we will have three district wins and a tie and the best GW could do would be to have two wins and a tie,” Young pointed out.
“This is a very crucial game for us.”
Young noted that regardless of the records, the Comets-GW matchup is always a tough matchup.
“It doesn’t matter what the records are, it’s always a tough game,” said Young.
“GW has got a really good defense. I feel like we’ve got a good defense and that our offense is a little better. What it’s going to come down to is how we are able to counter their defense.”
In Tuesday’s Western Valley District game against Patrick Henry, the Comets jumped on top early, held a 2-0 lead at halftime and added two more goals in the second half to seal the 4-1 win.
Courtney McGill put the Comets on the scoreboard first, nailing a penalty kick at the 17-minute mark of the first half to put the Comets up 1-0. The scoring opportunity was created when the Comets’ Mary Beale was fouled in the penalty box.
Later, at the 23-minute mark of the first half, Melissa Smith scored with the help of an assist from Lacy Will to put the Comets up 2-0.
Patrick Henry hit paydirt quickly in the second half, nailing a shot 45 seconds into the half to make it a 2-1 Comets lead.
McGill answered for the Comets, hitting a long shot of about 25 yards 18 minutes into the half to put the Comets back up by two goals at 3-1. Beale added the final Comets goal at the 32-minute mark with the help of an assist from Will.
While the Comets scored four goals in the game, they came to scoring more times as Kirsten Marvin barely missed scoring on three occasions.
The Comets dominated the contest with 34 shots on goals as compared to 12 for Patrick Henry. Halifax County had nine corner kicks as compared to two for Patrick Henry.
Wednesday night’s 5-0 win over Nottoway came easily with the Comets scoring four goals in the first half and throttling back to work on their passing game in the second game.
“We didn’t push the girls hard at all,” said Young.
“We let people who normally don’t get a lot of playing time start and we played a lot of people at different positions than what they normally play. The girls had fun and enjoyed it.”
Marvin put the Comets on top early, hitting a goal at the 8:46 mark of the first half to give halifax County a 1-0 lead. Brittney Fifer scored a goal at the 13:12 mark of the first half with an assist from McGill to make it a 2-0 Comets lead.
Amanda Barksdale connected at the 29:08 mark of the first half with the help of an assist from C.J. Hartridge to give the Comets a 3-0 lead. Will polished off the big first half for the Comets with a goal at the 34:10 mark to put the Comets ahead 4-0, a lead they held until halftime.
Marvin scored the Comets’ final goal at the 7:20 mark of the second half to cap the 5-0 win.
The Comets out shot Nottoway 18-2 in the first half and finished the game with a 32-2 edge in the shot column.

 

Obituaries

Shelby Darlene Wilson Reagan
Shelby Darlene Wilson Reagan, 43, of 4241 L.P. Bailey Highway, Halifax, died May 9, 2006 in Martinsville Memorial Hospital.
Mrs. Reagan was born in Halifax County on August 7, 1962, the daughter of Merritt Wilson and the late Shelby Jean Elliott Wilson, and was married to James A. ‘Jimmy’ Reagan Jr. She was a member of Florence Avenue Baptist Church.
Survivors include her husband; her father of Virgilina; two daughters, Jennifer Darlene Martin and Shelby Lynn Reagan, both of Halifax; one son, James A. ‘Jim’ Reagan III of Halifax; one brother, Mitchell Wright Wilson of Virgilina; one sister, Sharon Denette New of South Boston; one grandchild, MaKenzie Elizabeth Puryear; and her step-grandfather, Colonel Lowery.
Funeral services for Mrs. Reagan will be held tomorrow, May 13, at 2 p.m. at Florence Avenue Baptist Church with the Revs. Sean McKenzie and Les Puryear officiating. Burial will follow in the Wilson Family Cemetery, Virgilina.
The family will receive friends at Brooks Funeral Home this evening, May 12, from 7:00 until 8:30, and other times at the home.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Florence Avenue Baptist Church.
Online condolences may be sent to brooksfh@earthlink.net
Vastine Waller Borden
Funeral services for Mrs. Vastine Waller Borden of South Boston will be held Saturday at 11 a.m. at Jeffress Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Alfred L. Harrison officiating.
Mrs. Borden, 83, died Wednesday at Halifax Regional Hospital.
She was born in Halifax County on April 12, 1923, a daughter of the late John Thomas Waller and Sally Miller Waller, and was married to the late Isaiah Borden.
She was a member of Ebenezer CME Church.
Mrs. Borden is survived by three nephews, Herbert Boxley of Orange, N.J., William Penick and Robert Wade, both of South Boston, and three nieces, Carolyn Penick and Karen Wade, both of South Boston, and Juanda Boxley of Orange, N.J.
Other survivors include great nieces and nephews and a host of other relatives and friends.
Mrs. Borden was preceded in death by four sisters, Annie Boxley, Gertrude McCraw, Madeline Walker and Minnie Waller, and one brother, Joe Waller.
The family will receive friends at her residence, 2020 Jeffress Blvd., South Boston.
In lieu of flowers, the family request that you consider the Ebenezer CME Church Building Fund, 2309 North Main Street, South Boston, Va. 24592.