Wednesday, May 17, 2006

Federal Suit Aimed At Local Gun Dealer
Store Clerk Accused Of Illegally Selling Firearm To Private Investigators
Mark Cole, owner of Cole’s Gun Shop in South Boston, claims his store has never knowingly engaged in illegal firearm sales.
Cole’s statement yesterday followed a federal lawsuit brought by New York City officials claiming the store violated federal and state statutes by engaging in “straw sales” of firearms.
“I have never practiced any illegal practices at this shop,” Cole said Tuesday morning, referring all other questions to his attorney and brother, Michael Cole.
“We are in the process of looking over the lawsuit, which I only received today, and looking at the video,” the attorney said. “When all that is done we will issue a statement.”
The attorney for the business also said, “We categorically deny that we have ever knowingly made a straw sale to anyone, ever.”
Between 1994 and 2001, 32 guns used in crimes in New York City have been traced back to Cole’s Gun Shop, according to a statement released by New York City Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg’s office Monday.
In October 2001, a 15-year-old boy was arrested on a street in Brooklyn for possession of a loaded .32 caliber handgun traced to Coles, according to the statement.
And in June 2002, two 16-year-olds were charged with gun possession for bringing a .380-caliber handgun allegedly from Coles to Tottenville High School on Staten Island, the release said.
New York also hired investigators with hidden cameras from the James Mintz Group, a private investigative firm, to travel to gun dealers in five states to attempt to make “straw purchases” from the gun shops.
The investigators, in teams of two, entered gun stores and followed a scenario commonly known as “straw purchasing” – where one individual makes all of the inquiries into purchasing the gun, and then the other individual, completely uninvolved in the sale process, fills out the required federal forms to pass the background check, according to the mayor’s release.
All 15 dealers named in the suit allegedly sold a gun to a team of undercover investigators, who wore hidden cameras during the sting operations, according to the mayor’s office.
Federal law prohibits licensed dealers from selling firearms to individuals when they have a reasonable belief that the firearm being sold is not for the person who purports to be the purchaser, according to the release.
Coles Gun Shop is one of 15 gun dealers in five states named in NYC’s lawsuit. Three other Virginia gun dealers, Webb’s Sporting Goods in Madison Heights, Old Dominion Gun & Tackle in Danville and Patriot Services in Richmond were also named in the lawsuit.
New York City officials said they would turn over the information from their investigation to local authorities who will decide if any laws have been broken.
Halifax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Kim White said yesterday that her office has had no contact of any kind with New York officials.
At a press conference Monday, Mayor Bloomberg, joined by Corporation Counsel Michael A. Cardozo, Police Commissioner Raymond W. Kelly and Criminal Justice Coordinator John Feinblatt, announced the suit in the Federal District Court for the Eastern District of New York against the15 gun dealers alleged to have sold firearms in violation of federal law.
The lawsuit seeks injunctive relief intended to halt the dealers’ alleged illegal practices, and to recover monetary damages.  The 15 gun dealers named in the lawsuit were targeted because of the large number of guns that have been traced back to them following crimes committed in New York City, according to Bloomberg’s statement. 
Based only on the incomplete data available to the city, more than 500 crime guns recovered by the New York City Police Department have been traced to 15 gun dealers between 1994 and 2001, according the mayor’s statement. 
“Today, we are sending a clear message to rogue gun dealers across the nation: straighten up and follow the law – or face the consequences,” said Bloomberg at the press conference. “We can’t afford to allow out-of-state dealers to sell illegally - too many people die every year because they do.  This lawsuit is major step forward in our efforts to keep illegal guns out of our city. 
“By and large, most gun dealers respect and follow the law, but the small group of dealers that do not should be held accountable – not protected by the disastrous legislation being considered in Congress,” Bloomberg added. “It’s time to hold these dealers responsible for their illegal actions – and that’s exactly what this lawsuit intends to do.”

The 15 dealers named in the suit are:
A-1 Jewelry and Pawn, Inc, Augusta,GA; Big Tom’s Pawn Shop, Savannah,GA; Adventure Outdoors, Smyrna,GA; AAA Pawnbrokers, Hephizbah,GA; The Gun Store, Inc., Doraville,GA; Peddler’s Post, Washington,OH; Jim’s Guns and Whatever, Dayton,OH; Gallery Distributing, Mount Penn,PA; Dunkelberger’s Sports Outfitters, Stroudsburg,PA;  Woody’s Pawnshop, Orangeburg,SC;  Mickalis Pawnshop, Summerville, SC;  Webb’s Sporting Goods, Madison Heights,VA;  Old Dominion Gun & Tackle, Danville,VA;  Cole’s Gun Shop, South Boston,VA;  Patriot Services, Richmond,VA

 

Halifax Goes Secret On Department Plans
Following a public hearing with no citizen comment Monday night on the town’s proposed real estate tax hike, Halifax Town Council voted to go into executive session to discuss “performance of departments.”
Council split three-three on the vote to go into closed session. Councilmen Allen Stevens, Jack Dunavant and Cabell Daniel voted in favor of the closed session, Councilmen Charles Parker, Phil Hollis and Buddy Guthrie opposed the measure.
Mayor Leon Plaster voted in favor of the closed session to break the tie. He said he wanted to see the matter resolved.
Hollis agreed the matter, which was never identified, should be addressed, but said it should be done in open session.
“We should resolve this matter in public,” Hollis said. “I thought it was going to be addressed at the next work session.”
When making the motion to go into closed session, Dunavant cited section 2.2-3711 of the Virginia Freedom of Information Act, claiming the code allows Council to “evaluate the performance of departments.”
The full code section reads: Public bodies may hold closed meetings only for the following purposes: Discussion, consideration or interviews of prospective candidates for employment; assignment, appointment, promotion, performance, demotion, salaries, disciplining or resignation of specific public officers, appointees or employees of any public body; and evaluation of performance of departments or schools of public institutions of higher education where such evaluation will necessarily involve discussion of the performance of specific individuals. Any teacher shall be permitted to be present during a closed meeting in which there is a discussion or consideration of a disciplinary matter that involves the teacher and some student and the student involved in the matter is present, provided the teacher makes a written request to be present to the presiding officer of the appropriate board.
When Town Manager Carl Espy asked for clarification about what departments would be evaluated in the closed session, Dunavant said it would be decided in the closed meeting.
Council took no action after coming out of the executive session, Espy said.

Supes Pass Amended School Budget
Board Cuts $300,000 From Request. Represents 4.5 Percent Increase Over Current Budget

The Halifax County Board of Supervisors passed a $60,496,830 school budget Monday night, one that cuts the school system request by $300,000 and calls for an allocation of $12,992,430 from the county.
The action came as supervisors met for their reconvened monthly meeting at the Mary Bethune Complex in Halifax.
School officials had originally asked for a $60,796,830 school operating budget, one that includes $13,292,430 in county tax contributions and represented an increase of $4.6 million over this year’s $56,150,864 budget.
Noting that the proposed budget reflected just under a seven percent increase – or $854,000 – over this year’s allocation from the county, Supervisor and Finance Committee Chairman Doug Bowman said he didn’t consider the cut a strain on school operations.
“The school budget has gone up $13 million in the last three years,” he pointed out. “This Board has shown its commitment to education by assuming $70 million in capital improvement projects. I think that commitment from this Board is evidence enough that we care about education.
“I don’t call a $4.6 million increase from the prior year starving an operating budget,” Bowman added.
In his proposed budget, County Administrator Bryan Foster had recommended cutting the schools’ request by $271,000.
“The $300,000 is from the requested amount,” Bowman said. “We cut it by another $29,000.”
In making the cuts, supervisors told school officials that they opposed taking the money cut from the previous request from a planned increase in teacher salaries.
“The Board of Supervisors can only appropriate money for the school district,” Board Chairman William Fitzgerald said. “They have an elected governing body as we are. With the approval of the elected body, the school administration is responsible for where the cuts come from. The majority of this Board feels that the appropriation is adequate for some good things to happen. We feel we’ve made some steps with the school system that haven’t been made in more than 40 years.”
But middle school teacher Bonnie Bowen suggested any cuts to the requested budget would hurt the county’s teachers.
“When you don’t find the money to fund this budget, it has to be cut somewhere,” she said. “I know you don’t dictate where they cut the money, but you tie their hands. Where it ends up getting cut is in our salary.”
School Finance Officer Bill Covington pointed out that the vast majority of the school’s budget is in personnel costs.
“As we look at it, we’d have to impact instruction the least we can,” he said. “We want to set the raises as a priority.”
“I think the biggest thing that concerns me is that instruction will be cut,” Supervisor James Edmunds said. “We don’t want that. I don’t want that. School Board, we want them (teachers) to get their raises.”
On a motion by Bowman and with a second by Edmunds, supervisors approved the school budget on a 7-1 vote with Supervisor R.E. “Dickie” Abbott opposing.

Obituaries

Janice Lila White Alspaugh
Janice Lila White Alspaugh, 62, of 1153 Ferry Trail, Halifax died May 15, 2006, at her home.
Mrs. Alspaugh was born September 27, 1943, in Appomattox County the daughter of the late Luke White and Mildred Burnette White. She was a member of Oak Level Presbyterian Church and was a secretary with the Virginia State Police.
Survivors include one daughter, Ericka Alspaugh Ligon and husband, Keith, of Halifax; two sons, Scott Allen Alspaugh and wife, Tina, of Yulee, Fla. and Jeffrey Eugene Alspaugh of Lakeland, Fla.; two sisters, Grace White Elliott and husband, Donald, of Scottsburg, and Norma White Newbill and husband, Larry, of Halifax; one brother, Larry White and wife, Ruth, of North Royalton, Ohio; nine grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren.
Graveside services for Mrs. Alspaugh will be held tomorrow, May 18, at 2 p.m. at Halifax Memorial Gardens with Don Bagwell conducting the service.
The family will receive friends at Powell Funeral Home this evening, May 17, from 7:00 until 8:30, at other times at her home.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Halifax Regional Hospice, 2204 Wilborn Avenue, South Boston, 24592, or The Halifax County Cancer Association, P.O. Box 875, South Boston.
Online memorials may be directed to Powell@gcronline.com
James Harold Moorman
James Harold Moorman, 60, of Crystal Hill died May 12, 2006, in Atlanta, Ga.
Mr. Moorman was born February 3, 1946, in Halifax County to John Curtis Moorman and the late Anna Bailey Moorman, and was married to the late Ruby Judkins Moorman. He was a member of Crystal Hill Baptist Church.
Survivors include one daughter, Pamela Moorman of Atlanta, Ga.; one son, James Moorman of Atlanta; five sisters, Anna Traynham and Doris Quarles, both of Halifax, Hazel Barksdale and Janice Daniels, both of Alexandria, and Lillian Harper of Oxen Hill, Md.; seven brothers-in-law; two grandchildren; and one daughter-in-law, Vonda Moorman.
Funeral services for Mr. Moorman will be held today, May 17, at 1 p.m. at Crystal Hill Baptist Church with the Rev. Louis Leigh officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
Roy Fletcher Glasscock
Graveside services for Mr. Roy Fletcher Glasscock will be held at 2 p.m. today, May 17, with services at the Virgilina Cemetery.
The Rev. Carroll Glasscock will officiate.
Mr. Glasscock died Monday, May 15 at the Berry Hill Nursing Home. He was 84.
Mr. Glasscock was born in Person County on January 1, 1922, the son of the late William Berry Glasscock and the late Annie Bell Glasscock. He was married to the late Joyce Watts Glasscock, was a member of the Union Christian Church and was the owner/operator of Glasscock’s Store.
He was also a veteran of WWII, where he served in the U.S. Army.
Survivors include two sons, Roy Michael Glasscock of Virgilina and Eddie Lynn Glasscock of South Boston; one brother, Carroll Glasscock of Oxford, N.C. and two grandchildren.
Two brothers, Arthur and Coolidge Glasscock and two sisters, Ethel Williamson and Pearl Murray preceded Mr. Glasscock in death.
The family requests that those wishing to give memorials please consider the Virgilina Volunteer Fire Department, P.O. Box 266, Virgilina, Va., 24598 or the Union Christian Church, P.O. Box, 148, Virgilina, Va., 24598.
Latane Willerby Talley
Latane Willerby Talley, 66, of Courtland died May 15, 2006, at his home.
Born in South Boston, he was a son of the late Theodore ‘Dick’ and Mattie Cole ‘Sam’ Talley. Mr. Talley was a U.S. Air Force Veteran and was retired from GTE as a service technician.
Survivors include his son, Latane W. Talley Jr. and wife, Pam, of Dudley; one sister, Sarah T. Newbill and husband, Carl; one niece, Sandra Conner and husband, Mitch; and one nephew, Travis Smith and his fiance’, Betty Chandler, all of South Boston.
A graveside service will be held tomorrow, May 18, at 2 p.m. at Cherry Hill United Methodist Church Cemetery with the Rev. Jason Bryant officiating.
The family will receive friends this evening, May 17, from 7:00 until 8:30, at Wright Funeral Home in Franklin.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the American Diabetes Association, P.O. Box 1132, Fairfax, 22038.
Franklin Armstead Ford
Funeral services for Mr. Franklin Armstead Ford, of Clarksville, will be held Thursday at 2 p.m. at Grace Baptist Church with the Rev. Jack Stewart officiating.
Interment will follow in the Grace Baptist Church Cemetery.
Visitation will be at the Brooks Funeral Home Chapel tonight from 7:00 – 8:30 and at other times at the home of Wilma and Rufus Watts, 3215 Virgilina Road, Virgilina.
Mr. Ford, 73, died Tuesday, May 16, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
He was born in Halifax County on June 2, 1932, the son of the late Giles Armstead Ford and Blanche Talley Ford and was married to Millie Shotwell Ford.
Mr. Ford was a retired security guard at Baskerville Correctional Center, a Korean Conflict Army veteran, a member of the Grace Baptist Church, Woodmen of the World and a past member of the V.F.W.
In addition to his wife, Mr. Ford is survived by a stepson, Donald Rogers of High Point, N.C.; a sister, Wilma Ford Watts and husband Rufus of Virgilina; a Goddaughter; Debbie DeMuth of Charlotte Court House; an adopted family, Mike, Debra, Zachary and Mary Sutphin of Clarksville; a step-granddaughter, a step-grandson, three nephews and one niece.
Mr. Ford was preceded in death by a brother, Wallace Edgar Ford.
Online condolences may be sent to brooksfh@earthlink.net.

 

Track Teams Gear Up For District Meet
The HCHS Track Teams Will Compete In The Western Valley District Championship Meet Friday In Lynchburg
After nearly three months of preparation and competition, it’s down to crunch time for the Halifax County High School boys and girls track and field teams.
The Comets will be gunning for the district championship Friday when they travel to E.C. Glass High School in Lynchburg Friday for the annual Western Valley District Championship Meet.
Halifax County’s boys team, which has been solid while competing against teams this spring, appears to have the better shot at bringing home a district championship.
The Comets girls track team is down a little in terms of numbers but is still looking to make a solid showing.
Not only will the two teams be competing for the district title, the individual team members will be trying to place high advance to advance to the Northwest Region meet. The top six finishers in each individual event and the top three finishers in each of the relay events will qualify for the regional competition.
Ralph Robinson, the coach of the Comets boys track team, says he feels his boys track team has a very good shot at a top-two finish in Friday’s district meet.
“Without having an entry in the pole vault and an entry in the two-mile race, I’m looking at a top-two finish,” Robinson said.
“ That’s where I would hope we will be. We’ve shown that we have some of the top kids in the district. I really hope they go out this weekend and prove it. You can talk about it all you want, but we have to go out Friday and prove it.”
Robinson said girls track coaches Lewis Watson and Laurie Wilkerson and the members of the girls track team have been working hard preparing for this weekend’s district meet.
The Comets girls team is young, has struggled at times, and likely does not have the numbers to win the district championship. Robinson, noted, however, that he feels the girls will be giving it a solid effort Friday as well.
“They have good group of girls out there that is working really hard,” Robinson pointed out.
“The girls have improved a hundred percent in every way and in every event. Coach Watson and Coach Wilkerson work them hard every day. Whatever the girls are asked to do they get it done.
“They’re looking forward to a good district run also,” Robinson added.
“ They know if they want to advance (to the Northwest Region meet) that they must advance now or go home. It’s like basketball, win or go home.”
Robinson noted that the seniors on the two track teams are looking at the district and Northwest Region meets as their championship meets. This year’s Group AAA State Meet will be held on the date that Halifax County High School will be holding its graduation exercises.
As a result, Robinson noted, some senior members of the track team may end up having to decide whether or not they want to compete in the state meet or stay home and participate in graduation.
“Several of the guys are looking at the district and regional meet as their state championship,” Robinson said.
“They will have to make a decision whether to go to graduation or go to the state championships. That will be a big decision that some of them will have to make.”
As far as the boys team is concerned, Robinson said he is taking 17 individuals to Friday’s Western Valley District Championship Meet and that he is expecting good things from everyone.
“If we do exactly what we’re supposed to do, those 17 kids going to the district should go to the regionals,” Robinson said.
“ We have the potential with this group to take 15 to 17 kids to the regionals. The top six finishers in the individual events qualify and the top three finishers in the relays qualify. If we don’t have a top six in every event that we participate in, something’s wrong. I have people in every event that we participate in that should place and get points.”
Robinson will have a strong lineup going into Friday’s district meet. Patrick Terry has been strong in the 100-meter race and runs a leg for the 4x100-meter relay team and David Anderson has been a big threat in the triple jump. Both finished high the state meet in those events during the indoor season.
Jeremy Clauden will compete in five events including the long jump, triple jump, 110-meter high hurdles, the 300-meter hurdles and run a leg for the 4x100-meter relay team.
“He’s qualified for every event and is looking forward to it,” Robinson said.
“ His goal is to qualify for the Northwest Region meet in all five events.”
Derek Brooks, Travis Word and Melvin Reynolds will compete in the high jump and Cory Jackson will lead the Comets in the shot put.
Robinson has four competitors in the long jump including Mark Ferrell who is consistently jumping at or over 23 feet in practice and Jamond Edmonds. He also has five competitors in the 100-meter race and two in the 200-metere race.
The Comets will also be strong with their 4x400-meter and 4x800-meter relay teams with Chris Pridgen, Erik Mosley, Melvin Reynolds, Ronnie Link and Amanuel Coleman competing.
Halifax County’s girls team will be led by Brittany Gayles and LaDonna Canada in the shot put, Juanita Kincy in the 100-meter race, Felicia Bowman in the 200-meter race and Amey Totherow in the mile.
Shaday Coleman has been a top contender this season in the hurdles. Marteia Ferrell has done well in the long jump this season as has Brittany Foster.
Halifax County’s 4x100-meter relay team consisting of Foster, Ferrell, Bowman and Kincy is expected to be strong as is the Comets’ 4x400-meter relay team.
A good performance will be needed from all of those individuals if the Comets are to score well this weekend.
“I’m really looking forward to a good meet,” Robinson concluded.

VIR Gold Cup Historic Races To Feature German Cars
The Cars Of Germany Will Be Honored At The June 9-11 VIR Event
The 2006 edition of VIRginia International Raceway’s signature vintage racing event, the Gold Cup Invitational Historic Races, scheduled for the weekend of June 9-11, will honor the Cars of Germany.
German manufacturers have played a major role in the history of motorsport, and the names Mercedes-Benz, BMW and Porsche are all synonymous with racing excellence.
Historic examples of each will be on hand for the weekend, along with a variety of vintage racing machinery running the gamut from MGs, Triumphs and Lotus to Ferraris, Maseratis and Alfa Romeos to the sports racers and fire-breathing American muscle cars of the 1960s and ‘70s.
Off-track activities will include the fifth annual Gold Cup Car Show presented by Corsa Rossa, which will take place on Saturday, June 10, plus car corrals and parties.
“VIR’s rich legacy dates back to 1957,” said VIR co-owner Harvey Siegel, “and many of the cars that will appear in the Gold Cup Invitational Historic Races are just like the ones that raced here in the 1950s, ‘60s and ‘70s. We cherish our history, and in many respects the Gold Cup Invitational Historic Races is our most important event of the year. We hope that everyone will come out and help us celebrate the golden age of road racing at America’s most beautiful road racing facility.”
This year, for the first time, VIR has joined forces with the California-based Historic Motor Sports Association (HMSA), which produces some of the best vintage and historic races in America, to organize and promote the Gold Cup Invitational Historic Races.
“VIR is a perfect setting for a vintage race,” said HMSA president Cris Vandagriff. “It is one of the most challenging road courses in the United Stares, if not the world, and the type of facility everyone should experience. We’re looking forward to working with the VIR staff to build the Gold Cup Invitational Historic Races into one of America’s premiere vintage events, and to introducing many of our members to this wonderful and historic venue.”
Advance three-day Super Tickets for the Gold Cup Invitational Historic Races will be priced at $30. At the gate, three-day Super Tickets will be priced at $40. Also, single-day tickets will be available for Friday ($10, gate only), Saturday ($15 advance/$20 gate) and Sunday ($15 advance/$20 gate).
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. 300 or ext.116 for advance ticket sales.
Enthusiasts who wish to enter the Gold Cup Car Show can enter their cars at no charge, and each car show entrant will be eligible for a free on-track parade lap during lunchtime on Saturday. Judging will be informal, with spectators voting for their favorite cars.

Comets Jayvee Baseball Team Routs GW 15-3
Jacobs, Brandon Slug Home Runs In Win
The Halifax County High School jayvee baseball team banged out 11 hits, hurlers Eric Brandon and Justin Jacobs aiding their own cause with home runs, as the Comets routed GW 15-3 Friday in Danville.
Brandon finished with three hits and two RBI’s, adding two singles to his night’s work, while Jacobs had three RBI’s. Michael Ferrell smacked two doubles and finished with an RBI, while Stanley Thomas drew a walk to produce another run.
Daniel Wilborn tripled and scored three times, Allen Stephens doubled, and Jeremy Foster (RBI), Josh Williams and Stacey Majors all had base hits, as the Comets improved to 6-1 in Western Valley District play and 13-2 overall.
Comets coach Shawn Torian said the jayvees were as sharp at the plate against a district opponent as they’ve been all year, with numerous key hits to help put runs on the scoreboard.
“We flat out hit the ball all over Market Garden, it was by far our best hitting performance this year against a team in our district, with numerous key two-out hits that helped us pull away,” began Torian.
“On the mound, Eric Brandon did a good job of throwing strikes. Even though GW had several opportunities for the big inning, Eric kept them from scoring big.”
Halifax scored five runs on four hits the first two innings to take a 5-0 lead, Wilborn starting the game with a single, advancing to third on a stolen base and passed ball, and Brandon and Stephens drawing walks to load the bases.
Wilborn scored on another passed ball, Ferrell hit a RBI double and Foster and Thomas walked, the final walk producing the final run of the inning.
The Comets scored two more runs in the top of the second, Wilborn hitting a leadoff triple and scoring again on a passed ball.
Brandon singled, Stephens walked and Ferrell reached base on an error to produce the other run, before GW scored its first run in the bottom of the second on a leadoff single, passed balls and RBI base hit.
Jacobs’ homer capped a three-run third inning for Halifax, all the runs coming with two outs.
Bill Wooding reached on an error and Wilborn walked before Jacobs cleared the bases with his home run, and GW responded in the bottom of the third with a single run on four walks to make it 8-2.
Ferrell hit his second double and scored on a Foster base hit to make it 9-2 after four innings, and Halifax added two runs in the fifth. Jacobs reached base on a fielder’s choice and Brandon and Stephens reached base on consecutive GW errors to plate the runs.
A single and Comets’ throwing error led to GW’s final run in the bottom of the fifth inning, before Halifax scored three runs in the top of the sixth to make it 15-3.
Williams and Majors singled to start the rally, Wooding got aboard on a fielder’s choice, and Jacobs reached base on a two-out error to score one run. Brandon followed with his home run to make it 15-3, and the Eagles were retired in order in their final at-bat to end the game.
The Comets traveled to Lynchburg Tuesday to play E.C. Glass in their season finale.