Halifax Clerk of Court
Seeking Re-Election

Halifax Circuit Court Clerk Bobby Conner said yesterday that he will seek his fourth term in the November election.
Conner, who has served two eight-year terms and one partial term when he took office in 1988, will run as an Independent, as he did in prior elections.
The filing deadline to be on the November ballot is June 12.
“It has been my pleasure to serve these years and I believe I still have some value to give to the county,” Conner said yesterday.
“The fine people of Halifax County have seen fit to re-elect me and I hope they will trust me again.
“I have a great staff, they help me and I enjoy helping people with their courthouse issues,” he said. “So many visitors to the courthouse come only a couple of times in their lives, and we like to help them through the process.”
Conner and his wife, Lucy, live in the Nathalie community

Additional Parking Sought At ABB

ABB Expansion Project Coordinator Mike Blankenship told Industrial Development Authority board members yesterday that ABB needs additional parking for its new facility.
“Parking has become an issue,” Blankenship said. “They (ABB) anticipate growth and now they think they’re short.
“Now is the time to do something,” he added. “We can add 88 spaces relatively cheaply.”
The original plan called for a new 109-space parking lot, which has been constructed, Blankenship explained, “The county met what they originally requested.”
IDA members asked if the shortage of spaces was the result of growth at ABB or poor planning.
Blankenship responded that he thought it was a little of both.
The IDA has three options, Blankenship said. It can do nothing, pay for the entire lot or pay to do the grading and drainage work now so ABB can easily expand the lot in the future.
According to Blankenship, it would cost approximately $135,000 to complete the lot’s expansion, but the site preparation work could be done for about $30,000.
Following the discussion, but without a formal vote, IDA Chairman Larry McPeters told Blankenship that the IDA appears willing to pay for the site prep work if ABB is willing to pay to pave the new lot.
“They can choose to do it now or later,” McPeters said.
Also during his update on ABB’s expansion to the IDA, Blankenship said that plans for the pre-fabricated building were expected to arrive Friday and that in three weeks the foundation for the facility should be complete.
He is expecting the building to be delivered in mid-July and expects a project completion date of late January or February 2008.
At the Georgia-Pacific site, the first draft of demolition plans are due this week, IDA Executive Director Mike Eades said. Request for proposals for the project will go out later in the month and there will be a 30-day response time for firms to bid on the project.
Also, Eades said he was informed that no environmental statement would be required at the G-P site, saving the county considerable time and money on the project.
At Riverstone Technology Park, the Timmons Group is still analyzing the cost and feasibility of grading Lot 9 and filling a portion to a pond on Lot 12, Eades said.
Eades also said he is working with Oakway Properties on restructuring the master lease agreement to recalculate the way common areas are paid for by Riverstone’s tenants to bring the rent into line with similar facilities.
The New Sites and Development Action Team, consisting of John Bosiger and Jack Slagle, were tasked with contacting VDOT to explore options for a new road to give better access to VIR from U.S. 58 in Halifax County.
The members agreed that there is significant interest in such a road, both from VIR and the Halifax business community.
During their Thursday meeting, IDA members voted to raise the mileage reimbursement the IDA pays from 40 cents to 48.5 cents per mile, bringing it into line with what the county pays.
IDA Board Member Marcus Hargrave then brought two items before the board.
He said the IDA should take an active role trying to save the United Way in the county.
The United Way has fallen on tough times and the county chapter may be dissolved, according to Hargrave.
Hargrave was seeking for IDA staff to allocate time to finding people who would be willing to serve on the United Way’s board.
“We need professionals who know the value of having the United Way in the community,” Hargrave said.
Several IDA members said they wanted to help the United Way but were hesitant to allocate staff time to the endeavor.
The IDA agreed to have staff contact the Chamber of Commerce and see if they could find a way to work together and see what could be done for the county chapter.
Hargrave also brought to the IDA’s attention the fact that adult education funding for county residents was not yet secured.
With the number of Halifax County residents that do not have high school diplomas, a cut in funding would be detrimental to work force development efforts, he said.
IDA Member Carlyle Ramsey, president of Danville Community College, said his college and Southside Community College are working together to offer services, but no matter what the state does “we will still be under funded.”
The IDA appointed Hargrave, Ramsey and Bill Kelehar to work on a resolution and recommend action to assist adult education programs in the county.

 

Obituaries

Richard Norwood Goodwin Jr.
Richard Norwood Goodwin Jr., 88, of 2190 East Hyco Road, South Boston, died May 16, 2007, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Goodwin was born July 22, 1918, in Troy to the late Richard Norwood Goodwin Sr. and Ruth Farrar Goodwin, and was married to Primrose Cole Goodwin. He was a member of Shady Grove United Methodist Church, was a Navy Veteran, and retired from Burlington Industries, Inc.
Survivors include his wife of the home; two sisters, Shirley G. Hasher and Betty Goodwin, both of Troy; one brother, Elmer ‘Tooter’ Goodwin of Troy; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services for Mr. Goodwin will be held tomorrow, May 19, at 11 a.m. at Shady Grove United Methodist Church with the Rev. Ray McGarr officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the home.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Shady Grove United Methodist Church, 4129 East Hyco Road, South Boston, 24592.
Online condolences may be sent to brooksfh@earthlink.net

Marjorie Nichols Graves
Marjorie Nichols Graves, 89, of 370 Mountain Road, Halifax died May 16, 2007, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mrs. Graves was born in Halifax County on December 29, 1917, the daughter of the late Paul Carrington Nichols Sr. and Pattye Guthrie Nichols and was married to the late CDR Rowlett Lee Graves. She was a member of Beth Car Baptist Church.
Survivors include 13 nieces and nephews. Three brothers and four sisters preceded Mrs. Graves in death.
Graveside services will be held today, May 18, at 11 a.m. at Clover Cemetery with the Rev. Dr. Michael Parnell officiating.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Beth Car Baptist Church, 25 Church Street, Halifax, 24558.

Joyce Fears Peade
Joyce Fears Peade, 74, of 1904 Norwood Avenue, South Boston died May 17, 2007, at The Woodview.
Mrs. Peade was born in Halifax County on January 21, 1933, the daughter of the late Bennie Lewis Fears and Mamie Coates Fears, and was married to Edward Nathaniel Peade.
Survivors include her husband of the home; one daughter, Donna P. Halleck and husband, the Rev. Allen Halleck, of Chesapeake; four grandsons, Nathaniel Halleck and wife, Jordan, of Sacramento, Calif, Stephen Halleck and wife, Elizabeth, of Alexandria, Paul Halleck and Mark Halleck, both of Chesapeake; two sisters, Ollie Mayhew of Lynchburg and Elizabeth Bomar of Brookneal; one brother, Carlton Fears of Lynchburg; and a number of nieces and nephews.
Funeral services for Mrs. Peade will be held tomorrow, May 19, at 2 p.m. at Centerville Baptist Church with the Rev. Richard Saunders and the Rev. Dr. John Godfrey of Great Hope Baptist Church officiating. Burial will follow in Oak Ridge Cemetery.
The family will receive friends this evening, May 18, from 7:00 until 8:30 at Powell Funeral Home and other times at the home.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Halifax County Cancer Association, P.O. Box 875, South Boston, 24592, or Centerville Baptist Church, Piano Fund or Missionary Fund, 3200 Halifax Road, South Boston.

Alice Bee Sydnor
Alice Bee Sydnor, 75, of 1118 Cole Street, South Boston died May 13, 2007, at her home.
Ms. Sydnor was born in Halifax County on March 22, 1932, to the late Robert Sydnor and Ellen Coleman Sydnor. She was a member of First Baptist Church on Ferry Street.
Survivors include one daughter, Shirley Coleman of South Boston; one son, Willie R. Sydnor of Halifax; four sisters, Eva Canada, Emma Hamlett, Arminta Lowery and Elvira Faulkner, all of South Boston; one brother, Willie Sydnor of Salem; four grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and two Goddaughters, Mildred Wilson and Marion Carter.
Two sisters, Laura Palmer and Phibbie Ann Sydnor, preceded Ms. Sydnor in death.
Funeral services will be held tomorrow, May 19, at noon at First Baptist Church with Elder Bernard Wilkins officiating. Burial will follow in Oak Ridge Cemetery.
The family is receiving friends at the home.

John Anthony Yesalavich
John Anthony Yesalavich, 89, of Veronia, husband of Martha Sutton Yesalavich, of Verona, died Wednesday, May 16, 2007, in Augusta Medical Center, Fishersville.
He was born January 1, 1918, in Exeter, PA, a son of the late Anthony and Martha Atmanavich Yesalavich.
Mr. Yesalavich was a U. S. Army veteran, having served in World War II in Company E 507th Parachute Infantry, where he was awarded the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star.
In addition to his wife of 61 years, family members include two sons and daughters-in-law, John M. and Peggy F. Yesalavich of Churchville and Joseph A. and Jackie D. Yesalavich of Nathalie; a daughter and son-in-law, Janet Yesalavich and David H. Zimmerman of Albemarle County; five grandchildren; and six great grandchildren.
He was preceded in death by a daughter, Ann Yesalavich; two brothers, George and Anthony Yesalavich; two sisters, Helen Dondis and Ann Parulis; and two grandsons, Cpl. Dwayne M. Yesalavich, USMC and David A. Yesalavich.
A funeral service will be conducted at 10 a.m. tomorrow, May 19, in the Verona United Methodist Church by the Rev. Dr. Dick Daily and David H. Zimmerman. Burial will follow in Shenandoah Baptist Church Cemetery in Verona.
The family will receive friends from 7:00 until 8:30 this evening, May 18, in the Henry Funeral Home, Staunton.
Memorials may be made to the Verona Fire Department, Box 348, Verona, 24482.
Condolences may be made to the family online at www.henryfuneralhome.net.

 

Comets Short On Numbers, Long On Heart

By Doug Ford
G-V Staff Writer
The Comets boys track team may be small in numbers, but it is big in heart and attitude, according to coach Brian Terpak.
Those attributes may serve the team well in the Western Valley District Outdoor Track Meet today at E.C. Glass.
Thirteen Comets qualified for the district meet, with a mixture of youth and veterans making the trip to Lynchburg, and the team has made progress despite small numbers.
“The kids who have stuck with this have been the most diligent, hard working kids who you will see in this high school,” said Terpak.
“Let’s face it, running isn’t the most fun sport, and I’m pleasantly surprised and pleased they have stuck with it.”
The Comets have won a pair of meets coming into Friday, including a quad meet, and that success has been a motivating factor as they have prepared for the district meet, noted Terpak.
“The kids were really psyched about that. They’ve seen the challenges they need to face, and I’m looking for big things from them Friday.
Senior Eddie Terry and junior Jessie Williams, along with senior Cory Jackson will handle the weights at the district meet, Terry and Williams tossing the discus, while Jackson, defending regional indoor champion in the shot put, will try for a district title in that same event.
Sophomore Yarnnick Ford is expected to contribute points in the high jump, and junior Stanley Thomas should score points in the long jump for the Comets, said Terpak.
Three Comets qualified for the 100-meter dash, including the senior Mosley and two others to watch for, Destin Tucker and Thomas Logan.
“Destin earned his spot in the last meet and has done some good work to get to this point, while Thomas was seeded at 11.94 seconds for the meet,” said Terpak.
“I expect him to run a lot faster, and he’s going to be someone to watch over the next couple of years.”
Mosley will run in four events at the meet, the 100, 200, 400 and 4x400 relay, according to Terpak.
“Erik is one of the more talented athletes I’ve seen in awhile, and he should qualify for the state meet in the 400,” he said.
Sophomore Urick Coleman, who will run the 1,600 meters, is a raw talent with a lot of potential if he continues to work hard, and Scott, the Comets’ top hurdler, will compete in both the 110 and 300 hurdles, noted Terpak.
Halifax has three athletes in the 400-meter dash, Ishermal Smalls, Amanual Coleman and Mosley, with the Comets having a chance for two regional berths out ot the event, added Terpak.
Ford and Scott will run the 300 hurdles, and Urick Coleman and Amanual Coleman will compete in the 800-meter dash, with Amanual Coleman possibly securing a regional berth in that event.
Halifax again has three runners in the 200-meter dash, Logan, Jennings and Mosley, with Mosley in a competitive heat, according to Terpak.
Jennings, Scott, Tucker and Logan will compete in the 4x100-meter relay, while Amanual Coleman, Scott, Logan and Mosley will run the 4x400 relay at the district meet.
The Comets stand a good chance of a top tier finish in the 4x400 relay, said Terpak.
“Other teams may look at us and question our numbers, but I remember Cory Jackson saying that we don’t need the numbers,” recalled Terpak.
“It’s always been us, because we have high quality people here,” he remembered Jackson telling the team.
Terpak expects host E.C. Glass and Patrick Henry to battle it out for the district championship, with the other three teams vying for second.
“If everything goes as well as I hope it does, we will have a decent shot at third, and I would be more than happy with that,” said Terpak.
“Don’t get me wrong, I would love to win, but realistically I would be happy with a top three finish.
“This has been a very positive year. I wouldn’t say a rebuilding year, but a reexamination on the part of the team and myself, myself to know what I have to do to be a better coach.
“On their part, to know you don’t have to have a lot of numbers to have a great team and a great family attitude.”

Lady Comets Hope For Good Showing In District Meet

By Doug Ford
G-V Staff Writer
Comets girls track coach Mary Douglas will take a young but improving squad of athletes to the Western Valley District meet today at E.C. Glass.
Douglas, who returned to coach track after a year and a half absence, has spent this spring teaching the more technical aspects of track to the team.
The results are promising, she noted.
“I would say its a rebuilding year because I’ve been away for a year and a half before returning,” explained Douglas.
“I’m trying to change some attitudes and we’re doing more work on techniques, so that’s the rebuilding part.
“I’ve worked with a few of them in indoor track two years ago, but you have to get used to them again, and we also have a lot of ninth graders this year, so I’m trying to introduce them to the high school program.
“I think the team has learned a lot about what it takes to compete, and they’ve seen a lot of athletes at different levels.”
Fifteen members of the Comets girls track team qualified for the district meet, with a number of them competing in multiple events.
Brittany Foster will compete in six events and Marteia Ferrell in five, Foster in the long jump, high jump, triple jump and 100-meter dash, 200-meter dash and the 4x100-meter relay.
Ferrell will join Foster in the 4x100 relay, as well as compete in the long jump, high jump, triple jump and 100 meters.
“Brittany is a super athlete and she’s improving in a lot of areas, she carries a lot of weight for our team,” said Douglas.
“The same can be said for Marteia. She is still building confidence in the high jump and triple jump.”
Halifax has benefited from the leadership and experience of three seniors in the weights events, with LaDonna Canada, Brittany Gayles and Markeshia Coleman each competing in the shot put and discus.
“They’ve done a great job for the program,” noted Douglas. LaDonna is improving with the shot put and we’re pushing her to get to 36 feet today, and if she pulls it out, she’ll finish high.
“Brittany is improving toward 36 feet and Markeshia has improved in the discus, coming from 88 to 104 feet. That’s a lot of improvement.
Tanisha Evans, a ninth-grader, will compete in the high jump and 400-meter run, as well as the 4x400 relay, and has potential next year to qualify in the long jump and triple jump, according to Douglas.
Jasmine Pointer is another Comet who will compete in multiple events, including the long jump, triple jump, 300 hurdles, 4x800 relay and 4x400-meter relay, and has potential to be a standout in the 800, said Douglas.
Felicia Bowman will run the 200 meters and the 4x100 and 4x400 relays at the district meet, while Stacey Hamlett will run the 100- and 200-meter dashes, as well as the 4x100 relay event.
“Stacey’s times are improving and she’s learning a lot about herself this year, while Felicia will be a key in the relays,” said Douglas.
Cherena Canada will run the 200 meters and compete in the triple jump, while Aurora Wright, a ninth-grader, will compete in the 300 hurdles.
Both have a lot of potential and have improved this season, according to Douglas, as has Dalisha Singleton, who will run the 4x800 relay and maybe the 300 hurdles.
Amey Totherow is a distance runner who will compete in the 3,200-meter run and the 4x800 relay, but may have potential in the sprints, according to Douglas.
Two first-year members of the track team have also demonstrated a lot of potential, including junior Shauna Harris and ninth-grader Tyiesha Pannell.
“Shauna will be high jumping and running the 4x400 relay for us. She’s a good athlete who doesn’t yet know her potential.
“Tyiesha will do the 300 hurdles, help us out in the 4x800 and be an alternate in the 4x400. She’s just starting to realize her potential in the hurdles, and will hopefully get her time down to 52 or 53 seconds.”
Douglas said it would be difficult to predict a favorite at the district meet, with each team having its own strengths, the Comets particularly in the triple jump and long jump.
“It all depends on what the girls do that day, and we’re at a disadvantage because the meet starts at 5 p.m. and the last event starts at 10:40 p.m.
“It will be cooler and it may affect performances, the kids will be more tired. The teams that have to travel will be more mentally and physically fatigued.
“It could be anyone’s meet. We’re going to put in a good effort, and if we do what we’re capable of doing, we can finish in the top three.”

Post 8 Needs Players

By Joe Chandler
Sports Editor
A 21-game schedule has been set for the South Boston American Legion Post 8 baseball team and everything is in place for the season which gets underway in early June.
There is a glitch, however – the team needs players.
Post 8 head coach Will Hill said this week he has received commitments from only seven players from South Boston and Halifax County to date and that more players are desperately needed if the team is to be competitive.
“We need more players – it’s as simple as that,” Hill said.
“Right now, I have only seven players that have committed to the program. We need players, especially mature players. We’re playing a 21-game schedule that includes some doubleheaders. Our games go nine innings. I’d like to have at least 15 or 16 players there for every game. That way we can give everybody a chance to play and have fresh players that we can use to substitute into the games.”
Hill said that American Legion rules permit him to seek players from surrounding localities. He pointed out, however, he wants to get as many players from South Boston and Halifax County as possible before going outside the county to seek players.
“I’d like to have as many Halifax County players as we can get,” Hill said.
“We provide this program to help to the high school program. We would like to have as many local players as we can get but I’m also prepared to try to recruit players from surrounding areas.”
Boys who were born in 1988 or after are eligible to play American Legion Baseball.
Any players wishing to play on the team this season are asked to contact Hill at 349-6162 or Tommy Whitlow at 585-2536 to sign up to play.
The South Boston Post 8 team is slated to open its season on Tuesday, June 5, against Danville Post 325 in Danville. That date is somewhat tentative, however, due to circumstances involving regional and state high school baseball tournaments.
Post 8’s home opener is set for Saturday, June 16 with Post 8 facing New River Post 68 at Halifax County High School at 3 p.m.
South Boston has nine home games with one being a doubleheader.
This season the district has been split to include an East and West division with the top four teams in the regular-season standings in each division advancing to the district post-season playoffs.
The district playoff series begins on Monday, July 23.