Veterans’ Sacrifices Remembered

Sacrifice, honor, remembrance and prayer.
These solemn themes set the stage Monday for a Memorial Day commeration in Halifax as sponsors remembered those who have died in the service of the nation and placed wreaths at the War Memorial in their honor.
Grace Elliott, representing the UDC, reminded the crowd that brave acts by those who serve the nation allow us to have freedom today.
Anne Rabb, a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution, recalled the history of the poppy, which first became a symbol of honor and respect in memory of World War I soldiers.
Poppies “became a symbol of sacrifice because of the fields of the red flowers that grew in Flanders, France,” explained Raab. She read Canadian physician Lt.Col John McCrae’s poem “In Flanders Fields” to the crowd, a poem that tells the story of dead serviceman in fields of poppies, soldiers who urge those following to take up their torch, to not break faith with the dead.
Ralph Turner, representing Rolling Thunder Chapter 4, Lynchburg, explained his organization’s mission to seek return of prisoners of war, find the missing in action and support veterans’ rights. “We want to bring our soldiers home,” said Turner.
He recalled the motorcycle organization’s first .... in Washington, D.C. in 1998, which drew approximately 2,500 participants.
The Monday service was sponsored by the John M. Jordan Camp 581, Sons of Confederate Veterans, the United Daughters of the Conferacy, the Daughters of the American Revolution, Berryman Green Chapter, the Sons of the American Revolution and Rolling Thunder.
A gun salute was presented by 14th Virginia Infantry and Alex Johnson and Jason Beadles presented Taps.

Thieves Hit Two Stores

Two county convenience stores were struck by thieves over the Memorial holiday weekend, according to Halifax County Sheriff’s Office Captain Larry Fears.
Triple A Grocery on Mt. Laurel Road in Clover and Country Mart on Cluster Springs Road in Alton were broken into on Sunday and Monday, respectively, Fears said.
Evidence at the scene has lead investigators to believe that the two break-ins are connected, Fears added.
At approximately 5:10 a.m. an undetermined amount of change was reportedly stolen from Triple A Grocery, and Sunday at 4:10 a.m. several cartons of cigarettes were stolen for Country Mart, according to investigators.
The front door glass was found broken out at both stores, Fears said.
Lt. Thomas Logan, Sgt. Keith Henderson and Investigator Jimmy Clay are conducting the investigation into the two break-ins.
Anyone with information about the thefts is asked to call the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office at (434) 476-3334 or Crimestoppers at 476-TIPS.
In other police business, Maurice Jevon Roberts, 29, of Carr Lane in Halifax, was charged Monday with the assault and battery of Deshanta Roberts.
The alleged assault occurred Monday.
Lt. T.E. Logan issued the summons.
Brian Scott Fallen, 36, Paradise Road in Alton, was charged Monday with the assault and battery of Leslie Fallen, a family or household member.
The alleged assault occurred Monday.
Deputy W.G. Yancey issued the summons.
Christopher Easley, 24, of Sweeny Road in Halifax, was charged Saturday with grand larceny.
The alleged theft occurred April 6.
Deputy Yancey issued the summons.
Tracey Walker Hatcher, 32, of Avondale Drive in Halifax, was charged Tuesday with failure to appear on a felony charge.
The alleged offense occurred May 22.
Deputy J.M. Burton issued the summons.
Shanetta Hodges, 25, of Wild Flower Drive in South Boston, was charged Monday with the assault and battery of Kelly Lewis.
The alleged assault occurred Monday.
Deputy Burton issued the summons.
Roscoe Lane, 23, David Lane, 21, and Floyd Lane, 26, all of Golden Leaf Road in Nathalie, were charged Friday with trespassing.
The alleged offenses occurred May 23.
Deputy D.D. Irby issued the summonses.

Obituaries

Audrey Kell Queensberry
Audrey Kell Queensberry, 67, of Chase City died May 28, 2007.
Mrs. Queensberry was an employee of S.T.E.P.S. and is survived by her husband, Bobby Queensberry; one son, Troy Queensberry of Nathalie; her daughters, Melody Mull of Chase City and Terri Rickman of Saxe; her sisters, Florence Martin of Halifax and Dorothy Howerton of South Boston; five grandchildren, Ashley and Autumn Queensberry, Lance Claytor, Jessica Rickman and Dillon Mull.
The family will receive friends this evening, May 30, from 7-8:30, at Wood Funeral Service in Chase City, and other times at the home of Terri Rickman.
A memorial service will be held at 11 a.m. tomorrow, May 31, at Wood Funeral Service. Burial will be private.
Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.woodfuneralservice.com

Roy M. Blanks

Through Noland Village, Roy M. Blanks, who died Sunday, is leaving a lasting legacy in Halifax County.
“He was always so proud of his heritage and upbringing there, so proud that he was able to give something back in recreating the village that others could learn from and appreciate,” said Randy Blankenship, Blanks’ friend and business partner in Richmond.
The legacy will continue.
“The village will be preserved because he had created a trust to carry it forward,” Blankenship confirmed.
In addition to the annual Noland Fair Day held in Providence each May, the village often welcomed touring school groups, historic organizations and Civil War encampments.
The village featured old Halifax Presbyterian Church, the Blanks’ family’s first project. Next, Roy Blanks relocated other buildings to the site, including an old tavern from Prospect in Prince Edward County and the 1732 Afton farmhouse from King and Queen County. The restoration of the Robert and John Carr houses expanded Noland Village.
Across the street, the exiting building known as Noland Post Office/Lacks Store was refurbished.
Blanks, who studied at New York School of Interior Design and earned his degree from Richmond Professional Institute, turned a love of antiques into a flourishing business in Richmond,where he founded the Antiques Warehouse in Shockoe Slip.
He also loved 18th- and 19th-century architecture.
“He wanted to hug and save them all, but he could not,” recalled Blankenship. “He liked the idea he was able to take a building, save it and bring it back to life rather than have it deteriorate.”
Together, Blanks and Blankenship restored five homes in Richmond’s Church Hill historic district.
“He preserved a part of history that probably would have been lost if not for his commitment,” said Halifax County Historical Society President Barbara Bass of Noland Village.
“Particularly Noland Village will leave a legacy for him in the county. He certainly will be missed as a great contributor both now and in the future,” added Bass.
Friends also remember Blanks’ energy and easy charm as project catalysts. He was always a teacher, emphasizing the important lines and construction in both architecture and furniture. And he encouraged young craftsmen, appreciating their talent and acting as a mentor.
The restoration and reconstruction of Noland Village began in the early 1980s with Halifax Church, the oldest Presbyterian Church in Halifax County. The form and appearance of Halifax Church have survived virtually unaltered from the time of its construction in the early 1830s.
Devoid of all but the simplest of ornament, the single room stands as a testament to the austerity of the community’s origin and is a strong reminder of the simplicity of the Presbyterian concept of religion and worship.
It is there, at historic Halifax Church in Noland Village, that a memorial service for Mr. Blanks will be held Thursday at 2 p.m. Interment will be private.
Mr. Blanks’ survivors include two brothers, Keister Montgomery Blanks of Providence and Aubrey Nathaniel Blanks of Lynchburg, and a sister, Dorothy Blanks Allen of Williamsburg.

Lady Comets Win In Ten At North Stafford

By Doug Ford
G-V Staff Writer
The Comets varsity softball team is one game away from the Virginia State Tournament after a heart-stopping 3-0 win in 10 innings at North Stafford on Monday.
Halifax (20-3) plays today at 4 p.m. at Cedar Run District second seed and district tournament winner Battlefield (20-3), a 9-5 winner Monday over Cardinal District one seed C.D. Hylton.
A one out double by Paige Rickman, single from Heather Hudson, triple from Amber Bowman and single from Liz Trickey in the top of the tenth gave the Comets and hurler Rickman all the runs they would need against North Stafford.
Rickman went the distance for her second shutout win in two games, engaging in a pitcher’s duel for 10 innings with Wolverines ace Nikki Black until Halifax got to Black with four of its seven hits in the top of the tenth.
Rickman allowed four hits in ten innings, one each in the fourth, sixth, seventh and eighth innings, while striking out eight batters, including three in a row to end the game.
Black did her part to keep her team in the game, giving up seven hits in ten innings, while striking out 13 batters.
Neither pitcher walked a batter in a game that featured 10 innings of competitive softball delayed for almost three-quarters of an hour by weather.
“It’s hard for either team to lose a game like this,” said Comets coach Melanie Saunders.
“It’s just a recap of our games with Franklin County - two evenly matched teams - and they also have one of the best pitchers we’ve seen all year.
“It took ten innings for us to score and she’s just an outstanding pitcher, but we have one just as good in Paige.
“She did just what she did against Franklin County, keeping the hitters off balance, moving the ball in and out and really working the batters.”
Saunders said the decision to start Rickman came down to maintaining momentum from Rickman’s game against Franklin County that gave the Comets the WVD Tournament title.
“She was feeling good and had momentum coming off the Franklin County game, and that’s what you have to have at this time of year.
“We have confidence in both our pitchers, and today we gave the ball to Paige and told her to do what she did at Franklin County.
“In ten innings, not once did I see her slow down, and it showed not so much what her body was doing but what her heart was doing for us today.”
Saunders added that the 45-minute delay for lightning after the top of the fifth inning may have helped Rickman to refocus a little.
“You’re always concerned when you’re on the road at someone’s home field, but both teams were a little flat when the delay came,” noted Saunders.
“Neither team had its momentum affected, and I think the delay came at a good time and gave Paige a time to rest.”
The Comets had only base hits, all singles, until the decisive tenth, Key Ferrell a hit in the fifth, Ally Thompson one in the sixth and Rickman one in the seventh.
Thompson’s hit followed a two-out error with Stephanie Clark at bat and put runners at first and second, but a flyout got Stafford out of the inning.
North Stafford got singles from Laura Kelley in the fourth, Ashley Scroggin in the sixth, Tiffany Merrill in the seventh and Courtney Crews in the eighth, when North Stafford mounted its biggest scoring threat of the game.
Crews hit a one-out single, was sacrificed to second and reached third on a muffed pitchout attempt with Scroggin at the plate.
The Wolverines’ third baseman fouled off several pitches with a 3-2 count before launching a fly ball to deep right field, where Thompson made the catch for the third out of the inning.
Rickman charged up the Comets’ winning rally with a one-out double in the top of the tenth and Hudson followed with a base hit, a North Stafford throwing error on the play scoring Rickman and advancing Hudson to third.
Bowman drove in Hudson with a triple and Trickey followed with a RBI base hit for the game’s final run.
Other than the eighth inning, no Wolverines’ base runner reached second base, the Comets committing only one error in the field to back Rickman.
Saunders said that the Comets made some adjustments at the plate in order to combat Black’s assortment of knuckleball, riser and drop ball that kept her team off balance the majority of the game.
“We shortened our swings a little bit. We talked about doing it the whole game, but when you have a pitcher like Nikki Black, that’s easier said then done,” said Saunders.
“But, this team has heart and that’s something its shown time and time again this year.”

Rickman Helps Herself, Comets

By Joe Chandler
Sports Editor
Paige Rickman faced a daunting task late in Halifax County High School’s Northwest Region Tournament quarterfinal game.
Having hurled seven solid scoreless innings, Rickman found herself in a jam as North Stafford moved a runner to third base on a passed ball that occurred as Rickman was intending to intentionally walk a batter.
“I was afraid it (the game) was going to end right there,” said the Comets’ sophomore hurler.
“But, I didn’t want it to end.”
Fortunately for Rickman and the Comets, it didn’t.
Rickman was able to get the Wolverines’ Ashley Scroggin to pop up fly ball to left field that ended the Wolverines’ threat and the eighth inning.
Later, in the top of the tenth inning, Rickman, batting sixth in the Comets’ lineup and second for the Comets in that inning, jump started what would be the Comets’ game-winning rally with a one-out double.
Heather Hudson followed with a hit that, coupled with a North Stafford error, allowed Rickman to cross the plate to score the first run of the game and put the Comets up 1-0.
By the time the bottom portion of the Comets’ batting order finished pounding the Wolverines, the Comets were up 3-0.
That having been done, Rickman put the game away by fanning all three of North Stafford’s batters in the bottom of the tenth inning to seal the win that will send the Comets into today’s Northwest Region Tournament semifinal game against Battlefield High School in Haymarket.
Rickman finished the 10-inning game with eight strikeouts while yielding only four scattered hits.
Not a bad day for a hurler who had come off of a stellar performance last Thursday when the Comets downed Franklin County 6-0 to win the Western Valley District Tournament.
“It feels pretty good,” the obviously relieved Comets sophomore hurler said after sealing the win for her team.
“The other team had a runner on third base and a big batter up. I just calmed down and tried to relax.”
Monday’s regional tournament game was the second tough game in a row for the Comets pitcher. Rickman said both games, the district tournament title game against Franklin County and Monday’s regional tournament game, were pretty similar in terms of pressure.
“They were about the same, but this one was probably a little mentally tougher,” she noted.
A 40-minute delay for a brief thunderstorm passing through the area, helped, Rickman said.
“It helped me a little bit,” she noted.
“It was pretty easy to get back into my rhythm.”
Not Knowing Can
Be Blissful
Comets second baseman Heather Hudson came through with the hit that scored Rickman in the top of the tenth inning to produce what would be the first of three Comets runs in the inning and the game-winning run.
Ironically, Hudson didn’t realize until late in the game that a loss to North Stafford would end the Comets’ season.
“I didn’t know that until the eighth inning,” Hudson said.
“That really helped me. I knew I had to jump on it.”
Hudson did exactly that by delivering a key hit in the tenth inning.
“It just felt awesome,” Hudson said of the hit.
“It was wonderful. Their pitcher had a lot of movement on the ball and it took us awhile to get going. Things just happened in our favor.
“Our team has a lot of heart,” Hudson continued.
“Miss Saunders (Comets head coach Melainie Saunders) inspires us.”
Battlefield High School Next For Comets
When the Comets travel to Haymarket today for their 4 p.m. Northwest Region Tournament semifinal game against Batlefield High School, they will be facing a team making its first ever appearance in the regional tournament.
Battlefield, the number two seed out of the Cedar Run District, bumped off Cardinal District top seed C.D. Hylton 9-5 Monday.
The Bobcats (20-3), who won the Cedar Run District Tournament title, appear to have a fairly solid lineup. Eight of the nine batters in the Bobcats’ batting order had at least one hit in Monday’s win over C.D. Hylton.
Brittany Clendenny, the Bobcats’ number five hitter in the lineup, was 2-4 with four RBIs, putting her at 14 of 23 at the plate with 10 RBIs in her last six games. Freshman center fielder Kelsie Scott had two of Battlesfield’s 13 hits in the game against C.D. Hylton.
Battlefield’s pitcher in Monday’s game, Megan Sutphin, yielded seven hits while picking up her 13th win of the season on the mound.

Lumsden, Graham Win HCC
Member-Guest

By Doug Ford
G-V Staff Writer
Teacher and student provided a winning lesson at the Halifax Country Club Member-Guest Golf Tournament last weekend, David Graham and Nick Lumsden taking the Championship Flight and overall title by three strokes over Phil Rinker and John Howerton.
Lumsden-Graham shot a two-day total of 61-69-130, good for a three stroke win over second-place Rinker-Howerton and four-stroke win over James Lewis and Bill Hite in the Championship Flight.
Rinker-Howerton shot a 66-67-133, while Lewis-Hite carded a 66-68-134, good for third place.
Lumsden, entering his third year at the University of Virginia, played for coach Graham as a member of the Halifax County High School golf team for four years, and the lessons learned from that partnership paid big dividends Saturday and Sunday.
Lumsden and Graham parlayed a total of ten birdies into a nine under 61 the first day and played steady golf on Sunday to win the tournament.
“We shot really well the first day to get a four-shot lead and spent the second day trying to get pars,” said Graham.
“We got off to a good start Sunday and were two under after five, but bogeyed a couple coming in so we made the turn even after nine.
“But, that’s the good thing about having a lead. We then had eight pars and a birdie on the back nine and played good solid golf.”
“Today, we partnered,” continued Graham. “When he was out of a hole, I was there and vice-versa.”
Lumsden and Graham played together in last year’s HCC Member-Guest, and Lumsden said that experience was helpful this year.
“We told ourselves yesterday (Saturday) that if we’d just get two balls on the green on most holes to give us birdie putts, we’d know we’d play well.
“We had a great round on Saturday and didn’t do as well today, but we kept it together enough to pull it out.”
The two have built a solid camaraderie after playing several tournaments together the past couple of years, he noted.
“I try to play with David as much as possible when I’m home from school, and being around him causes me to relax and play better for some reason.
“He’s been my coach for so long and he’s such a good friend.
“It’s really neat to play with him, and we have a great relationship, so we’ll be playing together more in the future.”
Despite the recent dry weather conditions, Graham paid compliments to the grounds crew at HCC for the condition of the course.
“I’d have to say that the golf course was in excellent shape,” said Graham. “The weather was great the entire weekend and the tournament went well.”
Other flight winners included Woody Clay and Sammy Puryear in the First Flight with a 68-66-134, two strokes better than Phillip Payne and Chris Lacks, who carded a 68-68-136, and three strokes better than Mike Hailey and Kent Thompson, who shot a 70-67-137.
Hailey and Thompson were awarded third after a match of score cards with Roger Long-Ralph Beard and Mike Gregory-Dale Powell and Kelly Rogers-Steven Chappell.
David Meeks and Scott Martin took Second Flight honors with a 71-68-139 after a match of cards with Grayson Throckmorton and Rodney Watts, who shot an identical score.
Steve Vaughan and Brad Thomasson finished two shots back after firing a 72-69-141.
Alan Gravitt and Bill Maxwell won the Third Flight with a 76-67-143, one stroke better than J.E. Tuck and Tony Garrard, who shot a 75-69-144, and two better than Jackie Caldwell and Chris McNamee, who finished with a 74-71-145.
Earle Orme and Mike Mills won the Fourth Flight with a 77-72-149, followed by Greg Meeks and Chuck Nelson with a 77-75-152 and Coleman Speece and Linwood Holt with a 77-75-152.
Meeks-Nelson were awarded second after a match of score cards.
Fifth Flight honors went to Jason McCormick and Daryl Carter with a 82-77-159, three strokes ahead of Clayton Garmon and Tim Conner (83-79-162) and four strokes better than Jimmy Allen and Jimmy Inge (81-82-163).
HCC Member-Guest Results
Championship Flight
Nick Lumsden-David Graham 61-69-130
Phil Rinker-John Howerton 66-67-133
James Lewis-Bill Hite 66-68-134
Bobby Wilborn-Kevin Haskins 65-69-134
W.J. Long-Brad Mele 65-70-135
Charlie Payne-Billy Payne 67-68-135
Mark Repokis-Trent Repokis 67-71-138
Gary Gupton-Robert Leggett 67-72-139
Joel Cunningham-Ricky Gee 67-76-143
First Flight
Woody Clay-Sammy Puryear 68-66-134
Phil Payne-Chris Lacks 68-68-136
Mike Hailey-Kent Thompson 70-67-137
Kelly Chappell-Steven Rogers 69-68-137
Mike Gregory-Dale Powell 68-69-137
Roger Long-Ralph Beard 68-69-137
John Hayes-Tim Johnson 70-68-138
Roy Bradley-Bill Carter 69-70-139
Jay Burnett-Richard Austin 70-70-140
Walter Robertston-Ronnie Pate 68-73-141
Reed Edwards-J.A. Devin 68-74-142
Jim Burton-Henry Martin 68-74-142
Paul Butler-David Ford 69-73-142
Bob Tysinger-Tommy Spencer 69-75-144
Second Flight
David Meeks-Scott Martin 71-68-139
Grayson Throckmorton-Rodney Watts 71-68-139
Brad Thomasson-Steve Vaughan72-69-141
Charlie Baskervill-Paul Malgee 72-70-142
Justin Shepperd-Jeff Barger 71-72-143
Tommy Elliott-John Mele 72-73-145
Teddy Holt-Bill White 73-72-145
Wes Bosiger-Chris Cole 73-79-152
Eric Arthur-Chris Gessell 72-81-153
Dennis Seamster-Shawn Torian 73-84-157
Chris Lumsden-Dave Smith 71-89-160
Third Flight
Alan Gravitt-Bill Maxwell 76-67-143
J.E. Tuck-Tony Garrard 75-69-144
Jack Caldwell-Chris McNamee 74-71-145
Paul Glass-Billy Ford 75-72-147
Ed Edgar-Lars Lange 76-73-149
Joe Gasperinie-June Hancock 74-75-149
Irby-Hatcher 74-76-150
Dennis Witt-Graham Witt 74-76-150
Lurdy Stinespring-Richard Harrell 74-76-150
Drew Lewis-Casey Spencer 75-75-150
Stan Hodgin-Ron Hodgin 76-76-152
Fourth Flight
Earle Orme-Mike Mills 77-72-149
Greg Meeks-Chuck Nelson 77-75-152
Coleman Speece-Linwood Holt 77-75-152
Scott Bosiger-Keith Jones 77-77-154
Sam Lewis-Jack Brown 77-78-155
Phil Saunders-Steve Long 8-75-155
John Lantor-Mark Raper 80-76-156
Bristol Martin-Vernon Brown 80-77-157
Mike Dunn-Donnie Hughes 77-80-157
John Morgan-Jonathan Fussell 77-80-157
Scott Irby-Lin Johnston 79-80-159
Woody Long-Nick Long 79-80-159
Aubrey Houghton-Roger Scott 80-79-159
Fifth Flight
Jason McCormick-Daryl Carter 82-77-159
Clayton Garmon-Tim Conner 83-79-162
Jimmy Allen-Jimmy Inge 81-82-163
Bob Lewis-Tom Trask 90-86-176
George Burton-Al Burton 93-83-176
Phil Hammond-Billy Hanks 93-95-188