Monday, June 5, 2006

 

Hogan: Deregulation Could Hurt Economy
Delegate Appointed To Commission Overseeing Energy Regulations

Halifax County Delegate Clarke N. Hogan, an outspoken critic of electricity deregulation in Virginia, has been named to the legislature’s Commission on Electric Utility Restructuring, the body that oversees the matter.
Hogan said he sees his role on the commission as that of a skeptic who asks tough questions.
“ My role is to bring a dose of healthy skepticism to the process,” Hogan said. “And ask the question, ‘is it prudent to move towards deregulation with no competition?’
“There have been efforts to create competition that have been unsuccessful and we should have some examples where competition exists and works before we move forward,” Hogan added.
Hogan replaces Delegate Harry J. Parrish (R-Manassas), who died on March 28 on the commission.
In February, Hogan called the 10-member commission a hindrance to meaningful deregulation and energy policy.
He said the panel was perpetuating a myth that deregulation would lead to competition in the state’s power industry.
“The premise of deregulation is that competition will bring about lower prices,” Hogan said. “That doesn’t apply to electrical restructuring because there is no competition.
“What you’ll have is an unregulated monopoly,” Hogan added.
The Halifax delegate says he fears that consumers could be hit hard next year when Dominion Virginia Power will get the opportunity to raise its capped rates to cover increased fuel costs.
An estimate by the State Corporation Commission puts the potential increase at up to 20 percent.
Hogan has already sponsored legislation that would have required the SCC to review the fairness of a utility’s overall rates when it considers a rate increase for fuel costs.
The bill, which was opposed by the panel, failed to make it out of a House subcommittee.
Hogan said he would continue to sponsor the legislation every year.
Consumers in Maryland and Delaware are facing rate increases of 60 to 118 percent following deregulation, according to official reports.
Hogan said Virginia’s deregulation legislation in its current form could very well lead to similar rate increases here.
“If you look at other states, deregulation has led to sharply higher electric costs,” Hogan said. “And if you look at Virginia’s present law there is no reason to believe it will lead to anything else.
“We ought not do the same (as Maryland and Delaware),” he added. “We ought to move now to address this problem.
“Deregulation is a creation of the General Assembly, and we are responsible for it,” Hogan said. “We need to recognize the damage we can do to our economy by raising electric rates.”
The vast majority of power generation in Virginia is controlled by the state’s incumbent utilities, Hogan said.
Large electrical cost increases pose a huge threat to Virginia’s economy, according to Hogan. A much larger threat than the tax increases being debated in Richmond.
Hogan said there would be no competition by 2010, when deregulation is slated to take effect in Virginia, the timeline does not allow it.
“You couldn’t gets the permits and get a new power plant online by 2010,” he said.
Hogan said Dominion officials, who favor deregulation, are businesspeople looking to maximize profits, but the General Assembly has a fiduciary responsibility to Virginia’s electric consumers, many of whom are small businesses.
“Incumbent utilities have a responsibility to maximize profits for their stockholders and that’s to be expected,” Hogan said. “It’s our responsibility to balance the needs of electrical consumers against the needs of the incumbent utilities until competition can do that itself.”

369 Receive Diplomas
Top Ten Scholars Are Named
“As we leave the halls of learning, remember not to speed through life so fast that you forget where you’ve been, nor to spend all your time looking back instead of planning for your future,” said Class of 2006 member and Top 10 student Jaimee Emswiler. “As Nancy Sims says, ‘life is not a race, but a journey to be savored each step of the way.’ Take time to enjoy the small blessings of each day because they can give you the strength to handle life’s challenges.”
Hundreds of family and friends crowded into the gymnasium at Halifax County High School Friday to bid farewell to the 369-member Class of 2006.
During the event, Valedictorian Bret Lewis urged the class to exercise determination in setting and accomplishing their goals.
“We are about to accomplish one of the biggest goals we have tried to achieve thus far in our lives,” he said. “But graduation from high school is just the first of many important goals that must be accomplished. For most of us, our next goal will be to graduate from college. For others, it will be to receive and maintain a job in the work force or to be successful in the armed forces.
“For all of us, though, we will have to have determination,” Lewis added. “You must use hard work and dedication to achieve all of your goals.”
Quoting Orison Swett Marden, the valedictorian offered the following advice:
“All who have accomplished great things have had a great aim, have fixed their gaze on a goal which was high, one which sometimes seemed impossible.
“As I stand before you today, I can say that I have proven that hard work and dedication can pay off,” Lewis said.
This year’s valedictorian concluded his address by urging the senior class to live fulfilling lives.
“Say yes to high goals. Say yes to overcoming obstacles. Say yes to enjoying friendship. And tonight – let us say yes to graduation. To accomplishing goals and fulfilling our future dreams.”
During his address to the class, Salutatorian Christopher Beale said graduation marks the beginning of a new chapter in the seniors’ lives.
“Our future is a clean slate that can be tainted by our past only if we allow it,” he said. “So seize the day and work for a better tomorrow. And remember, be independent, foster a good relationship with your superiors, be flexible, set high standards for yourself and never despair.
“We walked through the doors of this school four years ago as Comets lost in the galaxies of these very hallways. Tonight we leave this gymnasium as the bright stars of our future and the future of our community.
“As I leave you, think on these words of Mother Theresa: ‘Life is a promise, fulfill it.’”

Lindstrand USA ‘A Perfect Fit’
Officials Gather To Open Doors To County’s Newest Industry Located In South Boston

“The last time I worked in this warehouse we had an exposition for farmers showing them how to convert barns to indirect fire for tobacco curing. Dust was inches thick on the beams,” Halifax County Industrial Development Director Larry McPeters said Saturday.
“It’s quite a difference between then and now,” he added as he looked around Halifax County’s newest state-of-the-art industrial facility.
McPeters was one of the speakers as state and federal representatives joined county dignitaries and economic development officials to officially open Lindstrand U.S.A.
Following Saturday’s ribbon-cutting ceremony, Lindstrand U.S.A., a manufacturer of inflatable structures such as airships, aerostats, flood barriers and aircraft hangars, will soon begin operations in the former Star Warehouse building on Parker Avenue.
“The work that Lindstrand will be doing here is so technical that we don’t have to worry about losing this industry to China,” said county resident and Lindstrand Board member John Cannon.
Lindstrand, which has operated in Shropshire, England for more than 25 years, is the kind of industry Halifax County is looking for, McPeters said.
“We liked the fact that they had been in operation at the same site for so many years,” he said. “It showed stability. Lindstrand is the world’s most versatile manufacturer of aerostats, air ships and high-tech inflatable structures with designs certified in 48 countries.”
The IDA chairman said a lot of work went into securing Halifax County as the site of Lindstrand’s North American operations.
“Lindstrand Technology didn’t just stumble into Southside Virginia,” McPeters told the crowd. “They didn’t come just because we had an empty tobacco warehouse. Tremendous efforts were made by a huge amount of people working in the same direction with the same goal – to bring a high-tech industry to South Boston and Southside.
“South Boston and Halifax County competed with some of the toughest competition in this country for this industry,” he added. “We competed against California, Kentucky and Texas.”
Rick Siger, Virginia’s Deputy Secretary of Commerce and Trade, said Saturday’s announcement is indicative of the economic revitalization efforts his office is making.
“This is a microcosm of what we’re trying to do statewide,” he said, refering to the use of a converted tobacco warehouse into a high-tech manufacturing facility.
Thanking the Halifax County Board of Supervisors for their efforts, Board Chairman William Fitzgerald said the vote to support the project was critical.
“Thank you for your vote that moved Halifax County forward,” he said.
South Boston Mayor Carroll Thackston said the town has seen a “number of great days” over the past several years.
“We’ve made some strong, significant strides since the dark days when we lost so many jobs in the textile and tobacco industries,” he said. “South Boston has made a great comeback since the closings, and today has to rank near or at the top of our best days as we welcome a true world-class organization into our midst.”
The company is in the process of hiring employees and could begin operations in as little as two weeks, Cannon said yesterday.

Obituaries

William Terry Sr.
William Terry Sr., 88, of 1035 Primrose Lane, Vernon Hill died June 1, 2006, at his home.
Mr. Terry was born in Halifax County on March 19, 1918, the son of the late William M. Terry and Mitchell Landrum Terry and was married to Eva Victoria Dorton Terry. He attended the Freedom Worship Center.
Survivors include his wife; one daughter, Deanna Butler; three sons, James B. Terry, Charles Terry and John T. Terry, all of Vernon Hill; 15 grandchildren; and 23 great-grandchildren. One son, William Terry Jr., preceded him in death.
Funeral services for Mr. Terry will be held today, June 5 at 2 p.m. at Freedom Worship Center with the Rev. Ricky Whitlow officiating. Burial will follow in Pleasant Grove Christian Church Cemetery.
Merle Waller Terry
Mrs. Merle Waller Terry, of L.P. Bailey Highway in Halifax, died Sunday, June 4, at her home.
She was born in Halifax County on October 7, 1944 and was 61. Mrs. Terry was the daughter of the late Willard W. Waller and Minnie Dalton Waller and was married to Coy V. Terry. She was a member of the Centerville Baptist Church and the Halifax County Humane Society.
Mrs. Terry is survived by her husband, one daughter, Bonny Terry Children and husband Jimmy or Halifax; her mother’ one sister, Thelma June Vaughan of South Boston; two brothers, Lester W. Waller of South Boston and Kenneth B. Waller and wife Hilda of Nathalie; two step-grandchildren, Summer and Dylan Childrey and numerous nieces and nephews.
Funeral services for Mrs. Merle Waller Terry will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, June 6, with services at the Centerville Baptist Church.
The Rev. Richard Saunders will officiate.
Burial will follow at the Mulberry Baptist Church Cemetery.
The family will receive friends Monday, June 5, from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. at Powell Funeral Home and other times at the home of her daughter, 5237 L.P. Bailey Highway in Halifax.
The family request that for memorials, please consider the Halifax County Cancer Association, P.O. Box 875, South Boston, Va. 24592 or the Halifax County Humane Society, P.O. Box 969, South Boston, Va. 24592.
Ruby Lee Gordon Medford
Mrs. Ruby Lee Gordon Medford, of Loftis Road in South Boston, died Saturday, June 3, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
She was 90.
Funeral services for Mrs. Medford will be held at 2 p.m. Tuesday, June 6, with services at the Brooks Funeral Home Chapel.
The Rev. Jason Bryant will officiate.
Burial will follow in the Cedar Grove U.M. C. Cemetery.
Mrs. Medford was born in Guilford County, N.C. on February 16, 1916, the daughter of the late Oscar Brame and the late Margaret Hughes Huffine.
She was a homemaker and was a member of Cherry Hill United Methodist Church.
Survivors include two daughters, Jean G. Billingslea of Lynchburg and Reva G. Smith of Richmond; three sons, Tex M. Gordan of Arkansas, Steve M. Gordon and Vince M. Gordon, both of Lynchburg; 14 grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
She was preceded in death by two husbands, George Brown Gordon and William Herbert Medford, and one grandchild, George Patrick Gordon.
Online condolences may be sent to brooksfh@earthlink.net.
Rosa Brooks Owens
Mrs. Rosa Brooks Owens of Carrington Street in South Boston died June 2 at Halifax Regional Hospital. She was 85.
Mrs. Owens was born in Halifax County on March 10, 1921, the daughter of the late Robert Brooks and the late Edith Supthin Brooks. She was married to the late Charlie Owens. She was a member of the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church.
Mrs. Owens is survived by one daughter, Joby Terry of Halifax; three grandchildren, Tommy Tucker of Norfolk, Leaveil Terry and Tashi Terry, both of Halifax; four great-grandchildren; one son-in-law, Aubrey Terry of Halifax; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by three sisters and eight brothers.
Funeral services for Mrs. Owens will be held at 1 p.m. Tuesday, June 6, at the Crawford House Chapel in Halifax. The Rev. Hallie Shelton will officiate.
Burial will follow in the Pleasant Grove Baptist Church Cemetery.
Visitation will be held at Jeffress Funeral Home from 10 a.m. until 8 p.m. Monday, June 5.
Gladys Conner Moore
Graveside services for Mrs. Gladys Conner Moore will be held today at 11 a.m. at the Halifax Memorial Gardens with the Rev. Grant Dyer officiating.
The family will receive friends at her home, 746 Magnolia Drive, South Boston.
Mrs. Moore, 85, died Friday, June 2, at the Woodview Nursing Home.
She was born in Halifax County on May 20, 1921, the daughter of Elijah Conner and Myrtle McKinney Conner and was married to the late Lacy Gunn Moore.
Mrs. Moore was a member of the South Boston Church of God.
She is survived by a son, Carroll Dean Moore of South Boston, and was preceded in death by a son, Gerald Kent Moore.
Russell David Sr.
Mr. Russell David Sr., 87, of Bennettsville, S.C., died May 22, at the Morrison Manor of Laurinburg, N.C.
He was born in Philadelphia on July 12, 1918, the son of the late Alexander David and the late Ann Liza Rogers David.
Mr. David was a member of the Evans Metropolitan AME Zion Church and was a retired wholesale truck driver and Wachovia Bank employee.
Survivors include his wife, Wilhelmenia, three sons, Russell David Jr. and wife Minnie, Alexander David II and wife Peggy, both of the Bronx, and Robert Lee Green of Bennettsville; three daughters, Bettye D. Morris of Virgilina, Lillie D. Carden of Halifax and Barbara D. Jones and husband Cornelius of Rice; and two sisters, Elease Jackson and husband Joe, and Hazel David, both of New York; 24 grandchildren, 16 great-grandchildren, seven great-great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews, relatives and neighbors.
Mr. David was preceded in death by a sister, Zeith D. Kennedy of the Bronx, and a brother, Thornell David of Brooklyn.
Funeral services for Mr. David were held Saturday, May 27, at the Evans Metropolitan AME Zion Church with the Rev. Willie Frances Davis officiating.
Interment followed in Ideal Cemetery with Masonic and military rites.
Ann Henderson Turner
Funeral services for Mrs. Ann Henderson Turner will be held today at 2 p.m. at the Wrenn-Yeatts Westover Chapel with the Rev. Charles Swanson and the Rev. Dr. A.C. Smith officiating.
Interment will follow in Danville Memorial Gardens.
Ms. Turner, 73, of Danville, died Saturday, June 3, at Piney Forest Health Care Center.
She was born in Halifax County on July 11, 1932, the daughter of the late Oscar Hale Henderson and the late Nannie Orrell Henderson.
Ms. Turner was a retired teacher from the Rockingham County (N.C.) school system and taught briefly in Danville.
She was a graduate on Madison College and a longtime member of Melville Avenue Baptist Church.
Ms. Turner is survived by a daughter, Suzanna T. Mayhew of Ringgold; a son-in-law, Randy Mayhew of Danville; a grandson, John Wesley Turner of Danville; a sister-in-law, Louise B. Henderson of Nathalie, and a great-grandchild.
She was preceded in death by five brothers.

 

Thirty Comets Players Land All-District Honors
Jeffress, Davis Are Named As WVD Players Of The Year

Two outstanding Halifax County High School diamonders, senior pitcher Jeremy Jeffress from the Comets baseball team and sophomore shortstop Lashunda Davis of the Comets softball team, have been named Player of the Year in the Western Valley District in their respective sports.
Comets head softball coach Melanie Saunders noted that this marked the first time in her 12 years as head coach of the Comets softball team that a Comets softball player has been named as the district’s Player of the Year.
In addition to landing the district’s top award, Davis also received her team’s Most Valuable Player Award for her efforts this season.
Jeffress, who is noted as one of the country’s premier high school players and is expected to be a high first-round draft pick in this week’s Major League Baseball draft, was a unanimous pick for the honor according to Comets head coach Kelvin Davis.
“It was a no-brainer,” said the Comets coach.
“He had it by a landslide.”
Davis had two big reasons to smile because Jeffress played on his Comets baseball team and his daughter, Lashunda, won the Player of the Year honor in softball.
“I’m really proud of both of them,” said Davis.
“Both of them had an outstanding season.”
In addition to being named Player of the Year, Davis and Jeffress were also named to the First Team of the All-Western Valley District Team for the second year in a row. Last year both were later tabbed as Second-Team All-Northwest Region picks.
Among the four sports from which all-district selections are made Halifax County High School has nine players receiving First Team honors. Players that are named to the First Team of the all-district team are eligible for being nominated for selection to the All-Northwest Region teams.
Baseball Picks
A total of nine players from the Comets baseball team were selected to the All-Western Valley District Team with three players named to the First Team. That group included Jeffress, Comets senior third baseman Bobby Owens and senior outfielder David Lacks.
Four Comets players were named to the Second Team with that group including Owens as a utility player, senior second baseman Scott Gieselman, senior centerfielder Willie Stephens and junior Tony Barbour who was tabbed as a designated hitter.
Freshman catcher Kaleb Long and sophomore first baseman Justin Bagbey received Honorable Mention accolades.
Softball Picks
Eight Comets softball players were named to the All-Western Valley District Team with Davis, senior pitcher Beth Throckmorton, junior outfielder Liz Trickey and freshman catcher Betty Rose being named to the First Team.
Davis and Throckmorton are repeat First Team selections.
Three Comets players were named to the Second Team including senior centerfielder Jasmine Parker, senior second baseman Heather Oakes and senior pitcher Jessica “Moo” Morris. Parker is also a repeat all-district pick.
Comets third baseman, junior Key Ferrell, was an Honorable Mention pick.
Girls Soccer Picks
The Halifax County High School girls soccer team, which also had a banner year, had 10 players named to the all-district team.
Halifax County High School sophomores Lacy Will and Mary Beale were named to the First Team of the All-Western Valley District Girls Soccer Team. Beale was selected as a midfielder and Will was selected as a forward.
Both Will and Beale were tapped for all-district honors last season with both being named to the Second Team.
Four Comets players were named to the Second Team including senior Courtney McGill at midfield and sophomore Melissa Smith at forward. Senior Emily Nichols and junior Emily Bowen, both of whom played defender, were also Second Team picks.
Another four Comets players, senior midfielder Kirsten Marvin, sophomore defenders Lauren Faulkner and Emily Rosche and freshman forward Sarah Rosche, were Honorable Mention picks.
Boys Soccer Picks
Three members of the Halifax County High School boys soccer team were tapped for postseason honors with junior forward Josh Shealy being the top pick from the team as a member of the Second Team All-Western Valley District Team.
Two Comets seniors, Charles Crawley and Patrick Slayton, both of whom played in the back position, were tabbed for Honorable Mention honors.

ALL WESTERN VALLEY DISTRICT
BASEBALL TEAM
FIRST TEAM
POS NAME SCHOOL GR.
P Jeremy Jeffress Halifax Co. Sr.
P Rob Whitley GW Sr.
C Adam Hart Patrick Henry
1 B Drew Elkins E.C. Glass Sr.
2 B Reggie Keen GW Sr.
3 B Bobby Owens Halifax Co. Sr.
Seth Sigmon Franklin Co. Sr.
SS Nevada Watlington GW Jr.
OF Hunter Naff Franklin Co. Sr.
OF David Lacks Halifax Co. Sr.
OF Alex Kozera E.C. Glass Sr.
DH Rob Whitley GW Sr.
Utility Lincoln Garner Franklin Co. Sr.
SECOND TEAM
P Lincoln Garner Franklin Co. Sr.
P Matt Hedrick GW Danville So.
C Zach Harrelson GW Danville Jr.
Adolfo Avael Franklin Co. So.
1 B Brandon Flora Franklin Co. Sr.
2 B Scott Gieselman Halifax Co. Sr.
3 B Zach Gibson GW Danville So.
OF John Gregory GW Danville Sr.
OF Frank Morris Franklin Co. Sr.
OF Willie Stephens Halifax Co. Sr.
DH Tony Barbour Halifax Co. Jr.
Utility Bobby Owens Halifax Co. Sr.
HONORABLE MENTION
P Brandon Grenier Franklin Co. Jr.
P Clayton Metz Patrick Henry So.
P Ben Kotchish Patrick Henry Sr.
P Joseph Dupree E.C. Glass Jr.
C Kaleb Long Halifax Co. 9
C Matt Bergin E.C. Glass Jr.
1 B Justin Bagbey Halifax Co. So.
1 B Adam Williams Patrick Henry Sr.
1 B Greg Hairston GW Danville Sr.
2 B Ben Deck Patrick Henry Jr.
SS Michael Hodges Franklin Co. So.
OF Brian Hilton Patrick Henry Jr.
OF Travis Uhle E.C. Glass Jr.
OF Herbie Williams GW Danville Sr.
OF J. T. Slate Franklin Co. Sr.
DH Joseph Dupree E.C. Glass Jr.
Utility Kyle Grantier GW Jr.

Western Valley District All-District
Boys Soccer Teams
FIRST TEAM
John Carrington MF Glass Sr.
Brad Milam Back Glass Sr.
Jonathan Wilson Back Glass Jr.
Kevin Doyle GK Glass Jr.
Trent Sparks F Glass Jr.
Drew Whitt F GW So.
AdrewPruett F GW Sr.
Bakari Williams Back GW So.
Adam Dishman Back GW Sr.
Fayanga Keita MF Patrick Henry So.
Cameron SchlueterMF Patrick Henry Sr.
Paulo Morais F Patrick Henry Jr.
Logan Wright Back Patrick Henry Jr.
James Kesler MF Franklin Co. Sr.
Justin Seekford BF Franklin Co Jr.
Second Team
Connor Scott F./Mid Franklin Co. Sr.
Adam Shively Fwrd Franklin Co. So.
Derek Spencer Back Franklin Co. Sr. Walker Holcomb Back Glass Sr.. Kell Gay Fwrd Glass So. Ben Givens Mid/F. Glass Sr. Wyatt Lifsey Mid Glass Sr. Seth McClure Mid Glass Sr. Cabell Maddux Mid GW So. Holt Whitt Mid/F. GW Sr. Robin Hemandez F Patrick Henry Jr. Chris Runyon Back Patrick Henry Sr.. Robbie Day GK Patrick Henry So. Jay Robertson Mid Patrick Henry So. Josh Shealy Fwrd Halifax Jr. Chris Dowdy - Patrick Henry High School Coach of the Year
John Carrington -Midfield E.G. Glass Player of the Year (Sr.)
Honorable Mention
Colin Poe Back E.C. Glass Jr.
Hodges Berry Mid E.C. Glass So.
Quint Quihlan Mid EC. Glass Jr.
Aaron Trochim Mid Franklin Co. Jr. Emesto Delgado Mid Franklin Co. Jr.
Jason Yann Mid Franklin Co. Sr.
Stuart Woodard Back Franklin Co. Fr.
Jon Woodard Back Franklin Co. Fr.
Bryan Schenker Goal Franklin Co. Jr.
Jonathan Sanchez Mid Patrick Henry So.
Tyler Whitney Mid Patrick Henry So.
Alex Shamy Back Patrick Henry So.
Zanu Beadle Mid/F. Patrick Henry Sr.
Tim Baines Mid/Back GW Jr.
Collier Wiseman Back GW Fr.
Billy Waymouth Mid GW Sr.
Reggie Fitzgerlad Keeper GW So.
Eric Martin Back GW Sr. Chris Chaney Fwrd GW Sr.
Patrick Slayton Back Halifax Sr.
Charles Crawley Back Halifax Sr. Western Valley District All-District
Girls Soccer Team
First Team
Kristen Kenny F ECG Sr.
Ariel Fitts F ECG Sr.
Lindsay Colcombe EGG Soph.
Jeanine Johnston Mid ECG Sr. Emily Phillips GK ECG Sr.
Michele Taylor D ECG Soph.
Anna Parrish Mid GW Sr.
Christine Dontico Mid PH Sr.
Mary Beale Mid Hal. Soph. Lacy Will F Hal. Soph.
Lindsey Prillaman F/Mid FCo. Sr.
Hannah Jamison D FCo. Jr.
Brittany Johnson Mid/F FCo. Soph.
Erin Wilson D ECG Soph.
Alison Weymouth F GW Soph.
Second Team
Jackie Bowman GK FCo. Sr.
Courthey Thurman Mid./D FCo. Sr.
Maggie Moore Mid. PH Sr.
Emily Nichols D Hal. Sr.
Emily Bowen D Hal Jr.
Caroline Broadfoot D GW Fr.
Carl Hensley GK Soph.
Melissa Smith F.. Hal. Soph.
Diane Laos Mid. FCo. Sr.
Kelly Miller D EGG Sr.
Corry Craighill Mid EGG Jr.
Kendall Good D EGG Fr.
Courtney McGill Mid. Hal. Sr.
Maria Abreu M CW Sr.
Kettle Holland Mid FCo. Soph.
Honorable Mention
Emily Robertson D PH Soph.
Jenny Young F.. PH Fr.
Lauren Mawn F.. ECG Sr.
Hannah Smith Mid ECG Fr.
Spenser Arigel Mid ECG Soph.
Tiffany Houston D GW Soph.
Ashley Houston F.. GW Jr.
Kirsten Marvin Mid. Hal. Sr.
Lauren Faulkner D Hal. Soph.
Emily Rosohe D Hal. Soph.
Sarah Rosohe F.. Hal. Fr.
Dee Callaway F.. FCC. Soph.
Danielle Fhppin D FCC. Sr.
Candice Bowles F./Mid FCC. Soph.
Heather Kelley D/Mid FCC. Sr.
Western Valley All-District Softball Team
First Team
Player Pos. Gr. School
Jessica Searing OF Jr. F. Co.
Chezdan Baker OF Jr. F. Co.
Liz Trickey OF Jr. Halifax Co.
Savannah Tinsley IF Sr. Glass
Amy Betterton IF Sr. F. Co.
Ashlee Washburn IF Jr. F. Co.
Lashunda Davis IF So. Halifax Co.
Dana Dudley Utility Sr. PH
Shannon Manning P Sr. F. Co.
Beth Throckmorton P Sr. Halifax Co.
Betty Rose C Fr. Halifax Co.
Jenny Law C Soph. F. Co.
Ashley Salmon C Sr. GW
Second Team
Jasmine Parker OF Sr. Halifax Co.
Devyn Bayes OF Jr. GW
India Metz OF Soph. F. Co.
Kelley Elliott OF Sr. PH
Am anda Gordon IF Sr. PH
Heather Oakes IF Sr. Halifax Co.
Lindsey Thurman IF Jr. F. Co.
Ashley Steele IF Jr. F. Co.
Maria Arrington P Jr. F. Co.
Lauren Wilson IF Sr. GW
Amanda Battin P Sr. PH
Jessica Morris P Sr. Halifax Co.
Jessica Brown P Soph. F. Co.
Blair Gillespie P Sr. GW
Samantha Hoelzer C Jr. PH
Honorable Mention
Erica Bowling OF Jr. F. Co.
Key Ferrell IF Jr. Halifax Co.
Erica Warren IF Soph. GW

Anderson Takes Second In State Track Meet
The Comets’ David Anderson Placed Second In The Triple Jump In the Group AAA State Track And Field Meet
Halifax County High School’s David Anderson concluded his high school track and field career on a high note with a second-place finish in the triple jump in the State Group AAA Track And Field Championships in Newport News.
Anderson’s best jump, a mark of 47 feet and four inches, was four inches shy of the winning mark of 47-8 set by Manchester High School sophomore Antonio Miller.
In addition to finishing second in the triple jump, Anderson placed 17th overall in the long jump with a best mark of 20 feet and seven inches.
The second-place finish in the state meet concluded what has been a solid spring season for the Comets senior.
Anderson won the Western Valley District title in the triple jump with a jump of 44 feet and nine and three quarters inches and won the Northwest Region championship in the triple jump with a mark of 47 feet and nine and a half inches.
He also placed fourth in the long jump in the Northwest Region meet.
Marteia Ferrell, a member of the Comets girls track team, also competed in the state meet but did not place and did not collect any points.
Ferrell finished 21st overall in the triple jump with a mark of 33 feet and one inch. She also placed 28th out of 40 competitors in the long jump. Her mark in that event was 15 feet and eight and a half inches.
It has also been a good spring for Ferrell who placed fourth in the long jump and fifth in the triple jump in the Western Valley District meet and rallied to place third in the long jump and fourth in the triple jump in the Northwest Region meet.
Anderson and Ferrell were the only Halifax County High School athletes to compete in the state meet this past weekend.

 

Burton Charges From 36th For Busch Win
DOVER, Del. (AP) — Jeff Burton had the biggest come-from-behind win ever in a Busch Series race at Dover International Speedway, overcoming a 36th-place starting position for his second victory of the season Saturday.
Burton, eighth in the Nextel Cup standings, grabbed the lead for good with 18 laps left and pulled away to win the caution-marred race. He has 22 career Busch victories.
‘‘We were really good, but on long runs we were unbelievably good,’’ Burton said. ‘‘The car was fast all day. The race at the end was a lot of fun. It doesn’t get much better than that.’’
Carl Edwards, who led most of the early laps, finished second for his sixth top-five finish of the season. Kurt Busch was third as the Cup regulars again dominated the series.
Burton’s win made Nextel Cup regulars a perfect 14-for-14 in Busch races this season. He also won in Atlanta.
The race was slowed by eight cautions for 34 laps, which knocked several drivers out of the race. There were 11 lead changes among eight drivers.
Rain wiped out qualifying, putting series points leader Kevin Harvick on the pole. Harvick finished 13th and increased his lead over Edwards to 297 points.
‘‘That was probably racing at its finest,’’ Busch said. ‘‘That turned into a great race to watch.’’
Burton, making only his seventh Busch start of the season, said there was less pressure on his team starting from the back because they weren’t really racing for series points.
‘‘I told them before it started raining it would be cool if it rained,’’ Burton said. ‘‘The opportunity to start in the back, I didn’t look it as a detriment, I looked at it as something that could be fun and unique.’’
Clint Bowyer led 62 laps and finished fourth. Ron Hornady Jr. and Kyle Busch rounded out the top six. Hornaday’s finish was his highest since 2004.
Edwards led as late as the 149th lap, but he couldn’t regain the lead after he decided to pit for new tires under caution with 49 laps remaining. Burton was one of only five drivers on the lead lap who stayed out, and that was enough to finally surge past Kurt Busch on No. 182.
‘‘I got up to second and I couldn’t catch him,’’ Edwards said. ‘‘I think we did everything we could, but he had a faster car or he did a better job driving, one of the two.’’
Edwards was second for the second day in a row after losing to Mark Martin on Friday night in the Craftsman Truck Series race. He’ll start the Cup race Sunday in 25th and hopes for a better result in the tripleheader.
‘‘I’d really like to win one of these things this weekend,’’ Edwards said. ‘‘That would be a pretty good one to win.’’
Scott Wimmer held the Dover record for largest comeback, charging from 26th place to win in 2002.