Friday, June 10, 2005

Voting Party Lines May Prove Confusing In Tuesday’s Primary

Voters in Halifax County will have the chance to voice their opinions on who represents them in the November elections during Democratic and Republican Primary elections next Tuesday.
Polls open at 6 a.m. and close at 7 p.m.
Primary elections are held by the parties to determine the nominee for an office when more than one candidate files to be the party’s nominee.
In the case of dual primary elections, voters may vote in only one primary, according to Halifax County Registrar Judy Meeler.
When a voter arrives at the polling site, they will be asked to indicate whether they are voting in the Democratic or Republican primary and will be given the corresponding ballot.
The voter’s declaration in the primary is not interpreted as an oath of party membership or loyalty, Meeler said.
Voters in the Democratic primary will determine the candidate for Lieutenant Governor and the Republican Party will hold a concurrent primary to determine the candidates for Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General.
The Democratic ballot will offer voters a choice between Leslie L. Byrne, J.C. “Chap” Peterson, Phillip P. Puckett and Viola O. Baskerville for Lieutenant Governor.
Unopposed Democratic candidates include gubernatorial candidate Tim Kaine and Bath County Senator Creigh Deeds, the Party’s candidate for Attorney General.
Halifax County Delegate Clarke Hogan, Republican – 60th District, is currently unopposed.
Voters choosing to cast their vote in the GOP primary will choose between George B. Fitch and Jerry W. Kilgore for Governor, Sean T. Connaughton and Bill Bolling for Lieutenant Governor and Robert F. McDonnell and Stephen E. Baril for Attorney General.
For additional polling information, call Meeler at 476-3322.

 

Governor Plays Santa To Localities

$1.2 Million Grant Announced For South Boston Project

Even in the sweltering noon heat, South Boston Mayor Carroll Thackston flashed a happy smile Wednesday as Governor Mark Warner awarded the town $1, 228,409 for a Community Development Block Grant for the Church Hill Neighborhood Project.
The CDBG funding will be used to rehabilitate 20 homes in the neighborhood, update water/sewer, improve streets, gutter and curbing, and address storm water abatement.
Future town plans call for razing the old JP Taylor Building to establish an urban park.
“This governor has been and continues to be a great supporter not only of Southside Virginia but of all rural areas of Virginia,” said Mayor Thackston.
In announcing the award, Warner said South Boston had much to be proud of, citing The Prizery, the town’s designation as a Virginia Main Street Community and moving the Southern Virginia Higher Education Center forward. He also said that he was very pleased to hear Berry Hill Plantation Resort opened last week, adding it could do a lot for the region.
While in South Boston, Warner also announced more than $10.7 million in 2005 CDBGs to 18 Virginia localities.
“The grants will serve more than 4,600 Virginians by eliminating substandard housing, providing public water and sewer systems, and funding two rural health clinics,” Warner told the crowd gathered on Ragland Street.
“A good, solid roof over your head and clean running water in the sink are not trivial needs, and this is not a trivial program,” said Warner. “The CDBG program brings real results to people. For distressed communities and families facing extreme poverty, the program offers a chance for a better life.”
Warner also defended the CDBG program and called on citizens to speak out on its behalf. He said “governors were disappointed when Washington wanted to cut the program,” a program he said has a great record of success and one he describes as “one of our nation’s most important redevelopment resources.”
The Governor announced the grants Wednesday in the shadow of Mizpah Presbyterian Church, which is listed on the Civil Rights in Education Heritage Trail.
Other grant recipients Wednesday included neighboring Mecklenburg County, with $667,781 for the Belfield Road Housing Project; and Chase City, with $623,590 for a North Main Street project.
Prior to the presentation, William Shelton, Department of Housing and Community Development state director, said “What attracted us to this location for the announcement was the spirit in the neighborhood, of all the neighborhood involvement coming together with a vision for what they want to see,” said William Shelton.

 

ID500: Fingerprinting For The Future

The South Boston Police Department has announced that they have moved to a new, state-of-the-art fingerprinting system.
The Cross Match ID500 is a 10-print, live-scan system that was funded by a grant through the Emergency Services of South Boston/Halifax County. The system captures forensic quality images digitally, eliminating the need for the more time-consuming ink and paper methods.
“The system allows for 100 percent image integrity and a forensic-quality print every time," said Chief Mick Reed. “At the local level, this will ensure a higher identification rate for fingerprints that are currently sent to the Virginia State Police through AFIS (Automated Fingerprint Identification Systems) and NCIC (National Criminal Intelligence Center)."
Reed said the new system will also speed the process of submitting prints to the Central Criminal Records Exchange (CCRE) with the state police, allowing officers to identify a person arrested and possible outstanding warrants.
But the digital fingerprint scans can also be used to safeguard children through the production of a Child Identification Record, Reed added.
“This allows the production of a detailed demographic regarding the child with the capability to include a photograph of the child," he said. “(The kit will allow) citizens to maintain thorough information about their child in case of an emergency."
According to Reed, with the Cross Match’s electronic Child Identification Kit, police officers can attend organized events to provide the community with a complete ID card or CD ROM with the child’s color photo, 10 fingerprint images and demographic data.
But the chief was quick to point out that the system will not be used to store information about the county’s children.
“We need to emphasize that we do not keep this information," he said. “Law enforcement is not collecting and storing this information on children. This is for the family to have available in an emergency."
This Saturday from 10 a.m.–2 p.m. the police department will have the equipment at the Halifax Square Food Lion. Officers will be available to provide the Child Identification Kit to interested families.

 

Obituaries

Floyd Alvin Bowling

Floyd Alvin Bowling, 92, of Chase City died June 8 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Bowling was born May 19, 1913, in Mecklenburg County to the late Charlie William and Madie Green Bowling. He was retired from the District of Columbia government, Division of Sanitation as supervisor, and was a member of First Baptist Church, Chase City, where he served as a deacon, was a member of the Loyal Order of Moose and the Chase City Ruritan Club. In later years, he was inducted into the Ruritan Hall of Fame.
He was preceded in death by his wife, Velma Childress Bowling, and is survived by two daughters, Jean Bowling Massie and husband, John, of Fairfax, and Merle Bowling Hundley and husband, Thomas, of Halifax; four grandchildren; seven great-grandchildren; and one brother, Charlie Graham Bowling and his wife, Mary, of Chase City.
Funeral services for Mr. Bowling will be held at 11 a.m. tomorrow, June 11, at First Baptist Church, Chase City, with the Rev. Gene Burris officiating. Entombment will follow in Woodland Mausoleum.
The family will receive friends this evening, June 10, from 7:00 to 8:30, at Newcomb Allgood Davis Funeral Home in Chase City.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Halifax Regional Hospice, 2204 Wilborn Avenue, South Boston.

Thomas Rickey Hamlett

Thomas Rickey ‘Tommy’ Hamlett, 53, of 1155 Calvary Road, Alton died June 5 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Hamlett was born October 25, 1951. He was a member of Morningstar Apostolic Church, and was a construction foreman with Walden, Inc.
Survivors of Mr. Hamlett include his wife, Lora Bowes Hamlett; two sons, Mark Anthony Hamlett of Clover, and David Pyle of Danville; one brother, Bobby Hamlett of Danville; and two grandchildren.
Funeral services were held June 8 at 2 p.m. at Brooks Funeral Home Chapel. Burial followed in Oak Ridge Cemetery.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the Turbeville Volunteer Fire Department, 8146 Philpott Road, South Boston.

 

Comets Trio Named To All-Northwest Region Team

Lashunda Davis, Jeremy Jeffress and Justin Armistead Have Been Tapped For Post-Season Honors

BY Joe Chandler
G-V STAFF WRITER

Two members of the Halifax County High School varsity baseball team and one member of the Comets varsity softball team have been named to spots on the All-Northwest Region Team.
Comets pitcher Jeremy Jeffress was named to the Second Team of the All-Northwest Region Baseball Team as both a pitcher and third baseman.
During the regular season, Jeffress batted .424, had six home runs and a team high 25 RBIs. Defensively at third base, Jeffress had a .891 fielding percentage.
Armistead batted .327 for the regular season and had one home run. His defensive prowess at second base was shown in his .986 fielding percentage and in the fact that he committed only one error during the regular season.
The Comets softball team had only Davis to be selected for All-Northwest Region honors.
Davis, with her sure glove at shortstop and her good season at the plate, was named to the Second Team of the All-Northwest Region Softball Team.
That was an honor for both Davis and the Comets as only three players from the Western Valley District were named to slots on the All-Northwest Region Softball Team.
The two other players from the Western Valley District that were chosen in softball were Franklin County High School senior Lauren Thurman junior Amy Betterton.
Thurman was selected to a First Team slot while Betterton was named to the second Team.
The Comets softball team finished second in the district in regular-season play and won the Westerrn Valley District Tournament title. Halifax County hosted a first-round Northwest Region Tournament game but was defeated by Gar-Field.
Halifax County High School’s baseball team finished as both the regular-season and Western Valley District Tournament runner-up.
The Comets went on the road and defeated the Commonwealth District top seed, Albemarle in the first round of the Northwest Region Tournament and lost 8-3 to Osbourn High School in Manassas in the regional tournament semifinals.

Post 8 Baseball Team Opens Season Sunday

The South Boston American Legion Post 8 Baseball Team Opens Its 20-Game Schedule Here Sunday At 2 P.M. Against Roxboro, N.C. Post 138

BY Joe Chandler
G-V STAFF WRITER

The South Boston American Legion Post 8 baseball team opens a new season here Sunday against Roxboro, N.C. Post 138 with a new group of players, a new head coach in former Comets standout Jason Jones and a good deal of optimism.
“I’m anxious to get the season started,” said Jones.
“Early on, I want to see what the guys can do and build for the rest of the season, especially for the month of July when I want the team to be really strong.”
Post 8 will play a 20-game regular-season schedule this year with the season opening Sunday and ending on Tuesday, July 19.
The district tournament will be played July 23-26 at Heritage High School in Lynchburg. This year’s state tournament will be played August 1-6 at nearby Dan Daniel Park.
Post 8 will be a part of a five-team district that will include Big Island Post 217, Lynchburg Post 16 -North, Lynchburg Post 16 – South and Danville Post 325.
District tournament winners will advance to the state tournament. However, because of the small district, the winner of the district that includes the South Boston team may have to play and win a one-game or three-game playoff against another small district champion or an independent team in order to qualify for the state tournament.
One of the things that has been pleasing for Jones is that there has apparently been little trouble in getting players to come out for the team.
Jones said 22 to 23 players have been working out since practice began earlier this week and that he will have to file his final 18-player roster with state officials by June 20. He was unsure at midweek as to whether he would have his final roster done by Sunday’s game.
“I’d like to have the team set by Sunday," Jones said, “but I don’t know if that will be possible or not. I have some guys that will be leaving for the beach and have some that will be coming back from the beach.
“That’s just something you have to deal with," continued Jones.
“Senior Week at the beach is something that happens only once in a lifetime and you can’t really hold a kid back from that. It’s one of those things that is part of growing up."
Jones said he plans to give everybody playing time in Sunday’s game against Roxboro, a game he may use as something of a game-style tryout.
Jones says he has a good pool of talent. The hard thing, he says, is deciding which direction to take with the team.
“It’s a choice of going with an older, more experienced group with some players that play in more than one league that may have some tournaments that may conflict with some of our games, or with younger guys that are good players that will be there every day," said Jones.
“We will continue talking with these older players and our coaching staff will discuss what we should do from there."
All of the players that have come out for the team are good players, the Post 8 coach noted.
“All of the 22 or 23 players we have can play at this level," Jones said.
“The young guys that we have are highly advanced for their age. I didn’t know if they would be ready to stand in with a 205-pound 19-year-old pitcher throwing between 85 and 90 mph. But, I’ve been real impressed with the young guys and their work ethic and their desire to be there at practice and do what they need to do. A lot of guys have shown a lot of heart."
Jones’ roster is likely to include former Comets baseball players, Brent Long, Robert Carter and Ryan Roller, all of whom have completed their freshman season in college baseball.
Some players from this past season’s Comets baseball team including Blake Waller, Justin Armistead, Tyler Clarke and Ryan Gieselman are expected to be included on the roster. Chris Fisher, a member of the Comets jayvee baseball team this past season, may also be on the final roster.
As far as pitching is concerned, Jones said his choice of starters for Sunday will come from the group of Clarke, Armistead and Fisher.
“Robert Carter could see a few innings of work here and there and Brent Long may see the hill at times," Jones said.
“All of the guys may get some work in."
Jones says he feels good about his prospects for the infield where he has five players battling for the starting nod at three positions – second base, shortstop and third base.
First base appears to be the only thing that is anything of a certainty with Gieselman and Roller expected to split time there.
“Defensively, we’re going to be alright," said Jones.
“We don’t have any Gold-Glove winners but we have people that will make the routine plays. That’s all I ask."
As far as the prospects for the outfield are concerned, Jones said the team will be “very strong" there.
Among the candidates for the outfield positions are Long, Waller, Carter and Logan Rollie from South Hill who played at Louisburg (N.C.) College this past season.
“I’m ready for the team to come together so that we can get to work and make a little noise in the district."
The focus this season is to win as many district games and possible and get into the field for the state tournament.
“Each district game is very important," said Jones.
“Every team will play in the district tournament but the road is easier for the higher seeded teams. The goal is to win the district and get into the state tournament in Danville. Being able to play in the state tournament in Danville would be almost like playing here at home. If we could get there, it would be big for our program."

Priest To Play For Gastonia In Coastal Plains League

Former HCHS Baseball Standout Mike Priest Will Play For The Gastonia (N.C.) Grizzlies

BY Doug Ford
G-V STAFF WRITER

Former Halifax County High School baseball standout Mike Priest is one of 11 players from this year’s Campbell University baseball team who will play in summer baseball leagues this season.
Priest will play for the Gastonia (N.C.) Grizzlies in the Coastal Plain League and will be among nine Campbell University players that will play in the Coastal Plains League this summer.
Priest, who was a first-team Atlantic Sun all-conference pick and second-team Academic All-American® as a junior for the Camels in 2005, batted .365 with a school-record 22 doubles, plus 14 home runs and 46 RBI while starting all 54 games at first base.
The Vernon Hill native ranked among A-Sun leaders in batting average, doubles, homers, RBI, slugging percentage (.687) and on-base percentage (.443).
Other Campbell University players that will play for the Grizzlies include outfielder/pitcher Jeff Randol and pitchers Tyler Sexton and Jacob Wright.
The Grizzlies are coached by former Campbell catcher Chris Wiley, who is now assistant coach at Louisburg Junior College.
Catcher David Forbes returns to the Fayetteville Swamp Dogs for the second-straight year, joined this summer by right-handed pitcher Lincoln Smith.
Outfielder/DH Alston Hatch and right-handed pitcher Austen Hawkey are on the Wilmington Sharks roster, while outfielder Rob Vernon opened the year with the Wilson Tobs.
The Coastal Plain League, which began in 1997, includes 14 franchises in the Carolinas and Virginia, and exclusively uses wood bats.
Coastal Plain League members are the Asheboro Copperheads, Edenton Steamers, Fayetteville Swamp Dogs, Florence (S.C.) Red Wolves, Gastonia Grizzlies, Martinsville (Va.) Mustangs, New Bern River Rats, Outer Banks Dare Devils (Manteo, N.C.), Peninsula Pilots (Hampton, Va.), Petersburg (Va.) Generals, Spartanburg (S.C.) Stingers, Thomasville HiToms, Wilmington Sharks and Wilson Tobs.
The Martinsville and New Bern franchises are in their first year of membership.