Stuck Between A Rock And A Hard Place

Discovery Of Subsurface Rock Could Delay Regional Landfill’s Opening

When South Boston’s landfill closes Dec. 31, town and county garbage is supposed to be transported to a regional landfill in Mecklenburg County, but discovery of subsurface rock there this spring could affect timetables.
When Shearin Construction, Inc. notified landfill authorities that it encountered undisclosed and unforeseen subsurface rock at the site, the company sought a change order which would increase the Phase II cost from $704,335 to $2,230,000, according to Southside Regional Public Service Authority records.
Southside Regional Public Authority Executive Director and Mecklenburg County Administrator Wayne Carter said the Authority had been notified of the problem in early April and had decided to cancel Phase II and terminate the contract with the company effective April 25.
“The extent of subsurface rock is unknown, and it is therefore unknown what additional costs, if any, should be incurred by (the) Authority beyond the contract price of (the) contractor,” reads the resolution passed on April 17. “The possibility of such an increase suggests that (the) Authority should suspend work on the project and terminate the contract for convenience, to enable further determination of subsurface conditions at Cell 1, which information will enable the Authority to determine the merit of the contractor’s allegations and whether the Authority should move forward with the development of Cell 1, or instead proceed with development of another cell.”
The resolution directed Carter to investigate the extent to which subsurface rock may exist at the proposed site for Cell 1 or any other cells.
On Thursday, Carter said he did not know how the possible subsurface rock would affect the cost or timetable of the project, explaining that construction planned to be completed in Phase II has now been incorporated into Phase III plans.
“The bids for Phase III are due on June 22,” he said. “We won’t know until that time. But once we have those bids we will know exactly where we stand.”
Halifax County Administrator Bryant Foster is optimistic.
“We did some additional testing that revealed that the rock that was encountered was an isolated incident, not rock all over the place,” he said Friday.
Although authorities will not know the cost until the bids come in, Foster said that they have better information for contractors and “if you take out the unknown, you usually get better prices.”
If weather conditions are favorable for the rest of the year, Carter said it was possible that the project could still be completed by the beginning of January.
“Commercial landfills are built in a six-month time frame,” he said. “So it is possible.”
But Carter said if the project is delayed past the planned Dec. 31 completion date, the Authority had already worked a plan to haul garbage from Mecklenburg, Halifax and Charlotte counties to Lunenburg County until the regional landfill could be completed.
But Foster said Friday the county would explore the possibilities of Danville or Campbell County. “We could take it to Lunenburg, but if there is one closer,” he added.
The landfills in Halifax and Mecklenburg counties must close Dec. 31 by law.
The Authority issued $9.3 million in bonds last fall to pay for the initial development of the landfill, explained Foster.
“So the money is already in place to do the construction of the first cell and get the landfill open,” said the Halifax County administrator. “This borrowing calculated into the tips’ fees to cover the debt service as well as operational cost.”

MEETINGS ...

Halifax County School Board Trustees To Begin Paring Budget

The Halifax County School Board has the task of paring almost $1 million from the proposed 2007-2008 budget, and that will be one of the topics at tonight’s monthly meeting.
The meeting is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. in the public meeting room of the Mary Bethune Office Complex.
School Superintendent Paul Stapleton will address the proposed budget during the meeting, while CFO Bill Covington will give the monthly financial report and Director of Maintenance Larry Roller will give his monthly update.
Trustees face the possibility of closing schools or making cuts in programs or personnel in order to balance the budget, according to Stapleton.
Trustee Steve Anderson will report on his committee’s study of cell phone usage policy in county schools.
Also on the agenda, recognition of retiring school system employees, recognition of Lee-Jackson Scholarship recipients Priscilla Fisher and Emily Martin, and recognition of Debbie Faulkner, Virginia’s Outstanding Earth Science Teacher of the Year.
Under the consent agenda, Deputy Superintendent Larry Clark will discuss personnel issues, and Director of Pupil Personnel Services Leon Johnson III will give a long-term suspensions report.
Director of Federal Programs Valdivia Marshall will update trustees on consolidated applications for federal funds.
Executive Director of Instruction Joseph Griles and Executive Director for Administration Paul Nichols will update trustees on athletic and educational field trips.
A citizen comment period is also scheduled for tonight’s meeting.

Halifax Considers Buying Recycling Truck

For several years Halifax residents have been the only ones in the county that have had curbside recycling pickup, but with Recycling Works closing its doors this month the town will have to do the pick ups itself if it wants to continue the program.
Council discussed the issue during its work session Thursday and will continue the discussion during their monthly meeting Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. in Town Hall.
Councilman said they are willing to buy the recycling truck from Recycling Works and have town employees do the pickups if residents want the program to continue, otherwise they said they would discontinue the curbside pickup and have Halifax residents bring their recyclables to a convenience center like other county residents.
Councilman Jack Dunavant said he is in favor of recycling and supported purchasing the truck because the town would be buying a tangible asset that it could resell later if the town decided to do away with the curbside program.
All the councilmen agreed that now would be a bad time to cut back the program with the closing of the South Boston landfill coming and the expense of having to haul trash to Mecklenburg quickly approaching.
Also, the recycling program has been picking up steam in Halifax, according to Town Manager Carl Espy, who said that nearly 30 percent of the town’s households have a recycling bin.
Dunavant said many residents who move to the area expect towns to have a recycling program and that Halifax’s differentiated it from other towns in the county.
Council said representatives of the town would meet with Centerville General Services, the firm awarded the recycling contract for the county, to see what arrangements could be worked out to offset the costs of the pickups and agreed to discuss further options on buying the truck during its monthly meeting Tuesday.
Also on the Tuesday’s agenda Council is expected to set two public hearings for its July 10 meeting, one for the adoption of the town’s comprehensive plan and another for a special use permit request for home occupation in an R-1 district for Halifax Counseling Center, PLC to receive phone appointments for the business.
Council will also address a request by Halifax Dixie Youth for use of the public announcement (PA) system during an upcoming tournament from June 29 to July 4.
Under old business, Council is expected to approve and appropriate the town’s 2007-08 budget and set its meeting schedule for July and August.
Halifax Seeking To Fine Norfolk Southern
Dunavant said a constituent of his complained that the railroad crossing on U.S. 501 in town was blocked by rail cars for nearly 35 minutes recently backing up traffic to Halifax Country Club.
Espy said that according to the Code of Virginia, it is a misdemeanor for the rail company to block traffic for more than five minutes unless it is an emergency and that it’s possible that the town could levy a fine on Norfolk Southern for the delay.
Espy said he would contact Commonwealth’s Attorney Kim White to inquire how the town should proceed with legal action against the railroad.

Budget, Caboose Before South Boston Council

A public hearing on the town’s proposed $7,353,986 budget, relocation of the town’s red caboose and appointments to boards and commissions lead tonight’s South Boston Council agenda.
The meeting will get under way at 7 p.m. in Council Chambers at 502 Yancey Street.
Also on tonight’s agenda, a Fair Housing resolution.
The Fair Housing resolution is a requirement of the Church Hill Community Development Block Grant, which stipulates the town must perform at least one “fair housing activity” each year the grant is ongoing. The resolution will meet that requirement, according to town officials.
The proposed budget carries no real estate, personal property or water/sewer rate increases. The $7,353,986 General Fund budget holds the real estate tax rate at 19 cents per assessed $100 and the personal property tax rate at $2 per assessed $100. Fees also remain stable.
Tonight’s hearing will be the first budget reading and will be followed by a second reading on Monday, June 25, prior to its adoption.
An agreement with the South Boston/Halifax County Museum of Fine Arts and History on acquisition and relocation of the town’s train caboose is expected tonight. The town had sought a Transportation Enhancement Program grant through VDOT to relocate and upgrade the caboose, but was not successful in its application.
The caboose has been stored while town officials awaited news of the grant.
The museum wants to use the caboose as a transportation museum for the county and plans to place it at the museum site, 1540 Wilborn Avenue, according to Museum Director Beth Redd.
In other business, Council is expected to take action on the Current Issues Committee’s recommended slate of candidates for appointments to boards and commissions at their work session last week.
The following recommendations came before Council:
•Industrial Development Authority - Councilman Elliott and Larry Harris’ terms are expiring and both men have indicated a willingness to be reappointed to another four-year term.
n Halifax County South Boston Regional Library Board - Barbara Speece’s term is expiring and she is eligible and willing to serve new four-year term.
n Southside VASAP Board - Police Chief Jim Binner was recommended to replace former Chief Mick Reed on the Board.
n Lake Country Development Corp. - Erle Scott was recommended to fill term of former Town Planner Lee Pambid.
n Halifax County E-911 Board - Police Chief Binner and Fire Chief Phillips were recommended to fill vacancies.
Seats were formerly held by former Chief Mick Reed and Fire Chief William Murray.

Gasperini To Challenge Bailey For School Board

Businessman Joe Gasperini is seeking the ED-4 School Board seat in the November general election.
He will face incumbent Joe Bailey.
“I am an independent candidate for the office of School Board representing Election District 4,” Gasperini announced in a weekend press release.
“I want to serve on the School Board because I am a concerned, involved parent interested in the education of my children and yours,” he said.
“I think the School Board needs to have people with children in the system who understand it not only from the outside, but also from the inside. I have had children in the Halifax County public school system since moving to the area in 1989,” he added.
In the fall, Gasperini said that he will have a kindergartner, a fifth-grade student at the new South Boston Elementary School and a sixth-grade student attending the middle school.
“All of my older children have attended Halifax County Schools including a recent graduate from the high school,” added the candidate.
“I see the schools as they operate on a day-to-day basis, the teacher interaction and what’s going on every day. As a parent of eight children ranging in age from 3 to 28 years old, I have first hand knowledge of many of our schools now, in the past, and have a vested interest for the foreseeable future.
“I understand small towns, and rural communities and the challenges that accompany living in such an area having grown up in a small community of 2,500 people. I graduated from a school that had one building that housed grades K though 12 and had a graduating class of 70.
“As the oldest of 9 children, I attended Syracuse University on a full tuition scholarship that was provided by a local man who never went past the third grade but worked hard to better himself and the community he grew up in and strived to give back to the community.
“I am proud to have graduated in four years with a degree in Finance,” continued Gasperini. “I am proud of my family and proud and happy to be living in Halifax County. I chose to live here because of the many advantages of the community. I feel I can add to these advantages by being a progressive, educated, well-informed member of the School Board.”
Gasperini promised “to devote the necessary time, and effort” to represent his constituents on the School Board.
“I am in favor of a progressive school environment, offering the utmost in advantages to both students and educators.
In seeking support, Gasperini said, “We need a School Board that is made up of progressive people with no ulterior motives or other political aspirations. We need viable members of the Board who will represent the best interests of the community and its children on an ongoing basis.”
In other School Board districts, Stuart Comer is challenging incumbent Sandra Rister in ED-7.
As of Friday, trustee Nancylee Bagwell had not declared her intentions in ED-5.
Trustees Kelly Hill, Ed-8, and Douglas Fisher, ED-1, have announced they will not seek re-election in the fall.
Halifax County Register Judy Meeler said Friday that all incumbent supervisors whose terms are up in the fall election have qualified to be placed on the Nov. 6 ballot.
They are Doug Bowman, ED-4; Lottie Nunn, ED-7; Bryant Claiborne, ED-8; James Edmunds II, ED-5 and R.E. “Dickie” Abbott, ED-1. None had registered opposition as of Friday.
In the sheriff’s race, Stanley Noblin and Jeff Oakes have qualified in a bid for that office.
Halifax County Clerk of Court Robert Conner, Commonwealth’s Attorney Kim White, Halifax County Treasurer Linda Foster and Commissioner of the Revenue Brenda Powell have all qualified.
The last day to file for the November General Election is Tuesday, June 12, at 7 p.m.

Elsie Anthony Wallace
Mrs. Elsie Anthony Wallace, 73, of Berry Hill Road in South Boston, died Friday, June 8, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
A funeral was held yesterday at the South Boston Church of God with the Rev. Dr. Bruce Hagy officiating.
Burial followed in Halifax Memorial Gardens.
Mrs. Wallace was born in Charlotte County on March 24, 1934, the daughter of the late Robert Anthony and Mary Elizabeth Wallace Anthony and was married to the late Willie Jeff Wallace.
She was a retired weaver from J.P. Stevens and was a member of the South Boston Church of God, the Southern Belles bowling league and a former part-time employee of Boston Commons.
Mrs. Wallace is survived by two sons, Jeff Wallace and wife Judy and Alan Wallace and wife Pam, both of South Boston; two sisters, Frances Reynolds of Yanceyville, N.C., and Mary Mae Brandon of Blanch, N.C.; four grandchildren, Jonathon, Jeremy, Sydney and William Wallace, and her mother-in-law, Inez Wallace of South Boston.
She was preceded in death by two brothers, Thomas and Gene Anthony, and a sister, Myrtle Haley.
Online condolences may be sent to brooksfh@earthlink.net.
Antha Scott Hall
A graveside service for Mrs. Antha Scott Hall will be held Tuesday at 11 a.m. at Wickliffe Cemetery with the Rev. Troy Mays officiating.
Mrs. Hall, 97, of South Boston and formerly of Brookneal, died Saturday, June 9, at the Woodview Nursing Home.
She was born in Halifax County on February 7, 1910, the daughter of the late Floyd T. Scott and Berta Stevens Scott and was married to the late John William Hall.
Mrs. Hall was a member of Brookneal Baptist Church.
She is survived by three daughters, Barbara Hare and husband George of Forest, Gay Wilkinson of South Boston, and Sandra Guthrie and husband Russ of Gladys, seven grandchildren and 10 great-grandchildren.
Mrs. Hall was preceded in death by a daughter and son-in-law, Marjie and Bob Eastwood; a grandson, Robert Eastwood; a brother, Thomas J. Scott and a sister, Marion Scott.

VIR Storytime Produces Laughter, Memories

By Doug Ford
G-V Staff Writer
When well-known road racing notables such as Carroll Shelby, Chris Economaki, Dr. Dick Thompson, Peter van der Vate and Tom Yeager get together, the tall tales are sure to follow.
That held true last weekend at VIRginia International Raceway’s Heacock Classic Gold Cup Historic Races, celebrating the 50th anniversary of the historic road racing course in Southwestern Halifax County.
Each of the five have close ties to VIR, Shelby winning the inaugural feature race in 1957 in a Maserati 450 S.
A prominent race driver in his early years, Shelby gained international acclaim as the originator of the legendary Cobra race and sports cars.
Van der Vate competed at VIR for 17 years starting in 1961, winning a race in 1963 in a Bugeye Sprite and having success in several different race cars at the track.
Thompson, known is his racing days as the “Flying Dentist,” also had great success at VIR during its initial run, racing primarily Corvettes and Porsches.
He began racing in 1956, winning the Sports Car Club of America’s (SCCA) national championship that year before adding championships in 1957, 1960, 1961 and 1962 in A, B, and C Production classes.
Yeager and co-driver Bob Johnson piloted a Mustang to a win in the fourth-ever SCCA Trans Am race held at VIR in 1966 beating a group of NASCAR drivers including Richard Petty, Curtis Turner, Elmo Johnson and David Pearson.
Economaki, legendary motorsports journalist who has traveled the globe to cover a wide range of auto racing, thought that up to this weekend he had announced the inaugural race at VIR, won by Shelby.
“At least until a few minutes ago,” he said Saturday. “I thought I had announced the first race here in 1957 until I bumped into [Hooper Johnson].
The first “race” at VIR was an unofficial event held in 1953, Johnson told Economaki.
“They had some guy with a Southern accent announce that,” the New Jersey native added with a grin.
After his win at VIR, Shelby co-drove an Aston Martin DBR1 with Roy Salvadori in winning the 1959 24 Hours of Lemans, before his premature retirement from racing due to health issues.
The world-renowned developer of the Shelby Cobra, Shelby has since designed sports cars for both the street and the racetrack, and still works with Ford Motor Company on high performance vehicles.
Shelby admitted to a love affair with VIR the first time he saw the track.
“As I remember the first race here I fell in love with the race track, because it’s so natural down the switch backs and the esses,” he said.
Shelby recalled his win in the feature race at VIR in 1957, beating a pair of Jaguar D-types.
“I had a four and a half litre Maserati, and Briggs [Cunningham] had three of the new D types. I also remember we had a colorful starter from Alabama named Jesse Coleman,” said Shelby.
“Jesse was a real character and he stuck his foot out as I came over the rise at the start-finish line. So, I thought I’d’ make him pull it back. I missed it by about an inch the second time I came around, but the next time he kept his foot out.
“You could go over this hump and kick it just enough to swing the back end out, and the right front wheel would come up about two inches and go right over his foot.”
Shelby said that created a little excitement for about 20 laps.
Himself a legendary innovator in the motorsports industry, Shelby had words of praise for VIR in its rebirth.
“It reminds me of a track in Alabama put together by George Barber,” said Shelby.
“They’re the two as far as I’m concerned in this country where the real sports car enthusiasts from the past and the future look forward to coming to.
“This is a beautiful race track...Harvey [Siegel] has taken it and put it together in a way that all of you here can enjoy it and I admire him for what he’s done.”
Economaki reminded everyone that sports car racing was strictly amateur in the beginning and didn’t involve the amount of marketing and amounts of money it commands today.
“There wasn’t any prize money, just trophies, maybe a flag and some congratulations,” he noted.
“When pro racing began, there was great resistance from SCCA, which sanctioned the road races,” he continued, saying that the drivers offered mixed opinions on the subject.
“Some were from wealthy families who didn’t want to bother with taxes, others wanted to make a buck.
“Which camp where you in, Dick,” Economaki asked Thompson with a wink.
“I was just trying to avoid expenses,” answered the Corvette racer, adding all he ever got was transportation expenses and a car for the next race.
“I never won any prize money, not a dime,” emphasized Thompson, to which racing rival Shelby replied, “How about a monthly check from General Motors?”
Continuing the good-natured ribbing, Shelby said he had a picture from a meeting in Mexico where the check was signed.
“One day after everybody goes horizontal, I’ll leave a book telling about it,” said Shelby to peals of laughter.
Shelby admitted that it really takes factory backing to make things work in road racing, and that if you don’t work with one of the factories, it would be difficult to get to the top.
Yeager said that the current track at VIR is wider and safer than when he raced here in the 1960s, recalling he and Johnson’s win in the first-ever Trans Am Series race in a Ford Mustang at VIR in 1966.
“We were supported by Ford Motor Company and some top mechanics, building the car in Ohio and winning at Mid-America against cars like Alfas, Dodge Darts and Barracudas,” said Yeager.
“VIR was the fourth Trans Am race and when we came here we saw we were running against Richard Petty, Curtis Turner, Elmo Johnson and David Pearson.
“We couldn’t believe that these guys would come out and run an SCCA race.”
No one got track time prior to the actual race due to rainy conditions, but once the race started, he and Johnson got the better of the NASCAR stars, he said.
“The stock car drivers went straight off one of the first turns and ended up in the mud. That’s why they call it [turn three] NASCAR Bend today,” said Yeager.
“It’s funnier today than it was then. I saw Richard [Petty] at Indianapolis last year and he still remembers it.”
Van der Vate remembers coming to VIR with $35 and an Amoco credit card in the 1960s, when the track was in full swing.
“I have a lot of VIR memories,” said Van der Vate, who raced SCCA events for about 17 years, winning one of his many races in a 1963 event at VIR, in a Bugeye Sprite.
“I really like this track. It’s a place where I had a lot of success, but you always wonder whether you left a little on the table when you left, and where you could have picked up a little more time,” said van der Vate.
He added that it was a special moment for him when he returned after the rebirth of the track.
“I really like it as much as anywhere, personally, I can’t say enough about this place being redone,” he said.
“I came here when the track reopened and the asphalt looked like a big, black snake running through the green grass, and I’ll never forget that.
“I got a chance to make some laps and I thought I’d never get a chance to do that again.
“The people here have been very good to me and my wife, and it’s much appreciated.”

Barker Leaves Bounty Hunters Empty Handed

By Joe Chandler
Sports Editor
Some of the region’s top NASCAR Late Model Stock Car Division racers including last year’s NASCAR national champion, Philip Morris, Deac McCaskill, Jerame Donley and South Boston’s Stacy Puryear joined South Boston Speedway’s best here Saturday night to try to snap Adam Barker’s six-race win streak and collect a $1,000 bounty.
They all came up empty-handed.
Barker scored an unprecedented seventh win in a row, edging Owen Miller of Emporia by 1.246 seconds to win the 150-lap NASCAR Whelen All-American Series Late Model Stock Car Division that highlighted the Allstate 150 presented by Little Caesars racing program at South Boston Speedway.
“I still don’t know how we’ve done it,” Barker said after having won his seventh race in a row and scored his seventh win in eight races here this season.
“The car has been great. To win seven (races) in a row and have everything go your way - I must be living right.”
That, Barker must be.
Morris’s bid for the win and the $1,000 bounty track officials had posted for any driver other than Barker that could pull off the win went away when the engine in his Chevrolet blew and his car spun and crashed into the second turn wall on lap 79, creating a lengthy caution and red flag period as track clean-up crews cleaned up the oil and debris from Morris’ car.
McCaskill was running sixth when the race restarted on the 96th lap but dropped off of the pace three laps later with a mechanical problem and subsequtently went to the sidelines.
Wayne Ramsey, who has been nipping at Barker’s rear bumper all season, was strong early but encountered problems and retired after 122 laps, making the third top contender to fall by the wayside.
Donley and Puryear never posed any threat to Barker.
While the big guns from outside failed to hit their target, Barker said the influx of the additional drivers that haven’t competed regularly at South Boston Speedway did give him a different feeling going into the race.
“It gives you a different feeling, but you’ve got to keep doing what you’ve been doing,” Barker said.
“I told myself if we run like we’ve been running, it’s going to be pretty hard for them to outrun us. It (to beat the drivers such as Morris and McCaskill) would have been tough. There’s no question about that. I don’t like to see bad luck happen to anybody. It could happen to me the next Saturday we come back.”
Miller, who drives the Chevrolets owned by Dolly Fallen of South Boston, put together his best effort of the season to nail down the runner-up finish. The caution period created by Morris’ mishap gave Miller an opportunity to make a bid over the course of the final 54 laps.
However, Miller found himself having to fend off a challenge from David Triplett Jr., a circumstance that opened the door for Barker to gain a comfortable working margin.
Despite having come up short for the win, Miller was happy about the run that netted him his best finish of the season. Miller’s run was a continuation of a recent streak that has seen him record two fifth-place finishes and a second-place finish since making a switch back to the car he drove last season.
“I can’t say I was here to get the bounty or to do this or do that,” Miller said.
“I was here to better myself. I wasn’t worried about Adam. I was worried about Owen and making Owen’s car better. We managed to do that.”
Triplett, of Timberlake, N.C., Edwards of Poquoson and NASCAR Whelen All-American Series national points leader Rodney Cook of Reidsville, N.C. rounded out the top five finishers.
Donley of Winston-Salem, N.C., Eddie Johnson of Midlothian, C.E. Falk III of Virginia Beach, Puryear of South Boston and Jason Dickerson of Ruckersville completed the top ten finishers.
Barker, who led all but the first lap of the race, averaged 68.282 mph in the race that was slowed by two caution periods and took just over 53 minutes to complete.

SOUTH BOSTON SPEEDWAY
RESULTS OF THE 150- LAP LATE MODEL STOCK CAR RACE
POS. DRIVER LAPS
1. Adam Barker 150
2. Owen Miller 150
3. David Triplett Jr. 150
4. Greg Edwards 150
5. Rodney Cook 150
6. Jerame Donnelly 150
7. Eddie Johnson 150
8. C.E. Falk III 150
9. Stacy Puryear 150
10. Jason Dickerson 150
11. Craig Oliver 150
12. Tommy Lemons 150
13. Jonathan Bailey 149
14. Scott Turlington 148
15. Richard Storm 147
16. Josh Oakley 147
17. Megan Biro 145
18. Wayne Ramsey 121
19. Matt Lofton 109
20. Deac McCaskill 103
21. Philip Morris 79
22. K.C. Cunningham 56
MARGIN OF VICTORY: 1.246 Sec.
CAUTIONS: 2
LAP LEADERS: Philip Morris 1, Barker 2-150
POLE WINNER:Adam Barker
TIME: 15.423 Sec.
SPEED: 93.367 MPH
TIME OF RACE: 53 Min. 7 Sec.
AVERAGE SPEED: 68.282 MPH

Irby, slivka Take Wins In YMCA 5K

By doug Ford
G-V Staff Writer
Chris Irby of South Boston and Reba Slivka of Danville overcame hot and humid conditions and a field of 80 runners to take the men’s and women’s titles in the Seventh Annual South Boston-Halifax County YMCA 5K on Saturday.
Irby, a former track and cross country runner at Halifax County High School, toured the hilly course through South Boston in a time of 18:17, 28 seconds ahead of Aaron Carr.
Carr, a native of South Boston and a current resident of Hillsborough, N.C., finished in the runnerup spot for the second consecutive year.
Slivka ran a time of 24:13 to take the women’s overall title in her third time on the course, fending off a strong effort by first-time participant Kirsten Marvin of South Boston.
Marvin, a former soccer standout at Halifax County High School, turned in a time of 24:24 in her first-ever 5K.
The One-Mile Fun Run for youth preceded the 5K, with Will Miller taking the boy’s division with a time of 8:38, while Lucy Morrison was first for the girls in a time of 9:10.
With race conditions among the hottest and most humid of any in race history, runners paced themselves early, including both Irby and Slivka.
“Heat and humidity were a killer today,” said Irby. I just went out easy and started to pick it up at the two and a half mile mark.”
Carr, who has a win in the YMCA Harvest Fest 5K, recorded his second consecutive runnerup finish in the spring race.
He was running fourth before passing a group of runners in the last hills before the finish.
Currently training for a pair of half marathons this summer, and a full marathon after that, Carr said he felt pretty good about his run here this spring.
The third time was the charm for Slivka, who won her age group last year, before taking overall honors this time out.
“This was my third time on the course, today was my best finish but not my best time,” explained Slivka.
“I started a little slow because I knew about the hills at the end of the course, so I started off a little easy and then picked it up.
“Before, I may have took off a little quicker, but I paced myself this time out.”
Marvin’s first look at the course was her first time running it, she admitted.
Soccer and lacrosse had been her passions before, but Marvin indicated she may try some races in the future after a strong performance in her first 5K.
“The course had a lot of hills, but there was some shade to run in, so the heat and humidity weren’t but so bad,” said Marvin.
“I’m happy with my time, and I think I may run some more races.”

2007 YMCA 5K
Men Overall Winner: Chris Irby 18:17
Second: Aaron Carr 18:45
Men 19 and Under
Matthew Coble 18:58
Matthew Grooms 19:49
Jacob Haynes 20:14
Men 20-24
Jeffrey Jackson 22:07
Men 25-29
James Lewis 24:52
John Ferguson 34:46
Jeremy Satterfield 57:34
Men 30-34
Rodney Barker 24:16
Men 35-39
Tim Adams 20:29
Calvin Williams 50:31
Men 40-44
Vince Decker 20:46
Barry Mines 21:34
Charles Via 27:28
Men 45-49
Lee Eagle 21:07
Robert Thaxton 23:18
Jimmy Newcomb 24:00
Men 50-54
John Suniga 23:43
Henry Baldwin 24:04
John Hess 27:55
Men 55-59
L.C. Moore 22:01
Tom Carr 26:36
Michael Oakes 36:21
Men 60 And Older
Girvis Farrar 26:01
Dexter Smith 55:31
Women’s Overall Winner: Reba Slivka 24:13
Second: Kirsten Marvin 24:24
Women 19 And Under
Liz Stanger 35:52
Women 20-24
Catherine Adams 26:37
Kellie Dixon 54:16
Women 25-29
Shannon Runion 37:45
Grey Leighton 47:53
Crystal Mosier 50:29
Women 30-34
Nancy Smith 26:38
Jenny Plitt 29:53
Women 35-39
Gabby Bridges 50:30
Carol Williams 54:17
Judy McAuley 59:10
Women 40-44
Leslie Shakespeare 27:11
Sophia Decker 28:27
Terrie Lantor 34:50
Women 45-49
Wendy Mines 28:14
Debbie Benning 51:53
Marie Ketchersid 54:21
Women 50-54
Judy Green 30:18
Gracie Flenoury 43:24
Mary Tuck 59:08
Women 55-59
Connie Zamora 53:13
Jean Smith 55:30
Wendy Fuller 57:33
Women 60 And Older
Annie Crowen 51:52
Connie Pate 54:13
Donna Strange 59:31
One-Mile Fun Run
Will Miller 8:38
Ford Morrison 8:44
Lucy Morrison 9:10
Ethan Mines 9:24
Grant Nichols 10:42
Jamie Benner 10:57
Jordan Miller 10:59
Emily Edgar 12:07
Victoria Plick 12:32
Henry Morrison 12:55
Travis Adams 13:44
Austin Miller 19:53