Wednesday, June 15, 2005

Turnout For Primaries Dismal

Kilgore Run-Away Favorite In Halifax

With only 9.8 percent of the county’s 20,830 voters turning out to cast their ballots, this year’s Republican and Democratic primaries opened with a whimper rather than a bang, election officials said yesterday.
Voters in the Democratic primary cast their ballots to determine the candidate for Lieutenant Governor.
The Democratic ballot offered voters a choice of candidates for lieutenant governor between Leslie L. Byrne, J.C. “Chap” Peterson, Phillip P. Puckett and Viola O. Baskerville for the seat currently held by Tim Kaine, who is running unopposed in his party for the Governor’s seat.
With 19 of the 22 precincts in Halifax County reporting, Baskerville handily won her bid for the seat with 166 votes over Byrne’s 93 votes, Peterson’s 73 votes and Puckett’s 51 votes.
Vernon Hill and the Central Absentee Precinct tallies were unavailable at press time.
Those choosing to vote in the Republican primary determined the candidates for Governor, Lieutenant Governor and Attorney General.
GOP voters chose 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.
Halifax County voters overwhelmingly gave the nod to Kilgore, with 521 votes over Fitch’s 41.
Bolling won his bid for Lieutenant Governor in Halifax County, with 368 votes over Connaughton’s 181.
In the Attorney General race, McDonnell won over Baril, 320 to 241.
At 10:30 yesterday morning, election officials at the Mary Bethune Complex in Halifax reported that a total of 18 people had voted in the combined primaries.
The breakdown at the Halifax precinct was predictable for Halifax County, a traditionally conservative region.
Six of the 18 voters had cast their ballot in the Democratic primary, with the remaining 12 voting in the GOP primary.
Halifax County Registrar Judy Meeler described the turnout for this year’s primary as “very, very, very light. The lightest one I’ve ever seen.”
“The phone isn’t even ringing,” she said. “It’s a little bit disappointing that we’re not having people turn out for it with the amount of work that goes into putting together an election.”
According to the registrar, late yesterday morning the largest number of votes cast at any one precinct was 44.
“South Boston East and Dan River are our two largest precincts,” she said. “South Boston East had 44 (votes cast) and Dan River had 39.”

 

Racial Profiling Charged

Budget Advances Toward June 27 Final Reading And AdoptionSouth Boston resident Nancy Coleman charged South Boston Police with racial profiling and harassment during town council’s Monday night meeting.
During the meeting, Chief Mick Reed denied the allegations.
Coleman cited several alleged recent incidents involving her son, Rashard Coleman,
She also told Council that she had reported her complaint to the Justice Department.
Attempts to confirm the complaint with the Department of Justice yesterday were unsuccessful at press time.
Coleman said she had contacted Reed regarding her allegations.
“Our department is always open for anyone to come in and express concerns,” Reed said Monday night.
“As of this date, I have not been able to speak to the 28-year-old-son who is the victim of the alleged misconduct,” the chief said yesterday of Rashard Coleman.
He also said that he had received “complaints and phone calls” from people in several neighborhoods, including the College Street park area on Main Street, and in response the police were trying to make the areas safer.
“High visibility. Not harassing. Not profiling,” said Reed.
“Clean and free and safe for families and children,” he said of the police department’s mission.
The chief told Council that he had informed neighborhood leaders about the increased patrols.
“A lot of these incidents did not happen in those areas,” said Coleman, citing an alleged incident (one that she said did not involve her son) at Willow Oaks Apartments.
In response to a question from Councilman Coleman Speece, Reed confirmed the police department is represented by both black and white officers.
“We do not racially profile,” repeated Reed.
Coleman told Council she was not the only one concerned, that other African-American mothers in the community are concerned.
Mayor Carroll Thackston suggested Coleman and Reed meet and talk face to face about the issue.
“I don’t want to fight, I just want to be treated fairly,” said Coleman.
Chief Reed said yesterday that a meeting with Coleman is scheduled later this week.
Budget
Council unanimously approved an appropriation resolution and a fee and tax listing for the FY 2005-06 resolution during its Monday night session.
If approved, the hikes will become effective July 1, 2005
The final reading and adoption of the $8,278,779 budget is expected June 27.
The overall general fund budget summary reflects a 3.11 percent decrease, dropping from $8,545,233 last year to $8,278,779 in FY 2005-2006.
The new budget reflects an unchanged real estate tax rate at 19 cents per assessed $100; a five percent increase in water/sewer rates for in-town and out-of-town residents; an increase in the occupancy tax rate from 4.5 to 5.5 percent; vehicle decal increases from $20 to $25 for autos; $25 to $65 for trucks, depending on weight; $65 for a taxi and $10 for a motorcycle.
In fees, water/sewer service initiation fee for in-town residents is $67.38, a slight increase over $64,19; and $125.88 for out-of-town, marking an increase over the previous $119.89.
In other business, Council approved four appointments to the Church Hill Community Development Block Grant Project Housing Rehab Board. Named to the Board were two citizen members, William Bouldin and Ms. Gail McCullough, as well as South Boston Town Manager Ted Daniel and Councilman Morris Bryant.
Council also approved a request from Distinct Impressions, 309 Main Street, to install a sign on the front façade and an awning on the rear of the building.
Council unanimously approved the appointment of Shirley McCaleb to the Halifax/South Boston Regional Library Board.
An earlier request from Brooks Funeral Home to address Town Council concerning the use of Constitution Square was withdrawn prior to the Monday night meeting.
Councilman Tom Raab said that he and Councilman Chris Elliot had “a good discussion”
With Brooks Funeral Home officials Betty Jones and Kathy Brown. “I think we are headed in the right direction,” added Raab. “We are going to work with them at their request.”
Council also unanimously approved a resolution recognizing Sunday, June 19, as Juneteenth Day in South Boston. Juneteenth commemorates African-American freedom. The resolution noted that on June 19,1865, a spontaneous celebration began in Galveston, Texas, when slaves finally learned the President Lincoln had signed the Emancipation Proclamation.
A Juneteenth celebration will be observed here Sunday from 4-7 p.m. at Berry Hill Plantation Resort with a family picnic.
Also during the public comment period, Marian Davis had accolades for Council, noting she came to the area in 1964.
“Over the years I saw a lot of growth,” she said. “I am proud of our school system,” she said, noting she had taught Councilman Ed Owens when he was in elementary school – and giving him high marks as a student. Both of her children graduated from Halifax County schools, she said.
“I take my grandchildren to the library and museum,” continued Davis. “I am proud to be in South Boston these years,” she added, thanking Council “for making South Boston a good place to live.”

Teachers Will Receive 4% Increase In Salary

Teachers Will Receive A Four Percent Across The Board Salary Hike In The $55.95 Million Budget Adopted By The Halifax County School Board Monday Night

The Halifax County School Board adopted an amended $55.95 million 2005-2006 school budget Monday night, a budget that included a four percent across the board pay hike for teachers.
School trustees provided the increase despite the Board of Supervisors mandating a $1 million cut in the original budget proposal submitted by the School Board earlier this spring.
The raise the School Board is providing for its employees is higher than the 2.5 percent raise supervisors recommended to the school board when they voted to slice the school board’s original budget proposal.
Supervisors had recommended the 2.5 percent hike for school system employees to keep raises for school system employees in line with their proposed 2.5 percent salary increase for county employees.
“I think that says a lot that you were able to maintain a four percent raise," School Board member Kelly Hill told school system officials.
The four percent salary hike will be an across the board raise – in other words, teachers will receive a four percent increase over their 2004-2005 salary.
“We will adjust the (salary) scales to what happens in giving a four percent increase," said school system financial officer Bill Covington.
“We will see what the scales reflect after we do that."
Covington said the salary scales for next year will be presented to the School Board for review when the board holds its final meeting of the 2004-2005 fiscal year on Monday, June 27.
School system officials said there may also be room in the budget to allow the school system to take on more of the burden of employee group health insurance premiums.
Covington said, however, it will be sometime next month before school system officials will be told what the insurance premium rates will be for next year and can determine if or how much the school system can help employees in that realm next year.
Covington said if the insurance premium increase falls below nine percent, employees could receive some help with insurance premiums.
“Nine percent is the break-even point,” Covington said.
“If it is less than nine percent, the employees’ out of pocket (expense) will be decreased.”
This year the school system paid $300 a month toward the employee only plan, $340 per month toward the employee and one child plan, $360 a month toward the employee and spouse plan and $380 a month toward the family plan.
The amended budget adopted by the school board Monday night shows a $264,058 increase in the amount of money budgeted for group health insurance premiums.
Covington said an increase in state revenues is what is allowing school system officials to pump up the salary hikes for employees.
“It took a nice increase (in revenues) from the state to allow salaries to be as good as they are and to fund the health insurance," Covington said.
The biggest move the School Board made to trim $1 million from its budget was to remove $750,000 that had been set in the budget for roof replacement projects and place it into the school system’s capital improvement fund.
Supervisors had recommended that the school system cut $125,000 out of the instruction category and $125,000 in the transportation category.
In the amended budget, school system officials trimmed $262,284 from its original budget proposal in the instruction category and cut $27,800 from its original budget proposal for transportation.
Covington said school system officials felt they could not cut $125,000 out of the transportation budget.
“The only way we could do that is to not buy as many buses," he pointed out.
“That would mean longer replacement cycles and we would end up in a situation like we did about 10 years ago when we had a lot of buses become outdated at one time and we had to buy a lot of buses at one time."

Obituaries

Ollie Howerton Miller

Mrs. Ollie Howerton Miller, 67, of Birch-Elmo Road in South Boston, died Saturday at her residence.
Born November 2, 1937 in Halifax County, she was the daughter of the late Wallace (Tot) Howerton Sr., and the late Jearlean Hutchins Howerton. She was married to Roosevelt Miller.
Mrs. Miller was a member of the New Mine Creek Progressive Primitive Baptist Church in Blairs, and was retired from Halifax Regional Medical Center, South Boston.
Survivors include her husband, Roosevelt Miller; one daughter, Linda Walton of South Boston; three sons, Clifton Miller (Linda) of Keeling, Clinton Miller of Richmond, and Jeffery Miller (Alease) of Danville; six brothers, Wallace Howerton Jr. South Boston, Darry Howerton and Steven Ray Howerton of Danville, Earl Howerton of Richmond, Lawrence Howerton of Waldorf, Md., Calvin Howerton (Bobbie) of South Boston; five sisters, Judy Howerton of South Boston, Lucinda Williams (Robert) of Halifax, Elritha Carter of Danville, Lenora Kay of Salem, and Dr. Barbara Williams (Horace) of Waldorf, Md.; 11 grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren , six sisters-in-law, three brothers-in-law, one uncle and one aunt.
Funeral services for Ollie Howerton Miller will be held tomorrow, June 16, at 1 p.m., at New Mine Creek Progressive Primitive Baptist Church, with Elder Keith J. Shuler conducting the service.
Burial will follow in Mountain Grove Baptist Church Cemetery, South Boston.
Viewing will be today from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Howerton Funeral Home Chapel, and the family will receive friends at the residence, 2191 Birch-Elmo Road, South Boston.

Sidney DaLaine Anderson

Sidney DaLaine Anderson, infant daughter of Karen Phillips Anderson and Peter Anderson, of 1081 Cluster Ridge Trail, South Boston, died June 12, at Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C.
Survivors include her parents; two brothers, James Dillion Anderson and Ryan Wallace Anderson; one sister, Samantha Leeann Anderson; maternal grandparents, Charles and Mavis Phillips; paternal grandparents, Wayne and Leanore Anderson; and numerous aunts and uncles.
Graveside services will be held tomorrow, June 16, at 1 p.m. at Oak Ridge Cemetery. The Rev. Phil Showers will officiate.
The family is receiving friends at the home.

Helen Lane Beale

Helen Lane Beale, 88, of 1177 Tobacco Road, Nathalie died June 12 at The Woodview Nursing Home.
Mrs. Beale was born in Pittsylvania County on February 2, 1917, the daughter of the late Robert James Lane and Mary Belle Blackstock Lane and was married to the late William Roy Beale. She was a member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church of Republican Grove and was active in Horticulture.
Survivors of Mrs. Beale include one son, William LeRoy Beale of Apopka, Fla; four grandchildren, Adrienne Beale and Derrick Beale, both of Orlando, Fla., Tony Cole of Spencer, N.C., and Todd Cole stationed in Germany. She was also preceded in death by one daughter, Mary Jane Beale Cole.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. today, June 15, at Powell Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Garland Day officiating. Burial will follow in Halifax Memorial Gardens.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home one hour prior to the service.

Roy Thomas Shelton

Roy Thomas Shelton of Charlotte, N.C., died at his home on June 13. He was born in Danville on October 29, 1954, the son of Gallie Thomas Shelton Jr. and Cecile Henderson Shelton of Danville.
Mr. Shelton graduated from Halifax County Senior High School and from Wake Forest University, and retired on disability from Frito Lay Corporation. He served as a volunteer for the Regional AIDS Interfaith Network (RAIN). He also served on the AIDS Clinical Trials Advisory Board at Carolinas Healthcare System.
A memorial service will be held at 1:00 p.m. tomorrow, June 16, at Myers Park Baptist Church, Charlotte, with the Rev. Dr. H. Stephen Shoemaker, the Rev. Robin P. Coira and the Rev. Deborah P. Warren officiating. The family will receive visitors in Heaton Hall immediately following the service.
A second memorial service will be held at 3p.m. June 19, at Oak Level Presbyterian Church, Halifax, where Mr. Shelton was a member. Officiating at this service will be the Rev. Charles Wickham from Danville, a friend of the Shelton and Dunn families. A private burial in the church cemetery will precede the service.
In addition to his parents, he is survived by his two sisters, Gloria Shelton Gibson of Charlotte and Linda Shelton Dunn and her husband, William ‘Scooter’ Dunn, of Danville.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that memorial gifts be made to RAIN, P.O. Box 37190, Charlotte, N.C. 28237-7190, or Hospice & Palliative Care Charlotte Region, 1420 East Seventh Street, Charlotte, N.C. 28204.

Julia Wilson Sims

Julia Wilson Sims, 83, of Cleveland, Ohio, formerly of Halifax County, died June 7.
Mrs. Sims was born in Halifax County on September 1, 1921, to the late Willis Wilson and Emma Terry Wilson and was first married to the late Albert Barksdale and later married Lee Bailey Sims. She was a member of Piney Grove Baptist Church.
Survivors include five sons, Lloyd Curtis Barksdale of Atlantic City, N.J., James Edward Wilson and Jesse Lee Sims, both of Cleveland, Larry David Sims of Scottsburg, and Sherrell D. Sims of Nathalie; one sister, Delia Henson of Cheilshurst, N.J.; 29 grandchildren; and numerous great-grandchildren.
Funeral services for Mrs. Sims will be held tomorrow, June 16, at 1 p.m. at Piney Grove Baptist Church with the Rev. Dr. Whitfield Scott officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will be receiving friends at the home of Larry Sims, 1694 James D. Hagood Highway, Scottsburg.

Vernelle Jones Wade

Vernelle Jones Wade, 79, of 1018 Eighth Street, Altavista, died June 14, at Autumn Care of Altavista. She was the wife of Thomas L. Wade.
Born February 21, 1926, in Halifax County, she was the daughter of the late Daniel W. Jones and Emma Landrum Jones. Mrs. Wade was a member of the Altavista Church of Christ.
In addition to her husband, she is survived by a number of nieces and nephews.
She was preceded in death by five sisters and three brothers.
A funeral service will be conducted at 2 p.m. tomorrow, June 16, at the Altavista Church of Christ by Lory Brafford. Burial will follow at Pleasant Grove Christian Church Cemetery in Halifax at 4 p.m.
The family is receiving friends from 7:00-8:30, this evening, June 15, at Finch & Finch, Inc. Funeral and Cremation Service in Altavista, and other times at the home.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the Altavista EMS, P.O. Box 1, Altavista, VA 24517 or Altavista Church of Christ, 1301 Avondale Drive, Altavista, VA 24517.
To send condolences, visit www.finchandfinchfuneralservice.com.

Clay, Rinker Dominate GFGC Member-Guest Tourney

After Going 16 Under Par And Taking A six-Shot Lead On Saturday, Jimmy Clay And Phil Rinker Coasted To A Four-Shot Win In The Green’s Folly Member-Guest Golf Tournament

BY Joe Chandler
G-V STAFF WRITER

When you talk about domination, you don’t need to look much further than the record of Jimmy Clay and Phil Rinker in the annual Green’s Folly Golf Course Member-Guest Golf Tournament.
The pair posted a 16-under par round of 56 in Saturday’s opening round to take a six shot lead and rode out a lengthy second day round punctuated by two interruptions due to thunderstorms to win the tournament and snare their ninth GFGC member-guest championship in 12 years.
At the end of Sunday’s seven-hour plus round, the pair turned in a round of 65 and finished four shots up on the runner-up team of Billy Payne and Charlie Baskervill. Woody Clay and Kris Mele finished third, one shot behind the runner-up tandem and five shots off of the leaders.
“It was a good win,Ó said Clay.
“We played well on the front and played bad on the back but it all equaled out.Ó
The key to win by Clay and Rinker was their outstanding round of 56 on Saturday, a round that netted a six-shot lead over four teams that ended the opening day in a four-way tie for second place and a seven-shot lead over Payne and Baskervill.
“We played probably as good as we’re going to play the first day,Ó Clay said.
“Sixteen under is very impressive. Phil played real well yesterday. He played well today.Ó
“We both played well,Ó Rinker added.
“We made a lot of putts and that helped a lot.Ó
Sunday’s round was quite a bit different from Saturday’s round.
Where Saturday’s round was contested under brilliant early-summer conditions, Sunday’s afternoon round for the top three flights was contested under gray skies and interrupted by thunderstorms that twice sent golfers to the clubhouse.
Still, Clay and Rinker toured their first nine holes six under par. The second nine wasn’t as good as the pair came in one under par but it was plenty good enough to keep their challengers at bay.
“We shot 29 on the front and just kind of coasted on the back,Ó said Clay.
“I knew we had a six or seven shot lead and we just kind of mellowed out. We just didn’t play as hard as we did on the front.Ó
Clay and Rinker weren’t the only team to have a good tournament.
Payne and Baskervill made their share of noise as well, posting an opening round of 63 and coming back on Sunday with a round of 62. In fact, the round of 62 on Sunday was the best score posted on the second day.
“It was fun,Ó said Baskervill.
“We both played very well. Billy played well and he’s a great partner.Ó
Baskervill said everyone knew their work would be cut out for them in attempting to chased own Clay and Rinker.
“When Jimmy and Phil shoot 16 under it’s like being on a different planet,Ó Baskervill said with a grin.
“ It’s hard to imagine a two-man team shooting 16 under par in 18 holes. They played great.Ó
The weather and wet course conditions obviously didn’t deter Payne and Baskervill a great deal from posting Sunday’s top score.
“It didn’t hurt us,Ó Baskervill pointed out.
“ The second time we came in we were worried that we may not go back out. For me personally, the course got a little harder because it (the rain) made it play longer.Ó
The top three teams were the only teams in the Championship Flight to break the130 total for the two-day tournament. First Flight winners Donnie Hughes and William Thompson posted a two-day total of 129 in winning the flight.
Golfers lauded Green’s Folly Golf Course officials for the excellent course conditions during the tournament.
“The golf course was great,Ó said Clay.
“I’ve been playing here for over 25 years and this is as good as I’ve ever seen it. I want to thank Jim Arnold and everybody at the club for everything they did to make this a great tournament.Ó
Baskervill echoed that sentiment.
“The course was in great shape,Ó he said.
“ It was the best I’ve ever seen it.Ó
Closest T-The-Pin prize winners on Saturday included Clay Tinsley, (2), Randy Cage (5), Everette Snead (9), Walter Robertson (12) and Jimmy Allen (16).
Closest-To-The-Pin prize winners on Sunday were Billy Dyer for his hole-in one on the second hole, Sam Watts (5), Brad Thomasson (9), Brian Hoppe (12) and Donnie Hughes (16).

GREEN’S FOLLY MEMBER-GUEST SCORES
Championship Flight
Jimmy Clay – Phil Rinker – 56-65-121
Billy Payne – Charlie Baskervill – 63-62-125
Woody Clay – Kris Mele – 62-64-126
Chris Dockrill – David Startzell – 63-67 – 130
Page Seamster – Derrick Mason – 62-69 – 131
First Flight
Donnie Hughes – William Thompson – 64-65 – 129
Ronnie Moore – Greg Meeks – 64-67 – 131
Bill Carter – Darryl Carter – 64-69 – 133
Bill White – Teddy Holt – 65-68 – 133
Phillip Payne – Willie Thompson – 64-70 – 134
Kyle Gravitt – Nick Lumsden – 65-69 –134
Donald Gravitt – Kevin Evans – 65-69 – 134
Second Flight
Guy Haskins – John Mele – 66-71 – 137
Ronnie Pate – Wendell Hite – 67- 72 –139
Gene Wheeler – Randy Cage – 66-73 – 139
Walter Robertson – Sammy Fisher – 66-74 – 140
Mike Williams – Phil Williams – 66 – 74- 140
Richard Harrell – David Harrell – 66 – 74 –140
Bobby Dockrill – Andy Jessome – 67 – 73 – 140
Third Flight
Bob Thomasson – Mark Duncan – 69-70-139
Tommy Spencer – Bob Tysinger – 69-71-140
Mark Smith – Paul Butler – 69-72 –141
Rodney Burchette – Glen Ferguson – 68-74- 142
Scott Martin – Henry Martin – 68-75- 143
Fourth Flight
Tom Wade – Carl Thompson – 70-72 – 142
Brad Hoppe – Steve Early – 72-76 – 148
Joel Hughes – Bernie Evans – 71-78 – 149
Billy Franklin – Jody Franklin – 71-79 – 150
Mike Daniel – Tracy Long – 70-80- 150
Butch Dawson – Willie Murray – 71 –79 –150
Fifth Flight
Wayne Bales – Jeff Shumate – 73-73 – 146
Joe Watts – Sam Watts – 73-76-149
Chris Prevett – Chris Cole – 74-77 – 151
Larry Turner- Brian Smith – 73-79 – 152
Frank Fincher – Allen Reneau – 73-79-152
Sixth Flight
Bob Hoppe – Darryl Evans – 75-76 – 151
David Francis – Billy Dyer – 76-76 – 152
Jim Shotwell – Rick Crenshaw – 76-77 – 153
Carroll Solomon – Wesley Whitlow – 75-79 – 154
Phil Saunders – Steve Long – 76-79 – 155
Seventh Flight
Ray Harman – Charlie Snead – 77-73 – 150
Sam Moser – Steve Tollerson – 78-79 – 157
Jeff Oakes – Allen Bober – 80-81 – 161
Lee Womack- G. Stewart – 77-85 – 162
Tony Lowery – Fred Lowery – 81-81 - 162