Wednesday, June 22, 2005

Destination Downtown South Boston
Receives National Accreditation

Destination Downtown South Boston has been notified it has received National Main Street Accreditation.
“The National Accreditation means the Main Street program is meeting our national standards of performance for what a Main Street program should be doing,” said Doug Loescher, director of the National Trust’s Main Street program.
“We were fortunate to make this in our first year,” said Jerry Van Eimeren, South Boston Main Street manager, following the Monday announcement.
Van Eimeren credited the number of volunteer hours and also an estimated $1.4 million in private investment dollars with contributing to the organization’s success in earning the award.
“Rebuilding a district’s economic health and maintaining that success requires broad-based community involvement, active support from both the public and private sectors, and sound management,” said Loescher. “ Having a solid organization at the foundation of that revitalization effort is so important to long term success.”
The organization’s performance was evaluated by Virginia Main Street, which is the coordinating organization for Main Street programs in Virginia.
“Attaining this status in just our first year of this program is fantastic. It is a result of a team effort over the last couple of years by our community and our entire organization,” said Ben Bridgers, president of Destination Downtown South Boston. “We are truly thrilled and will continue our efforts in restoration and revitalization of our historic downtown business district.”
“The organizations we name each year as National Main Street Programs are those that have demonstrated the skills needed to succeed in Main Street revitalization,” noted Loescher.
The annual accreditation process evaluates commercial district revitalization programs based on criteria ranging from having an active board of directors and paid professional manager to tracking economic progress and preserving historic Main Street buildings.
The National Trust for Historic Preservation is a private, nonprofit membership organization dedicated to protecting the irreplaceable. Recipient of the National Humanities Medal, the Trust was founded in 1949 and provides leadership, education and advocacy to save America’s diverse historic places and revitalize communities.† Its Washington, D.C. headquarters staff, six regional offices and 25 historic sites work with the Trust’s 200,000 members and thousands of local community groups in all 50 states.† For more information, visit the Trust’s web site at www.nationaltrust.org.

Sites For New County School Considered

School Board Focusing On Locating School On Route 501

Halifax County School Superintendent Paul Stapleton said yesterday that the school system is currently in the process of negotiating for property for a new school in the Cluster Springs area.
“We’re trying to move forward as quickly as possible,” he said. “At this point the Board has asked me to narrow the focus to the best three tracts of land.”
Stapleton said the Board has asked administration officials to concentrate on locating the school on Route 501.
“They want it very visible from (Route) 501 to keep the community in mind for economic development purposes,” he said. “We’re hoping that this (locating the school along a major highway) will elevate our status to show we’re a very progressive county.”
The superintendent said that three tracts of land have been identified as possible sites for the school.
“Currently, we’re negotiating to see where the best site will be,” Stapleton said. “But the Board has chosen their top three sites and they’re focusing on Route 501.
“Hopefully, by Monday night, I’ll be able to take them some information about those three tracts so they can have come concrete information in front of them.”
Plans call for the Cluster Springs facility to house 600 students at a cost of $13.5 million.
It will replace the aging Cluster Springs and South of Dan elementary schools.

 

Halifax Council Budget Hearing Thursday Night

A Halifax councilman is expected to challenge the proposed $1,459,658 budget’s three-cent real estate tax hike during a public hearing Thursday night.
The meeting begins at 7 p.m. in Halifax Town Hall at 70 S. Main Street.
Council’s advertised budget carries a three-cent per assessed $100 real estate tax hike – up from the current 19 to 22 cents - but Finance Chairman Allen Stevens said yesterday he will oppose the proposal Thursday night.
Also advertised in the proposed budget, an increase in the Machine & Tool tax rate – from 20 to 30 cents per assessed $100.
The budget recommendation also includes an increase in the local Natural Gas Utility Consumer tax.
The personal property tax rate of 80 cents per assessed $100 remains unchanged.
Also, water/sewer fees are unchanged. The proposed budget reflects an 11.9 percent increase over last year’s budget.
During Council’s earlier June 9 session, councilmen voted to continue the town’s current contributions for employee health benefits, with the understanding various options for health care packages would be explored for next year, and that the 16 employees would contribute to their coverage. Currently, the town pays 100 percent for single and dual (husband/wife) coverage. Employees with family policy coverage pay $265.
Council is expected to meet June 30 to adopt the budget.
In other business, Council is expected to approve resolutions for addition of Blue Ridge Lane into the VDOT Secondary Road System, and for VDOT Revenue sharing for town road improvements.
Council is also expected to discuss the $200 advance payment for setting up a new water/sewer account in the town. Halifax bills for a two-month period.
Council does not have a meeting scheduled for the month of July.

 

Obituaries

Cline Bray Champion

Cline Bray Champion died June 15, at her home in Creedmoor, N.C.
She was the daughter of the late Snow and Della Murray Bray of Halifax County. Survivors include Laura Rose Seamons of Creedmoor, Alma Sibley of Clarksville, Walter Champion of Creedmoor, George Champion of Salisbury, N.C., Ike Howard of Wake Forest, N.C. Wayland Champion of Salt Lake City, Utah; 17 grandchildren; and 16 great-grandchildren.
Graveside services for Mrs. Champion were held June 18, at 2 p.m. at Carolina Memorial Gardens in Creedmoor with Wayland Champion and Ike Howard officiating.

Noel Winston Davis Jr.

Noel Winston Davis Jr., 57, of Gretna, died June 6.
Mr. Davis was born July 6, 1947, son of Florence Williams Davis of Gretna and the alte Noel Winston Davis Sr. He was a member of the Church of God of Prophecy in Gretna, and retired from Klopman Mills in Hurt.
In addition to his mother, survivors include his wife, Shirley Farmer Davis; two sons, Noel Winston Davis III of Gretna, and Sharon Davis of Hurt; two daughters, Sherri Davis of Norfolk and Sonja Davis of Gretna; one brother and sister-in-law, Carl Michael Davis and Catina, of Gretna; three sisters and brothers-in-law, Edith and William Harman of Nathalie, Ruth and Paul Snead of Richmond, and Winona and Danny Bosko of Archdale, N.C.
Funeral services for Mr. Davis were held June 8 at 11 a.m. at Colbert-Moran Chapel by the Rev. Clyde Crowder. Burial followed in Carl O. Moran Memorial Gardens.

Nathaniel Marable

Nathaniel Marable, 64, of Danville died June 19, at Danville Regional Medical Center.
Mr. Marable was born September 18, 1940, in Halifax County to the late Isaac Marable and Rosa Davis Marable, and was married to Esther Marable. He was an employee of Dan River, Inc.
In addition to his wife, survivors include one daughter, Evang. Brenda Averett of Ringgold; four sons, Jessie Marable of Danville, Robert and Wilbert Marable, both of Virginia Beach, and Charles Marable of Germany; two sisters, Flossie Dixon and Bessie Green, both of Gaithersburg, Md.; two brothers, Isaac Marable Jr. of Danville and Letcher Marable of Halifax.
Funeral services for Mr. Marable will be held tomorrow, June 23, at 1 p.m. at New Arbor Baptist Church. The Rev. Nelson Stamps will officiate. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family is receiving friends at the home.

Joseph Lazarus Petty

Joseph Lazarus Petty, 70 of 1068 Woodgrove Trail, Halifax died June 18, at his home.
Mr. Petty was born in Halifax County on June 15, 1935, the son of the late Cecil Petty and Nannie Canada Petty, and was married to the late Dorothy Petty. He was a member of County Line Baptist Church.
Survivors include one son, Joseph Petty of Richmond; three brothers, James Edward Petty of New York, N.Y., Linwood Petty of Halifax, and Harvey Petty of Philadelphia, Pa. Mr. Petty was also preceded in death by two sisters and two brothers, Inez Hogue, Maydell Hogue, David Petty and Ivory Petty.
Funeral services will beheld June 24, at 1 p.m. at County Line Baptist Church with the Rev. Robert Hogue and the Rev. Dr. Otis Dillard officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family is receiving friends at the home.

Alexander White

Funeral services for Alexander ‘Boo’ White, 63, of Farmville, son of Mary White of South Boston, will be held June 24, at 2 p.m. from the Minor B. Eggleston Chapel in the Carl U. Eggleston Funeral Establishment of Farmville. Burial will follow in Odd Fellows Cemetery of Farmville.

Charles Larry Wilson

Charles Larry Wilson, 21, of 1050 Hudson Road, Virgilina died June 20 at his home.
Mr. Wilson was born on December 24, 1983, in Halifax County the son of Larry Wilson of Craigsville and Jane Maxey Wilson of Randleman, N.C. He was a member of North Fork Baptist Church and was employed by Satterfield Plumbing.
In addition to his parents, survivors include his wife, Mary Totherow Wilson; a son, Scott Elliott Wilson; his stepmother, Robin Rice; one brother, James Robert Wilson of Virgilina; two sisters, Michelle Humphries of Alton and Susan Wilson of Fla.; and one niece, Kristen Humphries.
Funeral services will be held tomorrow, June 23, at 2 p.m. at North Fork Baptist Church with the Revs. Bill LaWall and Lewis Wall officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at Brooks Funeral Home this evening, June 22, from 7:00 until 8:30, and other times at the home.

 

Clay, Rinker Dominate GFGC Member-Guest Tournament

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," said Clay.
“We played well on the front and played bad on the back but it all equaled out."
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," Clay said.
“Sixteen under is very impressive. Phil played real well yesterday. He played well today."
“We both played well," Rinker added.
“We made a lot of putts and that helped a lot."
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," 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."
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," said Baskervill.
“We both played very well. Billy played well and he’s a great partner."
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," Baskervill said with a grin.
“ It’s hard to imagine a two-man team shooting 16 under par in 18 holes. They played great."
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," 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."
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," 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."
Baskervill echoed that sentiment.
“The course was in great shape," he said.
“ It was the best I’ve ever seen it."
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