Industrial Development Authority Debates Pay, Elects Officers

Industrial Development Authority board member Jack Slagle thinks IDA members should get paid just like supervisors and school trustees.
“I think we should be paid to attend these meetings like supervisors and School Board members,” Slagle said.
Slagle made a motion Thursday during the IDA’s monthly meeting that IDA members get paid $50 per meeting instead of submitting an expense form every month for mileage reimbursement.
“Our time’s valuable too,” Slagle said, noting that the IDA members used to get paid for their service to the county.
But IDA members defeated the measure on a three to one vote, with Board member John Bosiger, who seconded Slagle’s motion abstaining.
IDA members, Garland Ricketts, Bill Kelehar and Marcus Hargrave opposed the pay increase.
“I’m not worried about 50 bucks,” Kelehar said. “I don’t think it’s necessary.
“I don’t think it’s the right time,” he added.
Hargrave pointed out that the Board of Supervisors just cut $49,000 from the IDA’s budget.
The IDA also elected officers for the upcoming fiscal year during their Thursday meeting.
Ricketts was elected IDA chairman, Kelehar, vice-chairman, Bosiger, secretary/treasurer, and Hargrave, assistant secretary/treasurer.
IDA members requested that Executive Director Mike Eades invite outgoing Chairman Larry McPeters to the IDA’s July meeting where he will be recognized for his service to the county on the IDA.
Also at Thursday’s meeting:
n The IDA addressed the county’s expiring Enterprise Zones. An application will be sent to the state for new zones. According to Eades, this is not a renewal of the existing zones, but totally starting over. The IDA will have the opportunity to review the new zones’ boundaries and incentives offered to prospective industries.
Staff recommended that the IDA form a task force of IDA staff, South Boston and county officials to oversee the application process.
n Board members received an update on the ABB expansion project from Project Coordinator Mike Blankenship. Following the update the IDA agreed to a 50/50 cost share agreement with ABB to expand the facility’s parking lot by 88 spaces. The cost to the county is $67,739.50, Blankenship said.
n The IDA approved the subdivision of two properties it owns jointly with the South Boston IDA. Both include land along the Dan River, according to Eades. A 15.23-acre tract will be subdivided and deeded to the Archaeological Conservatory, and a 19.26-acre tract will be subdivided with the land surrounding South Boston’s raw water intake from the Dan remaining in the joint ownership of the two IDAs, Eades said.
n According to Eades there has been strong interest from contractors for the Georgia-Pacific demolition project. Eades said 17 potential bidders attended a pre-bid conference. Several of the contractors are local and several were from out-of-state, Eades said. Bids are due by June 29.
n IDA Development Director Pasty Vaughan gave a presentation on “Right Now” sites and “Virtual” buildings programs.
According to Vaughan, the purpose of the program is to meet compressed time frames of businesses location and expansion decisions and offer “shovel-ready” sites and buildings when existing buildings do not meet requirements.
Target industries of the program are light, general and heavy manufacturing, mega sites, business/industrial parks, office parks, warehouse distribution and research and development facilities.
To qualify, site control, a plat, aerial photographs, zoning and comprehensive plan, established sales price and a site or master plan must be available, Vaughan said.
If a site meets the standards it can be marketed through the program and on the program’s website, Vaughan added.
n Financing for the Motorplex property was addressed by the IDA. The term is about to expire on a one-year interest-only loan from American National Bank on the property. The IDA voted to roll the loan into a new loan at the same interest rate of 6.86 percent. The new loan has a ten-year amortization period, Eades said.
n The IDA agreed to meet in July on Tuesday, July 24, at 8 a.m. at Riverstone Technology Park.

School Closing Hearing Switched To High School

Monday’s meeting place for the public hearing on the proposed closure of Turbeville and Wilson Memorial elementary schools has been changed from the STEM Academy/Career Center to Halifax County High School.
The public hearing is the primary agenda item of a special school board meeting set to start at 7:30 p.m.
School Board trustees will consider approval of the $61,890,099 2007-2008 budget following the public hearing, which is first on the agenda.
Other agenda items include a report by Chief Financial Officer Bill Covington on payment of bills to close out the 2006-2007 fiscal year.
Trustees will then go into an executive closed session to discuss personnel.
The School Board meeting was changed to the high school due to street construction in the Town of Halifax, the roof replacement project at the STEM Academy and limited parking at that site.
The public hearing and the meeting will take place either in the auditorium or the cafeteria at the high school, with school system personnel on hand at the door to direct people to the meeting location.

Danville Man Faces Federal Drug Charges

A 28-year-old Danville man is facing federal drug charges for his alleged distribution of narcotics in the Halifax County area, according to Halifax County Sheriff’s Office Major R.S.B. Pulliam.
The Halifax County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Department arrested Daron Levene Calloway, aka “Twin,” of Gay Street, this week on a federal indictment based on a Halifax narcotics department investigation, Pulliam said.
Calloway was charged with one count of distribution of more than 50 grams of crack cocaine and one count of possession with intent to distribute more than five grams of crack cocaine, according to investigators.
Earlier this year, Calloway was arrested on drug charges by the Halifax investigators after they learned of Calloway’s plan to come to Halifax County, Pulliam said.
“Drug investigators observed Calloway at the trash dumpsters near the Turbeville Elementary School and turned on their blue lights,” Pulliam said. “Calloway refused to stop his vehicle and Calloway’s vehicle and the drug investigators made contact.
“Calloway accelerated the vehicle and crashed through trash dumpsters, crossed over the highway and attempted to drive his vehicle through a wooded area,” Pulliam added. “Calloway was arrested approximately 75 yards from the initial point of contact with the drug investigator’s vehicle.”
The Sheriff’s Office narcotics canine was called to the scene and crack cocaine was recovered, Pulliam said.
Drug investigators seized approximately six ounces of suspected crack cocaine, over $30,000 and a vehicle, Pulliam added.
After Calloway’s arrest, Halifax investigators went to Danville and met with Danville Police Department narcotics investigators.
“Working together, investigators were able to identify individuals who allegedly were attempting to purchase drugs from Calloway,” Pulliam said. “Interestingly, these individuals were from Halifax County and did not know Calloway had been arrested and wanted quantities of powder cocaine and crack cocaine.”
A vehicle and approximately $640 were seized from one of the individuals, investigators said.
Danville investigators also obtained a search warrant for Calloway’s residence on Gay Street and seized a quantity of suspected crack cocaine, according to police.
The Halifax County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Department, DEA, Danville Police Department and the Roxboro Police Department have been conducting an extensive investigation involving Calloway and others alleged involved in drug distribution in the Halifax County, South Boston, Danville and North Carolina areas, Pulliam said.
Calloway is being held in the Roanoke City Jail awaiting a bond hearing, Pulliam said.
Anyone with any information regarding this investigation is asked to contact the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office at (434) 476-3339

Maude T. Dunaway

Maude T. Dunaway, 82, of Keysville died June 19, 2007.
Surviving are two sons, Paul A. Dunaway and David E. Dunaway; two daughters, Nancy D. Dixon and Debbie D. DeMuth; six grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and three sisters, Grace W. Bashara, Doris W.Jones and Lorraine W. Hauser.
Funeral services for Mrs. Dunaway will be held today, June 22, at 11 a.m. in the Friendship Baptist Church with burial in the church cemetery.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the Charlotte County Rescue Squad or Keysville Volunteer Fire Department.

Maxie Ray Floyd

Maxie Ray Floyd, 88, of 3210 Gann Avenue, South Boston, formerly of Moncks Corner, S.C., died June 20, 2007, at The Woodview.
Mr. Floyd was born in Florence, S.C. on May 5, 1919, the son of the late Maxie Laverne Floyd and Agnes Lane Floyd, and was married to Mary Boyd Floyd. He was a member of First Baptist Church of Moncks Corner where he was a deacon and Sunday school teacher. He was an Army Veteran of World War II and a Master Electrician.
Survivors of Mr. Floyd include his wife; one son, Levon Ray Floyd and wife, Dianne, of South Boston; two brothers, Ralph Preston Floyd of Geneva, Fla. and Lane Floyd of Florence, S.C.; one grandson, Kevin Ray Floyd and his wife, Christi, of Charlotte, N.C.; one granddaughter, Kimberly Floyd Crawford and husband, Greg, of Chester; two great-grandchildren, Elyse Judianne Crawford of Chester and Luke Aiden Floyd of Charlotte. Three brothers, Marvin, Travis and Lynn Floyd; and two sisters, Katherine Gatlin and Phoebe Floyd, preceded him in death.
Graveside services for Mr. Floyd will be held today, June 22, at 3 p.m. at Dan River Baptist Church Cemetery with the Rev. Doug Gibson officiating.
The family will receive friends today, June 22, at Powell Funeral Home from 1:30 until 2:30, and other times at the home.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the South Boston Alzheimer’s Association, c/o Seasons at The Woodview, 301 Powell Road, South Boston, 24592.

Joyce Mae Leewood Williams
Joyce Mae Leewood Williams, 75, of 1901 Parker Avenue, South Boston died June 19, 2007, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mrs. Williams was born in Halifax County on December 5, 1931, to the late John P. Leewood and Beatrice Jones Leewood, and was married to the late Calvin D. Williams Sr. She was a member of Ebenezer CME Church.
Survivors include two sons, Thomas Williams of Raleigh, N.C. and Calvin D. Williams Jr. of Seattle, Wash.; one brother, Carnell Leewood of Bronx, New York; three grandchildren, Sharon Williams of Brooklyn, N.Y., Christopher Williams and Matthew Williams, both of Louisville, Ky.; one daughter-in-law, Ruth Williams; three sisters-in-law, Mary Leewood and Marie Leewood, both of Bronx, and Gwen Williams of South Boston; and one brother-in-law, Edward Williams of South Boston.
One son, James Tyrone Williams, also preceded Mrs. Williams in death.
Funeral services will be held tomorrow, June 23, at 11 a.m. at Ebenezer CME Church with the Rev. Michele Parker officiating. Burial will follow in Halifax Memorial Gardens.
The family is receiving friends at the home.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Ebenezer CME Church Building Fund, 2309 North Main Street, South Boston, 24592.

John William Loftis, Sr.
John William Loftis Sr., 70, of South Boston died June 21, 2007, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Loftis was born July 23, 1936, in Halifax County to the late Hurt and Addie Loftis, and was married to Shirley S. Loftis. He was a member of Black Walnut Baptist Church, was retired from the Virginia Department of Transportation and was a lifetime member of Cluster Springs Volunteer Fire Department.
Survivors include his wife of the home; one son, John W. Loftis Jr. of Streator, Ill.; three daughters, Patsy L. Queensberry of Nathalie, Sherry L. Stevens and husband, Allen, of Halifax, and Wendy L. Carrington of Fla.; six grandchildren; four great-grandchildren; and one brother, Pete Loftis of Alton.
One son, Ricky O. Loftis; a grandson, Bedford Allen; and two sisters, Betty Long and Bessie Clay, also preceded Mr. Loftis in death.
Funeral services will be held June 24, at 2 p.m. at Black Walnut Baptist Church with the Rev. Raymond Wooten officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends tomorrow evening, June 23, at Powell Funeral Home from 7 until 8:30, and other times at the home.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Black Walnut Baptist Church Youth Program, 1061 Black Walnut Church Road, Alton, 24520.

 

Bagbey Earns First Team NWR Honors

HCHS varsity baseball first baseman Justin Bagbey capped an outstanding season by being named to the First Team, All-Northwest Region.
Bagbey, who led his team in four offensive categories, was also named Outstanding Offensive Player at the annual Comets baseball banquet Wednesday.
Bagbey led his team in batting average (.463), home runs (four), doubles (nine) and RBIs (18).
Comets catcher Kaleb Long, designated hitter Justin Jacobs and pitcher Kyle Long also received individual awards at the banquet.
Kaleb Long, who handled the Comets’ pitching staff from his catching position, was named Outstanding Defensive Player, while Jacobs was named Outstanding Utility Player.
Jacobs, the designated hitter for the Comets this season, also saw time on the mound and in the outfield.
Kyle Long was named Outstanding Pitcher for the Comets this season, finishing with a 4-1 record and a 1.78 ERA.
Individual award winners for the Comets jayvee baseball team were also named Wednesday, with Chris Sizemore receiving the MVP Award.
Bill Wooding received the Batting Champion award for a .465 batting average, and Tyler Lewis the Pitching Award (5-0 record).
Catcher Josh Hudson received the Coaches Award for the jayvee baseball team.
Although the varsity Comets failed to reach the regional playoffs for the first time in several years, the season was still successful, according to varsity head coach Kelvin Davis.
“It’s been wonderful to work with them all, jayvee and varsity,and I appreciate what their parents have done, also,” said Davis, who also noted his appreciation for the Comets baseball booster club and their work.
“It makes our jobs as coaches a lot easier to have guys who know how to behave.
“That was a big plus. I know we didn’t do the things we set out to do this season, but the season was still a success,” continued Davis.
“This was a good bunch of guys who had the work ethic that ball players need, no attitudes at all, and that made it easier for the coaching staff.
“We got some more experience under our belts and anytime we can do that at this level, it will be a plus for years to come.”
Davis said that baseball has evolved into a year-round sport that requires time in the batting cage and time spent in conditioning.
Toward that goal, he urged continuing efforts toward the construction of an indoor batting cage at the high school.
Baseball booster club president Tim Vest said a proposal for an indoor batting cage is being considered by the Halifax County School Board.
Once approved, fund-raising for the project can begin, added Vest.

Brown To Play Football At Belhaven College

By Doug Ford
G-V Staff Writer
Comets senior running back Morgan Brown will play football next season at Belhaven College, an NAIA Division I school located in Jackson, Miss.
Brown officially announced his choice of college Wednesday at a place familiar to him the past several years, the Comets football weight room.
“Football has been a very big part of my life since ninth grade,” said Brown, who also played basketball in high school.
“I started liking football more than basketball in ninth grade and I thought [football] would give me a better future than basketball.”
Brown credits Comets head football coach Stan Hodgin and defensive coordinator Ralph Robinson with laying the groundwork necessary for him to play at Belhaven.
“Coach Caldwell (Belhaven assistant head coach Ray Caldwell) saw my tapes and liked what he saw.”
Hodgin said that the Blazers have recruited Brown as a running back.
“It’s a tremendous fit for Morgan,” said Hodgin. Belhaven has been very successful in football in NAIA Division I for the past six years, and their offensive emphasis is the quality of the athlete that they put at running back.
“They would not have recruited him if they didn’t think he would contribute relatively soon,” he noted.
Brown’s commitment to Belhaven makes nine football players from last season’s 8-3 regional playoff team who have made commitments to play collegiate football, Hodgin said.
“We’ve been very fortunate the last two seasons with 11 guys having an opportunity to compete in college football, including nine from last year’s team,” he noted.
“What it says is that the timing of our arrival (as coaches) was very beneficial. We inherited some really good athletes with the tools to continue on and play at the college level.”
That high number of Comets football players going on to play in college helps bolster the program, he continued.
“It makes it easier to sell the kids if you have a track record like that,” said Hodgin.
“And, with a 2008 class which includes Rodale Pippen, Bryan Clarke, Gabriel Aguilar and Justin Bagbey, for instance, there’s the possibility of at least six others going next year.”
While acknowledging a solid senior season, Brown’s only regret was that he missed his junior year due to health-related issues.
He quickly added that he was ready to go to Belhaven and prove himself all over again.
“I wish I’d never missed my junior season, or I would have had more opportunities,” said Brown, who picked Belhaven both for its educational component, as well as athletics.
“I wanted something far away with a good environment for learning, and I’ll be ready.”

Dixie Softball Tournaments Get Under Way

The summer tournament season has begun again in Halifax County, and first up is the Dixie Softball Darlings and Angels District 7 Tournament at the Bethune Complex beginning tomorrow.
Halifax National and Halifax American will each field one team in the two tournaments, with action getting under way Saturday at 2 p.m.
The Darlings district tournament features six teams, with Brookneal facing Motley at 2 p.m. on Field B2. Other Saturday games have Altavista playing Halifax American at 5 p.m. and Halifax National playing Charlotte County at 7 p.m.
The Angels tournament is on Field B1, starting at 2 p.m. with a game between Motley and Altavista.
Halifax American plays Brookneal at 5 p.m. and defending district champion Halifax National takes on Charlotte County at 7 p.m.
Opening ceremonies for all teams and divisions is scheduled for 4 p.m.
The winner of the Darlings district tournament will advance to the Dixie Darlings State Tournament at Amelia, beginning July 6.
The Angels District 7 winner advances to the Dixie Angels State Tournament in Amherst, starting July 6.
West Stanly, N.C., hosts the Dixie Darlings World Series starting July 20, while Denison, Texas, hosts the Dixie Angels World Series, starting July 27.