Board Of Supervisors: Three Hearings, Budget Top Agenda

The Halifax County Board of Supervisors will hold three public hearings and is expected to adopt the county’s $103 million budget during their meeting tonight.
The meeting will be at 6:30 p.m. in the public meeting room of the Mary Bethune Complex in Halifax.
Before the hearings the Board is expected to address a rezoning request from Tony Powell for five acres on Allen Trail. Powell is seeking to change the property from A-1 to B-2 and obtain a conditional use permit (C.U.P.) to operate a recycling center on the property.
The Board deferred action at its last meeting awaiting the results of a VDOT study to see if the road (Route 803) could safely handle the truck traffic that the business would generate.
VDOT’s study concluded that: Based on the traffic projections provided by Mr. Powell, we do not anticipate any adverse effects to the roadway system as a result of this operation.
Next, the Board will hold its scheduled hearings.
n The Board will receive comment on a C.U.P. request from Christopher W. Bailey for an auto body repair and paint shop on Doug’s Trail
n The second hearing will be to address a C.U.P. request from Tom and Mary Pittard to operate an auto repair service on Charles Trail north of the Town of Halifax.
n During the third hearing, citizens will have the opportunity to comment on a C.U.P. and rezoning request by Malcolm E. Ragans to open a recycling center on Old Cluster Springs Road south of U.S. 58.
Ragans is seeking to rezone 13 acres from A-1 to B-2 to operate the business.
Following the hearings the Board is expected to adopt the county’s 2007-08 budget as amended at a recent work session.
The budget includes a seven-cent real estate tax increase.
The Board will also address an industrial access road agreement with VDOT for a project off of Commerce Drive connecting property owned by the Industrial Development Authority. The anticipated cost of the project will be less than $300,000 and no local matching funds will be required, County Administrator Bryan Foster said.
A pesticide collection program is scheduled for Halifax in September, Foster said. The state is sponsoring the collection at no cost, but for an additional fee the county can hold a hazardous waste collection day concurrently with the pesticide program for $2,000, plus 99 cents per pound of all materials collected, according to Foster.
“This is an excellent opportunity for our citizens to be able to properly dispose of such items as paint, oil, gasoline, household cleaners, etc.,” Foster wrote.
The Board is then expected to set four hearings for its August meeting.
There are three C.U.P. requests: a request from James D. Anderson Sr. for a tire sales business on Mill Road, a request from Eric Wingard for an RV camping area on Eric Lane and a request from Louis and Iris Andros to reopen the former S&J Grocery on Huell Matthews Highway.
The fourth hearing is for the county’s comprehensive plan.
Lastly, supervisors are expected to address several vacancies on other county boards and supervisors will discuss their compensation for serving on the Board.

Halifax Co. Schools Awarded Nearly $900K Federal Grant
For American History Program

The Halifax County public school system has been awarded a $894,330 federal grant to improve the quality of American history education, U.S. Secretary of Education Margaret Spellings announced Friday.
Halifax will use the grant to fund American Objects: Hidden Histories in Our Midst, a professional development program that is aimed at strengthening the teaching of American History in four school divisions through the leadership of 24 teachers, the American Origins Teaching Fellows each year, Spellings said.
According to the Halifax school system’s Executive Director for Administration Paul C. Nichols, the grant will fund a three-year program focusing on professional development for teachers in American History.
The grant funds will be used for teachers to develop projects that teach students about events that happened locally and how they fit into major events in the country’s history, Nichols said.
Year one will focus on the Revolutionary War and local events like the Crossing of the Dan River, year two will focus on the Civil War including the battle of Staunton River Bridge and year three will focus on the Civil Rights Movement and events that happened here of significance, Nichols added.
“We have a rich history in the area for all these events,” Nichols said. “We are very pleased to get this.
“It’s a national grant program and they give out very few awards,” Nichols added, noting the elementary, middle and high school students will be able to participate in the history program.
School Superintendent Paul Stapleton said the grant award shows that Halifax’s school system is getting noticed.
“The academies are getting more and more recognition and opening up new opportunities for us,” Stapleton said. “This piece is particularly important. Every school system should teach local history as it relates to national events.”
Nichols said the history program would be a perfect fit for the Law and Leadership Academy, which will have a leading role administering the program.
Halifax will host the program, which also includes three other school systems, from the city of Danville and Pittsylvania and Charlotte counties, Nichols explained.
The school system worked in conjunction with Roberta Hulbertson, the director of outreach, for the Virginia Center for Humanities in Charlottesville, and Amy Lamberts, director of programs, with the Higher Education Center in South Boston on the grant proposal and program, Nichols said.
Higher Ed Center Executive Director Ted Bennett said the grant shows what is possible when the organizations work together.
“As the director I am proud as I can be of Amy, in collaboration with the public schools,” Bennett said. “Reaching out to the public schools is part of our mission, helping them in any way we can, and it was wonderful to see the response of Superintendent Stapleton and Paul Nichols to help push it through.”
This year, the Teaching American History program will award 122 new grants worth $116.6 million to school districts in 40 states nationwide.
“These grants will provide teachers with the resources they need to engage their students and provide them with a better understanding of our nation’s history and the principles of our democracy,” Spellings said when announcing the grants.? “A strong foundation in American history will ensure that our young people grow up to become active and informed citizens.”
The Teaching American History discretionary grant program supports three-year projects to improve teachers’ knowledge and understanding of traditional American history through intensive, on-going professional development. Grantees must work in partnership with one or more organizations that have extensive knowledge of American history, including libraries, museums, nonprofit history or humanities organizations and higher education institutions.

County Gets Almost $500,000 In Grants
In Criminal Justice, Public Safety

Halifax County has been awarded $497,344 in state and federal grants to support programs that improve criminal justice across Virginia, Governor Tim Kaine announced Friday.
Gov. Kaine said that $39 million in grants have been awarded to support state, local, and non-profit programs .
The grants for Halifax County were in three categories:
•Community Corrections was awarded $416,301 through state funding. “This is an annual grant,” explained Halifax County Administrator Bryan Foster yesterday.
“This addresses Probation Department funding. We are the fiscal agent for Pittsylvania and General District Court in Danville and all the courts in Halifax.”
•The Victim Witness Program, which is directed here by Sharron Garrett, was awarded $54,683 in state funds.
“Because of that program, victims and witnesses in Halifax County can be assured of a voice and representation in the criminal justice system,” Commonwealth’s Attorney Kim White said yesterday. “Sharron is an incredible asset to the commonwealth’s office,” added White.
•The Criminal Justice System Improvements award included $19,770 from federal funds with $6,590 in matching funds for a total of $26,360.
Overall, funds include nearly $30 million in state money appropriated by the General Assembly, more than $8.4 million in federal funds, and just over $1 million in local matching funds. ?
“These grants will enable localities and state agencies to support new and continuing programs that address a wide range of criminal justice and public safety needs in the Commonwealth,” Governor Kaine said.?
“They demonstrate again the commitment of Virginia’s state and local agencies to make sure our criminal justice system is as effective and responsive as it can be.”?
The Virginia Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) administers the grant programs.? DCJS’ Criminal Justice Services Board, the policy board appointed by the Governor to act on matters affecting the criminal justice system, reviewed and approved the grant proposals.
“These grants will specifically fund sexual assault programs; criminal justice system improvements; victim witness programs; school resource officers; offender reentry transitional services; residential substance abuse programs; and comprehensive community corrections programs,” said DCJS Director Leonard G. Cooke.?
In total, 264 grants were approved and awarded to eight state agencies and 256 non-profit agencies and localities For more information regarding grant opportunities with DCJS, go to www.dcjs.virginia.gov/grants.

Agate June Adams Briley

Mrs. Agate June Adams Briley of Halifax died Friday, June 22, at Halifax Regional Hospital at the age of 84.
Mrs. Briley was born in Penn, Pennsylvania, on June 4, 1923. She was the daughter of the late Dr. William Washington Adams and Callie Palmer Adams and was married to the late Russell Briley.
Funeral services for Mrs. Briley will be held Tuesday, June 26 at 11 a.m. at Powell Funeral Home with Rev. Russell Irby officiating. Burial will follow at the Emanuel Episcopal Church Cemetery.
Visitation will be at Powell Funeral Home tonight at 7 p.m. and at other times at the home of Brenda and Edward Irby.
Mrs. Briley was a member of Emanuel Episcopal Church.
She is survived by one son, Kenneth Crenshaw and wife Alfie of Vernon Hill, three daughters, Carol Perkins Sparks and husband Charles of South Boston; Barbara Perkins Smith and husband Dennis of California; Brenda Perkins Irby and husband Edward of Scottsburg. Mrs. Briley is also survived by eleven grandchildren: Tammy, Kenneth and Hurley Crenshaw; Ramona, Chuck and Stephanie Sparks; Johnny Smith; David, Robert and Russell Irby, and twenty-one great-grandchildren.
In addition to her husband, she was preceded in death by one grandchild, Darrin Smith, and eight sisters.

Nathaniel Harvey Conner

Nathaniel Harvey Conner of Halifax died Friday, June 22, at Halifax Regional Hospital. He was born on August 6, 1957, in Halifax County, the son of the late James Harvey Cliborne and Margaret Virginia Conner.
Graveside services will be held Tuesday, June 26, at 2 p.m. at Pleasant Grove Christian Church Cemetery with Rev. Randy homes officiating.
Visitation will be held tonight at Powell Funeral Home from 7-8:30 p.m. and at other times at Mr. Conner’s home.
He was employed by E.C. Lewis Construction Company and was an avid fisherman and hunter.
Mr. Conner’s survivors include his wife, Alice Louise Conner; two daughters, Cassie Marie Conner and Anna Elizabeth Conner, both of Halifax; one brother, Steve Allen Conner and wife Diane of South Boston; and three sisters; Linda C. Francis and husband Jimmy of Scottsburg; Mary C. Seate and husband Larry of Roxboro; and Julie C. Elliott and husband Ken of Vernon Hill.
Mr. Conner was preceded in death by his parents and his grandmother, Mary C. Cliborne, as well as a nephew, Ron Sterling Wilmouth.

Nettie Lyons Mitchell
Mrs. Nettie Lyons Mitchell, 75 of Skipwith died Thursday, June 21 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mrs. Mitchell was born in Mecklenburg County May 27, 1928 to the late Bessie Lyons. She was a member of Rocky Mount Baptist Church in Skipwith.
Mrs. Mitchell was preceded in death by her husband, Roosevelt Mitchell; a sister, Elnora Wright; and a brother, Herbert Lyons.
Cherishing her memories is one daughter, Frances Mitchell of Skipwith; one grandson Ra’ymon L. Mitchell of Skipwith; and four great-grandchildren, Dante and Tylik Mitchell and Destiny and Tionna Mitchell all of Halifax.
Services for Mrs. Mitchell will be conducted at 2 p.m. Monday, June 25 at Rocky Mount Baptist Church, Skipwith with the Rev. Willie L. Carter Sr. officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
Online Condolences may be expressed at www.harrisfhc.com

Hurshal Ray Pruitt
Hurshal Ray Pruitt, 61, of Roxboro, N.C. died June 20, at Person Memorial Hospital.
Mr. Pruitt was a native of Pittsylvania County, son of the late Thomas Lester and Sarah Jones Pruitt. He was a self-employed roofer and was a member of Rock Springs Baptist Church in Pittsboro, N .C.
Survivors include a son, Michael Pruitt of Roxboro; three daughters, Melissa ‘Missy’ Newton of Rougemont, N.C., Wanda Brooks of Contential, Ohio, and Heidi Jennings of Chapel Hill, N.C.; one stepson, Wayne McNeil of Chapel Hill; 12 grandchildren, Mikie, Chris, Meagan and Amber Pruitt, Brittany Rimmer, Troy and Sarah Penland, Joey and Carrie Mae Kitchen, Kasey Brooks, and Taylen and Grayson Jennings; two brothers, David Pruitt and Paul Pruitt; two sisters, Catherine Elliott and Lillie Mae Montague; and his companion, Betty Grubb. One brother, Thomas Pruitt, preceded Mr. Pruitt in death.
Funeral services were held at 11 a.m. June 23, in Strickland Funeral Home Chapel by the Rev. Matt Rummage. Burial followed in Rock Springs Baptist Church Cemetery.

William Porter Vest

William Porter Vest, 98, of Buena Vista died June 21, 2007.
Mr. Vest was born May 15, 1909, in Collierstown, a son of the late Jacob Vest and Mamie Long Vest.
In addition to his parents, he was preceded n death by his wife, Ada Long Vest.
Survivors include three children, Nellie Getz and husband, Donald, of Halifax, Eva Allene Ferguson and husband, Fran, of Buena Vista, and Shirley Gilliam of Natural Bridge; one sister, JoAnn Brown of Lexington; five grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren; and a special friend, Walter Galloway.
Funeral services for Mr. Vest will be held at 2 p.m. today, June 25, at Harrison Funeral Home Chapel in Lexington, with Pastor Robert Daniel Sr. officiating. Burial will follow in Rockbridge Memorial Gardens.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Rockbridge Area Hospice, P.O. Box 948, Lexington, 24450.

Angels, Darlings Open District Tourney Play

HC National Darlings On Top Early; Americans Seeking To Rebound

By Doug Ford
GV Staff Writer
The two Halifax County Dixie Softball Darlings all-star teams had decidedly different results Saturday in the first day of the Dixie Softball District 7 tournament at the Bethune Complex.
Halifax National banged out 22 hits on the way to a 27-6 win over Charlotte County in its opener.
Halifax American finished with 15 hits but fell behind Altavista 13-3 after two innings, rallying late only to fall by a 19-16 margin.
Halifax National played Brookneal last night to try and maintain a perfect mark in the double elimination tourney, while Halifax American has a bye into Tuesday, where it plays the winner of Monday’s matchup between Motley and Charlotte County.
Brookneal started Saturday’s action with a 30-28 win over Motley.
Halifax National 27
Charlotte County 6
Michaela Farson and Erica Allgood each finished with two doubles and a single, while Amber Moore and Taylor Jones each added three singles to lead Halifax National to a 27-6 win over Charlotte County.
Faith Lester hit a double and single, Courtney Claiborne, Abbey Bales and Terri Murray two base hits, Sara Moser a double and Dymon Patrick and Madison Hailey a single apiece in the game called after four innings.
Lester, Farson and Allgood each hit a double and Moore, Jones, Claiborne and Murray base hits in the first inning as Halifax National scored eight runs.
Singles by Moore, Allgood, Hailey and Jones, in addition to a double from Farson helped National score five more runs in the second frame.
Doubles by Lester and Moser, along with singles from Murray, Allgood, Patrick and Moore helped National score seven runs in the third, and singles by Jones, Claiborne and Bales gave National its final seven tallies in the fourth inning to help end the game.
Lester, Allgood and Moser each finished with two RBIs for the game, while Farson, Hailey, Bales and Patrick had one each.
Altavista 19 Halifax American 16
A ten-run deficit after two innings proved a little too much to overcome, as Halifax American fell to Altavista 19-16.
Five hits, including a homer and a double gave Altavista six first inning runs, and American countered with singles by Sydney Henderson and Mya Brandon and a two-run double by Shania Hankins.
Altavista put together six hits, including a homer and two doubles to score seven runs in the second and struck for two more in the third, before American began its comeback in the bottom of the third with a eight-run inning.
Makayla Faulkner, Aliyah Chandler, Henderson, Brandon and Hankins all singled in the rally, Brandon and Hankins collecting RBIs to close the gap to 15-11.
Each team added four runs in the fourth, Quinshala Medley and Faulkner hitting singles, Morgan Puckett a two-run double and Brandon another base hit for American.
Sidney McLamb tripled in the fifth, and Mia Womack drove her home, but the rally came up just short.
Brandon led American with a double and two base hits, Hankins hit a double and single, and Henderson hit two singles, while Medley and Faulkner each had two base hits.
McLamb added a triple, Puckett a double, and Chandler and Blair Bomar a base hit apiece.

 

HC National, American Angels Win Opening Games

By Doug Ford
GV Staff Writer
Both the Halifax American and Halifax National Angels all-star teams took close wins Saturday on the first day of the Dixie Softball District 7 Tournament.
American held off a furious rally by Brookneal to claim a 14-13 win in its opener, while National edged Charlotte County 5-3 in the final game of the day.
The first game of the Angels district tournament saw Motley beat Brookneal 12-3.
Halifax American 13 Brookneal 12
American led 7-2 after three innings, fell behind briefly after Brookneal scored seven runs in the fourth, but came back and held on for a 13-12 win.
Kye-Neisha Logan hit a three-run homer to lead American, which also got two hits from Elizabeth Thomas (RBI), a single from Taylor Barnes, and a hit apiece from Sara Stephens and Ashley Watts.
American helped its cause with patience at the plate, drawing 19 walks for the contest.
An RBI single gave Brookneal a brief 1-0 lead to start the game, but American got hits from Thomas, Stephens and Watts and drew three walks to make it 5-1.
A bases-loaded fielder’s choice got Brookneal to within 5-2 in the top of the second, but singles by Barnes and Thomas (RBI) made it 6-2 after two innings, and a bases loaded walk made it 7-2 after three innings.
Brookneal rallied with a double, four base hits and bases on balls to score seven times in the fourth, taking a brief 9-7 lead.
American took the lead for good in the bottom of the fourth, scoring four runs with the help of Logan’s three-run homer, and added three more runs in the fifth with the help of five walks and an error to make it 14-9.
Brookneal used three base hits and three walks to score four runs in the top of the sixth, but a strikeout ended the rally.
Thomas started the game on the mound for Halifax American, with Womack, Barnes and Stephens also pitching for American during the contest.
American pitching combined for 11 strikeouts.
Halifax National 5 Charlotte County 3
National scored three times in the bottom of the third to break a 2-2 tie and held off Charlotte County in the final game of the day.
Kirsten Doss and Lauren Spencer had base hits for National, which also took advantage of 11 walks to help score its runs, two each to Randi Welcher and Lexi Reaves, and one each to Anna Cole, Emily Ingram, Savana Jones, Cecilie Elliott, Mary Glasscock, Spencer and Cheyenne Vognetz.
Two runs in the first gave National a 2-0 lead, Doss with a leadoff single, Spencer with a RBI hit and Ingram with a RBI.
Charlotte County tied the score in the second with a single, error and fielder’s choice RBI, but National added three runs in the third on six walks and a fielder’s choice by Ingram.
Charlotte County got to within 5-3 in the fourth on a two walks and a RBI on an error, but National shut out Charlotte County the final two innings to get the win.
Ingram pitched the first two innings for National, Elliott innings three and four and Tara Brandon the final two innings, the trio combining to strike out nine batters.

Comets Seek Passing Grade In ‘Passing League’

By Doug Ford
GV Sports Writer
You may have encountered them the past three summers if you happened by Tuck Dillard Stadium in the early evening - two teams of seven players each, dressed in gym shorts, T-shirts and helmets running pass patterns under the watchful eyes of coaches.
Those passing drills, involving Comets football players and players from a number of other schools, have been paying dividends the past couple of years, with the Comets varsity football team achieving consecutive 8-2 regular season marks and advancing to the regional playoffs.
It takes on an even more important role this season, as the Comets look to replace all four starters in the secondary, two starting linebackers, a starting running back and three of four starting receivers, according to head football coach Stan Hodgin.
“In addition to our strength and conditioning for our off season program, we have our skill kids involved in a passing league, or seven on seven drill where they compete against teams from other schools,” explained Hodgin.
The focus, he added, is on the passing game from both the offensive and defensive standpoints, giving the players an opportunity to “get their feet wet” in an environment a little more relaxed than an actual game.
“We film the drill and once it’s over, we sit down with the guys and show them what they did well and mistakes and errors they need to work on,” said Hodgin.
Halifax competed against four North Carolina schools last week, including Oxford Webb, Northern and Southern Vance and East Chapel Hill, with the final passing drill coming this week.
The drills include a center, quarterback and five receivers on offense and linebackers and secondary players on defense.
There are no lineman involved except the center, whose only task is to snap the ball, and there is no pass rush.
The drills benefit both players and coaches, said Hodgin.
“It’s a really good preparation activity for the players and it benefits the coaches in that we have goals and other things we look for,” said Hodgin.
“We can see guys at cornerback and see them in tough situations, one on one for instance.
“It helps identification of our personnel for cornerback and safety,” he continued.
“We have linebackers involved, dropping into their areas of responsibility and in man-to-man, so we get a chance to see them involved in pass coverage.
“The players get experience going against different personnel from different schools, and different offensive formations.”
With no pass rush, the time each quarterback is given to release the ball is mutually agreed upon at each event.
Most have a four-second window of opportunity to throw the ball, but that isn’t a factor in the Comets’ offensive scheme, noted Hodgin.
“That’s not a factor with us. We want the ball to be gone in 2.3 seconds, and we feel like if our quarterback holds the ball as long as four seconds not many good things can happen.”
The Comets varsity football team opens at Petersburg August 24, and although a number of skilled athletes return, Comets coaches are viewing the passing drills with increased scrutiny.
“We’re going to be young at an awful lot of positions this year, and the season is awfully close,” noted Hodgin.
“Nine weeks from today we kick off.”

Barker’s SBS Win Streak Snapped
C.E. Falk III Snaps Adam Barker’s 7-Race Win Streak

By Joe Chandler
Sports Editor
Adam Barker knew that his lengthy win streak in the NASCAR Late Model Stock Car Division at South Boston Speedway would come to an end at some point.
He probably wasn’t counting on it coming this soon.
C.E. Falk III snapped Barker’s seven-race win streak, running away to a 4.515-second win over defending national champion Philip Morris in the 150-lap Late Model Stock Car race that headlined Saturday night’s Whelen 150 presented by Charles Anderson Lawn Care Service racing program at South Boston Speedway.
The win was worth $4,000 to the 19-year-old racer from Virginia Beach, a prize that included a $1,000 bounty track officials had posted for any driver that could end Barker’s streak.
“This is out of proportion right now,” Falk said after scoring his first career NASCAR Late Model Stock Car Division win.
“It’s a lot of pressure but we’ve gotten it out of the way.”
Falk did a lot more than just get his first win out of the way.
He won the race in a convincing fashion, winning the pole and leading all 150 laps, tossing aside each challenge that Barker threw at him during the first two thirds of the race.
Having done that, Falk ran away from veterans Morris and Greg Edwards as they waged battles with Barker as Barker slid to fourth place in the waning laps.
Before Barker went away, he did just about everything he could with Falk, bumping him and taking numerous looks to the inside of the inside of Falk’s left rear fender. But, it was to no avail.
“I looked in the mirror and all I could see was red,” Falk said.
“ It was a lot of pressure. My spotter told me to just look through the windshield, don’t look in that (rear view) mirror and keep driving away. He told me he (Barker) was going to wear his stuff out eventually. He finally did and it was just cruise control the rest of the night.”
Barker said he and crew chief Neil Perkins experimented with a different chassis setup for this race, a setup they wanted to try in an effort to get the car better for the 200-lap race coming up on July 3 and for the rest of the season.
The South Boston Speedway points leader noted that when he went out to qualify for the race he found out the car may not be as good as it had been.
“I knew the car was going to go away,” Barker said.
“I didn’t think it would be that bad. But, you never know. We were just experimenting tonight. We had been wondering the last few weeks if something was going to work and we tried it tonight and it didn’t work. We just went the wrong way.”
For Morris, who was making his second visit to South Boston Speedway in a Dodge, the second-place finish was almost like a win. Morris, one of the track’s all-time career win leaders in the Late Model Stock Car Division, had been best by mechanical problems and crashes in his three prior visits here this season.
Morris and Barker locked horns in a battle for second place with about 40 laps to go with Morris getting the spot for good with 10 laps left. Edwards, driving a Ford, got past Barker with four laps left to gain third place and drop Barker back to what would be a fourth-place finish.
“I think we’ve got to be happy with that,” Morris said of his runner-up finish.
“We wanted to win awful bad. We spent a lot of time racing Adam and the 40 (Falk) got so far out there. I don’t know if we would have had anything for him (Falk) but I really wanted to see what that was going to look like.”
The third-place finish was Edwards’ best finish here this season and marked his second straight top-four finish here.
“This is only our fifth time here and it keeps getting better,” Edwards pointed out.
“The car was just a little off at the end, but I thought at the beginning we would be good.
“My hat’s off to C.E.,” added Edwards.
“ He ran one heck of a race. I could see those guys (Falk and Barker) up there. I just couldn’t get my nose to them. Adam drove me a really clean race. I was glad to get to run side-by-side with him. Nobody has been able to do that much this year.”
David Triplett Jr. of Timberlake, N.C. finished fifth behind Falk, Morris, Edwards and Barker with South Boston’s Stacy Puryear, Eddie Johnson of Midlothian, Rodney Cook of Reidsville, N.C., Wayne Ramsey of Amherst and Jason Dickerson of Ruckersville rounding out the top ten finishers.
Falk averaged 71.676 mph in the race that took 50 minutes and 34 seconds to complete.
The race was slowed by two caution periods, both coming in the first 46 laps of the race, the second of which resulted from a multi-car mishap that put the race under the red flag for about 15 minutes.