Monday, June 26, 2006

Supervisors Consider New Payroll System
If Approved, Plan Will Implement Merit-Based Pay Increases For Workers

If the Halifax County Board of Supervisors follows the recommendation of the Policy and Personnel Committee, employees of the county will soon see their annual raises based on their job performance.
Supervisors are expected to take action on the recommendation when the Board meets for its monthly meeting a week early tonight at 6:30 p.m. in the public meeting room of the Mary Bethune Complex in Halifax.
Because the July 4 holiday affects their regular schedule, supervisors will meet tonight instead of June 3 as the meeting schedule dictates.
Members of the committee are recommending that supervisors adopt a new pay and classification study that will move the county’s payroll policy to a merit-based system.
In a letter to supervisors recommending the approval of the new system, County Administrator Bryan Foster said the system will no longer give county employees a set raise each year.
“The new system is a merit pay system – also referred to as pay for performance,” Foster wrote. “The county will no longer give the same across-the-board increases to all employees.”
The plan is based upon minimum, midpoint and maximum ranges for the 25 grades of employment set in the plan.
According to Foster, if the new policy is accepted by supervisors an annual review of each employee will be held to document the employee’s performance over the previous year.
Under the plan, beginning in 2008, the review and any salary increase will coincide with the anniversary date of the employee’s hire.
“As a result, when employees receive an increase will very with each individual employee.
“The amount of pay increase an employee receives will be directly tied to how well he or she performed during the year,” Foster said.
If the new system is approved, the county will set aside a funding “pool” to grant the increases each year, Foster said.
“This pool will be a percentage of total payroll,” he said. “For example, 3 percent of payroll may be available for granting increases. However, individual raises may vary from 1 percent to 5 percent depending upon the performance rating of the employee.”
Supervisors will monitor the pay scale and increase it periodically to make the salaries competitive with other localities.
Employees of elected constitutional officers will have an option to be included in the new payroll system.
“Those wishing to be a part of the new salary system will sign a formal agreement with the Board of Supervisors electing to do so,” Foster said.
If approved by supervisors, Foster said the system is expected to take several months to implement.
In other business, supervisors are expected to adopt a resolution setting the percentage of personal property tax relief this year.
“As you recall, with the changes adopted by the General Assembly capping the total amount of relief available for reimbursement, the county changed its ordinance to the specific relief method in late 2005,” Foster told the Board. “At the conclusion of the budget process each year, we must adopt this resolution establishing the percentage of relief to be granted.”
The resolution stipulates that personal vehicles valued at $20,000 or under will be eligible for 35 percent relief and those valued at more than $20,000 will receive 35 percent relief for the first $20,000 of value.
All vehicles that do not qualify, such as business vehicles, farm use vehicles and motor homes, will not be eligible for relief under the program.
Supervisors are expected to schedule public hearings on two land use applications during tonight’s meeting.
Robert and Susan Franklin are seeking to rezone just over one acre at the intersection of Scottsburg Road and Route 360 from agricultural to business.
If approved by supervisors, the property will be used for a motorcycle repair shop.
The Virginia State Police are seeking a conditional use permit to replace an existing 250-foot telecommunications tower on U.S. 501 with a 400-foot tower.
The new tower is necessary in order for the state to update the department’s radio system, according to Ronald Rice, VSP Capital Outlay Program Director.

Dan River To Close Brookneal Plant
BROOKNEAL, Va. (AP) — Dan River Inc. announced plans Friday to close its Brookneal plant late this summer, laying off about 280 employees.
While the Danville-based textile company is planning the Aug. 22 closure, it continues to try to find a buyer for the plant, said Calvin Barnhardt, Dan River vice president of human resources.
‘‘This is somewhat a conditional notice,’’ said Barnhardt, adding that the company had to make some decisions due to the growing demand for low-cost fabric.
The plant is the last Dan River manufacturing plant in the United States and the town’s largest employer. It makes sheets, pillowcases and other bedding, including Disney, Nickelodeon, and Martha Stewart brands.
In December, Indian company Gujarat Heavy Chemicals Ltd. announced its acquisition of Dan River. Officials had denied rumors that the plant was going to close, but announced layoffs of 110 workers at the plant in March.
Mayor Phyllis Campbell said the plant’s closure will hurt other local businesses, as former Dan River employees commute elsewhere for work.
‘‘There are a lot of unemployed people who are going to have to drive 30 to 50 miles for employment,’’ Campbell said.

Victory At Staunton River Bridge Remembered Saturday
Battle For Railroad Bridge Raged 142 Years Ago
Staunton River Battlefield State Park held is annual commemoration of the battle for the Staunton River Bridge Saturday, with a day of tours, camp re-enactments, cannon firing demonstrations and lectures.
The Halifax Chapter of the United Daughters of the Confederacy presented Military Service Awards to five descendents of Confederate veterans during an early morning ceremony.
Service Awards are presented to veterans who are lineal descendants of Confederate soldiers or sailors who rendered military service, and each recipient must have served honorably in the Armed Forces of the United States.
Receiving the Cross of Military Service at the ceremony were three U.S. Army veterans of the Vietnam Conflict, including: Mickey Lewis Conner, descendant of Logan P. Anderson, Virginia Militia, Confederate States of America (CSA); George Wayne Howerton, descendant of Winfield Scott Howerton, Company E. 1st VA Reserves, CSA; and Raymond Thornton Waller Jr., descendant of Co. H, VA Cavalry, CSA.
Two veterans were awarded the National Defense Medal, including Donald Ray Blankenship, a U.S. Army veteran of the Vietnam Conflict, descendant of Elijah Mullins, Co. H., 14th Kentucky Cavalry; and Joseph Luck Chandler, a U.S. Air Force veteran of the Vietnam Conflict, descendant of David P. Chandler, Co. E., 7th Georgia Infantry.
Staunton River Battlefield State Park Manager Jim Zanarini unveiled signs officially designating the Wade Archaeological Site and the Staunton River Bridge Fortification at Fort Hill as Virginia Historical Landmarks.
Mulberry Hill, already designated as a Virginia Historical Landmark, also received a sign in recognition of that honor.
Douglas Powell, Adjutant for the John M. Jordan Camp of the Sons of Confederate veterans and a trustee of the Historic Staunton River Foundation, conducted and narrated a tour of the battlefield, while Otis Martin of the Sappony Indian Nation was at Randolph Station with displays pertaining to the heritage and history of the Sappony Indians.
Dr. John Arnold, a Lynchburg physician and historian, presented a lecture entitled “Civil War Railroads: A New Technology Brings New Strategy,” at the Clover Visitors Center.
The lecture emphasized the key importance of actions linked to the railroad supply system, as evidenced in the Battle of the Staunton River Bridge.

Obituaries

James William Newton Sr.
Funeral services for Mr. James William Newton Sr. will be held Tuesday at 11 a.m. at Greater Mayfield Apostolic Church with Elder Bernard Wilkins officiating.
Burial will follow in the Rose Garden Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the residence, 419 Traver Avenue, South Boston.
Mr. Newton, 68, died Tuesday, June 20, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
He was born in South Boston on August 25, 1937, the son of the late Armstead Newton and Alice Terry Newton and was married to Almaira Yarbrough Newton and later married the late Janice Ragsdale Newton.
Mr. Newton was a member of the Greater Mayfield Apostolic Church.
He is survived by two daughters, Tonia N. Jones of Richmond, and Teresa N. Cain of Chesterfield; a son James W. Newton Jr. of Cambridge, England; seven grandchildren; a sister, Alice Mae Payne of Washington D.C.; two sons-in-law; a daughter-in-law, his mother-in-law, Catherine Ragsdale; a devoted niece, Sandra D. Newton of South Boston and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Beatrice Mahaffey Clark
Funeral services for Mrs. Beatrice Mahaffey Clark will be held today at 2 p.m. at Second Baptist Church with the Rev. Jim Smith and the Rev. Larry Woolbrink officiating.
Burial will follow at Halifax Memorial Gardens.
The family will receive friends at the residence of Tom and Rita Clark, 1323 Terry Avenue, South Boston.
Mrs. Clark, 81, of Chalmers Street, died Friday, June 23, at South Boston Manor.
She was born in Halifax County on October 18, 1924, the daughter of the late John Coot Mahaffey and Annie Bell Thomas Mahaffey, and was married to the late Robert Whitlow Clark.
Mrs. Clark was a member of Second Baptist Church.
She is survived by, two daughters, Sybil C. “Muffin” Blanks and husband Doug, and Cynthia C. “Cindi” Owen and husband David, both of South Boston; nine sons, Robert W. Clark and wife Diane of Conyers, Ga., Ralph A. Clark and wife Edith of Kingston, N.C., Zane G. Clark and wife Martha Lu, Stanley P. Clark and wife Dianne, Lloyd Eastlack “Big Doc” Clark, David M. “Pee Wee” Clark and wife Rebecca “Billie”, Thomas E. Clark and wife Rita, Aubrey S. “Bear” Clark and wife Donna, and Barry Lee Clark, all of South Boston; a foster son, Willie Jones and wife Denise of Alton; 26 grandchildren, 13 great-grandchildren and five step-great-grandchildren.
In addition to her husband, Mrs. Clark was preceded in death by a sister, Elizabeth M. Mills, and a grandchild, Anthony Clark.
For memorials, please consider the charity of your choice.
Online condolences may be sent to powell@gcronline.com.

Post 8 Falls Twice To Danville
A Seven-Run Eighth-Inning Rally Allowed Danville Post 325 To Seal A 13-2 Win Over South Boston Post 8 Here Thursday
For six innings Thursday night the South Boston Post 8 baseball team hung with Danville Post 325.
But, Danville scored a pair of runs in the seventh inning and a staged a seven-run rally in the eighth inning to run away to a 13-2 win.
South Boston Post 8’s record slipped to 1-3 with the loss.
Danville led the entire game but South Boston Post 8 hung on and stayed in contention through the first six innings.
Post 325 tagged Post 8 for a run in the top of the second inning when Jeff Jeffrerson led off with a single and scored when Ethan Fowlkes hit into a double play later in the inning.
In the third inning, Wesley Francis singled with one out, stole second base, reached third base on a passed ball and scored on a hit by John Watlington to put Danville up 2-0.
Two more runs in the the top of the sixth inning, one of which came on a run-scoring double by Kyle Grantier, put Danville Post 325 up 4-0.
Post 8, which had been held to one hit through the first five innings, scratched up a pair of runs in the top of the sixth inning to make the score 4-2 and get back into contention.
A leadoff infield hit by Daniel Wilborn and a single to right field by Scott Gieselman gave Post 8 runners on first base and second base with no out. Ryan Gieselman plated both Wilborn and Scott Gieselman with a long ball to the gap in left centerfield but was thrown out at third base attempting to stretch a sure double into a triple.
After Blake Waller went down on strikes for the second out of the inning, Eric Brandon walked and Kaleb Long singled to left centerfield to give Post 8 two more runners on the sacks. Unfortunately, the Post 8 rally ended with hurler David Lacks hitting a fly ball to right field for the third out.
Post 8 appeared to be in pretty good shape at that point, but Danville tagged Lacks for two more runs in the top of the seventh inning to gain a little more breathing room.
Francis and Watlington led off with a single and double respectively. A single by Justin Thompson plated Francis and a sacrifice by Nathan Thompson scored Watlington to give Danville a 6-2 lead.
Danville chased Lacks off of the hill in the top of the eight inning with three back-to-back hits including a two-RBI single by Francis that put Danville up 8-2.
Things were no better for Post 8 relief hurler Jacob Shelton as Danville rang up five more runs and upped their spread to nine runs to seal the win.
Post 8 had seven hits in the game, four of which came in the sixth inning when it scored its pair of runs.
Scott Gieselman led Post 8 with two hits. Wilborn, Ryan Gieselman, Brandon, Kaleb Long and Chris Sizemore each had one hit.
Danville had 15 hits in the game with Francis leading the way with four hits and Jefferson following with three hits. Watlington and Grantier had two hits each.

Missed Opportunities Doomed Post 8 In Saturday’s 12-1 Loss To Danville Post 325
The South Boston American Legion Post 8 baseball team got the upper hand on Danville Post 325 early in Saturday’s game in Danville.
But, Danville rallied to score six runs in the second inning to take the lead and added six more in the final three innings to roll up an easy 12-1 win.
Saturday’s loss dropped Post 8’s record to 1-4 on the season.
Post 8 scored its lone run in the top of the first inning when leadoff batter Scott Gieselman smacked a double off of Danville hurler Matt Hedrick, advanced to second base on a sacrifice by Eric Brandon and scored on a single to left field by Blake Waller.
The 1-0 Post 8 lead lasted only until the bottom of the second inning when Danville tagged Post 8 hurler Kyle Long for three hits and took advantage of three walks and a Post 8 error to plate six runs and take a 6-1 lead.
Danville’s rally started with Long walking Jeff Jefferson. A double by the next batter, Nathan Thompson, scored Jefferson to tie the game. A double by Zach Harrelson with one out scored Thompson to give Danville Post 325 a lead it would never relinquish.
A single by Matt Painter and a walk to Reggie Keen loaded the bases. A Post 8 error allowed three runs to score and a sacrifice fly to centerfield on the part of Justin Thompson plated the final run of the inning for Danville.
Danville Post 325 took advantage of an error on the part of Post 8 to add a run in the fourth inning and make it a 7-1 score. Two more Danville runs in the fifth inning made the score 9-1.
Three doubles and a pair of walks allowed Danville to score three more runs in the bottom of the sixth inning and produce a 12-1 lead. When Post 8 failed to score in the top of the seventh inning, the game was stopped under a slaughter rule.
South Boston Post 8 had some opportunities to score but was unable to push across a run. In the second inning, Post 8 stranded two runners. Waller hit a triple with one out in the top of the third inning but Post 8 failed to score.
Post had the bases loaded in the fifth inning and failed to score. And, in the sixth inning, Post 8 failed to score after Jacobs and Kaleb Long hit back-to-back singles to open the inning.
Danville Post 325 was led by Reggie Keen with two hits and all but one batter in the Post 325 starting lineup had a hit.
South Boston had seven hits in the game with Scott Gieselman and Blake Waller each getting two hits. Justin Jacobs, Kaleb Long and Kyle Long each chipped in one hit.
Kyle Long went the distance on the mound for Post 8 and yielded nine hits and eight walks while recording one strikeout.
Post 8 committed three errors in the game and stranded eight runners on the sacks.
The South Boston Post 8 baseball team is scheduled to return to action Tuesday when it travels to Lynchburg to face Post 16 in a doubleheader. On Saturday, Post 8 will host Lynchburg Post 16 in a doubleheader. Both games are set for a 5 p.m. start.
Saturday’s doubleheader is a makeup from a rain-out on June 14.

Herring Continues Hot Streak At SBS
Drew Herring Ran Away From The Field To Win Saturday’s LMSC Race At South Boston Speedway
Drew Herring has the hot hand in the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Late Model Stock Car division at South Boston Speedway.
And, if Saturday night was any indicator, the young Benson, N.C. resident may be poised to heat things up even more.
Herring scorched the field over the final 54 laps and easily won Saturday’s 150-lap NASCAR Late Model Stock Car race. His 5.068-second win over runner-up Jonathan Cash of Oxford, N.C. was his second win in a row and his fourth win in his last five starts at South Boston Speedway.
“It’s unbelievable,” Herring said afterward.
“We’ve never had a perfect racecar but this is as close to prefect as it has ever been. This car has just been on a rail these past few weeks. I just hope we can keep this momentum going.”
Herring started on the outside of the front row and took the lead on the opening lap after he and pole winner Jason Dickerson made contact. The contact resulted in Dickerson suffering a flat tire. Dickerson pitted the following lap and did not return to the race.
Even though four caution periods slowed the pace and closed up the field, neither Jon Denning nor Cash showed any significant threat to overtake Herring.
Cash, who started sixth, passed Denning to take second place on lap 31. He got his last shot at Herring on the race’s final restart on lap 96 but it took only a few laps for Herring to erase any doubts about the ultimate outcome.
“The first six or seven laps of a run my car was real loose,” Herring pointed out.
“The longer we ran, the better the car got. I was able to hit my line and get my groove and run some pretty decent times and get a good lead.”
Cash said his missing a gear on the final restart hurt his chances to make a real run at Herring.
“I was going to try to get up there and challenge him a little bit,” Cash said.
“ I think it would have still been the same outcome because he (Herring) was a little better on the long run. I think I could run with him on a 10 or 15-lap run but my car would get so free on a long run I just can’t do anything with him.
“We could run with him at the beginning, but we can’t run with him at the end,” added Cash.
“They’ve got their stuff together right now.”
Nick Smith of Hampton, a driver in his first year of competition at South Boston Speedway, scored his best finish of the season to date, racing from his tenth starting spot to finish third.
The third-place finish gave him back-to-back top-seven finishes and marked the first time he has had back-to-back top-ten finishes since the first two races of the season.
“I don’t know if it was my adrenaline or the car,” said the exhausted young driver.
“It (the car) was pretty fast. I was just holding on. I lost the air to my helmet and I started getting really hot, but I just kept going and the car was under me the whole time.”
Eddie Johnson of Ashland kept his recent string of top-five finishes intact with a fourth-place effort and Wayne Ramsey of Amherst finished fifth in his Ford.
Denning, of Springfield, N.J. finished sixth, Rodney Cook of Reidsville, N.C. started 15th and finished seventh and Jonathan Bailey of Keysville finished eighth and was the final driver on the lead lap.
Scott Turlington and C.E. Faulk rounded out the top ten finishers.
Herring averaged 71.054 mph in the race that took 51 minutes and three seconds to complete.

One Lucky Fan Can Win the Ultimate Superbike Experience At VIR
M1 Entertainment Providing Super Prize Package For The Aug. 18-20 Suzuki Big Kahuna Nationals At VIR
M1 Entertainment, which is promoting the Suzuki Big Kahuna Nationals featuring the AMA Superbike Championship at VIRginia International Raceway over the weekend of August 18-20, has put together the most amazing promotion ever seen at a Superbike race.
The M1 Experience is a package of amenities and access that is unprecedented in the history of the sport. In order to be eligible, a fan must purchase two three-day passes for the Suzuki Big Kahuna Nationals. Fans will get one chance for each two three-day passes purchased during the month of July, so if one person buys 10 three-day passes, they get five chances to win. Tickets must be purchased by July 31, 2006.
The lucky winner and their guest will receive the following: two event programs; two official Big Kahuna t-shirts; two sets of Speed Channel Gear; two trackside suite passes; two drink passes each; two laps of the track (if they ride their own bikes); one pace car ride for two; one hotel room at the track for Friday and Saturday night; present trophies on the podium for Saturday races; two Pit Crew Weekend Warrior Passes for the Jordan Suzuki Team; one helmet autographed by all the top racers at the Big Kahuna Nationals; one seat in the Suzuki Big Kahuna Nationals Superstars Kart Enduro Challenge on Thursday; and one lap on the Road Racing World two-seater superbike with Chris Ulrich on Thursday.
“This is the ultimate,” said M1 president Cameron Gray. “There has never been a promotion like this, and one lucky fan and their guest are going to have the weekend of a lifetime at the Suzuki Big Kahuna Nationals. There is no way to put a value on this promotion, because a lot of the package isn’t available at any price! If you tried to dream up the absolutely best possible weekend at a Superbike race, this would be it. Somebody is going to win this incredible package, and we wish everyone good luck!”
The Suzuki Big Kahuna Nationals offers a variety of ticket packages designed to fit every budget, including standard general-admissions tickets, Big Kahuna Super Tickets, Big Dog Hospitality Passes, Little Dog Hospitality Passes, Pit Walk Passes, car parking passes and camping passes.
All current military personnel will receive a 30-percent discount and free parking with a copy of a current military ID (advance) or by presenting their ID card at the gate. Similarly, college students will be eligible for a 15-percent discount with a copy of a current college ID (advance) or by presenting their ID card at the gate. Groups of 20 or more will also be eligible for a 15-percent discount, providing the order is paid for with one credit card. Discounts do not apply to Trackside VIP Suite and Big Kahuna Super Tickets, or to Big Dog Hospitality Passes or Pit Walk Passes.
Children aged 12 and under will receive free admission, provided they are accompanied by a paid adult, but must have a Little Dog Hospitality Pass to enter the Big Dog Hospitality area.
Advance ticket sales will end at 5:00 pm on August 14. Tickets ordered too late to mail will be able to be picked up at Will Call at the track.
To purchase tickets, visit www.m1event.com or www.gettix.net.
VIRginia International Raceway is a multi-purpose road racing facility, located on the Dan River between Danville and South Boston, Va., and just north of historic Milton, N.C. In addition to its 3.27-mile natural-terrain road racing circuit, VIR is the cornerstone of VIR Club, America’s first motorsports country club; the VIR Raceplex Industrial Park; the VIR Gallery, a sales showroom for high-end collector and racing cars; Plantation Valley Kart Track, a 5/8-mile paved karting circuit; The Lodge at VIR, a 27-room trackside hotel; and the Oak Tree Tavern, a full-service restaurant located within the circa-1840 Plantation Clubhouse.
For more information on VIRginia International Raceway, visit the track’s website at www.virclub.com or telephone 434-822-7700. For more information on M1 Entertainment, visit their website at www.m1event.com or contact them via telephone at 303-377-3278. For more information on the AMA Superbike Championship Presented by Parts Unlimited, visit their website at www.amasuperbike.com.