Monday, June 27, 2005

Tobacco Commission Extends Phase I Deadline

The Virginia Tobacco Commission has extended the deadline for Phase I verification forms and applications.
In order to be eligible for 2005 payments, completed and signed forms must be postmarked by July 11.
Claims postmarked after the deadline may not be paid, according to officials.
This year, the Tobacco Commission has approved payments for more than 34,000 Phase I flue-cured and burley quota owner and producer claims.
The payments total more than $15 million and are currently being distributed.
Claimants who submitted a verification for payment form or application for payment requiring a division of quota between multiple owners or a change in ownership or claim information will be paid in the next round of payments, scheduled for later this summer.
Anyone who would like more information can call Troutman Sanders Phase I Tobacco Indemnification Program between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday at 804-697-1869 or 888-629-7682.

School Board To Address Land Purchase, School Principals

Superintendent: Discussion Will Come In Executive Session, Decision On Land Could Come As Early As Tonight

The Halifax County School Board is expected to meet tonight at 6 p.m. in the Halifax County Career Center.
During tonight’s meeting, the Board is expected to convene in closed session tonight to consider three land parcels as possible locations for a new elementary school in the Cluster Springs community.
Superintendent Paul Stapleton said yesterday that while nothing has been decided, it is possible that the Board may make a decision during tonight’s meeting.
The Cluster Springs facility will house 600 students at a cost of $13.5 million.
Stapleton said earlier that the Board is seeking property for the school along the Route 501 corridor.
"We’ve identified three parcels that we’re interested in," he said. "They (the School Board) have to get together and see which one of the three parcels they like."
In other business, School Finance Director Bill Covington is expected to report on the end of year financial status.
The Board is also expected to address two principal vancancies at Sydnor Jennings and Halifax elementary schools.
Stapleton said the principal at Sydnor Jennings retired at the end of the last school year and the principal at Halifax Elementary has requested to return to teaching second grade.
Two principals have been hired to fill the vacancies, Stapleton said.
"It may require some transfers (of principals to other schools)," he said. "The Board could discuss some things in executive session about the existing principals."

Obituaries

Marshall Z. Scott

Marshall Z. Scott of Manassas, formerly of Nathalie, died June 21.
Mr. Scott was the son of the late Willie C. and Gertrude Logan Scott of Nathalie.
He is survived by his wife, Jennie E. Scott; one son, David A. Scott; one daughter, Roxanne M. Scott; two sisters, Verona Norfleet and Thalia Nash; and a host of other relatives and friends.
Funeral services for Mr. Scott will be held today, June 27, at 11 a.m. at the Christian Tabernacle Baptist Church in Nathalie, with interment in the church cemetery.
Condolences may be emailed to Jeffressfh@aol.com.

Louise Lawson Willis

Louise Lawson Willis, age 86, died Friday.
Mrs. Willis, a native of Chase City, was the daughter of the late Clifford and Annie
Allen Lawson. She was a former co-operator and buyer for the Pauline Shop in Chase City and a member of the Centenary United Methodist Church.
Mrs. Willis was preceded in death by her husband of 52 years, William H. Willis Jr., a twin sister, Lois Lawson and sisters Kathleen L. Wagstaff and Margaret L. Snead.
She is survived by her son and daughter-in-law, William H. II and Dyan Pittard Willis of Clarksville; four grandchildren, Jay and Kit Willis Rutherford Jr. of Lexington, Kentucky, and Tyler and Jennifer Coleman Willis of Roanoke; three great-grandchildren, Jay Felton Rutherford III, William Willis Rutherford and Mary Virginia Willis; one sister, Grace Lawson Smith of Richmond; and one sister-in-law, Louise Willis Henry of Arlington.
Graveside services for Mrs. Willis were held yesterday, June 26, at Woodland Cemetery, with the Rev. Robert Woodfin officiating.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the Chase City Rescue Squad, PO Box 81, Chase City, Va., 23924.

Henry H. Harris

Henry H. Harris of Finchley, died Friday, June 24, at the age of 84.
Mr. Harris was retired from Burlington Industries and was a member of Liberty Baptist Church.
Mr. Harris is survived by his wife, Gladys Harris; daughters and sons-in-law Dorothy and J.D. Tharpe of Chase City and Mary Frances and Butch Haynes of Illinois; sons and daughters-in-law Billy and Lorie Harris of Montana and Dale and Sandy Harris of North Carolina; seven grandchildren; three great-grandchildren; sisters Ethel Crutchfield of Boydton and Bell Shearin and Nell Glass of Clarksville; brothers Una H. Harris Jr. of South Hill and Norfleet Harris of North Carolina.
Funeral services for Mr. Harris will be held today, June 27, at 2 p.m. at Liberty Baptist Church, with the Rev. Sidney Rodriguez officiating. Interment will be in the church cemetery.
Condolences may be emailed to the family at woodfs@kerrlake.com.

Post 8 Nets Pair Of Wins

The South Boston Post 8 Baseball Team Scored Its First Wins Of The Season Thursday Night By Sweeping A Doubleheader Over Big Island Post 217

BY Joe Chandler
G-V STAFF WRITER

It has taken awhile but victory has finally come for the South Boston Post 8 baseball team.
After having lost its first three games, two by a single run, Post 8 got into the win column in a big way Thursday night by sweeping Big Island Post 217 in a doubleheader on a road.
Post 8 won the opening game by scoring a come-from-behind 7-4 win. After winning the opener, Post 8 jumped on top early in the nightcap and scored a 4-1.
Not only was it a big night for Post 8 in terms of getting its first taste of victory, the sweep was also big in the fact that Post 8 netted its first win in district play and made the sweep on the road.
“I’m really excited,” said Post 8 coach Jason Jones who netted his first wins as the head coach of the Post 8 team.
“We finally broke through. We had come so close before and to finally get a win is big. This is big for our guys. Now they know they can win. This is a big morale boost for our guys.”
With the wins, Post 8 improved its record to 2-3 overall and 1-2 in district play.
In the opening game, Post 8 came up with 13 hits with Ryan Gieselman leading the way with a 4-4 night that included a pair of doubles and one RBI. Ryan Roller chipped in three hits and two RBIs and Robert Carter added a pair of hits including a double.
Chris Sizemore, Brent Long, Blake Waller and Kaleb Long each had one hit in the contest.
Along with the hitting, Post 8 had good pitching performances from Chris Fisher, a starter from this past spring’s Halifax County High School jayvee baseball team and Tyler Clarke, who has been signed by Pfeiffer University as a hurler.
Fisher pitched three and two-thirds innings. Giving up four runs on seven hits. Clarke came into the contest to get Post 8 the final out of the fourth inning and sealed the game, yielding four hits and a walk while fanning four batters.
“Both of those guys gave us a real good pitching performance,” Jones said.
Post 8 took the early lead, scoring three runs in the top of the third inning to grab a 3-0 lead. A leadoff double by Carter triggered the inning and a walk to B. Long put two runners on first base and third base with one out. A hit by Roller scored two runs and Roller scored later in the inning when Blake Waller reached base on a fielder’s choice to make it 3-0.
Big Island answered with a run in the bottom of the frame and took advantage of two hits and two Post 8 errors to score three runs in the fourth inning and take a 4-3 lead.
Post 8 answered the call with two runs in the top of the sixth inning when Kaleb Long singled and scored on a hit by B. Long and a hit by Roller plated Carter, who had walked earlier in the inning.
The pair of runs put Post 8 up 5-4 and two insurance runs in the top of the seventh inning put Post 8 over the top.
In the seventh inning, Waller opened with a double and scored on a one-out double by Gieselman. Gieselman scored when Carter reached base on an error.
Post 8 hit the ball well in the nightcap as well, coming up with 10 hits that included a 3-3 effort from Waller and a 2-3 effort at the plate from Roller.
Sizemore, B. Long, Justin Armistead, Gieselman and Kaleb Long each had one hit.
While Post 8 got the job done offensively, it got another solid pair of pitching performances.
Dex Seamon, making his first start, yielded only one run and six hits. He fanned five of the 22 batters he faced and allowed only one walk.
“Dex did a great job," said Jones.
“His fastball had a lot of pop and a lot of movement. He threw some nasty breaking balls, too."
Brandon Spence of South Hill, a freshman pitcher for Louisburg Junior College, closed out the game by fanning the side in the seventh inning.
Post 8 picked up all four of its runs in the second inning when it sent 13 batters to plate.
Waller kicked off the rally with a one-out hit and scored on a hit by Gieselman. A hit by Long and a Big Island error allowed Post 8 to load the sacks. An infield hit by Sizemore plated Gieselman, another run scored when B. long walked and a hit by Roller plated a run to put Post 8 up 4-0.
Big Island scored its lone run in the fourth inning on a Post 8 error. Seamon and Post 8 squelched a potential Big Island rally in the fifth inning, forcing Big Island to strand a pair of runners on the sacks in what was Big Island’s last big punch of the game.
Post 8 will be return to action here Wednesday night with a 7 p.m. home game against Lynchburg Post 16 North.
On Saturday, Post 8 will host Big Island Post 217 in a 1 p.m. game and on Sunday, Post 8 will hit the road again, this time to face Lynchburg Post 16 South in a 2 p.m. game at Rustburg High School.

Patience, Patience, And More Patience

Peyton Sellers Used A Lesson In Patience To Cash In With A $5,000 Victory In The Bailey’s 200 At South Boston Speedway

BY Joe Chandler
G-V STAFF WRITER

As Peyton Sellers prepared for Saturday night’s Bailey’s 200 at South Boston Speedway one word was often repeated in his ear – patience.And, even after the green flag dropped, Sellers continued to hear that word from his brother and crew chief, H.C. Sellers.
“From lap one he said ‘ride, ride, ride and be patient," Sellers said.
Apparently Sellers listened well.
With 14 laps to go, Sellers burst past Deac McCaskill to take the lead. Once in front, Sellers quickly ran away to a big win in the 200-lap NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Late Model Stock Car race.
At the end, Sellers sped across the finish line 2.852 seconds ahead of McCaskill as McCaskill’s car quickly faded. Wayne Ramsey of Amherst, Owen Miller of Emporia, driving the Chevrolet owned by Dolly Fallen of South Boston, and former South Boston Speedway and NASCAR national champion, Barry Beggarly of Pelham, N.C. rounded out the top five finishers.
“It was a case of my car having a little bit left in it and Deac’s car being used up," said Sellers.
“With about 60 laps to go, Wayne Ramsey was still in the race. Once your car is used up, that’s it – it gives you nothing else."
David Quackenbush of Lorton, Ryan Rhodes of Sanford, N.C. and newcomer K.C. Cunningham rounded out the top eight finishers, all of whom finished on the lead lap. Scott Worley of Long Island finished ninth and Ronald Hill of Rougemont, N.C. completed the top ten finishers. Both were a lap down.
The win, Sellers’ sixth of the season here and eighth overall, was worth $5,000. While the big payday was great, Sellers took home an even bigger prize, the track points lead.
Sellers entered the race trailing three-time winner Drew Herring of Benson, N.C. by eight points. However, Sellers’ win, coupled with an 18th-place finish by Herring who was forced to the sidelines when his engine broke, gave Sellers the points lead and, possibly, allowed him to regain the national points lead.
“For us to get back into the track points lead is all we need right now," said Sellers.
“We’ve got enough numbers on the board to put us ahead in the regional chase. We’ve just to be consistent from here on out."
The race was an exciting one throughout with the lead changing hands four times among four drivers.
David Triplett Jr, of Durham grabbed the lead at the outset but led only four circuits before Herring took it away. Sellers, who started third, moved into second place on the 23rd circuit, one lap before Triplett crashed on the backstretch after being tagged from behind by Jason Dickerson of Ruckersville as they battled Herring, Sellers and McCaskill for position in the top five.
A stop-and-go penalty put Dickerson at the rear of the field. He charged back to get as high as fourth place before mechanical problems sent him to sidelines with less than 50 laps to go in the race.
Sellers, who led the race twice for a total of 31 laps, took the lead from Herring on lap 34 but was quickly challenged by McCaskill. McCaskill, who had started sixth, took the high line and sped past Sellers to take the lead on lap 51.
McCaskill appeared to have had the race in hand as he held a quarter of a lap lead over Sellers with 75 laps to go in the race.
Shortly afterward, Sellers started cutting into McCaskill’s lead. When a caution flag flew on lap 150, Sellers had pulled to within a dozen car lengths of the leader.
It didn’t take McCaskill long after the restart on lap 156 to break away again. But, with 25 laps to go Sellers, running the bottom groove, started mounting his late-race surge.
Sellers and McCaskill locked horns in a thrilling side-by-side battle for several laps with Sellers on the bottom and McCaskill on the top side before Sellers got the upper hand with 14 laps to go. Once Sellers got the lead, he quickly checked out on McCaskill and cruised to the two-second win.
“I sat there and was just patient, just kept letting him (McCaskill) come to us," Sellers said.
“I let him be the rabbit. He took off in the beginning and, at the end of the chase, he came back to me."
McCaskill said he enjoyed the battle with Sellers.
“Peyton and I have been racing together a long time," McCaskill noted.
“This was fun. He was quicker there at the end and that’s where it counts. He probably saved his car a little better than I did. He was a lot better than me off of the corner on the bottom. When you’re hooked up like that off the corner at the end of the race it’s hard to outrun somebody."
McCaskill said he was hoping the last caution would give him an edge.
“We jumped out to a lead and the car started getting loose on the bottom," he pointed out. “He (Sellers) was on me pretty hard. I went up high and pulled out about five car lengths. I thought then I could hold my own. His car kept getting better and better."
For Ramsey, the third-place finish marked the end of a good night.
“The car wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t quite where we needed it to be to be fighting for the lead," said Ramsey.
“There towards the end, I was hanging on. I had used up my tires and brakes and was looking for lap 200. But, to come home with a top three, I’m tickled to death."
Sellers averaged 73.898 mph in the race that was slowed by four caution flags.

Snow Takes Fourth Straight Limited Sportsman Race Win

Justin Snow of Danville Scored An Easy Win And Took Over The Division Points Lead In Saturday’s 100-Lap NASCAR Limited Sportsman Race At South Boston Speedway

BY Joe Chandler
G-V STAFF WRITER

For Justin Snow, it was a leisurely Saturday evening drive.
Snow, from Danville, staged a dominating performance Saturday night at South Boston Speedway, running away to a 5.863-second win over defending division champion Jonathan Bailey of Keysville in the 100-lap NASCAR Limited Sportsman division race at South Boston Speedway.
The win, Snow’s fourth straight victory and his seventh win of the season here, came by the largest margin of the season.
“We hit it dead-on when everybody else might have missed it a little bit,” said Snow.
“I think that’s how we won by so far. My crew chief, Jody James, always has a good car under me. When you have good people around you and good equipment, good things happen.”
Tommy Peregoy of Red Oak finished third and was followed by Charles Barnes of Chase City who finished fourth and was the final driver to finish on the lead lap. Brian Pembleton of Amelia finished fifth and was a lap down.
The dominating win by Snow made him a marked man.
A $250 bounty was placed on Snow after Snow won his third straight race the prior week. With Saturday night’s win, the bounty will grow to $500 when competitors return for the division’s next event on Saturday night, June 9.
Saturday night’s win was a big one for Snow in that it allowed him to take over the lead in the track points standings. Snow will enter the July 9 race with a slim two-point cushion over Bailey as they continue what has been a season-long battle for the points title.
The pair have been one-two in the points standings all season while having shut out their fellow competitors from the winner’s circle to date.
They were one-two on the track throughout Saturday’s race but were close for only a handful of laps.
Bailey, the pole winner, led the first three laps as the pair waged a side-by-side battle for the top spot. But, shortly after Snow grabbed the lead on the fourth lap, the race turned into a runaway for Snow.
There was only one caution flag to tighten up the field, that coming when South Boston’s Bruce Anderson encountered trouble on lap 32. It took Snow little time to bury the field again once the racing resumed on lap 44.
“I thought I had something for him there for a little bit but the chassis got tight," said Bailey.
“They definitely deserved it (the win). They were definitely the car to beat. I couldn’t do anything with him."
Snow said his race was flawless.
“I wasn’t driving the car hard at all," he said.
“It was like taking a Sunday cruise. You’ll sometimes have an ill-handling car where you’ve got to hustle it and work yourself to death and sometimes you have a good-handling cars where it’s like driving down the highway. That’s what I had tonight."
Among area drivers, Danny Willis Jr. of Cluster Springs finished eighth, Kenny Bowes of Danville finished ninth and Anderson finished last in the 13-car field after having problems early in the race.
Snow averaged 71.842 mph in the race that took 33 minutes and 43 seconds to complete.
Baker Wins Pure Stock Race
North Carolinians Brandon Baker and Jeff Wilson proved a good point – that it’s not where you start that counts – it’s where you finish.
Baker clawed his way from his 12th starting spot and Wilson picked his way through the pack from his 17th starting spot as they nailed down the top two spots in the special 50-lap race for the Virginia Army National Guard Pure Stock Division.
The win was the second straight victory for Baker who topped the Pure Stock field the previous race.
Baker took the lead on the 23rd circuit after pole starter and early leader Joey Throckmorton of Scottsburg appeared to have a brush with the outside wall.
Once in front, Baker held command of the race the rest of the race while Wilson had to make a tough pass on Scottsburg driver Courtney Crosby with eight laps to go grab second place.
Crosby hung on to finish third with Reid Hodnett of Mebane, N.C. taking fourth and Throckmorton rallying from the rear of the field after a pit stop to finish fifth.
Virgilina’s Scott Phillips finished sixth and South Boston’s Nick Igdalsky, driving a car out of the Crosby Racing stable, finished ninth after starting in the back of the field.
Donald Glass finished 14th after being involved in a mishap and Chris Cosby finished 17th after encountering engine trouble early in the race.