Halifax United Way Board Reorganizes

Community members volunteering to serve on the Halifax United Way board of directors met Friday to begin to resuscitate the organization.
The 16 new members join existing board members Ryan Garrett and the Rev. James Crowder.
The new board members include, Tom Kluge, Halifax Regional Hospital, Sharon Garrett, Victim Witness Program, Earl Howerton, Southside Outreach Group, the Rev. Michelle Parker, Ebenezer CME Church, Holly Newton, ABB, Leigh Felton Jr., Boston Home Center, Anne Leggett, community representative, the Rev. Dave Cline, Grace Baptist Church, Dr. Jules Modlinski, community representative, Wayne Conner, Halifax County Board of Supervisors, Detra Carr, SVCC, Kenneth Perkins, CPA, Deborah Knight, Health Families of Halifax and Denise Taylor-Forrest, Presto Products. Larry Clark and Valdivia Marshall will represent the Halifax County School System and the Town of South Boston will select a representative.
Leading the group in its reorganization efforts is William E. Coleman, who offered the HUW both office space and administrative help through the Tri-County Community Action Agency, where he serves as president and CEO.
The group was divided into three subcommittees.
Perkins will serve as the chairman of the finance and administration committee. Members serving include Modlinski, Kluge, Garrett and either Clark or Marshall.
Leggett will lead the nomination committee with Carr, Conner and Parker serving.
Taylor-Forrest and Newton will serve as co-chairmen of the campaign strategy committee. Serving on the committee will be Howerton, Cline and Felton.
Budgeted allocations for 2006 for the HUW include the Red Cross, $18,500, Association of Retarded Citizens of Halifax County, $1,000, Boy Scouts, $8,300, Doves, Inc., $7,000, Halifax County 4-H, $9,000, Mentor/Role Model program, $9,000, Salvation Army, $4,000, Virginia Legal Aid Society, $4,000, Mental Health Association of Halifax County, $8,000, Volunteer Literacy Program, $5,500, Girl Scouts, $6,000 and the YMCA, $14,000 for a total budgeted allocation of $102,300.
The HUW currently has about $20,000 in a checking account, $103,000 in a CD and another $315,000 in a foundation trust account, according to Garrett, one of two board members from the previous board of directors.
There was no campaign last year, he said. Any allocations to the agencies have come funds allocated four or five years ago.
This is a “big job,” Garrett said, and his big concern is that, as with previous boards, its members will work hard for a year, but then fade away after they realize the size of the job.
He asked that the current group of volunteers commit to three years to help create a strong base for the organization.
The first order of business for the group is to get the local United Way back in compliance with both the state and with the United Way.
Paperwork needs to be filed now in preparation for a fall campaign, he said.
Also rent has been paid on the HUW’s post office box and checks that had been mailed have been deposited.

Sports Hall Of Fame Kicks Off Drive For New Facility

By Joe Chandler
The Halifax County-South Boston Sports Hall of Fame has launched a $2 million fund-raising drive for the construction of a Sports Hall Of Fame and museum at Paul C. Edmunds Jr. Memorial Park.
John E. Burton Jr. of South Boston will serve as the chairman of the committee with former NFL star Willie Lanier, a Halifax County native and member of the NFL Hall of Fame, serving as the honorary chairman.
Sandra Thompson of South Boston will serve as secretary for the fund-raising committee and Ricky Hutcherson of South Boston will serve as the treasurer.
A 50-member fund-raising committee will now begin soliciting donations from individuals, businesses and industries to aid the organization’s efforts to raise the funds to construct and outfit the facility.
Members include Barbara Bass, Wilton Burgess, Ward Burton, Bob Cage, Norma Chaney, Bobby Conner, Mason C. Day Jr., Lester Dillard, Tommy Elliott, Ryan Garrett, Conway Goodman, Allen Gravitt, Will Hill, Allen Lawter, Frank Lee, Bill Matze, Terry Meadows, Bill Morningstar, and Chandler Nelson.
Also on the committee are Dr. James Priest, Everette Snead, Coleman Speece, Bobby Wilborn, Carlyle Wimbish, Addison Marable, Jimmy Burgess, Jeff Burton and Brad Ballou.
Members of the committee also include John Cannon, Joe Chandler, Chip Conner, Harvey Dillard, James Edmunds, Donnie Ellington, Dexter Gilliam, Bill Greer, Bobby Hill, Ricky Hutcherson, Joan Lawter, and Tommy Leggett.
Committee members also include Stuart Maxwell, Ronnie Moore, David Myers, Ed Owens, Coleman Starnes, Barry Saunders, Sandra Thompson, Buck Williams, Logan Young and Cathy Rice.
The Halifax County-South Boston Sports Hall of Fame is a non-profit, tax-deductible organization. Donations may be sent to the Halifax County-South Boston Sports Hall Of Fame, P.O. Box 12, South Boston, Va. 24592.
Hall of Fame officials are pursuing funding from all available sources including grants. The Old Dominion Research Conservation and Development Council is serving as the grant writer for the Hall Of Fame.
Halifax County officials previously agreed to commit $100,000 in direct and in-kind contributions toward the construction of the facility.
Architect Glenn Reynolds of Reynolds Architects Inc. unveiled drawings of the proposed building in April during the Hall of Fame Inductions Banquet.
The proposed 13,356 square-foot facility will include the Sports Hall Of Fame and Sports Museum, a banquet room that can seat up to 250 people, a gift shop, a meeting room that will seat 20 people and outside restroom facilities to serve Edmunds Park.
Two major pieces have already been donated to the museum. NASCAR Nextel Cup team owner Bill Davis has donated Ward Burton’s No. 22 Caterpillar Dodge. NASCAR Nextel Cup team owner Richard Childdress has donated Jeff Burton’s No. 31 AT&T Chevrolet.
The museum will also contain displays of Halifax County’s youth sports and will have space to house traveling sports displays and exhibitions of various kinds.
“Personally, I think this will be a great tourist attraction for South Boston and Halifax County,” Burton said.
“I feel like it will help our economy. Having Jeff’s and Ward’s cars, our inductees’ exhibits and other sports exhibits will make this something that tourists and visitors to the area will want to come to see.
“I urge all citizens to support this project through donations,” Burton added.
“This will be a nice, modern facility that can be used by the public.”
“We have a wonderful community that has always stepped up to the plate to help with a number of projects such as The Prizery and the Higher Education Center,” Thompson pointed out.
“We would very much appreciate the support of the people for our effort with this project.”
Carlyle Wimbish, Jr., the president of the Halifax County-South Boston Sports Hall of Fame, said everything is in place for the project except for the funding.
“Everything is ready to go,” he said.
“We just need the money. Our local officials are pushing tourism and this will give us another tourist attraction in our community.
The Halifax County-South Boston Sports Hall of Fame was organized 20 years ago and held its first inductions banquet in 1988. Thus far 63 athletes have been inducted into the Hall of Fame.
In addition, the Sports Hall of Fame has awarded 47 scholarships to deserving athletes graduating from Halifax County High School.

Scottsburg’s July 4 Celebration Kicks Off At 10 a.m. Wednesday

Six thousand dollars in trophies and prizes will be given away during Scottsburg’s 26th annual Fourth of July celebration Wednesday.
The 10 a.m.-10 p.m. event promises fun for everyone in the family, with games and rides for children, firemen competitions, wrestling, delicious food, live entertainment throughout the day and fireworks.
“Come on out to a fun-filled family event,” urged Ricky Gordon, chairman of the Scottsburg Volunteer Fire Department event as well as master of ceremonies.
“We like to be a place to let the kids run, to sit in the shade, to enjoy the music, fun and fireworks,” added Gordon. ““There’s no admission, but there’s no coolers, no alcohol. You can’t find better entertainment.”
Also on tap, delicious food, including BBQ, fried chicken, Brunswick stew, hot dogs, hamburgers, French fries, desserts and lemonade.
At noon, Scottsburg VFD will honor one of its own.
“We will be dedicating our new Pierce Pumper/Tanker to the memory of Mr. Johnny Hatcher, a longtime fire department member, past chief and also the organizer of this event,” said Gordon.
The Liberty Band will kick off the live entertainment at 12:30 p.m., followed by Kyle Martin and the Git Together Band at 1:30 p.m. Vocalist Ashley Powell will take the stage at 2:30 p.m.
The firemen’s competition begins at 2 p.m. with North Halifax Volunteer Fire Department returning to defend their Top Dog award, one they have captured the past two years.
At 4 p.m., Jimmy Smith Gospel will perform for the crowd.
Exodus Alliance Wrestling, featuring George South, will be featured at 5 p.m., and at 6 p.m. the drawings for cash prizes will be held.
3 Plus 1, a Danville band, will take the stage from 6:15-7:30 p.m. providing vintage rock and ‘80s music.
At 7:30 p.m., the Southern Knights of Pulaski will take the stage.
The fireworks show at 9:45 p.m. will close the annual event sponsored by the fire department.
All events take place at the staging area next to the fire department.
The rain date is Saturday, July 7.
For additional information, call 454-7760.

Lillie Ethel Stanfield Coleman
Lillie Ethel Stanfield Coleman, 73, of 5134 Bill Tuck Highway, South Boston died June 28, 2007, at her home.
Mrs. Coleman was born in Halifax County on April 27, 1934, to the late Albert Nick Stanfield and Bertha McCargo Stanfield, and was married to the late Joseph Scott Coleman. She was a member of Jeters Chapel Baptist Church.
Survivors include one daughter, Karen Carden of South Boston; six sisters, Margie Carrington of Newport News, Gracie Trimble, Marie Walton, Atha Ridges, all of Bronx, N.Y., Bertha Rogers and Lucille Stanfield, both of South Boston; four brothers, Jerome Stanfield of Hampton, Albert Stanfield, Leon Stanfield and Philmore Lester, all of South Boston; one grandson, Damon Chandler; six great-grandchildren; one Godson, the Rev. Frankie Coleman of Tuckahoe, N.Y.; her stepmother, Gracie Stanfield; one son-in-law, Garfield Carden of South Boston; a devoted friend, Bettie Coleman; and other relatives and friends.
Funeral services for Mrs. Coleman will be held today, July 2, at 11 a.m. at Jeters Chapel Baptist Church with the Rev. Antori Brown officiating.
Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

John Lawrence Stiltner Jr.
John Lawrence Stiltner Jr., 69, of Red House died June 28, 2007, at Lynchburg General Hospital.
Mr. Stiltner was born September 6, 1937, in Buchanan the son of the late John L. Stiltner Sr. and Virginia Florence Fields Stiltner, and was married to the late Lora Edith Bentley Stiltner. He was a member of Beulah Baptist Church.
Survivors include four daughters, Wanda Dunaway, Oma Bowman, Jessica Hummel, and Ruby Lott, all of Brookneal; siven grandchildren, Ronnie Smith, Amanda and Rebecca Bowman, Lora and John Smith, all of Brookneal, James Smith of South Boston, and Jimmy Eppley of Red House; six great-grandchildren; four brothers, Edward, Harold, Ralph and Sam Stiltner; and three sisters, Mary, Lula Belle and Helen.
One daughter, Linda Faye Stiltner, also preceded Mr. Stiltner in death.
Graveside services will be held today, July 2, at 2 p.m. at Beulah Baptist Church Cemetery, Brookneal, with the Rev. Shelby Royale officiating.

Ronnie Ray Martin
Funeral services for Ronnie Ray Martin of Scottsburg will be held at 2 p.m. today at Wood Funeral Chapel, Chase City, with Pastor Grant Dyer and the Rev. Frank Baldwin officiating. Interment will follow in Clover Cemetery.
Mr. Martin, 52, died Friday, June 29.
He was an employee of Lewis Tree Service and attended New Covenant Worship Center in South Boston.
Mr. Martin was preceded in death by his father, Ollie E. Martin Sr., and a brother, Marion Martin.
He is survived by his wife, Linda Martin, and daughters Sheila Martin and Brian Lacks of Clover, Malissa Seamster and Michael of Chase City, Sherry Wilmouth and Doug of Drakes Branch, his mother, Katherine Martin of Scottsburg, and sisters Texie Snead of Halifax, Katherine “Boots” Hazelwood of Mt. Laurel, and brothers Eugene Martin and Edwin Martin of Scottsburg. Also surviving are six grandchildren, Tyler, Trevor, Dylan, Hayley, Jessica and Selena.
Condolences may be expressed to the family at www.woodfuneralservice.com

American Belles Rally Over National

By Doug Ford
G-V Staff Writer
The Halifax American Belles all-stars broke a 9-9 tie with five runs the final two innings to defeat Halifax National 14-9 in the Dixie Softball District 7 Belles Tournament Saturday at the Bethune Complex.
Halifax American played Brookneal Sunday in the winners bracket of the four-team tourney, while National took on Charlotte County, needing a win to stay alive in the double elimination tournament.
Brookneal rallied with five runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to defeat Charlotte County 10-6 on Saturday.
Halifax American 14
Halifax National 9
The latest installment in the summertime rivalry between middle school and high school teammates had its usual twists and turns, before Halifax American finally emerged with the win.
Four players finished with two hits each for American, Kisha Crowder (three RBIs) with a triple and double, Sarah Stewart with a triple and single, Johanna Spencer (three RBIs) with a double and single, and Jennifer Lacks (two RBIs) with two base hits.
Dalyn Hall had an RBI triple, Sharilyn Walton and Kim Snead RBI hits, and Christine DeGeorgis a single and three runs scored, while Kate Bane and Miranda Conner each added a base hit.
Three Nationals had multi-hit games, Megan Day and Lauren Daniel each with a double and single, Day finishing with two RBIs and Daniel four.
Emily Conner had two singles and an RBI, while Jill Trickey, Erica Wilson, Brittany Long, Melissa Blanks and Mayghan Strange added base hits for National.
Katie Barnett added an RBI on a bases loaded walk.
American jumped to an early 2-0 lead after one inning, before National rallied with three runs in the fourth to lead 3-2.
DeGeorgis reached on an error to start the game, Spencer had an RBI hit, Lacks singled and Hall hit an RBI triple, before a double play got National out of the inning.
National stranded runners at second and third in the second, but broke through in the fourth with three runs, Lyndsay Lawter reaching base on an error and scoring on Day’s double. Daniel singled Day home and later scored on an error to make it 3-2.
Each team had a big fifth inning at the plate, American with seven runs in the top of the frame, Stewart hitting a leadoff single, Caitlin Lawhorn drawing a walk, Walton hitting a RBI single, Crowder a two-run triple and Snead a RBI single. DeGeorgis singled, Spencer hit a two-run double and Lacks a RBI single to complete the rally and give American a 9-3 lead.
National scored six runs in the bottom of the inning to tie the score, with Brittany Cole drawing a walk Sydney Puryear reaching on an error, and Blanks hitting a single.
Conner hit a RBI single, Barnett walked to plate a run and Day hit a two-out RBI single, before Daniel capped the rally with a three-run double to tie the game at 9-9.
American took the lead for good with a two-out rally in the sixth inning, coming after a double play by National.
Lawhorn and Walton were each hit by a pitch and Lawhorn stole third on a pickoff attempt at first base, before scoring on Crowder’s liner over first base and into right field.
American added four more runs in the top of the seventh, Conner getting a single, and DeGeorgis, Spencer, Lacks and Hall scoring, while National committed four errors in helping American take a 14-9 lead.
National used a walk to Mayghan Strange, a single from Conner and a walk to Barnett to load the bases with two away in its last at-bat, but a groundout ended the game.
Hall, Lacks and Bamne shared pitching duties for American, while Lawter, Blanks and Daniel toed the rubber for National.
Hall pitched four innings, and Lacks two and a third before Bane got the final out of the game for American, while Lawter hurled the first three innings for National.
Blanks pitched innings four and five, and Daniel the final two innings of the game for Halifax National.

National Ponytails Win Squeaker

By Doug Ford
G-V Staff WRiter
The Halifax National Ponytails all-stars took advantage of RBIs by Cori Campbell and Kelsy Williams along with six walks in its last at-bat to edge Charlotte County 8-7 Saturday in the Dixie Softball District 7 Tournament at the Bethune Complex.
Halifax County teams went 1-1 in the first day of the tournament, with Halifax American opening play with a disappointing 11-6 setback to Brookneal.
Halifax National played Brookneal yesterday in the winner’s bracket, while Halifax American played Charlotte County, needing a win to stay alive in the double elimination tourney.
Altavista defeated Motley 5-2 in the other Ponytails game on Saturday, with both teams receiving a bye into the third day of the tournament.
Halifax National 8 Charlotte County 7
National fell behind 2-1 after one inning and trailed 7-2 going into the bottom of the sixth, before rallying for six runs and a 8-7 win.
National collected five hits for the game, two from Kelsy Williams (RBI) and one each from Victoria Evans, Campbell (RBI), and Abby Woltz (RBI), while Miyana Ross got another RBI when she reached base on an error.
Three came in National’s first at-bat, Evans, Woltz and Williams getting base hits for one run, but Charlotte County had scored twice in the top of the first on a walk, groundout and two singles to lead 2-1 going into the second inning.
It was still 2-1 in the fourth inning, where Charlotte County plated five runs on one hit, two walks and four National errors to go up 7-1.
National crept to within 7-2 in the bottom of the fourth. Williams singled, Samantha Moser reached base on an obstruction call and Ross reached base on an error for an RBI.
The score stayed at 7-2 after a scoreless sixth inning, but National staged a huge rally in its last at-bat to win the game, starting with a leadoff walk to Evans, who went to second on a passed ball.
Campbell singled to drive home Evans, but two strikeouts left National down to its final out. Williams reached third after two errors and a wild pitch, driving in one run.
Moser reached on a fielder’s choice, and Ross, Peyton Myers, Brooke Thaxton, Cassie Puryear and Lauren Albertson drew walks to score four runs and win the game.
National used four pitchers in the game, Woltz starting and hurling the first two innings. Albertson pitched two innings, and Moser and Ross each an inning.
The foursome combined for five strikeouts.
Brookneal 11
Halifax American 6
Brookneal scored seven runs in the first two innings and went on to a 11-6 win over Halifax American.
American finished with five hits for the game, singles from Taylor Mosley, Kendall Lloyd, Meg Bane (two RBIs), Shannon Smith (two RBIs) and Megan Puckett, two coming in the top of the first, when American took a 2-0 lead.
Mosley and Kendall Lloyd singled to start the game, Meg Bane and Emily Nester reached on fielder’s choices, Bane getting an RBI and Lloyd scoring on a passed ball.
Three walks and a three-run double gave Brookneal a 3-2 lead going into the second inning, and Brookneal used two base hits, a walk and American errors to score three more times in the third for a 7-2 advantage.
American used two Brookneal errors and Smith drove in Lloyd and Bane with a two-run single to make it 7-4 after three frames, but Brookneal added two runs in the fourth on a single, walk, error, passed ball and RBI triple for a 9-4 lead.
Mosley was hit by a pitch and scored on Bane’s RBI base hit in the top of the fifth as American got to within 9-5, but Brookneal scored twice in the bottom of the inning on three walks and an American error.
American added its final run in the top of the sixth when Autumn McFadden was hit by a pitch, advanced on two wild pitches and scored on Ashley Watson’s groundout.
American used four pitchers in the game, Lloyd, Bane, Smith and Courtney Epps sharing time on the mound, the foursome getting a combined four strikeouts.

Halifax County Sets Tone In Dixie Boys
By Joe Chandler
Sports Editor
The Halifax County Dixie Boys 14-year-old all-star team made a big impression in Friday’s opening round of the district tournament at the Day Complex.
With Clarksville unable to offer any resistance, Halifax County rolled to an easy 30-0 win in the tournament’s opening game which was stopped after three and a half innings under a slaughter rule.
The win vaulted South Boston into the winner’s bracket and into a contest last night against Charlotte County. Charlotte County got itself into the winner’s bracket with a 9-2 win over Prince Edward County on Saturday in an opening-round game that was postponed from Friday night due to thunderstorms.
Clarksville and Prince Edward County were to square off in last night’s nightcap with the loser being eliminated from the tournament.
The winner of last night’s South Boston-Charlotte County game will receive a bye tonight, leaving the loser of last night’s South Boston-Charlotte County game to face the winner of last night’s Clarksville-Prince Edward County game tonight at 6:30 p.m.
Tournament play will continue on Tuesday night at 6:30 p.m. with the tournament possibly ending that night, depending upon the outcome. If needed, a tournament championship game will be played Wednesday at 6:30 p.m.
Halifax County did anything and everything that it wanted to do in Friday’s tournament opener against Clarksville, pounding Clarksville’s two pitchers for a total of 22 hits, seven of which went for extra bases.
The local all-star team also took good advantage of eight Clarksville errors that also aided in Halifax County’s run production.
Halifax County’s two pitchers, Josh Rogers and Jonathan Turner had outstanding outings. Rogers, the starter, fanned four of the seven Clarksville batters he faced during his two innings of work and yielded only two walks.
Turner, who came on for the final two innings, fanned five of the eight batters he faced and allowed one walk and one hit.
Three Halifax County players, Tyler Hoy, Thomas Logan and Zack Clem, had four hits each. Hoy’s outing included a two-run homer in the third inning and one double while Clem recorded two doubles among his four hits.
Turner had three hits, Rogers had two hits and Kelvin Davis, Nick Rouse and Sean Conner had one hit each.
Halifax County roughed up Clarksville for 12 runs in the first inning, taking advantage of 10 hits and three Clarksville errors. Six more runs in the bottom of the second inning gave Halifax County an 18-0 lead and another dozen runs in the bottom of the third inning on seven hits and five Clarksville errors put Halifax County up 30-0.
In Saturday’s lone game, Charlotte County broke a scoreless tie in the third inning, taking advantage of a pair of hits and a pair of Prince Edward County errors to go up 1-0.
Adding three runs in the fourth inning, two runs in the fifth inning, two runs in the sixth inning and another in the top of the seventh inning, Charlotte County forged a 9-0 lead.
Prince Edward County rallied for two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning but it wasn’t nearly enough as Charlotte County went on to win 9-2 and advance into the winner’s bracket.
Charlotte County had 13 hits in the contest while Prince Edward County produced only two hits , one of which came in the final inning.
Prince Edward committed five errors in the game and stranded six runners on the sacks.