Pair Arrested For Attempted Murder

David Boulden, James Boulden Charged After Entering, Shooting In Occupied Home

Two South Boston men are being held in the Halifax Regional Jail on attempted murder charges following an incident on Crawley Avenue Saturday night, according to South Boston Police Investigator T.M. VanAernem.
David O. Boulden, 26, of Meadow Drive, and James E. Boulden, 33, of Jefferson Avenue were charged following an incident shortly after 7 p.m. at 1916 Crawley Street, according to police.
VanAernem said police received the call at 7:05 p.m. reporting shots being fired.
“Senior Officer P.M. Williams was the first officer on the scene and observed both subjects standing near the front of the residence," he said.
Further investigation revealed that moments before police were contacted, both men entered the residence and “discharged an undisclosed type of firearm."
At the time of the incident, several people allegedly occupied the residence, but no one was injured in the blast, the investigator said.
Both Boulden subjects have been charged with one count of attempted murder.
The Virginia State Police and their K-9 unit assisted South Boston Police in the investigation, VanAernem said.
VanAernem said yesterday that he is scheduled to meet with the Commonwealth’s Attorney today to consider additional charges against the pair in connection with the incident.

Police Searching For SoBo Stabbing Suspect

The South Boston Police are seeking information about an alleged stabbing incident that occurred shortly before 1 p.m. Saturday, according to Investigator T.M. VanAernem.
The investigator said that police were called to the intersection of Cole Street and Jeffress Boulevard at 12:53 p.m. for a report of a subject “bleeding in the street.”
“Further investigation revealed that the subject was a victim in an attempted robbery that occurred several minutes before the police department received the call for service,” VanAernem said.
According to police reports, the victim told officers that he was sitting at the intersection when he was approached by an unidentified black male who attempted to rob him.
“The victim stated that when he attempted to fight off the assailant, the subject pulled out an undisclosed type of knife and cut him across his temple and along his hands,” VanAernem said.
The suspect fled the scene in what appeared to be a black Buick vehicle, according to police, who added that the victim was unable to supply any additional information.
The victim was transported to Halifax Regional Hospital, where he was treated and released.
Anyone with information about this, or any other crime, is asked to call the South Boston Police Department at 575-4271 or Crimestoppers at 575-TIPS.

County Spared From Most Severe Weather

With Cindy Gone, County Looks Toward Dennis

from staff and wire reports

With hurricane Dennis threatening another soaking mid-week, county residents fared relatively well as the remnants of tropical storm Cindy passed through the area last Thursday.
Residents reported scattered trees down and some light hail in the northern and eastern parts of the county, but meteorologists said the majority of impact came in the form of heavy rains.
“Widespread rainfall totals look about two to three inches,” said Jan Jackson, National Weather Service meteorologist. “The eastern part of the county showed a track of some stronger storms that look like they could have had as much as three or four inches.”
Official measurements in South Boston recorded 2.94 inches Thursday evening and overnight.
Although the county spent part of Thursday under a tornado warning, Jackson said there were no reports of tornadoes touching down.
“We didn’t get any reports of any substantial damage,” said Allen Bober, Halifax County Emergency Services coordinator.
The Dan River was expected to crest Saturday afternoon at 24.5 feet and recede below flood stage yesterday afternoon, according to Peter Corrigan, NWS service hydrologist.
Flood stage in South Boston is 19 feet.
Hurricane Dennis closed in on the Gulf Coast on Sunday after strengthening into a dangerous Category 4 storm, plowing toward a region still recovering from a hurricane 10 months ago.
According to the weather service, Dennis was expected to make landfall yesterday morning along the Gulf Coast and travel up the Mississippi valley.
“It should stay well to the west of us," said Meteorological Technician Brian Sutherland. “You can expect some cloudy skies and some rain, but we’re not looking at a chance of anything serious at this point. It’s going to be too far away to have much of a strong effect on this area."
Sutherland said the current forecasts show a 50 percent chance of rain Thursday.
Rain blew sideways and wind exceeded 45 mph in some spots as the storm closed in on the Gulf Coast, sending rolling waves smashing over piers and onto the coast. Landfall was expected late Sunday afternoon somewhere along the coast of the Florida Panhandle, Alabama or Mississippi, where nearly 1.4 million people were under evacuation orders and some towns were left almost deserted.
After weakening to a Category 1 storm over Cuba, Dennis strengthened in the Gulf on Saturday and became a Category 4 storm again early Sunday, with top sustained winds of 145 mph.
“Category 4 is not just a little bit worse — it’s much worse,’’ said Max Mayfield, director of the National Hurricane Center in Miami. ‘‘Damage increases exponentially as the wind speed increases. And no matter where it makes actual landfall, it’s going to have a tremendous impact well away from the center.’’
Dennis would be the earliest Category 4 hurricane to hit the United States since Hurricane Audrey struck the Louisiana and Texas coasts in June 1957, according to the hurricane center. The center has no record of a Category 4 storm ever hitting Florida’s Panhandle or Alabama.

 

Obituaries

Jack C. Spears

Jack C. Spears, 85, a Peninsula and a native of South Boston, died June 27.
Mr. Spears retired from NASA, a veteran of WWII serving in the Army Air Corps, and a 50-year Mason and member of Bremond Lodge #241. He was a member of First United Methodist Church where he served in many capacities, and was married to the late Nathalie M. Spears.
His survivors include his son: Blake Spears and partner, Lanz Lowen, of Oakland, Calif.; brother: George Spears of Richmond; and niece: Ann (William) Caldwell of South Boston.
A memorial service was held at First United Methodist Church by the Rev. John LeGault. Memorials may be made to First United Methodist Church, 10246 Warwick Blvd., Newport News, VA 23601.

Jane E. Hern

Jane Howell Epps Hern, 88, widow of Charles Edwin “Red” Hern, died Friday, July 8, 2005, in her residence in Staunton.
She was born July 16, 1916, in Halifax County, a daughter of the late John Bailey and Alice Meyer Epps.
Mrs. Hern was educated at Averett College and received her teaching degree from Harrisonburg State Teachers College.º She enjoyed 31 years of teaching elementary, junior high and high school English inºthe Staunton schools until her retirement in 1978.º
She was a member of First Baptist Church where she was very active, serving as deacon and church historian for many years.º She was also a member of the Virginia Chi Chapter of Alpha Delta Kappa International Honorary Sorority for Women Educators and the Augusta Retired Educators Association.
Mrs. Hern was preceded in death by her husband in 1996, and by a brother, Lionel Epps.
Family members include two daughters and a son-in-law, Alice Hern Byers of Williamsburg and Linda Hern and Charles E. Eubanks of Altavista; two grandchildren, Robert Charles Byers of Washington, DC and Jeremy Christian Smither of Altavista, a niece, a caregiver Edna Moyer, and numerous relatives and friends.
She was the last surviving member of her immediate family.
A funeral service will be conducted at 2 p.m. today in First Baptist Church by the Rev. Dr. Darden B. Battle and Danny Pritchett.º Burial will follow in Thornrose Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the TV Ministry of First Baptist Church, 406 W. Frederick Street, Staunton, VAº 24401 or to a charity of your choice.

Cheryl Lynn Martin Idol

Cheryl Lynn Martin Idol, 46, of Eastover Drive, South Boston, died Saturday at her home.
Cheryl Idol was the daughter of Jean Carol Yancey Martin and the late Ronnie Martin.
She is survived by her mother, Jean Carol Yancey Martin of South Boston; her daughter, Keri Lynn Idol of South Boston; and one brother, Greg Martin of Moore, S.C.
She was the granddaughter of the late Jim and Gertie Yancey and the late Fannie and Johnny Shepherd.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time.

Joel Daryl Hite

Mr. Joel Daryl Hite of Hopewell died Friday.
Funeral arrangements are incomplete at this time.
More information will be released soon.

 

HCS Lone Unbeaten In Majors Sub-District Tourney

BY Doug Ford
G-V STAFF WRITER

Halifax County South (HCS) began defense of its Dixie Youth Baseball District 2 Major League West Sub-District Tournament title with big wins Friday and Saturday night in Scottsburg.
HCS pounded out nine hits Friday night to defeat Halifax 12-2, and followed that up with a 3-0 win over Scottsburg on Saturday night behind a one-hitter by Scott Rickman. Scottsburg, who got by South Boston 5-3 Friday night, played South Boston again last night with the winner advancing to meet HCS tonight at 6:30 p.m.
South Boston stayed alive in the tourney by eliminating Halifax 7-3 Saturday night.
HCS 3, Scottsburg 0
(Saturday)
Scott Rickman hurled a complete game, helping his own cause with an RBI single, while Austin Thaxton slugged a solo home run, as HCS defeated Scottsburg 3-0 Saturday night.
The game was the first meeting between the two teams since last year’s sub-district tournament, when HCS and Scottsburg locked up in a memorable three-game series to determine the championship.
HCS then faced off against Brunswick County in the best of three games for the District 2 title, winning the final game to advance to state play.
HCS outhit Scottsburg 5-1 in Saturday’s game, Thaxton’s second inning homer being the big blow, while Rickman, Aron Puryear, Tyler Long and Dillon Shotwell contributed base hits.
Joe Martin got the only hit for Scottsburg, a second inning single.
Each team had scoring threats before Thaxton’s home run, HCS’s Puryear stranded at third after a leadoff single, passed ball and groundout in the bottom of the first.
Scottsburg had runners at third and second the top of the second inning after a one-out single by Martin, a two-out walk to Adam Hammock and a passed ball, but a Rickman strikeout got HCS out of trouble.
Thaxton homered on a 2-2 count for HCS with one out in the bottom of the second and after getting out of a two-on, no out situation in the top of the fourth, HCS added two runs in the bottom of the inning.
Aron Puryear got aboard after being hit by a pitch and Long followed with a single, before Rickman’s RBI single made it 2-0. Two consecutive walks made it 3-0 before a strikeout by Scottsburg’s William Worley ended the inning.
Scottsburg mounted its last scoring threat in the top of the sixth, after Hammock and Cody Martin drew walks to start the inning. A walk to Green loaded the bases with two outs, but a strikeout ended the game.
Scottsburg put Travis Goode on the mound to start the game. Goode and Worley each hurled two innings, before Davon Green came on to pitch the fifth. Worley finished with five strikeouts, and Goode and Green two strikeouts each.
Rickman finished with a complete game for HCS, striking out 11 batters.
South Boston 7, Halifax 3 (Saturday)
South Boston broke a 3-3 tie with four runs in the bottom of the fifth inning to stay alive in the tourney with a 7-3 win over Halifax.
South Boston collected six hits for the game, Will Nichols, Jason Gryder, Dillon Wazeka, L.J. Barnett, Scott Parrish and Matthew Trent all hitting singles.
Matthew Wilborn had a two-run homer to lead Halifax, while Casey Doss and Dustin Brightwell each added a base hit.
Both teams got off to good starts, Doss and Brightwell getting hits in their first at-bats to help Halifax to an early 1-0 lead, but South Boston took advantage of hits by Gryder and Wazeka, along with two Halifax errors to plate two runs for a 2-1 lead.
Singles by Parrish and Trent, along with a RBI from Drew Tetterton gave South Boston a 3-1 lead after two innings, before Halifax drew even in the top of the third.
Kenneth Elliott reached on an error to lead off the inning and Wilborn slugged the first pitch he saw for a two-run homer to tie the game at 3-3.
Both teams saw scoring chances go by the boards until South Boston rallied in the fifth inning.
Halifax stranded Tyler Hoy at third base after a one-out walk in the top of the fourth, and South Boston stranded runners at third and second in the bottom of the inning, after a walk to Wazeka and Barnett’s base hit.
South Boston’s fifth inning rally started with one-out walks to Nichols, Cody Palmer and Charlie Beale. The first two runs scored on a wild pitch, the third on an error and the final run of the inning came on a flyout by Wazeka to make it 7-3.
Halifax tried to rally in the top of the sixth after Robert Dawson reached first on an error, but an unassisted double play by South Boston second baseman Palmer ended the game.
Beale went the first four innings for South Boston on the mound, before Parrish came on to hurl the fifth and sixth innings. Beale finished with three strikeouts, while Parrish struck out two batters.
Halifax used four pitchers in the game, Hoy going the first two innings, and Mike Farson the next two, with Dylan Hendricks and Cody Whitlow finishing out the game. Halifax pitching struck out a combined five South Boston batters.
Halifax County South 12, Halifax 2 (Friday)
Halifax County South pounded out nine hits, while pitchers Dylan Sons, Dominic Henderson and Ryan Puryear held Halifax to one hit in a 12-2 win.
The game was called after five innings under the mercy rule.
Four players had multiple hits for HCS, Aron Puryear finishing with a double and single, and Long, Ryan Puryear and Sons two base hits each.
Robert Dawson had the only hit for Halifax, a fifth inning single.
HCS grabbed an early lead in Friday’s game, scoring three runs in the first inning, with Aron Puryear’s double starting the rally. Puryear went to third on a passed ball and Rickman and Sons followed with walks.
A wild pitch scored Aron Puryear with the first run of the game, and Rickman and Sons both scored on a passed ball to make it 3-0.
Halifax responded with its first threat of the game in the top of the second, walks to Farson, Thomas Logan and Dawson loading the bases with two outs, but a strikeout ended the threat.
HCS added five runs in the third and four in the fifth, while Halifax scored runs in the fourth and fifth innings.
In the third inning, singles by Long and Ryan Puryear and walks to Cameron Bogan, Rickman and Sons, along with Halifax miscues, plated five runs, and HCS scored its final runs in the fifth inning on singles by Ryan Puryear, Nicholas Rouse and Dillon Shotwell, along with a walk to Aron Puryear.
Halifax scored its first run in the fourth inning on walks to Steven Childrey and Doss, a passed ball and a groundout, and added its final run in the fifth on a walk to Logan, a single by Dawson and a HCS error.
Sons started the game for HCS on the mound and went the first two innings, Henderson pitched the next two innings and Ryan Puryear hurled the fifth inning. The trio accounted for eight strikeouts, Sons with four, Henderson with three and Ryan Puryear with one strikeout.
Logan went the first four innings for Halifax, finishing with six strikeouts, while Whitlow came on to hurl the fifth inning.
Scottsburg 5,
South Boston 3 (Friday)
Scottsburg scored two runs in the top of the sixth inning to break a 3-3 deadlock and defeat South Boston on Friday.
South Boston outhit Scottsburg by a 6-4 margin, Beale, Barnett, Gryder, Parrish, Tetterton and Blake Jones all hitting singles for South Boston.
Green, Wade, Hammock and Derek Conner got the hits for Scottsburg, again all singles.
The game was tied 3-3 after each team tallied a run in the first and two more in the second inning.
Green singled to start the game for Scottsburg, and stole second and third before coming home on an error, while Barnett and Gryder singled with two out in the bottom of the first for South Boston, Barnett scoring on an error to tie the score.
Scottsburg took the lead with two runs in its next at-bat, Martin reaching on an error and Hammock on a one-out single. Two passed balls and a groundout gave Scottsburg a 3-1 lead, but South Boston battled back, consecutive one-out singles by Parrish and Tetterton, along with a big two-out single by Jones tying the score.
Scottsburg left base runners in scoring position the third and fourth innings, while South Boston got a runner as far as third in the fifth without scoring, before Scottsburg rallied in the top of the seventh.
Green got aboard after being hit by a pitch and Wade followed with a single, both advancing on groundouts, and scoring on an error and fielder’s choice, respectively.
South Boston tried to respond in its final at-bat, Beale hitting a single, but an unassisted double play by Green and a strikeout ended the game.
Goode, Worley and Green each pitched two innings for Scottsburg, each pitcher finishing with three strikeouts.
Gryder went the distance for South Boston, getting eight strikeouts in six innings.

Last-Inning Rally Topples Halifax

South Hill Won The District 2 Dixie Youth Baseball AAA League Title Yesterday, Using A Two-Run Rally In The Bottom Of The Final Inning To Down Halifax 8-7

BY Joe Chandler
G-V STAFF WRITER

A bid by Halifax to defend its District 2 Dixie Youth Baseball AAA League title ended yesterday as South Hill rallied for two runs in the bottom of the sixth inning to down Halifax 8-7 and win the best-of-three game playoff series for the district crown
With the victory on its home field, South Hill, the District 2 champion, advances to the Dixie Youth Baseball AAA (Minor League) State Tournament which opens Friday at the Halifax County South baseball complex at Cluster Springs.
South Hill got the upper hand in the best-of-three game playoff series by downing Halifax 8-2 here Saturday afternoon in Halifax. The win on Saturday set the stage for yesterday’s sweep of the district championship playoff series by South Hill.
Last year Halifax and South Hill split their first two games before Halifax won the crown with a win in the third game.
Halifax made a valiant bid yesterday to extend the best-of-three game district playoff series to a third game tonight but came up just shy.
Trailing 6-3 heading into the top of the sixth inning, Halifax rallied to score four runs and take a 7-6 lead.
Ryan Powell walked and Trey Crews reached base on an error to put runners at first base and second base. A along ball to right field yielded a triple for Ryan Yates that scored two runs and brought Halifax to within a run.
Womack walked and stole second base to put runners at second base and third base. Yates scored the game-tying run when Andrew Hamlett was retired on a ground ball.
Tyler Stephens, running for Womack, scored and put Halifax up 7-6 when Galantre Thaxton hit a ground ball to the pitcher and was thrown out at first base.
South Hill countered in the bottom half of the inning buy scoring two runs on back-to-back hits with two out.
A double by Devin Gordon scored the game-tying run for South Hill and a long single to right field by Joey Jones plated Gordon to give South Hill the game-winning run.
Halifax led early, taking a 1-0 lead in the first inning that started with a single up the middle from Powell. A single to left field by Crews put runners on first base and third base. Crews stole second base and scored later in the inning when Yates reached base on a fielder’s choice.
Two more runs in the third inning gave Halifax a 3-0 lead. Thaxton opened with a single and Larry Breedlove reached base on a bunt single. A wild play that saw Michael Barclay reach base on an error and South Hill commit three errors before the play ended, resulted in two more runs and a 3-0 lead for Halifax.
South Hill bounced back to score four runs in the bottom of the third inning and grab a 4-3 lead and added two runs in the fourth inning to make it a 6-3 score and set the stage for the dramatic ending.
Halifax had six hits in yesterday’s game with Yates leading the way with two hits (a double and a triple) and Powell, Crews, Thaxton and Breedlove each getting one hit.
South Hill 8 Halifax 2 (Saturday Game)
South Hill got the upper hand on Halifax in the district title chase by defeating Halifax 8-2 Saturday afternoon in Halifax in Saturday’s opening-round game
Neither team mounted much of an offense with South Hill getting three hits in the game, two from Dagarius Smith and one from Charlie Mills and Halifax getting just two hits, a double from Justin Womack in the fifth inning and a bunt single from Powell.
The difference was that South Hill was able to take advantage of 11 walks that were given by the four hurlers Halifax used in the game and three Halifax errors.
South Hill opened with two runs in the top of the first inning, a rally that started with Smith getting a single with two out. Three back-to-back walks forced the first run across the plate with Smith doing the honors and a Halifax error allowing the second run to score.
Two more runs in the top of the third inning allowed South Hill to extend its lead to 4-0.
Jacob Newton reached base on an error and stole second base. Jones reached base on a fielder’s choice. Later in the inning Vince Cliborne walked to load the bases with two out and two back-to-back walks forced in two runs to make it a 4-0 score.
South Hill picked up three more runs in the top of the fourth inning to grab a seven-run lead.
Tyler Tomko and Jonathan Evans walked to start the inning. Tomko stole both second base and third base and a two-RBI double by Jones plated both Tomko and Evans to make it a 6-0 count.
Jones stole third base and scored when Mills reached base on a fielder’s choice to give South Hill a seven-run cushion.
Halifax mounted its first real threat of the game in the bottom of the fourth inning and managed to get on the scoreboard.
Adrian Moran and Tyler Farson walked to start the inning and a bunt single from Powell loaded the sacks. Moran scored when Yates reached base on a fielder’s choice to make it a 7-1 score after four innings.
Halifax added its second run of the game in the bottom of the fifth inning when Womack sent a long hit to the outfield for a double. Thaxton reached base on an error by the South Hill centerfielder and Womack moved to third base. Jacob Lawhorn walked to load the bases.
A walk to Barclay forced in a run to make the score 7-2. Halifax had an opportunity to add to its total after that but stranded three runners on the basepaths.
South Hill scored its final run in the top of the sixth inning when Smith singled and attempted to steal second base. The throw to second base sailed into centerfield, allowing Smith to bolt to third base. The throw from centerfield to third base was wide and sailed into the South Hill dugout, allowing Smith to score.
Halifax had its final opportunity at the plate in the bottom of the sixth inning but South Hill ended the game by retiring Halifax in order.

Sellers Makes It Two Wins In A Row

Peyton Sellers Drove To His Seventh Win Of The Season Here In Saturday’s 150-Lap Late Model Stock Car Race At South Boston Speedway

BY Joe Chandler
G-V STAFF WRITER

It’s never easy to win a NASCAR Late Model Stock Car race at South Boston Speedway.
But Peyton Sellers made it look easy in Saturday’s 150-lap NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series event.
After Deac McCaskill went to the sidelines early in the race with mechanical problems, Sellers motored to his seventh win of the season here with a 3.141-second win over Wayne Ramsey of Amherst.
The win gave Sellers a 30-point lead in the South Boston Speedway Late Model Stock Car division points race and a boost in his quest for the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series national championship.
“We came into tonight tied for the national lead and, hopefully, this boosted us up a little bit," said Sellers.
“We’re having unbelievable luck right now. We’re running well and things are going well."
Drew Herring of Benson, N.C., Sellers’ chief rival in the chase for the South Boston Speedway points crown, finished third with David Triplett Jr. of Durham, N.C. and Scott Worley of Long Island rounding out the top five finishers.
Jonathan Cash of Oxford, N.C., Justin Johnson of Roxboro, N.C., Brandon Butler of Petersburg, David Quackenbush of Lorton and Clay Campbell of Martinsville.
Everything fell right into place for Sellers in this event.
Sellers started on the pole and led the entire race. McCaskill gave Sellers a stiff challenge early, rim-riding the top groove and racing Sellers virtually side-by-side for much of the first 40 laps.
However, McCaskill’s bid didn’t last long. With smoke rolling from the back of the car, McCaskill went to the sidelines on lap 43, leaving Sellers with a hefty lead over Ramsey driving a Ford owned by Randy and Rodney Taylor.
Sellers pulled away to a quarter of a lap lead over Ramsey and held a big cushion when the race’s second and final caution period came on lap 87 when Jason Dickerson and Triplett tangled between turns three and four.
Ramsey tried to keep the race close and challenged Sellers in the first few laps after the race went back under the green flag. But, with no cautions to bunch up the field in the final 53 circuits, Sellers pulled away from the field.
The two lengthy green-flag runs, Sellers said, were just what he needed.
“All of that played into our hands pretty well," Sellers pointed out.
“Our car was a little tight in the beginning and continued to be that way. It finally freed up a little bit in the long runs. That’s what we really needed. We needed a good 15 to 20-lap run every time and that’s what we got and more. Things just fell our way."
Ramsey said he felt at one point he may have had something for Sellers.
“At one point, I thought it was going to be a pretty good race," Ramsey said.
“At one point I thought I may have been able to run with him. Toward the end of the race, I was losing forward bite up off the corner and Peyton was getting away from me. Peyton had an awesome car tonight. It showed in qualifying and it showed in the race."
Ramsey said lapped cars also proved to be a thorn in his bid to catch Sellers.
“Lapped cars were really bad tonight," he noted.
“ A few of them would run you high and my car was really not that good when I got up high lapping them. When I could get a few clean laps without lapped cars I’d catch him a little bit. But, he (Sellers) was really good tonight."
Herring tried hard to stay within hailing distance but fought handling issues with his car and found himself trying different grooves to find a line around the track that best suited his car.
“The car started out a little tight in the center of the corner," Herring pointed out.
“ I started moving around trying to found a lane and ended up burning up the right rear tire. Then it (the car) was real loose. It was all I could do to keep it under me.
“We salvaged as many points as we could," he added.
“ I’d like to have gained (points) but there are eight more races left. We’ll come back strong next week."
Sellers averaged 73.561 mph in the race that took 49 minutes and 15 seconds to complete.