Arrest Made In Paces Slaying

A 20-year-old Danville man was arrested at approximately 12:20 Tuesday morning in connection with the death of an unidentified woman Saturday in Halifax County.
According to Halifax County Sheriff Jeff Oakes, investigators and officers of the Danville Police Department, Pittsylvania County Sheriff’s Office and the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office arrested Stephen Leonard Nelson of Holland Road, Danville, on charges of fiest degree murder and the use of a firearm in the commission of murder.
Nelson’s arrest follows the discovery of the body of an unidentified black female in the Paces area of western Halifax County. Sheriff Oakes said the victim had been shot once in the head.
Investigators with the Pittsylvania County Sheriff’s Office and Danville detectives had been working closely with the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office investigators following leads and interviewing witnesses, according to Sheriff Oakes.
Sheriff Oakes said that search warrants were obtained for Nelson’s residence and vehicle and were executed Monday night. According to Oakes, a 9-mm handgun was recovered at the residence along with other items of physical evidence relating to the homicide.
Nelson’s vehicle was also seized by officers. He is currently being held without bond in the Halifax Adult Detention Center.
Sheriff Oakes thanked the community for the many phone calls and information that led to Nelson’s arrest. He also said that he appreciated the cooperation and assistance provided by the Danville Police Department and the Pittsylvania County Sheriff’s Office.
“The investigation was concluded in a timely manner thanks to the willingness of these agencies to focus their efforts on pursuing leads in their jurisdictions on our behalf, “ Oakes added.

Disconnected

Cell phones must be turned off prior to entering a school building and remain off during the school day, according to the new cell phone policy adopted by the Halifax County School Board Monday night.
The new policy will apply to both students and teachers. According to the wording of the new policy, “a cell phone may be kept in a vehicle, locker, backpack, or purse.”
District Four board member Joe Bailey asked if a male student could keep a cell phone in his pocket. Cell phone committee chairman Steve Anderson said that a cell phone could not be on the student’s person.
If a student violates the cell phone policy, the phone will be confiscated by a teacher or building administrator. The student will be given a letter advising the parent or guardian that the phone has been confiscated and the student will no longer be allowed to have a cell phone in a school building.
The principal will hold the phone until the parent or guardian reports in person to receive the cell phone and sign a statement acknowledging that he or she has received the phone and is aware of measures the school will take in the event of repeated violations.
The second violation will result in a three-day out-of-school suspension, the third violation will be a 10-day out-of-school suspension and a fourth violation will result in a recommendation for long-term suspension or expulsion.
High School Principal Albert Randolph said that if a student entered the building and then realized he had forgotten to leave the cell phone in his vehicle, that student could bring the phone to him and he would hold it until the end of the school day. “I would not punish the student if he brought the phone to me voluntarily,” Randolph said. “ But if we find the phone on him, that student will be punished,” he added.
The new policy will also apply to faculty members. Teachers must turn off their cell phones when they enter the building and may not use them during the school day inside the building.
According to Deputy Superintendent Larry Clark, the policy will extend to all students in grades K-12.
Steve Anderson told the Board that cell phones may be used in certain emergency situations, “We recognize that emergencies may occur. It will be at the administrator’s discretion as to whether cell phones can be used in emergencies.”
Those emergencies would include such situations as inclement weather or the cancellation of an athletic game or practice.
Board chairman D.H. (Mac) McDowell said, “We must place our trust in the administrators and teachers.”
Board member Kelly Hill added, “ This is a difficult decision, but it’s a step in the right direction.”
Anderson made the motion to adopt the new policy, which was seconded by Hill. The vote for approval was unanimous, with Board member Nancylee Bagwell absent.

Three Charged With

Stealing Scrap At G-P

Three South Boston men were arrested Monday on four charges each after Halifax County Sheriff’s deputies found them inside the chain fence at the former Georgia-Pacific Plant allegedly attempting to steal scrap metal.
According to Captain Larry Fears, Rodney M. Wyatt and Roderick L. Windsor, both of Ridge Street and Eddie F. Brown Jr. of Spring Avenue were each charged with destroying property, possession of burglary tools, attempting to steal scrap metal and trespassing.
The Halifax County Sheriff’s Office received a call at 8:30 a.m. Monday for a report of someone at the old Georgia-Pacific Plant on Plywood Trail. When deputies arrived, they found the chain on the gate cut and three suspects inside with a metal saw cutting scrap metal.
Fears said that Wyatt, Windsor and Brown are being held in the Halifax Adult Detention Center on a $10,000 bond each, awaiting arraignment.
In other police business, George M. Breedlove of Lower Liberty Road, Nathalie, was arrested by South Boston Police Officer J.C. Berry for failure to appear in court. Breedlove’s court appearance was scheduled for March 13, 2006.

David R. Glasscock
David R. Glasscock of LaCrosse died July 4.
Mr. Glasscock was the son of the late Henry and Bertha Glasscock. He was a lifetime member of the LaCrosse Volunteer Fire Department, a past member of the LaCrosse Town Council and a member of Bethany United Methodist Church.
His survivors are his wife: Audrey T. Glasscock; two daughters: Sonya Hall and husband, Bryant, and Yvette Morris and husband, Keith, of LaCrosse; brother: Sam Glasscock of Rodnax; and four grandchildren: Chris Reamey, Cristen Hall and Heather and Beth Morris. He was preceded in death by five brothers and a sister.
The funeral was held Saturday afternoon at Crowder, Hite, Crews Funeral Home with interment at LaCrosse Cemetery. Memorials can be made to the LaCrosse VFD or Bethany U.M. Church.

Thomas Monroe Keaton
Thomas Monroe Keaton of Berry Hill Road, South Boston, died Monday, July 9, at his home.
He was born in Mecklenburg County on June 28, 1941, and was 66 years of age. He was the son of the late Thomas N. Keaton and Odella Matthews Keaton and was married to Nellie Pulliam Keaton.
Mr. Keaton is survived by his wife of the home; one daughter, Angela Keaton Davis and husband Cleveland of South Boston; one son, Thomas M. Keaton Jr. and wife Mandy of Winchester; one grandson; three sisters, Helen Vaughan and husband Elmer of Halifax, Marie Overby and husband Ronnie of Halifax, and Gloria Gravitt and husband Wayne of Virgilina; two brothers, Eugene Keaton and wife Kathy of Virgilina and Doug Keaton of South Boston. He was preceded in death by one sister, Hilda Keaton.
A funeral for Mr. Keaton will be held Wednesday, July 11, at 2 p.m. at Powell Funeral Home Chapel with the Reverends Billy Coghill, Lewis Wall and Ben Gault conducting the service. Burial will follow at Halifax Memorial Gardens.
The family received friends last night from 7-8:30 at Powell Funeral Home and will receive friends at other times at the home, 537 Berry Hill Road, South Boston.
Rachel H. Parker
Rachel H. Parker, 90, of Newport News, formerly of Halifax County, died July 3 at Sentara Careplex Hospital in Hampton.
She was born April 26, 1917 in Omega, and was married to the late Willie Parker of Weldon, N.C.
Mrs. Parker was a member of First Baptist Church East End and the Golden Key Club.
She was employed at Mary Immaculate Hospital for approximately 30 years.
She is survived by one niece and five nephews, including Leroy Stovall and wife Christine of South Boston, two great-nephews and one great-niece.
Funeral services for Mrs. Parker were held today at First Baptist Church in Newport News.
Graveside services will be at 2 p.m. Wednesday, July 11 at Jeters Chapel Baptist Church Cemetery in South Boston.

David Bailey Hudson
David Bailey Hudson of Corbin, Ky., died Monday, July 9, at his home.
He was born in Pittsylvania County on August 26, 1944, and was 62 years old. He was the son of the late Louis Bernard Hudson and Irma Keesee Hudson.
Mr. Hudson was a member of the First Baptist Church of Corbin.
He was a longtime Mason and Shriner, a lifetime member of the American Numismatic Association of Orlando, Fl., and the International Bank Note Society.
Mr. Hudson was retired town manager of Corbin and was named “Kentucky Colonel” by the governor of Kentucky.
He is survived by one sister, Emily Ragsdale and husband James of Chatham; two brothers, Louis D. Hudson and wife Cora of Greensboro, N.C., and Aubrey R. Hudson and wife Donna of Java; three nephews and three nieces, including Heather H. McDowell of Vernon Hill.
Information regarding the funeral services was incomplete at press time and will be announced later by Powell Funeral Home.

Scottsburg, Halifax Vying For Title

By Joe Chandler
and Doug Ford
Halifax appeared to be in the driver’s seat after the first two rounds of the District 2 West Sub-District Dixie Youth Baseball Tournament being played at the Day Complex.
That is, until Monday night.
Once-beaten Scottsburg put together a big five-run second inning explosion and rode it to a 10-6 win over Halifax.
With the win, Scottsburg staved off elimination and extended the tournament into last night when it again faced Halifax with the tournament title on the line.
Scottsburg had 10 hits in Monday night’s game with Nicholas Anderson, Avery Anderson and Rufus Jeffress Jr. each getting two hits. One of Nicholas Anderson’s hits was a solo homer to kick off the bottom of the first inning.
Elijah Hudson, Hunter Watts and Tanner Franklin each had one hit for Scottsburg in the win.
Halifax, by contrast, had seven hits, two of which came in the bottom of the sixth inning when it rallied to score three of the six runs that it scored in the game.
Ryan Yates was the only Halifax player with two hits in the game. Dylan Hendricks had one hit, a big one at that, with a three-run homer in the bottom of the sixth inning. Andrew Hamlett, Justin Womack, Munzie Boyd and Larry Breedlove each had one hit for Halifax.
The stat sheets for both teams were pretty close with both teams stranding five runners. Halifax committed five errors in the game while Scottsburg committed only three errors on defense.
Halifax took the early lead, scoring two unearned runs thanks to three Scottsburg errors with Trey Crews and Yates doing the honors.
Scottsburg tied the game in the bottom of the inning, using Nicholas Anderson’s solo homer to kick things off. Another run scored later in the inning when Avery Anderson singled and scored when Jeffress grounded out to the shortstop.
Five runs in the bottom of the second inning broke the game open for Scottsburg. The inning started with Hunter Watts getting on base with a walk and moving to second base on Franklin’s hit. Sean Terifay loaded the bases when he reached base on an error.
A two-RBI single from Nicholas Anderson put Scottsburg up 4-2. Two more runs scored when Avery Anderson reached base on an error to give Scottsburg a 6-2 lead and a hit by Griffin plated Anderson to make it a 7-2 score.
Scottsburg plated two more runs in the third inning, which was kicked off by an infield hit by Jeffress. Jeffress scored when Ethan White grounded out to second base to make it 8-2. Franklin, running for Elijah Hudson who had followed Jeffress’ hit with a single, scored when Josh Irby reached base on an error to make it a 9-2 game.
Halifax added a run in the top of the fourth inning to make the score 9-3. Yates reached base on an error and moved to third base on a double from Andrew Hamlett. Yates scored when Hendricks lofted a fly ball to left field for the first out of the inning.
Scottsburg scored its final run in the bottom of the fifth inning when Jeffress had an infield hit and scored on a hit from Hunter Watts. That run made the score 10-3.
Halifax ended the game on a big note in the top of the sixth inning with Yates leading off with a triple, Andrew Hamlett getting a walk and Hendricks lashing a three-run homer to make the score 10-6 before Scottsburg retired the next three Halifax batters in order.
Scottsburg 14
Halifax County South 3
Scottsburg scored six runs in the first inning and added eight more in the third to eliminate Halifax County South (HCS) 14-3.
Scottsburg finished with 10 hits for the game, including a home run and base hit by Nicholas Anderson, a triple by Jeffess and a double by Griffin, in addition to singles by Avery Anderson, Jacob Stephens, Hudson, Watts and Irby.
Halifax County South got a solo home run and a single from Seth Elliott, a double from Tyrell Harris and single from Willie Vernon.
Vernon and Dillon Puryear were stranded after reaching base on errors for HCS in the top of the first, but Scottsburg plated six runs in its first at-bat to break the game open early.
Nicholas Anderson singled, Avery Anderson reached on a fielder’s choice and Griffin followed with a double.
Stephens and Jeffress walked, Hudson reached on a fielder’s choice and White walked, while Watts reached on an error and Irby singled to complete the rally.
Elliott slugged his solo homer in the top of the second and Harris doubled to bring HCS to within 6-1, but Scottsburg used a two-out rally in the third, plating eight runs to make it 14-1.
Jeffress tripled to start the surge, and Hudson singled, White doubled and Watts singled.
Irby became the fifth consecutive batter to reach base after being hit by a pitch, and Nicholas Anderson followed with his home run to make it 12-1.
Avery Anderson singled, Griffin walked and Stephens singled to up the advantage to 14-1.
The top of the fourth saw HCS try to rally, with Vernon hitting a leadoff single, Dillon Puryear and J.T. Reeves reaching base on errors and Elliott hitting a single as HCS plated two more runs, but it wasn’t enough.
Nicholas Anderson started the game for Scottsburg on the mound and hurled the first two innings, before Avery Anderson and Stephens finished the game, each hurling one inning.
Scottsburg pitching combined for four strikeouts.
Dillon Puryear hurled two innings for HCS, and Andrew McCann one, the two pitchers combining for three strikeouts.

Big Innings Give HCS District Championship

By Doug Ford
G-V Staff Writer
Halifax County South (HCS) scored five runs in its first at-bat and four in the fourth to break a 5-5 tie on the way to a 10-7 win against Brunswick Sunday night for the District 2 Dixie Youth Baseball AAA League championship.
HCS, which won the best-of-three series two games to one, locked up a berth in the Virginia Dixie Youth AAA 50th Anniversary State Baseball Tournament in Salem, with games beginning July 21.
Benjamin Major (double), Eddie Chaney (double), Noah Seate and Drew Link led HCS with two hits each, while Chase Oakes added a double and Luke McCann and Bryce Berryhill base hits.
A walk, single and triple gave Brunswick a 2-0 lead in the top of the first, but HCS responded with five runs in the first inning, Tristan Howerton and Ethan Woltz each drawing walks and Major connecting for a double.
Seate bunted his way on base, Oakes doubled, McCann singled and Berryhill walked, as HCS took a 5-2 lead.
After a scoreless second inning, Brunswick tied the score in the third on a HCS error, triple, three consecutive base hits and a double, but HCS again rallied in the bottom of the fourth.
Berryhill hit a leadoff single, Howerton reached on a fielder’s choice and Drew Link singled.
Chaney doubled, Major singled, and Seate and Oakes each reached base on Brunswick miscues, as HCS took a 9-5 lead.
Brunswick added its final two runs in the top of the fifth on two walks and two HCS errors, but HCS countered with its final run in the bottom of the inning, when Berryhill reached base on an error and eventually scored on a groundout for a 10-7 advantage.
Brunswick tried to rally again in the top of the sixth with two walks to start the inning, but HCS infielder McCann helped short circuited the rally with an unassisted double play.
Halifax County South pitching accounted for seven strikeouts in the game, while walking five batters, while HCS batters struck out four times and drew four walks.

Speaking of Sports

Fans of the Halifax County South Dixie Youth Baseball AAA baseball all-star team will notice there are no action shots in our newspaper today from Sunday night’s district tournament championship game against Brunswick County.
The reason is simple – the head umpire in charge refused to allow me inside the field to take photos.
First and most importantly – HCS fans please, please, please do not get angry at Harrison Conner, any of the Halifax County South league officials or District Director Emmett Edmonds.
They all fought very hard to get me access. Unfortunately, they had no say in the matter and the head umpire would not allow any media inside to take photos of the game.
While the head umpire held the power of discretion in granting access, he chose not to do so. And, just so you know, the chief umpire was going by the letter of the Dixie Youth Baseball rulebook.
This was not the only time the Gazette-Virginian was denied field access over the weekend. The same thing happened with staff member Doug Ford Friday night at the Dixie Youth Major League West Sub-District Tournament at the Day Complex.
Among the things that disturb me about this whole deal is that there was no problem with field access for the games that were worked by umpires from South Boston and Halifax County. The problems occurred when umpires that are not from this area worked the games.
We have had difficulties in the past obtaining field access for Dixie Youth Baseball state tournament games played on South Boston and Halifax County fields. However, after engaging in the necessary politics and having had talks with Dixie Youth State Director Charlie Green, Green has cooperated and came up with ways to accommodate us.
This past weekend was, however, the first time in the 30 years that I have been a photographer and reporter at this newspaper that we have encountered access problems with lower-level tournament games played on South Boston and Halifax County fields.
I spoke at length with Green Sunday night after I returned home from the Halifax County South game. Green assured me that the head umpire acted appropriately and within the guidelines of Dixie Youth Baseball rules.
He also told me that Edmonds, in his position as district director, could have addressed the situation had he been at the field prior to the start of the game. Edmonds, however, had to stop at the Day Complex Sunday night to check on that tournament before he could get to Halifax County South, making it impossible for him to be on hand for the start of the HCS game. Edmonds, it should be noted, did not know of the situation prior to arriving at the field.
I need to note here that Edmonds assured me Sunday night that appropriate provisions would be made for Monday night’s games at the Day Complex as well as for this weekend’s upcoming District 2 Major League best-of-three game playoff series.
True to his word, Edmonds provided good accommodations for Monday night’s games. I have no doubt that Edmonds will have things in order in our district from here out. I applaud him for his willingness to work with us and, most importantly, for providing a reasonable and common sense resolution to this issue.
The issue of our ability to cover games has been resolved – at least temporarily – and I have confidence in Edmonds’ assurance to us that he will address this situation well ahead of time when next season’s tournaments roll around.
I want to stress again that the heart of the issue has nothing to do with our local leagues, their officials and Edmondson, our district director. They all want the publicity and coverage for the leagues and, most importantly, the kids.
The issue is Dixie Youth Baseball’s rule.
The toil of having to play politics, beg and plead to an array of Dixie Youth officials and out-of-town umpires every year for permission for field access to cover their state tournaments and, now, more ridiculously, for local sub-district and district tournaments, has grown far too old.
I’m through begging. I’m through pleading.
If Dixie Youth Baseball officials want media coverage and publicity for their tournaments, leagues, players and to enhance their programs, they have the ability to make reasonable media-friendly arrangements – just as Green has done for us in the past and Edmonds did Monday night - to make it happen.
Otherwise, at least from this sports editor, they will do without.