Monday, July 17 2006

Class Photos Headed Home To HCMS
Some Teachers Will Be Paying Less For Health Insurance

A three-member School Board committee recommended that all the senior high school photos taken down be re-hung after the renovation work at Halifax County Middle School is completed.
In addition, the committee of Joe Bailey III, Kelly Hill and Sandra Rister, recommended all the class photos that can be recovered from Mary Bethune High School be hung in the renovated middle school as well.
Kelly Hill presented the recommendation to the full Board.
“We, the committee, feel the recommendation will assist in promoting and maintaining unity, diversity and enlightenment of all our student and county citizens for years to come,” Hill said.
The committee’s recommendation asserted that the middle school is the logical location to display all the photos.
“Halifax County Middle School has always been the first building/school where our county and town students have united,” Hill said.
Trustees then voted to accept the committee’s recommendation that all the 1954 – 1969 Halifax County High School photos be re-hung along with all the Mary Bethune High School photos that can be recovered.
Also on the agenda, Halifax County School’s Chief Financial Officer Bill Covington III informed Council that the school system’s renewal rates for health insurance have increased 5.5 percent, on average, over last year’s rates.
Because of increased funding in the school system’s 2006-07 budget for insurance some teachers will actually pay less for their health insurance next year than they did this year, Covington said.
Every three years the school system opens its insurance up for competitive bids, Covington told trustees. Five companies offered bids this year, he said.
Anthem came back with the best package that will allow the school system to offer employees the same coverage, he added.
Trustees also took action on the school system’s calendar to bring it into line with legislation passed by the Virginia General Assembly (GA).
The GA passed legislation telling school systems statewide how they will make up missed days, Deputy Superintendent Larry Clark told the Board.
The first five days missed will be made up on May 25,29,30,31 and June 1 respectively, according to the Code of Virginia.
After the five days, each two days missed requires one make-up day up to the 11th day missed. Days missed beyond 11 are to be addressed by the School Board.
Clark also told trustees that the GA approved legislation requiring booster shots of a pertussis-containing vaccine for incoming sixth-graders.
Recent data shows many middle school students are getting whooping cough (caused by pertussis), he said.
The medical field believes the booster shot will provide appropriate protection against pertussis, he added.
The Halifax County Health Department will administer the shot, which sixth graders must receive within the first 90 days of school, Clark said, noting that students can have the shot administered by a family doctor and provide documentation.
During citizen comment Eugene Moorefield addressed the Board on school uniforms and smoking.
Moorefiled said he has spoken with several school officials in Lynchburg, where they have instituted a uniform policy, and the results are very positive.
He would like to see the Board re-visit uniforms in Halifax County schools, he said.
“I think uniforms are a good thing,” Moorefield said. “I know we can do as well as the City of Lynchburg.”
The officials in Lynchburg he spoke with said physical altercations were way down, the school system’s image was improved and parents were saving money on clothes, Moorefield told trustees.
Moorefield also said he wanted to see smoking privileges re-visited by the Board and done away with.
Currently, students 18-years of age and older can smoke with parent’s permission in designated areas.
Under recognitions, Wilson Memorial Elementary School was recognized for receiving the 2006 Title I Distinguished School Award.
The school, one of 107 in the state to win the award, had to meet several requirements including making Annual Yearly Progress (AYP) for two years.
Dr. Kipps-Vaughan addressed trustees on the school systems psychological services for the school year.
She said the services’ emphasis was on breaking down barriers to learning and not just testing students to place them in special education programs.

SoBo Faces Budget Shortfall
Budget, Landfill, And Water/Sewer Issues Aired During Council’s Eight-Hour Retreat

Consumer utility tax shortfalls totaling $324,625 are forcing an amendment to South Boston’s recently approved $19,782,435 budget.
The FY 2006-2007 budget revenue for the consumer utility tax was estimated at $1,024,625, but the June 30, 2006 revenue estimate is $700,000.
The revenue shortfall in the FY 2005-2006 budget for the consumer utility tax was $317,540, according to figures provided by town officials.
The overall two-year budget shortfall totals over $640,000.
During its biennial retreat Friday and Saturday, Town Manager Ted Daniel advised council of the budget revenue shortfall and made suggestions for deferred projects and finance options.
Council is expected to address the issue at its August meeting.
“Since our budget plans were put together last winter, there have been a couple of significant changes to our revenue projections for FY 06-07 and beyond,” Daniel advised Council.
He cited two utility tax factors:
• The new rates were not implemented by the utilities until later in the fall so a full year at the new rate was not realized
• Although the maximum charge per month was changed in the rate schedules, the underlying rate changer per kwh and percentage of bill (10) were not changed.
Daniel said the revenue increases were only realized from those accounts that exceed the old maximum amounts and not from those that did not exceed the old thresholds, for example, residential $2 max/mo.
The town manager also offered a list of capital project adjustments for the 2006-2007 general fund budget for consideration. The adjustments could generate $686,656 in savings, dropping the 06-07 adopted capital plan of $2,061,326 to $1,374,670.
Some of the suggested adjustments - due to the revised revenue estimates and use of capital borrowing for landfill closure - include the following “deferred” items: North Main St. Historic Preservation project, $20,000; Evidence filing/storage, $25,700; Replacement of fire dept. car, $35,000; Curb, gutter, sidewalks, adopted for 06/07 was $135,00 with $55,000 now planned resulting in $80,000 deferred; Storm Water, $430,956 adopted for 06/07 with $295,000 planned resulting in $135,956 deferred. Vehicle replacements and equipment replacements deferred were $135,000 and $95,000 respectively. Adopted traffic light replacement program of $170,000 is also deferred and is $30,000 slated for community parks.
In other business, town officials anticipate final word from developers of the Taylor Building this week. The downtown building project will provide affordable housing as well as renovate the historic structure.
At the top of Council’s agenda this year is the 2007 closing of its landfill.
Town officials are also very interested in the construction of a transfer station to hold waste prior to its transport to the new regional Mecklenburg County regional landfill.
Also high on Council’s to-do list, seeking continuation of its Enterprise Zone designation; updating the Comprehensive Plan (required 2007-08) and linking the police department, commonwealth’s attorney and court offices through technology (a paperless system). “This will release an incredible amount of time for police officers,” said Police Chief Mick Reed.
In other business, Council also learned the healthcare center advisory committee, which is seeking a site for the center, had met with the South Boston IDA on Thursday. The committee has identified two possible sites, a lot in Houghton Industrial Park and the Booker Building in the Town of Halifax.
North Main Street improvements, Recreation Department options, storm water control issues, working with the town and county regarding water/sewer consolidation issues, a new town public works facility, as well as a number of park, road and grant issues, were discussed during the eight-hour retreat.
Council is expected to review a new/revised “goals and objectives list at its August meeting.
Council also received reports from each department. Allen Auld, director of Public Works, said that in addition to landfill closing issues, the town was engaged in code enforcement and the new rental inspection program. He described the program’s initial district, North Main Street, as “very successful.
Daniel also noted the town is expecting the results of the “Paying Classifications Study” by Springsted & Associates next month. The town manager said the report would provide “a good salary baseline for comparative salaries” in the region. The Board of Supervisors recently completed such a study and will be moving to merit-based raises at the new level.

Community Health Center One Step Closer To Reality
Community Health Center Planners Eye Houghton Park, Booker Building

A community healthcare center to serve Medicaid, uninsured and insured patients here is considering two sites, Houghton Industrial Park and the Booker Building in Halifax.
Key members of the center’s advisory committee met with the South Boston IDA last week.
Town Manager Ted Daniel said Friday that he and town finance director Erle Scott have been authorized to negotiate with center officials.
“The need is so great,” said Ed Owens, chairman of the healthcare center committee. “And this is a viable option for both the insured and the uninsured.
“I know how many uninsured and underinsured there are in our community. Many cannot afford healthcare and Medicaid is not accepted by some practices,” he said. “It s critical for our community. It is quality of life,” he added.
A map locating the state’s free clinics and community health centers in 2006 reveals that Halifax County is the only one along the southern border of the state without such a facility.
Owens said the center will be modeled on the one in Boydton known as HealthCare on the Square.
“Boydton is a first-class operation and we want to offer the same level of services in Halifax County,” he said.
Several committee members also noted that Halifax County residents are currently being treated at the Boydton center.
The committee is planning a 10,000 to 15,000-square-foot facility for Halifax, but would like to have room for expansion, according to Dr. Wayne Adams, chairman of the building and grounds committee.
Halifax County is exploring the Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC) option, with an association through the Boydton operation, a 23,00 square foot facility.
“We are considered a health provider shortage area,” said Adams. He said the area is underserved, especially in the dental field.
The county’s Vision 20/20 advisory committee identified the need for a community healthcare center when recommending long-term plans for the future.
The healthcare committee’s mission is to augment the provision of free or low-cost medical services in Halifax County, which will include primary care medical, dental, mental health and prescription assistance services.
This month limited services got under way in Halifax County through Dr. Marie Ketchersid at Physicians Pavilion, according to Adams.
In a presentation to the South Boston IDA last week, a healthcare committee spokesman noted that a study covering several years revealed 60 percent of emergency room visits by patients could have been addressed in a primary care setting.
The Halifax Community Health Center future plans include two to four physicians and nurse practitioner. One dentist, with Boydton support. The Center would provide an eligibility worker to help patients with prescription assistance.
With 22-25 employees with an annual payroll of $992,000, the economic impact is significant.
An economic impact analysis of the center by Capital Link of Boston, noted the following: Will impact local economy with an aggregated estimate of $4.2 million; will add 58.5 jobs, full and part-time and $2.4 million in household earnings across industries.
The study also said the center would leverage resources from agencies and foundations for additional community benefit.

‘You Could Always Count On Roy’
G-V Mourns Long-Time Employee Roy Moore
The Gazette-Virginian’s longest-serving employee has died.
After working through last Wednesday, Supervisor of Commercial Printing Roy Moore fell ill Friday night and was transported to Halifax Regional Hospital. He died yesterday morning at the age of 87.
Funeral services are scheduled for 11 a.m. Tuesday at First Baptist Church in South Boston.
G-V Publisher Keith Shelton said Moore was the epitome of character and dedication.
“There are a lot of misconceptions about the Roy Moores of this world because they don’t talk too much, they sit back and listen,” he said. “I never had to tell him that he would always have a job at the Gazette, because he knew it.
“No one will miss him more than I.”
For decades, if a question arose about printing issues, Moore was the man to ask.
He worked for the Gazette-Virginian for 56 years and saw the printing industry evolve from hand set type to digital imaging during his career.
“There have been a lot of changes over the years,” he said during a 2003 interview.
Moore first started at the Gazette-Virginian in September, 1950 after serving during World War II.
“Bill Green told me there was an opening, and Dick Fox hired me,” he said. “The first day I went to work I didn’t know what I was getting into.”
Moore joined a team of five people who, working together, put out a 16-page paper each week.
“Dick Fox sold most of the ads,” he said. “And Lynn Shelton wrote most of the news.
“We were working 5 1/2 days a week just to put out a 16-page paper,” Moore said. “It was slow going, not like today where you take a page and just shoot it off.
“Thursday was press-day and we would have to work on printing all day to get it out,” remembered Moore. “I used to have to print the newspaper myself. I would print one side and then I would turn it over and print the other side.”
At that time, the paper was put together through a combination of linotype and hand-set characters.
All of the eight- and twelve-point body text was created using linotype machines.
“You would type the stories in and it would come off on a strip of metal that would then be used to burn a plate,” remembers Moore. “All the bigger type had to be hand-set.”
The type was set one page at a time in large wooden frames.
“They were heavy,” said Moore. “It took two people to move them.”
Moore said that the hardest, and most dangerous, part of the process was using the linotype.
“Some times you had what was called a squirt,” he said. “If it didn’t go in quite right the machine would shoot the hot metal up and it could hit you on the arm or the leg.
“You had to watch for that.”
According to Moore, any time a mistake was found, the linotype had to be reset, and when the paper was finished all of the hand-set letters had to be put away.
“Friday and Saturday were spent distributing all of the type back into the job cages to get ready for the next week,” he said.
The process has changed a lot since Moore first started working at the paper.
“I’ve been through moving the paper’s offices twice,” he said.
When the paper moved to Wilborn Avenue in 1963, it switched to an offset printing process.
“When we switched over from cold type to offset everything changed,” said Moore.
As the production process changed, Moore enjoyed learning new ways of doing things.
“You learn something new everyday,” said Moore. “I’m still learning new things about printing.”
Out of all the presses and processes Moore has used, he still prefers the Heidleberg press that the paper bought in 1963.
“It is the best one we have to do a lot of the work on,” said Moore.
“He always takes good care of his equipment,” added Gazette-Virginian Publisher Keith Shelton. “The Heidleberg is in better shape than some of the newer presses.”
Recently, Moore worked three days a week on advertising supplements and special printing jobs.
“I don’t have to deal with the news part that much any more,” he said. “We do some letterheads and different things.
“I don’t ever know how much work I’ll have to do in a day,” he added. “You get some jobs that take two or three days and others that only take a few minutes.”
Over the years Moore has also seen many changes in staff and direction at the paper.
“I’ve been here practically all of my life,” he said. “I’ve seen a whole lot of people come, a whole lot of people go and I’ve seen people die while they were employed here.”
Moore learned over the years not to carry the pressures of work home with him.
“You have good days and bad days,” he said. “You just have to let the bad days go. You don’t worry about it and just move on.”
“He never complained,” said Shelton. “He tackled anything that you gave him.
“He is an excellent commercial printer,” added Shelton. “And up until the very end, if you gave him something to do you knew it would be done right.
“You could always count on Roy.”

Obituaries

Nannie Mary Clardy
Mrs. Nannie Mary Clardy, of L.P. Bailey Highway in Halifax, died yesterday, July 16, at Halifax Regional Hospital. She was 88.
She was born in Halifax County on November 22, 1917, the daughter of Frank Lewis Clardy and Molly Anderson Clardy and attended the Mountain Road Baptist Church.
Mrs. Clardy is survived by one son, James Lewis Clardy of Halifax; three grandchildren, Cindy Lee Clardy of Halifax, Barbara Clardy Farmer of Alton and James Lewis Clardy Jr. of Halifax; three great-grandchildren, Wendy Farmer Holt, Heather Nicole Farmer and Michael Scott Farmer, all of Alton; and one great-great-grandson, Christian Robert Farmer of Alton.
She was preceded in death by one brother and two sisters.
Graveside services for Mrs. Clardy will be held Wednesday, July 19, at 11 a.m., with services at the Oak Level Presbyterian Church cemetery with the Rev. Don Bryant officiating.
The family will receive friends Tuesday from 7:00 –8:30 p.m. at Powell Funeral Home and other times at the home of her son, 2074 L.P. Bailey Highway, Halifax.
Margaret Wade Seamster
Graveside services for Mrs. Margaret Wade Seamster will be held Tuesday, July 18, at 11 a.m. at the Clover Cemetery with the Rev. Bob Watts officiating.
The family will receive friends tonight from 7:00 – 8:30 at Powell Funeral Home and at other times at her home, 1230 Green Valley Road, Clover.
Mrs. Seamster, 86, died Saturday, July 15, at the South Boston Manor.
She was born November 28, 1919, the daughter of Freddie Wade and Mary Hazelwood Wade, and was married to Robert A. Seamster.
Mrs. Seamster is survived by three daughters, Bernice McCraw and husband Bernard of Nathalie, Faye Kean and husband Jerry of Nathalie and Joyce Cheek and husband Richard of Clover, eight grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren, a great-great-granddaughter, a brother, Lewis Wade of Clover and a sister, Augusta Scott of Clover.
She was preceded in death by a son, Jerry A. Seamster, a grandson, Luther Robert “Bobby” Reagan, and a sister, Beatrice Seamster.
For memorials please consider the South Boston Alzheimer’s Association, 301 Powell Road, South Boston, Va. 24592.
Roy D. Moore
Roy D. Moore, of Ash Avenue in South Boston, died Sunday, June 16, at Halifax Regional Hospital. He was 87.
Mr. Moore was born in Halifax County on March 1, 1919, was a long-time employee of the Gazette-Virginian and was married to Lottie G. Moore.
Survivors include his wife; one son, Roy D. Moore Jr. and wife Joyce of Richmond; one daughter, Sharon McKinney and husband Gerald of Halifax; four grandchildren, Jeremy McKinney, Eric McKinney, Heather McDade and Derek Moore; and four great-grandchildren, Sierra, Ethan, Sophie and Mackenna.
Funeral services for Mr. Moore will be held Tuesday, July 18, at 11 a.m. at the First Baptist Church in South Boston. The Rev. Tim Cannon will officiate. Burial will follow in the Oak Ridge Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at Brooks Funeral Home tonight from 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. and other times at the home.
Memorial contributions may be made to the Organ Fund, First Baptist Church, 815 North Main Street, South Boston, Va., 24592.
Earnest Dean Johnson
Mr. Earnest Dean Johnson, of Wilborn Road in Virgilina, died Wednesday, July 12, at the Berry Hill Nursing Home. He was 93.
Mr. Johnson was born in Halifax County on September 7, 1912, the son of the late Dublin Johnson and the late Rosa Wilkinson Johnson. He was married to the late Nancy Emma Faulkner Johnson and was a member of First Baptist Church in Virgilina.
He is survived by one daughter, Addie J. Barnette of Virgilina; three sisters-in-law, Hazel Gillis, Mable Richardson and Eyvon Wilkins, all of Virgilina; two brothers-in-law, James Gillis and Eddie Richardson, both of Virgilina; four grandchildren; nine great-grandchildren; one daughter-in law, Sue Alice Johnson; and a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends. Mr. Johnson was preceded in death by one son, Ernest Lee Johnson.
Funeral services were held yesterday, July 16, at the First Baptist Church of Virgilina. The Rev. Loreno Love officiated. Burial followed in the church cemetery.
Annie Smith Burton
Mrs. Annie Smith Burton of Scottsburg died Friday, July 14, at The Woodview. She was 84.
Mrs. Burton was born in Halifax County on July 3, 1922, the daughter of the late James A. Smith and Mary Snead Smith and was married to Jesse Thomas Burton.
She was a member of the Bethel Baptist Church.
Mrs. Burton is survived by one daughter, Gilma B. Shand of Midlothian; two grandchildren, Susan Warren of Alpharetta, Ga., and David Shand of Chesterfield; three great-grandchildren; two step-sons, Thomas M. Burton of Scottsburg and Norman S. Burton of Abingdon, Md.; six step-daughters, Emma B. Powell of South Boston, Grace B. Talbott of Hampton, Ola Mae B. Heck of Harve De Grace, Md., Annie B. Snead of Scottsburg, Hattie Leigh Puckett of Scottsburg and Jackie B. Conner of Kenbridge; and a number of step-grandchildren and great-grandchildren.
Funeral services for Mrs. Burton will be held at 11 a.m. today, with services at the Bethel Baptist Church. The Rev. Dr. Melvin Bradshaw will officiate. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends one hour prior to the service at the church.
For memorials, please consider the Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery Fund or a charity of your choice.
Bessie Loftis Clay
Mrs. Bessie Loftis Clay, 71, of Glenland Road in Gretna, died Saturday, July 15, in the Lynchburg General Hospital.
Born February 22, 1935 in Halifax County, she was the daughter of the late Hurt Green Loftis and the late Addie Smith Loftis Bumpass. Mrs. Clay was a member of the Piney Grove Baptist Church and was a retired seamstress.
She is survived by three sons, James H. Satterfield Jr., Steve A. Satterfield and Douglas G. Satterfield, all of Gretna; one daughter, Sandra Hedden of Colleyville, Texas; two brothers, Pete Loftis of Alton and John Loftis of Cluster Springs; nine grandchildren, six great-grandchildren and a number of nieces and nephews. Mrs. Clay is also survived by a special friend, Bo Hammock of Gretna.
She was preceded in death by her husband, Jefferson Thomas Clay (JT); a son, Garland Satterfield and a sister, Nannie Long.
Funeral services for Mrs. Clay will be conducted at 2 p.m. Tuesday, July 18, at the Colbert-Moran Chapel in Gretna. The Revs. Ricky Ewing and Barry Cundiff will officiate. Burial will follow in the Gretna Burial Park.
The family will receive friends from 7:00-8:30 tonight at the Colbert-Moran Funeral Home and other times at the residence of Steve Satterfield, 796 Glenland Road, Gretna.
The family suggests that memorials be made to the Renan Volunteer Fire Department, 232 Camp Branch Road, Gretna, Va., 24557.
Marguerite Lacy DeJarnette
Funeral services for Mrs. Marguerite Lacy DeJarnette will be held at 2 p.m. on Tuesday at First Baptist Church on North Main Street with the Rev. Tim Cannon officiating.
Burial will follow at Oak Ridge Cemetery in South Boston.
Mrs. DeJarnette, 98, died Friday, July 14, at her South Avenue home in South Boston.
She was born in Halifax on February 27, 1908, the daughter of the late Edward Slate Lacy and Margaret Elizabeth McCormick Lacy, and was married to the late Thomas Fielding DeJarnette Jr. for 61 years.
Mrs. DeJarnette was an active member of the First Baptist Church where she served as a deacon and taught in the church nursery for 35 years. She was also active in the South Boston Woman’s Club.
She is survived by two children, Jean DeJarnette Watlington of South Boston, and Thomas Fielding DeJarnette III and wife Velvet of Smith Mountain Lake, three grandchildren, Willie Johnson Nichols III of Covesville, Thomas Fielding DeJarnette IV of Sauratown Mountain, N.C., and Kathy Lee DeJarnette of Martinsville, and a brother, Frank McCormick Lacy of Martinsville.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the First Baptist Church Organ Fund or a charity of your choice.
Mattie Mae Powell Yancey
Mrs. Mattie Mae Powell Yancey, 88, of Oxford, N.C., died Friday, July 14, at the Granville Medical Center.
A native of Halifax County, she was the daughter of the late Addison Graves Powell and Bessie Howard Powell.
Mrs. Yancey was a former member of Dan River Baptist Church and was a member of the Enon Baptist for over 65 years, where she was actively involved missions organizations and was a former Sunday School teacher. She was a retired seamstress and homemaker.
Funeral services for Mrs. Yancey were held yesterday at the Enon Baptist Church. The Revs. James C. Shelley Jr. and Lee Roy Pittard III officiated. Burial followed in the church cemetery.
Mrs. Yancey is survived by her husband, Randolph Yancey; daughters Betty Y. Mitchell and husband Marc of New Freedom, Pa., Paula Y. Pittard and husband Roy of Butner, N.C.; six grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren and one great-great-granddaughter. She was preceded in death by brothers, Charlie, Bradsher, Hampton, Carrington and Edgar Powell and grandchild John Randolph Neely.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Enon Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, c/o Stuart Vaughan, 2580 Hwy. 158 W, Oxford, N.C., 27565.
The family will receive friends at the home of Angela nad Jason Smith, 2663, Golf Course Road.

Owens Named West Team Offensive MVP
Former HCHS Quarterback Bobby Owens Earned His Team’s Offensive MVP Award In Friday’s VHSL All-Star Football Game
Last season Bobby Owens helped to lead the Halifax County High School varsity football team to the Northwest Region playoffs.
Friday night, Owens played a starring role for the West all-star football team in the annual Virginia High School Coaches Association All-Star Game at Darling Stadium in Hampton.
The Comets quarterback earned the Offensive Most Valuable Player Award for the West team in the game won by the East all-stars 7-0.
“It’s a very big honor,” Owens said.
“A lot of the credit for this should go to my teammates last year and to my coaches. Without them, I wouldn’t have had this chance.”
One of the things that made the game special for Owens was that his family, Halifax County High School head coach John Lacy Harris, HCHS Offensive Coordinator Stan Hodgin and a pair of Hampden-Sydney College coaches, Brandon Hampton and Chris Bell, were on hand to see Owens play.
“I was real glad that all of them could come,” Owens said.
“It was pretty exciting. I was glad I was able to have the opportunity to go and have a pretty good game.”
Owens, who completed 157 passes for a total of 2,600 yards and 31 touchdowns for the Comets last season, hit five of his nine attempts for 70 yards and ran for a total of 28 yards.
The Halifax County High School quarterback alternated offensive series with the West team’s other quarterback throughout the game.
“There was a lot of good competition,” Owens noted.
“I got to see and play against some pretty good competition – competition like I will see at the next level at Hampden-Sydney.”
The game was played following a torrential downpour of rain that left the field soggy.
“The field was pretty wet and it was hard to run,” Owens pointed out.
“Both teams had pretty good speed and I think the wet field evened things out. I think that’s probably why only seven points were scored in the game.”
The game, with only seven points being scored, was the second-lowest scoring game since the all-star game was started in 1972. In 1994, the all-star game ended in 6-0 score with the West squad winning that contest.
Owens had a stellar senior season at Halifax County High School. In addition to his prolific passing, Owens ran for 549 yards and seven touchdowns while averaging 4.16 yards per carry.
He was named the Offensive Player of the Year in the Western Valley District, was a First Team All Western Valley District pick and was a Second Team All-Northwest Region pick.
Owens said yesterday he will be going to Hampden-Sydney this weekend to work at a youth football camp the school is hosting.
“Once I go next weekend, I’ll probably be there for good,” he said.
“I’ll probably come home on weekends or whatever until practice starts.”
Owens said Hampden-Sydney coaches are going to give him a shot at trying out for quarterback.
“We haven’t discussed my playing anywhere else,” Owens said.
“From what they tell me, it appears that the quarterback job is pretty much wide open. I’m going to work hard. I’m not going down there to sit the bench. I’m going there to try to win the starting job.”

SoBo Aiming At Dixie Majors Title Game
The South Boston Dixie Majors All-Star Team Needed A Win Last Night To Reach Tonight’s State Championship Game
The South Boston Dixie Majors all-star team appeared to be in control of its own destiny yesterday, needing a win over Carroll County in last night’s nightcap to reach tonight’s state championship game.
Tonight’s state championship will be played at 8 p.m. at Halifax County High School.
South Boston had one blemish on its record entering last night’s game, a 4-2 loss Saturday night to Charlotte County.
Charlotte County had the upper hand in the Round Robin format tournament after Saturday’s round with a perfect 3-0 slate. South Boston and Powhatan both had a 2-1 record after Saturday’s round.
Powhatan, however, had to face Charlotte County in last night’s second game and, like South Boston, needed a win if it hoped to advance to tonight’s championship round.
The two teams that appeared to be almost certain of being out of the running for the state title were Smyth County which was 0-3 after Saturday’s round and Carroll County which was 0-2 after Saturday’s round and having to play twice yesterday.
South Boston opened the tournament by downing Powhatan 4-1 Friday afternoon and followed that win up by defeating Smyth County 12-7 in Friday’s nightcap.
Charlotte County burst South Boston’s attempt to run the tables with a 4-2 win in Saturday’s nightcap.
South Boston had eight hits in Saturday’s game against Charlotte County with Ryland Clarke and david Clarke each getting two hits and Trey Garrett, Matt Conner, Chris Perkins and Chad Duffer each getting one hit.
It was South Boston jumping on top first with Ryland Clarke getting a double with two out in the top of the second inning and scoring on a hit from David Clarke to make it a 1-0 score.
Charlotte County answered in the bottom of the inning when Keith Yancey laced a double off of South Boston starter Patrick Currie and scoring later in the inning.
South Boston regained the lead in the top of the third inning when Chris Perkins reached base on a fielder’s choice with two out and scored on a double by Duffer to make it a 2-1 score.
Charlotte County tied the game with a run in the bottom of the fourth inning when Kyle Bradley walked and scored on a South Boston error, making it a 2-2 score.
Two runs in bottom of the sixth inning, with Derek Adams and Jacob Lipscomb doing the honors, put Charlotte County over the top at 4-2.
Charlotte County had three hits, two from Eddie Pyle and one from Yancey, and took advantage of 10 walks and a South Boston error to seal the win.
South Boston stranded eight runners in the game.
Friday was a good day for the South Boston contingent as it survived the scorching heat and humidity to rally for three runs in the seventh inning and down Powhatan 4-1.
South Boston trailed 1-0 after five innings but tied the score at 1-1 in the top of the sixth inning when Conner singled and scored on a hit by Joey Rogers.
In the top of the seventh inning, a run-scoring hit by Conner and a two-RBI hit from Perkins was enough to plate three runs and give South Boston the win.
Rogers led South Boston with a 3-4 effort at the plate while Conner and David Clark each had two hits.
Scott Moore, Perkins. Duffer and Nathan Clements each had one hit.
South Boston hurlers Jacob Vest and Chad Duffer combined to hold Powhatan to four hits while scattering four walks.
In Friday’s nightcap, South Boston rallied to score a come-from-behind 12-7 win over Smyth County.
A two-RBI triple by Perkins in the top of the first inning put South Boston up 2-0 but Smyth County tied the game in the bottom of the frame.
Zack Boyette’s two-run homer in the second inning put Smyth County up 4-2. Another two-RBI double by Perkins in the third inning tied the game at 4-4 and a two-RBI hit by Currie in the top of the fourth inning put South Boston up 6-4.
South Boston added three runs in the top of the fifth inning to make it a 9-4 game only to see Smyth County score three runs in the bottom of the inning to make the score 9-7.
A run-scoring double by Nathan Clements and a two-run homer by Jason Vest, both in the top of the sixth inning gave South Boston the final 12-7 margin.
Currie and Conner led South Boston with three hits each and Perkins and Clements each had two hits. Garrett, Vest and David Clark had one hit each.

Halifax County Debs Off To 2-0 Start In State Tourney
The Halifax County Dixie Debs all-stars are off to a 2-0 start in the State Dixie Debs Tournament in Halifax, squeezing out a 1-0 win Saturday over South Hill, after beginning the tournament Friday with a 10-0 shutout of Timberlake in five innings.
Halifax County took on Cumberland last night in effort to remain unbeaten through three days of the state tourney in Halifax.
Halifax County 1 South Hill 0
Halifax County outhit South Hill by a 7-2 margin, but managed one run, that coming on an error in the sixth inning for a 1-0 win.
Heather Oakes had her second triple of the tournament to lead Halifax, Amelia Saunders had two base hits, and Jasmine Parker, Emily New, Amber Bowman and Liz Trickey each added a base hit.
Neither team had a base runner until the third inning, when Amber Bowman hit a one-out single for Halifax, but was caught attempting to steal second. Saunders followed with a base hit, but Jessie Lloyd hit into a fielder’s choice got South Hill out of trouble.
Halifax put two runners aboard in the next inning with one out, Trickey getting a base hit and Morris being hit by a pitch, a passed ball and wild pitch getting them to third and second.
Two flyouts ended that threat, but Halifax broke through for its only run in the fifth inning, New getting a one-out single. Ally Thompson reached on a fielder’s choice, stole second and scored on a throwing error to first on a ground ball hit by Mandy Watts.
Halifax did not score again, despite Saunders’ leadoff single in the sixth and Oakes’ triple and Parker’s single in the seventh.
Halifax made that run stand up, hurlers “Moo” Morris, Parker and Lloyd holding South Hill to a total of only two hits, one each in the fourth and fifth innings.
South Hill’s biggest scoring threat came in the sixth inning, after two Halifax errors put runners at second and third with one out, but a strikeout and flyout ended the threat.
Morris hurled the first three innings, Parker came on for the fourth, fifth and sixth, and Lloyd pitched the seventh and final inning, the threesome combining for nine strikeouts and only two walks.
Halifax County 10 Timberlake 0 (Friday)
Halifax County warmed up after a slow start, scoring nine runs the final three innings to beat Timberlake in a game called after five innings under the mercy rule.
Heather Oakes had a triple and single to lead Halifax, the three-bagger knocking in Morris with the first run of the game in the bottom of the first. Morris had walked to lead off the inning.
Morris, Parker, Shayna Oakes, New, Thompson and Mandy Watts all finished with base hits for Halifax, which got a combined two-hitter from hurlers Lloyd, New and Thompson.
New was stranded at second after a one-out single and stolen base in the second, but Halifax scored three runs with a two-out rally in the third to get some breathing room.
Lloyd reached base on an error and stole second, and Morris singled and also stole a base, before Heather Oakes drove them both home on a base hit.
Oakes stole second base, and came home on two consecutive throwing errors to make it 4-0.
Five runs in the fourth and another in the fifth closed out the scoring, Shayna Oakes getting things started with a leadoff base hit and stealing second. Bowman reached base and New walked, before Thompson singled.
Two Timberlake errors, stolen bases by New and Thompson, along with a single by Watts gave Halifax five runs and a 9-0 advantage.
Halifax used its short game to manufacture its final run in the bottom of the fifth, Lloyd drawing a walk, advancing on sacrifice bunts by Morris and Heather Oakes, and scoring on Parker’s base hit.
Lloyd pitched the first inning for Halifax, followed by New, who hurled the next three innings, before Thompson came on for the fifth inning.
The trio combined for nine strikeouts, New with seven and Lloyd and Thompson with one each, Thompson getting hers with two out in the top of the fifth to get out of a bases-loaded jam.