Liquor By The Drink In County?

Chamber Of Commerce Circulating Petitions To Get Referendum On November Ballot

If a business group is successful in getting the required number of signatures, voters in Halifax County could be choosing whether or not to allow the sale of mixed beverages in the county this November.
The Halifax County Chamber of Commerce is circulating petitions to get a referendum on liquor by the drink (LBTD) on the November 8 ballot.
“For more than 20 years, restaurants in the Town of South Boston have had the ability to serve mixed drinks,” said Nancy Pool, chamber president. “The voters in the Town of Halifax, realizing the economic potential in attracting full service restaurants, approved the sale of mixed beverages in 2001.
“Halifax County residents have not had the same advantage,” she added.
The City of Danville, towns of Halifax and South Boston and the counties of Campbell, Mecklenburg and Pittsylvania all offer the option of serving mixed drinks.
Person County, N.C. passed the referendum on July 20, 2004.
In order to get the issue on the ballot, 10 percent of the county’s registered voters as of January 1, 2005 – or 1,574 – signatures are required, according to Halifax County Registrar Judy Meeler.
Voters who reside in the towns of South Boston and Halifax are not eligible to vote on the issue, the registrar said.
Meeler said once the required number of signatures are collected, they must be turned into the circuit court clerk’s office for a judge to write up the request and turn it into the State Board of Elections.
But time is quickly running out.
“The final day for a court order for a local referendum is September 9,” Meeler said. “So the petitions would have to be turned in before that."
Pool said LBTD is an investment in the economic vitality of the county.
“It will create more opportunities economically in the county,” she said. “Anyone wanting to invest in restaurants or any type of tourism-related business that has to do with serving food would look at the availability of serving mixed beverages when choosing whether to locate in the county.
“We’re trying to set a level playing field between the county and the towns,” Pool added.
County Administrator Bryan Foster agreed.
“If you don’t have it (LBTD), it is certainly a hindrance for getting hospitality industries in the county,” he said, adding the bulk of the Route 58 corridor – the site of several motels – is in the county.
“It would certainly be a help and eliminate a potential barrier for someone who wants to come in,” Foster added.
Of the 136 counties and cities in Virginia, 121 offer the option of serving mixed drinks, according to Pool.
The vast majority of the 15 localities that do not offer mixed drink licenses are in economically depressed Southside and Southwest Virginia.
“It’s an issue of being forward-thinking and progressive,” Pool said. “It is about responsible economic development. It will allow all restaurants in Halifax County to operate under equal guidelines and the opportunity to provide equal services.”
Pool said most restaurants in the county already serve wine and beer on premises.
“Offering mixed beverages will give people choices,” she said.
According to state code, mixed drinks can only be served in restaurants where food sales exceed 45 percent of total sales.

Remains Identified As Piney Grove Man

The body found in a Piney Grove Road field last Thursday has been positively identified as that of 37-year-old David Wayne Wilborn, according to Halifax County Sheriff D.J. Oakes.
Investigators received positive identification yesterday from the medical examiner’s office in Richmond using medical records and x-rays, the sheriff said.
The medical examiner’s report gave no determination as to Wilborn’s cause of death, the Sheriff noted, saying his office is still waiting for the results of a toxicology test and the results will probably not be available for several weeks. Earlier reports determined that Wilborn’s death was not caused by a gunshot, knife wound or blunt trauma.
The field where Wilborn’s body was discovered is only several hundred yards from his Piney Grove Road residence, according to investigators.
In other police business, Lawrence Davis, 45, of Brooklyn Road in Sutherlin, was charged with the assault and battery of Zelda Davis – a family or household member.
The alleged offense occurred yesterday.
Deputy Q.W. Clark was the issuing deputy.

SoBo Pair Arrested On Drug Distribution Charges

Two South Boston men were arrested on drug distribution charges Wednesday, with one attempting to flee law enforcement, according to Maj. R.S.B. Pulliam of the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office.
Pulliam said that Joseph Junior Crawley, aka “Moochie,” 45, of Lakewood Trailer Park, has been charged with five counts of distribution of crack cocaine.
“Crawley’s charges are the result of a year-long investigation conducted by the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office Narcotics Department,” Pulliam said.
He is being held in the Halifax Regional Jail under a $7,500 bond.
Also Wednesday night, narcotics investigators spotted Savaughn Wakeen Bailey, aka “AP,” 26, of Farragut Avenue walking on Spring Street.
“When investigators told Bailey he was under arrest, (he) attempted to run,” Pulliam said.
After a brief struggle, Bailey was arrested and a quantity of crack cocaine was seized from him, according to the investigator.
Bailey has been charged with two counts of distribution of marijuana, one count of possession with the intent to distribute crack cocaine and attempted escape.
He is being held in the Halifax Regional Jail under a $12,500 secured bond.

Obituaries

Carol Wainright Cole

Carol Wainright Cole, 65, of 5061 Halifax Road, Halifax died August 3, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mrs. Cole was born June 27, 1940, in Poquoson to the late John William Wainright Sr. and Katherine Firth Wainright, and was married to Morgan Cole. She was a retiree of Ft. Eustis, U.S. Army.
Survivors include her husband; one son, William Dalton Cole and wife, Christine, of Lexington, Ky.; one brother, John William Wainright Jr. of Yorktown; and one granddaughter, Felicia Diane Cole. She was also preceded in death by one brother, Michael Wainright.
Graveside services for Mrs. Cole will be held tomorrow, August 6, at 2 p.m. at Shady Grove United Methodist Church Cemetery with the Rev. Don Davidson officiating.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Shady Grove UMC, 4129 East Hyco Road, South Boston.
The family will receive friends at the home.

Bessie Mae Curtis

Bessie Mae Curtis, 78, of 703 Kent Lane, South Boston died August 1, in Halifax Regional Hospital.
Ms. Curtis was born in Halifax County on October 26, 1926, to the late Willie Curtis and Hallie Harris Curtis and was a member of St. Michael AME Church.
Survivors include one brother, Leon Curtis of Halifax; one sister, Louise Curtis of Brooklyn, N.Y.; one sister-in-law, Annie Mae Curtis. Ms. Curtis was also preceded in death by one brother, George Curtis.
Funeral services will be held August 7, at 1 p.m. at St. Michael AME Church in South Boston with the Rev. Gloria Skinner Pettiford officiating. Burial will follow in Rose Garden Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Leon Curtis, 1099 Paul James Road, Halifax.

Florence Womack Green

Florence Womack Green, 102, of 1128 Bell Flower Lane, Scottsburg died July 31, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mrs. Green was born in Halifax County on December 23, 1902, to the late Enoch Womack and Mary Ann Lee Womack, and was married to William Mitchell Green. She was a member of Spanish Grove Baptist Church.
Survivors include one daughter, Mary Green Smith of Bronx, N.Y.; one son, Robert L. Green of Scottsburg; four grandchildren; six great-grandchildren; and three great-great-grandchildren.
Funeral services for Mrs. Green will be tomorrow, August 6, at 2 p.m. at Spanish Grove Baptist Church with the Rev. Ronnie Womack officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family is receiving friends at the home.

Richard Lee Howerton

Richard Lee Howerton, 53, of 3108 Virgie Cole Road, South Boston died August 4, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Howerton was born in Halifax County on August 17, 1951, the son of Willie Trent Howerton and Zelma Newton Howerton, and was married to Linda P. Howerton. He was a member of Seventh Day Adventist Church, and was a self-employed painter.
Survivors include his wife; his parents of South Boston; three daughters, Ashley Leigh Howerton and Wendy Coghill, both of South Boston, and Amy Humphries and husband, Michael, of Roxboro, N.C.; three brothers, Douglas Ray Howerton of Orange, Calif, William David Howerton of South Boston and Carl Edward Howerton of Virgilina; and one granddaughter, Courtney Mae Humphries.
Graveside services will be held tomorrow, August 6, at 4 p.m. at North Fork Baptist Church.
The family will receive friends this evening, August 5, from 7:00 until 8:30, at Brooks Funeral Home Chapel, and other times at the home of his parents, 2133 East Hyco Road, South Boston.

William Rosser Rogers Jr.

William Rosser Rogers Jr., 71, of 1133 Wilkerson Trail, Alton died August 3, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Rogers was born in Alton on October 21, 1933, the son of the late William Rosser Rogers Sr. and Ida Link Rogers, and was married to Margie Carr Rogers. He was a member of Cedar Grove United Methodist Church and worked for Burlington Industries.
Survivors include his wife; one son, Donald Rogers of High Point, N.C.; one sister, Elizabeth Rogers Link of South Boston; two grandchildren; and his adopted mom and dad, Raymond and Lillian Wright of Brookneal. Mr. Rogers was preceded in death by three brothers, Guy, Henry and Francis Rogers.
Funeral services will be held tomorrow, August 6, at 2 p.m. at Cedar Grove United Methodist Church with the Revs. Liz Buxton and Richard Saunders officiating. Burial wil follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends this evening, August 5, from 7:00 until 8:30, at Powell Funeral Home and other times at the home.

Cookey ‘Bill’ Talley Jr.

Cookey ‘Bill’ Talley Jr., 77, of 3058 Hundley Road, Scottsburg died August 3, at his home.
Mr. Talley was born in Halifax County on August 31,1927, the son of the late Cookey Talley Sr. and Maggie Whitlow Talley, and was married to Dorothy Oulds Talley. He was a member of Bethel Ruritan Club and the Halifax County Livestock Producer’s Association.
His survivors include his wife; one son, John ‘Pete’ Talley of Scottsburg; one daughter, Pat Talley of Halifax; a granddaughter, Elizabeth Talley of Halifax; one grandson, Vince Talley of Fayetteville, N.C.; and two sisters, Mildred Seay and Barbara Guill, both of Clover.
A funeral service for Mr. Talley will be held today, August 5, at 2 p.m. at Powell Funeral Home Chapel. Burial will follow in Clover Cemetery.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Halifax Regional Hospice, 2204 Wilborn Avenue, South Boston 24592.

Cardwell Stokes

Cardwell Stokes, son of the late Carl and Rosa Stokes of Philadelphia, Pa. died August 1 in Philadelphia.
Funeral services will be held August 8 at Consolation Church in Philadelphia at 11 a.m.

Lenore Ruth Church Waller

Mrs. Lenore Ruth Church Waller, of Leisure Lane in Evington, died Wednesday at her home. She was 74.
Born in Grundy, WestVirginia on May 9, 1931, she was married to the late John Bryant Waller and was a member of the First Baptist Church of Millstone.
Survivors include one daughter, Margie W. Duff, one son, Edward Waller, both of Evington, three grandchildren, Daniel Walker Sr. of Brookneal, Brandon Duff of Evington and Heather Ramsey of Amherst, three great-grandchildren and one neice.
Funeral services for Mrs. Waller will be held Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Powell Funeral Home Chapel. The Rev. David Dickerson will officiate.
Burial will follow in the First Baptist Church of Millstone cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the Powell Funeral Home Chapel Friday from 7:00 p.m. until 8:30 p.m.

 

HCHS Football Mini-Camp In Full Swing

The HCHS Varsity Football Team Is Participating In A Mini-Camp Which Will Conclude Following Saturday’s Practice Session

BY Joe Chandler
G-V STAFF WRITER

With three days of workouts behind it, the Halifax County High School varsity football team began its mini-camp last night at Tuck Dillard Stadium.
Players and coaches stayed overnight at the field house at Tuck Dillard Stadium last night and will do so again tonight. The mini-camp will conclude and the players and coaches will return to their homes at the end of Saturday morning’s scheduled practice session, the first session the team will have in pads.
During the mini-camp, the Comets players will participate in multiple workouts, lift weights, meet with the coaches and review game films. They will live, eat and sleep football and get to know each other better.
“We’ll practice multiple times Thursday and Friday,” Harris pointed out.
“It will be a good time to go over and do some things. We’ll eat, sleep and dream football and mix in some fun with it.”
The mini-camp is a new addition to the Comets’ pre-season football routine.
“I think the kids are looking forward to it,” Harris said.
“Some of them are a little apprehensive because they haven’t been through it before. This is the first time I’ve done it.”
Harris explained that the mini-camp is small version of what Halifax County High School players of several years ago experienced when Comets teams routinely started the season with a preseason camp at Fort Pickett.
“As early as school is starting here it would probably be hard to do,” Harris said of an attempt to have players spend a week away from home at a football camp.
“And, right now, it would be cost prohibitive.”
The mini-camp is part of an effort by Harris and the coaching staff to give the players something to look forward to each week.
“As a coaching staff, we wanted to have something each week," Harris pointed out.
“This week it’s the mini-camp. Next week it’s a scrimmage. We want them to have something the kids can build toward each week."
The first few days of team workouts have gone well.
We’re focusing on fundamentals,” said Comets head coach John Lacy Harris.
“We have everything installed. Now we can focus on getting batter at what we do. That will be the focus the rest of the season."
With the offensive and defensive schemes having been installed, work will center on the fundamentals.
“We’ll be able to go back to the fundamentals now that we have everything installed," Harris pointed out.
The Comets coach said the team has “a minimal number" of offensive and defensive schemes. Players, he said, will be able to focus from here out on executing those and perfecting their skills on the fundamentals.
“We’ll just work at getting better at what we’re doing."
After the mini-camp concludes Saturday, players will get a little down time before getting back to work on Monday. The Comets will have four days next week to prepare for their first real test, a scrimmage against defending Group AA state champion Gretna High School a week from today at Gretna.
Halifax County will open its season here on Friday, September 2, at Tuck Dillard Stadium against Rustburg High School.

Manchester Manhandles Invitational Tourney Field

Manchester High School Won Yesterday’s HCHS Invitational Golf Tournament By A Nine-Shot Margin Over Franklin County

BY Joe Chandler
G-V STAFF WRITER

Manchester High School made its first appearance in the annual Halifax County High School Invitational Golf Tournament yesterday and landed the big prize.
With three players shooting in the 70’s, Manchester blistered the field yesterday, topping defending Western Valley District and Northwest Region champion Franklin County by nine shots in the annual season opener at Green’s Folly Golf Course.
Franklin County did grab a little bit of the limelight, however, with Luke Hoffman turning in a four-under-par round of 68 to earn individual medalist honors.
While Hoffman and his Franklin County teammates had a big day, it wasn’t good enough to top the round of 302 carded by Manchester, which had two players, Forest Davis and Cory Belcher, finish second and third in the individual competition with rounds of 72 and 74 respectively.
“One of our strong points is that we’re really deep,” said Manchester coach Woody Hall.
“We started four years ago with four freshmen playing together and they’re all seniors now. We also have two pretty strong juniors. Having them bunched up together is key for us.”
The Halifax County High School team consisting of Matt Conner, Michael Ferrell, Brad Tribble, Andy Anchetta, Will Hunt and Josh Blake, finished in a tie for seventh place with a round of 339.
Conner led the Comets with a round of 76 and Tribble carded a solid round of 80. Hunt’s round of 91 and Anchetta’s round of 92 were the two other scores that counted for the Comets.
Ferrell struggled in with a round of 100 and Blake carded a round of 102.
Conner’s round of 76 landed him ina four-way tie for sixth place in the individual standings.
Charlie Payne, who was acting as the coach of the team in the absence of head coach David Graham, said the team had a good day.
“They’ve worked hard," said Payne, “as hard as any team I’ve been associated with. We have a little experience and we have some young kids. We’ve seen signs of the work these kids have done."
Franklin County led the contingent of Western Valley District teams with its round of 311 and the second-place finish. E.C. Glass carded a round of 331 with Will Coleman’s round of 75 leading the Hilltoppers.
GW turned in a round of 336 and was led by Brad Harris’ round of 80 with the Comets rounding out the Western Valley District contingent with its 339 total.
Charlotte County neighbor Randolph-Henry High School finished third overall with a round of 320.
The Statesmen were led by Corbin Pillow’s round of 76. Brandon Jones and Todd Adams followed with identical rounds of 81 and John Fallen carded a round of 83.
A complete list of the team scores will be included in Monday’s edition of the Gazette-Virginian.

Rumley Looks For Better Luck At SoBo Speedway

The Hooters Pro Cup Series Makes Its Second Stop Of The Season At South Boston Speedway Saturday Night

From Team & Staff Reports

Johnny Rumley, driver of the Lucas Oil Products Boyd Sult Racing Chevrolet, hopes the series’ visit to South Boston Speedway will mark a change in luck for him and his team.
“We’ve had a good car all season,” said the veteran racer from North Carolina.
“But our luck has been absolutely horrible. We haven’t had a monkey on our back; it’s a gorilla.”
Rumley qualified fourth for the last Northern Division race, the Lucas Oil 250, held on the high banks at Salem, Ind. He was running in the top five early on when an accident ahead of him blocked the track and took out a number of top competitors.
“I think we had a good car, certainly one of the cars to beat at Salem,” Rumley said.
“I don’t know what happened in front of us, but when I got there the track was plugged up. We were just riding; it was too early to race hard.”
But South Boston will be another weekend and a chance for the Lucas Oil team to shine.
“Our luck has to change,” Rumley said.
“It can’t go this way forever. I like South Boston; it’s a fun track to race on. That will be the perfect place for our luck to get better.”
The Lucas Oil 250, which will get the green flag at 7 p.m., will feature the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series competitors in a 250-lap race around the .4-mile South Boston Speedway oval.
Forty one drivers have filed entries for Saturday night’s event which will mark the second visit of the season to South Boston Speedway by the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series circuit.
Benny Gordon of DuBois, Pa., the winner of the last two Hooters Pro Cup Series races at South Boston Speedway, and Mardy Lindley of Greensville, S.C., the winner of one of last year’s two Hooters Pro Cup Series races here at South Boston Speedway are among the top drivers entered.
Jay Fogleman of Durham, N.C., Richard Landreth of Pine Hall, N.C. and Bubba Urban Jr. of Glen Allen, all of whom competed at South Boston Speedway in the NASCAR Late Model Stock Car division, are entered. Woody Howard of Chesapeake, a former Late Model Stock Car competitor at South Boston Speedway who has won twice so far this season, comes into the race looking for his second win in a row.
The entry list also includes former ASA standout Gary St. Amant, Joel Kauffman of Cornelius, N.C., Jeff Agnew of Copper Hill, Joe Gaita of Yorktown, Danny Sammons pf Trenton, N.J., Mart Nesbitt of Asheville, N.C., Mike McLaughlin Jr. of Gray Court, S.C. and former NASCAR Busch Series competitor Chuck Bown of Asheville, N.C.
Saturday night’s starting field could include as many as 34 cars. The top 28 positions in the field will be determined in qualifying time trials with the remainder of the field, which could swell to as high as 34 cars, being set by provisional spots.
In addition to the 250-lap Hooters Pro Cup Series race, fans will see the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Late Model Stock Cars in a 110-lap race.
Peyton Sellers of Danville enters the race as the track points leader with teenager Drew Herring of Benson, N.C. in second place. Former South Boston Speedway track champion, Frank Deiny Jr. of Mechanicsville is also expected to be on hand.
Pit gates for the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series competitors will open at 8:30 a.m. and practice for the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series drivers will get underway at 11 a.m.
The Barkhouser Late Model Stock Car Division drivers will enter the pit gates at 1 p.m. and, following a practice session, will take to the track for qualifying time trials at 3:30 p.m.
Qualifying for the USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series drivers will begin at 4:30 p.m. and will be followed by an on-track autograph session at 5:45 p.m.
Adult general admission is $15 if purchased at the speedway prior to 5 p.m. today. Adult general admission price will be $20 Saturday. Reserved seats are available for Saturday’s event at a price of $30.
Youth, ages 10-15, will be admitted for $10 and children under the age of 10 will be admitted free with a paid adult.