Dunavant Seeks To Save G-P Beams

Halifax contractor Jack Dunavant asked the Board of Supervisors Monday to delay accepting the low bid for the Georgia-Pacific demolition project so he could negotiate with the firm how to possibly save 35 wooden beams in the facility.
“I didn’t realize what was out there until I took a look,” Dunavant said, noting he toured the facility to put together his own bid on the demolition project. “It would be criminal to destroy some of these things.”
Dunavant requested a week to negotiate with D.H. Griffin Wrecking Co. of Greensboro, N.C. before the Board approved the bid.
He said the beams were unique and part “of our heritage.”
“I’ve never seen anything like these in my career,” Dunavant told the Board of the 100-foot wooden beams. “You could make some of the most beautiful walls you ever saw (with them).”
Supervisor James Edmunds said he saw the value of the beams but was hesitant to delay awarding the bid.
He said that could be taken by Griffen that the low bid had been rejected and the project would have to go out to bid again. Also, Edmunds said it may be improper for the Board to intervene in what should be a private negotiation between Dunavant and Griffin.
Dunavant said he is willing to spend some of his own money to save the beams, but that any leverage the county has is gone once the contract is awarded.
“Please ask him to make a good faith effort to work with us,” Dunavant said.
The Board awarded the contract and granted Dunavant’s request by authorizing a resolution that will state that the county wishes for Griffin to work with Dunavant and the Industrial Development Authority to make a good faith effort to save the beams if possible.
Also at Monday’s meeting the Board heard from Dr. Joseph Edwards, the new executive director of the Southside Community Services Board.
Edwards said it was his goal to enhance programs throughout the region and defended his Board, which has come under fire recently.
“I feel like we have a quite honorable board,” Edwards said.
The new director also requested that supervisors consider reinstating the funds that were cut out of the county’s 2007-08 budget.
Edwards said the lost funds are multiplied by matching state funds that will also be lost as a result of the county cut.
Two other SCSB employees also addressed to Board to present the organization’s annual performance contract.
Special Projects Manager Sarah Chips broke down the SCSB $10 million budget and explained that the 3 percent increase came largely from state restricted funds.
Joyce Willis said that 282 children were served by the SCSB in Halifax County last year and that many of them were children that were at risk of being taken out of their homes.
The SCSB is also offering an infant and toddler intervention service that currently has 25 open cases in the county. The organization is also seeking to expand its therapy services through a partnership with University of Virginia.
Following the presentation, supervisors approved the SCSB’s performance contract but did not address county funding for the organization.
Two public hearings were also held during Monday’s meeting.
No one spoke at either hearing and the Board approved a conditional use permit for James D. Anderson Sr.’s tire sales business in Clover and approved code changes that will allow for a $10 courthouse security fee on convictions and a $25 sheriff’s processing fee on convictions that result in incarceration.

Lovelace To Retire

Assistant County Administrator Gerald V. “Jerry” Lovelace is retiring from his position with the county effective Oct. 31 he announced Monday.
Lovelace has worked for the county for 31 years and has served as assistant county administrator since 1995.
“Sometimes it seems like 100 years, sometimes it seems like five years,” Lovelace said of his more than three-decade career with the county.
Lovelace said there is no one specific thing that has changed during his career, but rather virtually everything has changed.
“A lot of things have changed, it’s a whole different atmosphere,” Lovelace said. “Life is a whole lot more fast-paced.”
As for land use and local government, technology has accounted for much of the change, according to Lovelace.
Technological improvements have enabled local governments to do a lot more, but with those improvements the public expects you to have more capabilities, Lovelace said.
Board of Supervisors Chairman William Fitzgerald said Lovelace has been a good employee of the county.
“Jerry has been, over the years, a good employee and has done good things for this county and as a result he’s had a long tenure with the county,” Fitzgerald said. “He’s been involved with the comprehensive plan and many other changes.
“Overall, he’s done a good job as the assistant county administrator,” Fitzgerald added. “He’s seen the county go through many developments. Recently he’s been Involved with the war memorial and Halifax downtown revitalization projects.
“I wish him well in his retirement,” Fitzgerald concluded.
County Administrator Bryan Foster also commended Lovelace for his service.
“Jerry is only the second planning and zoning administrator Halifax County has ever had,” Foster said. “He has overseen some significant changes to the county’s development, including technological advances with geographic information systems (GIS) and needed updates to the county’s land use ordinances.
“We appreciate and salute his 31 years of dedicated service and wish him well as he begins his retirement,” Foster added.
During his tenure with the county, Lovelace served as a member of or support staff to a number of boards including the Halifax County Planning Commission, Halifax County Board of Zoning Appeals, the Blue Ridge Regional Jail Authority, the Southside Planning District Commission, the Halifax County Tourism Board of Directors, the Halifax County Transportation Safety Commission and the War Memorial Advisory Committee.
Lovelace began his career with the county in July 1976 after earning a bachelor’s degree from East Carolina University and working in the private sector.
During Lovelace’s tenure, the county has seen many changes in development and land use, Foster said.
“Numerous subdivisions have been created including the county’s first gated community at Birch Creek,” Foster said. “Commercial development has blossomed in the Centerville and Riverdale areas, as well as the expansion to four lanes of U.S. 501 south to the North Carolina state line.
“Major building projects during his tenure include J.M. Huber, Clover Power Station, Riverstone Technology Park, the renovation of Mary Bethune High School into a county office complex and the current Halifax County High School,” Foster added.
No replacement has been identified to fill Lovelace’s position, Foster said.
“We will put some transition measures in place and evaluate how to best fill the position,” Foster said. “It’s never easy to replace such a long tenured employee and we will take our time to make sure we make the best decision.”
As for post-retirement plans. Lovelace said there is nothing definite yet, but he plans on staying in the county.
“I’m sure I’ll keep busy,” he said.

Kipps-Brown Appointed To IDA

Supervisors appointed Halifax businesswoman Lisa Kipps-Brown to fill the vacant seat on the Halifax County Industrial Development Authority during their Monday meeting.
“I’m looking forward to working with the rest of the IDA Board,” Brown said yesterday. “I hope my entrepreneurial and technology background will be an asset to the Board and help us attract industry to the county.”
Brown attended Halifax County High School and holds a degree from Virginia Tech in accounting. Since 1990 Brown has been self-employed and currently co-owns Glerin Business Resources, a web site development firm, BallOWax, an e-commerce and fulfillment company, and Venture Out, a firm that codevelops apparel incorporating nanotechnology.
Brown will serve out the remaining time on Larry McPeters’ unfinished term and could then be reappointed to a full four-year term.
Also at Monday’s meeting, the Board voted to set three public hearings for its September meeting.
The Board will address a conditional use permit request by Mecklenburg Electric Cooperative to replace a 150-foot telecommunications tower with a 285-foot tower on the northwest corner at the intersection of Clays Mill Road and Winns Creek Road; a conditional use permit request by the Board of Supervisors for a solid waste transfer station at the end of Plywood Trail and a conditional use permit request by Morris Damiano for an outdoor amusement/paintball facility on an 11.72 acre parcel on the south side of U.S. 58, roughly a half-mile east of Country Store Road.
The Board also set a joint public hearing with the Planning Commission for Monday, Sept. 24 at 6:30 p.m. to address the county’s new comprehensive plan.
During the meeting, VDOT Residency Administrator Joe Barkley told the Board that several road projects in the county are progressing either on or ahead of schedule.
Barkley said he anticipates a February advertising date for a temporary bridge so work can progress on the Banister River Bridge project.
Also, the King Village project has been awarded to White Construction of Sutherlin and work is scheduled to begin by Aug. 20, Barkley said, noting the project has a completion date of Dec. 15, but work could be done as early as Thanksgiving.
The Board then recognized former IDA Chairman Larry McPeters for his service to the county.
And, at the request of County Administrator Bryan Foster the Board voted to move forward with a lease-purchase agreement for financing for the proposed transfer station.

Obituaries

Pauline Dare Heishman Peer
Pauline Dare Heishman Peer, 98, died August 6, 2007, at The Woodview. She was born August 2, 1909, in Wardensville, W.Va., the daughter of the late Arthur Lee and Clara Ellen Heishman, and was married to the late Elbert C. Peer.
Mrs. Peer was a lifelong member of St. Peters Lutheran Church in Wardensville.
Survivors include two sons, Cecil Clinton Peer of Cleveland, Ohio, and Clyde Franklin Peer and his wife, Barbara, of South Boston; two grandsons, Michael Conrad Peer of South Boston and Thomas Craig Peer of Camden, N.C.; and one great-granddaughter, Ashley Elizabeth Peer of South Boston.
Three brothers; two sisters; and one grandson, Jeffrey Sterling Peer, also preceded Mrs. Peer in death.
A funeral will be held at St. Peters Lutheran Church tomorrow, August 9 at 11 a.m. Burial will follow in the cemetery in Wardensville.
The family will receive friends this evening, August 8, from 7 to 8, at Loy Giffon Funeral Home.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Wardensville, W.Va. Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 2, Wardensville, 26851, or St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, P.O. Box 87, Wardensville, WV.

Alfred Sherwood Vaughters
Alfred Sherwood Vaughters, 49, of 1343 Shepherd Street, South Boston died August 4, 2007, at his home.
Mr. Vaughters was born in Halifax County on January 11, 1958, the son of Pastor Annie Ruth Mosley Vaughters and the late Joseph Alfred Vaughters. He was married to Alice Ferrell Claiborne Vaughters and was a member of Pentecostal Holiness Church. He was employed by TFX Trucking Company, Inc.
Survivors include his wife; one son, Sherwood Whitehead of Clover; his mother of Saxe; three sisters, JoAnne Wilborn of Saxe, Jackie Fields of Richmond, and Tiffany Davis of Randolph; two brothers, Stanley R. Vaughters of Clover and Marvin A. Vaughters of Red Oak; three stepsons, Michael Claiborne and Derek Claiborne, both of Virginia Beach, and Phillip Claiborne of South Boston; his mother-in-law, Catherine Ferrell of Clover; and 10 step-grandchildren.
A funeral for Mr. Vaughters will be held tomorrow, August 9, at 2 p.m. at the Pentecostal Holiness Church with the Rev. John Ed Mosley officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the Chapel of Jeffress Funeral Home this evening, August 8, from 7 until 8, and other times at the home.

Clara Hudson Garner
Clara Hudson Garner, 73, of Hartsville, S.C. died August 2, 2007.
Mrs. Garner was born in Halifax County on July 7, 1934, the daughter of the late Robert A. and Hallie Bell Lowery Hudson, and was married to Edward A. Garner.
Survivors include her husband; one daughter, Cindy Smith and husband, Ronnie; one son, Robert Garner and wife, Carole; her grandchildren, Lori Davis, Lee Garner, and Lance and Lacey Smith; one great-grandchild, Conner Davis; her brothers, Franklin, Bradley, Robert Junior and Carl Jackson Hudson; her sisters, Betty Blanks, Edith Crews, Gloria Faye Bonham, Jerry Wilmouth, Mildred Hite, and Lula Belle Poole.
One brother, Shirley Lee Hudson, also preceded Mrs. Garner in death.
A funeral was held August 5, at 3 p.m. at the Chapel of Norton Funeral Home in Hartsville. The Revs. Ted Windham and John Hamilton officiated.
Burial was in Florence, S.C. National Cemetery on August 6, at 10 a.m.

Florence Louise Guthrie Graves
Florence Louise Guthrie Graves, 78, of 1111 Sinai Road, South Boston died August 5, 2007, at her home.
Mrs. Graves was born in Halifax County April 1, 1929, to th elate Samuel Edward Guthrie and Dorothy E. Guthrie Leigh, and was married to the late Joseph H. Graves. She was a member of Banister Hill Baptist Church.
Survivors include two daughters, Nannie G. Dixon of Capitol Heights, Md. and Permelia L. ‘Pam’ Graves of the home; three sons, Joseph C. Graves of Drakes Branch, James B. Graves of Danville, and W. Michael Graves of Nathalie; one sister, Virginia L. Scruggs of Richmond; one brother, Dennis D. Leigh of Arlington; one granddaughter, Tiffani N. Graves of Virginia Beach; one grandson, Isaiah J. Graves of the home; one step-grandson, Tevan Eggleston of Drakes Branch; one son-in-law, Starling Dixon of Capitol Heights; three daughters-in-law, Evelyn Graves of Drakes Branch, Kathy Graves of Danville, and Wandra Graves of Nathalie.
One brother, Joseph Guthrie; and one granddaughter, Nevaeh E. Graves, also preceded Mrs. Graves in death.
A funeral will be held August 10, at 11 a.m. at Banister Hill Baptist Church with the Rev. Dr. William F. Carr officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
Thursday, August 9, the remains will lie-in-state at the Crawford House Chapel in Halifax where the family will receive friends from 7 until 8 p.m., and all other times at the home.

Junior Boys Improve To 3-0 In World Series

By Doug Ford
G-V Staff Writer
The Halifax County Dixie Junior Boys pounded out 12 hits in support of a two-hitter by hurlers Dylan Sons, Tyler Long and Ryan Puryear to shut out Alabama 8-0 Monday in the Dixie Junior Boys World Series in Muscle Shoals, Ala.
Halifax County played South Carolina Tuesday in a battle of the only unbeaten teams remaining in the tournament.
Halifax County 8 Alabama 0
Sons went three-for-three and Long two-for-three, Long finishing with two RBIs and Sons one against Alabama.
Cody Palmer had two base hits and an RBI, while L. J. Barnett and Puryear finished with two base hits and William Worley a triple for Halifax.
Halifax got on top early against Alabama and added to its lead the entire game to support the stout pitching of Sons, Long and Puryear.
Two hits came in the first inning, when Sons led off with a single and Barnett bunted his way on base. Long hit into a fielder’s choice, but Puryear reached base on an error to plate Sons.
A two-out rally produced another run in the second, Dillon Wazeka drawing a walk and Sons smacking a RBI double.
Puryear singled and Dustin Davis reached base on an error in the third, and a groundout got Alabama out of that inning, but Halifax struck again in the fourth.
A two-out rally again did the trick, when Sons walked and Barnett reached base on a strikeout when the catcher allowed the ball past him.
Long followed with an RBI double to end the scoring in the fourth, but Halifax did not add to its lead in the fifth, despite a Palmer single.
Halifax finished the scoring with six hits in the sixth inning for the final margin, including five in a row with one out.
Sons, Barnett and Long all singled, Worley stroked a triple and Puryear singled, and Palmer singled with two outs to make it 8-0.
Sons, Long and Puryear combined for 15 strikeouts against Alabama, Sons pitching the first three innings, Long the next three and Puryear the top of the seventh.
Sons faced 11 batters and allowing only two hits, with six strikeouts and no walks, while Long also faced 11 batters, allowing no hits while striking out six and walking none.
Puryear faced four batters in the seventh inning, allowing no hits while striking out three and walking one batter.
Halifax County 7 Florida 5
Halifax County spotted Florida an early 5-0 lead Sunday before rallying for a 7-5 win and improving to 2-0 in the World Series.
Florida scored all its runs in the top of the first, and Halifax plated a run in its first at-bat to make it 5-1.
Halifax County cut its deficit to 5-4 with three runs in the fifth inning, and added three more in the bottom of the sixth inning to win the game.
Two hits, two walks and two Halifax errors gave Florida five runs in the top of the first, and Halifax responded with a base hit by Long and RBI from Worley to make it 5-1.
Florida would not score the remainder of the game, and Halifax cut the deficit to 5-4 with three runs in the bottom of the fifth inning.
Sons led off with a base hit and Barnett, Long and Puryear each stroked a single, Long’s hit scoring Sons. Barnett and Long each came home on a passed ball to make it a one-run game.
Three runs in the bottom of the sixth inning gave Halifax its winning margin, with Wazeka reaching base on a catcher’s interference call and Sons getting a base hit.
Long hit a single and Florida committed a fielding error on the play, with Long scoring when the Florida outfielder overthrew third base.
That made it 7-5 and Halifax held Florida in the top of the seventh inning to seal the win.
Puryear started the game on the mound for Halifax County, hurling the first three innings and finishing with four strikeouts, while walking six batters.
Long relieved Puryear in the third and pitched through the fifth inning, striking out four and walking two batters.
Sons finished the game for Halifax, hurling the last two innings and finishing with two strikeouts and a walk.

Di-Rec-tly Involved

By Doug Ford
G-V Staff Writer
Brad Ballou has been the Halifax County Recreation Director for 27 years, while Matt McCargo has headed the South Boston Recreation Department almost 22 years.
That’s almost half a century of experience between two community stalwarts who have seen multiple generations of youth and those young at heart come through their sports programs and activities.
“I have some “great-grand players” of those who previously played in South Boston rec programs,” said McCargo proudly, with Ballou adding that he would soon see a few of his own.
An average year sees countless numbers of youth and adults participate in everything from football to basketball, and from volleyball to archery.
The South Boston rec basketball program alone counted approximately 558 players spread among 51 teams which played 282 games last season, according to McCargo.
The Senior Exercise Program at the SoBo Rec Center ballooned to over 132 participants this past winter, and the weather was so mild that people took advantage of the community parks that entire time, added McCargo.
“I had a fear of getting old, but the Senior Exercise Group changed that,” explained McCargo.
“They have more energy and do more things than a lot of people my age that I know.”
Ballou sees similar numbers at the Bethune Complex, and now puts in a great deal of time at Edmunds Park, which features a playground area, picnic shelter, five-acre fish pond, official outdoor sand volleyball courts and two tournament level horse shoe areas.
An 18-hole disc golf course is under construction, and the Serenity Garden has been dedicated and open to the public for some time.
Both the county and Town of South Boston will sponsor the Mites and Pee Wee football programs this coming season, one of many joint efforts.
Another joint effort is the recently-completed Substance Abuse Prevention Tournament held at the South Boston Recreation Center, which drew six teams stocked with the best youth basketball talent in the area.
McCargo predicted the two-day tournament would fill the gym in two years.
As dedicated to their job as they are, both McCargo and Ballou need help from volunteers to make their programs work.
Both directors have worked with hundreds of dedicated volunteers and coaches over the years, too many to mention or remember at once.
But, each could recall several who have gone above and beyond the call of duty.
“I’ve seen guys with no kids in our programs volunteer to coach a team that has no chance of winning a game, just for the love of coaching them,” said McCargo.
“That for me is a ‘keeper,’ someone you want to have around.”
McCargo would describe long-time volunteer and South Boston Rec Center door attendant Frances Mitchell, who has volunteered her services for over 20 years, as a keeper.
“I remember a basketball game where a girl couldn’t come to work concessions, the scorekeeper didn’t show up and neither did the referee,” said McCargo.
“I had to referee, but she keep the score and the book and took the money box from the door and put it near where she was working.
“People would come and automatically find her to pay their admission.
“At halftime, Frances went to the concession stand and popped a bunch of popcorn before returning for the second half.”
Ballou remembers the late long-time South Boston Recreation Director Bill Bennett replacing a bulb on the scoreboard at C.H. Friend Field in a most unusual way.
“Bill was about 70 years old and we needed to replace a bulb on the scoreboard,” began Ballou.
“I showed up the next day to help, and I thought we would just grab a ladder and climb the scoreboard to do it, but he said he had already done it the night before.”
Ballou said that Bennett had climbed approximately nine feet up the side of a building to reach the scoreboard and replace the bulb himself.
McCargo and Ballou agreed that their job would be extremely difficult without the help of those like Mitchell, Earl Womack and rec league official Sam Smith among many others.
Smith continues to officiate rec league and school basketball games after more than 30 years on the job, while Womack has coached rec league basketball for over 30 years.
“Earl began coaching when he was 18 years old, and once he coached teams in the Pee Wee, Midget, Junior, Senior, Industrial League and 30 and Over leagues the same year,” recalled Ballou.
Ballou said he has seen the positive effect on youth that their volunteers have had over the years.
“I recall that one youth football coach was brought to tears when one of his players came to him at the end of the season and asked if the team could practice another week.
“He told the coach that they just wanted to be with him a little bit longer, and that brought tears to the coach’s eyes.”
McCargo said that he and Ballou in some cases have become substitute parents for youth in the rec leagues who come from broken homes.
“Some of the kids come from broken homes and we put them in the hands of those who help them, the coaches.”
McCargo and Ballou get their fair share of compliments also, and one recently struck home, recalled McCargo.
He and Ballou attended a funeral for a rec sports participant who was tragically killed in an accident, and the youth’s father approached the pair after the service.
“His father came to us and said he had observed the way we worked with the kids,” said McCargo.
“He said that it changed his life, that he wanted some of the love the kids had shown us.
“That was one of the best compliments I’ve ever had.”
Ballou agreed, adding that both he and McCargo were fortunate in seeing youth and adults at their best through their jobs.
That may be the best job security of all.

Anderson To Compete In SBS Late Model Race Saturday

By Joe Chandler
Sports Editor
Bruce Anderson has been testing the waters in the Late Model Stock Car Division ranks from time to time this season.
The South Boston driver will be looking to do so again Saturday night.
Anderson will compete in the 150-lap race for the NASCAR Late Model Stock Car Division that will serve as the companion event to Saturday night’s Miller Lite 250 USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series race at South Boston Speedway.
Anderson will drive his Bailey’s-sponsored Chevrolet in Saturday night’s race which will be run in front of a large audience of fans and USAR Hooters Pro Cup Series car owners.
“It’s a wonderful opportunity that Mac Bailey has given us,” Anderson said.
“It’s kind of neat because it just makes us better for our Limited car. It’s a win-win situation for us. When the Limited cars are not racing we still get the opportunity to race. I just love racing and being able to get into the car and run 150 laps on one night is a pretty good deal for us.”
For Anderson, who is hoping to move up the racing ladder, being able to compete in front of the car owners in the Hooters Pro Cup Series is a good opportunity.
“I’m somewhat old in the racing world, but, who knows, I might still get a shot,” Anderson remarked.
This weekend’s 150-lap race at South Boston Speedway will mark Anderson’s fourth start in the Late Model Stock Car ranks this season. He has competed at nearby Orange County Speedway in Rougemont, N.C. on three occasions, has qualified well and finished his first race of the season at OCS July 28.
“We qualified tenth and got into a little deal on a restart,” Anderson said.
“We qualified fifth the previous time there and qualified tenth this time. I was running around seventh (place) and they (the other cars) checked up on one of the restarts and I got into the back of the guy in front of us.
“I think we finished somewhere around tenth,” he added.
“I thought we had somewhere around a top-five car. We ran all 150 laps and that’s what it’s all about.”
Anderson said the seat time he gets in the Late Model Stock Car is very valuable.
“Our goal going into it (the last race at Orange County) was just to run all the laps and get some experience and that’s what we did,” Anderson pointed out.
“It’s a different mentality. It’s a different world. The Limited Sportsman Division is real tough and Late Model is tough. You’ve just got to be mentally prepared for 150 laps. It’s three of our races in one. If you look at it that way, physically and mentally and with your car preparation, you’ve just got to have everything prepared.”
As far as his plans go for the rest of the season, Anderson says he plans to compete in the Late Model Stock Car Division at South Boston Speedway twice more this season with one of the races being the season-ending 300-lap affair on Oct. 27.
“I know we’ll run one more here at South Boston and then the big one and maybe two (more races) down at Orange County,” Anderson said.
“We’ll just see how the year goes. It’s kind of up in the air. We’ve also kicked around the idea of running some of the bigger races at the end of the year. We’re looking at about 10 (Late Model) races and then 17 races in Limited Sportsman. Twenty-seven races in a year is a plenty.”
As far as what he will do next season is concerned, Anderson says sponsorship will be the determining factor.
“Racing is definitely a financially-driven sport,” said the South Boston competitor.
“We’re really, really fortunate to have the local sponsorships that we have and to have Mac Bailey come on board to help us in Late Model. Without financial backing there is no way we can move up. We enjoy racing Limited. If that’s where we are next year, that will be fine.”
Anderson has had a banner season thus far in the Limited Sportsman Division at South Boston Speedway. The defending division champion holds a 60-point lead over Danny Willis Jr. of Cluster Springs with less than a half a dozen races left on the schedule.
He has recorded 10 wins and has finished in the top five in all of his 14 starts in the division this season.
“I’m real fortunate,” Anderson said.
“It’s been an awesome season and we still have a lot of races left to go. Everybody’s working hard and it’s just been a good year for us. It’s all about momentum and we have a lot going our way right now.”