New Schools Open

Celebrating a historic occasion in the county, South Boston and Cluster Springs elementary schools and the state-of-the-art renovation/addition at Halifax County Middle School were dedicated Wednesday.
For the county, it was a red- letter day for education.
“This is the first school dedication since Sept. 28, 1980,” Deputy Superintendent Larry Clark told the crowd gathered for South Boston Elementary School’s early morning dedication. “That was the high school,” added the dedication’s emcee.
The last elementary school built in the county was in 1965, according to school officials. “For 42 years we’ve waited for a new school,” said Superintendent of Schools Paul Stapleton.
Describing the new school dedications as “long overdue,” Clark called the day representative of what the community can do when it pulls together.
While it was a long, hot day for state and local officials attending the three dedications, it was one that drew rave reviews not only for the facilities but for the community.
Repeatedly, the school superintendent’s vision and leadership, the School Board and supervisors’ support were credited with vaulting Halifax County public schools into not only the state but national limelight.
“How could a rural school system in Southern Virginia capture so much technology and be on the cutting edge?” asked Fifth District Congressman Virgil Goode at the Cluster Springs dedication.
The congressman’s description of the Halifax system as “a leading school division, not only in the Commonwealth but in the nation” came with credentials.
The middle school’s Smart Lab, deemed one of a kind and a model nationwide, was one example.
“The smart lab introduces student to new technologies, moving them into the 21st century in a hurry,” said Stapleton of the facility, which features aviation, communication, music and engineering opportunities. “It’s the only one in the state of Virginia like it and it is outstanding in the nation.”
In the elementary schools and the middle school, computer labs, state-of-the-art libraries, science labs at the middle school and “unique building designs” friendly to educators and students alike are featured.
“This is the best renovation project I’ve ever seen or been involved in,” said Stapleton of the middle school. He was particularly pleased with the transformation of the library from what he described as “a dark dungeon” to a vast media center decked with books, resource materials and computers, all bathed in the natural light of an uncovered skylight.
Branch & Associates of Roanoke was the contractor for the middle school project.
Throughout the day, the schools’ unique designs drew Stapleton’s praise for Dewberry & Davis, and particularly architect Alan Burchette.
“This school is designed with one thing in mind, what’s best for children,” said the superintendent at South Boston Elementary’s dedication.
“We worked with teachers and staff to design it, and the design of this building is unique to the state,” he added. “Alan designed it.”
At all three school sites, the superintendent noted the project’s impact on the community, citing not only facilities but the positive factor for IDA’s economic development efforts and the boon for area subcontractors.
“I commend you for all that you have done,” said South Boston Mayor Carroll Thackston as school officials unveiled the new elementary school. “This is another great day in the history of South Boston,” said the mayor, naming a growing list of notable town achievements including the Higher Education Center, The Prizery, South Boston Speedway, VIR and other downtown additions.
“Of all the notable events that have happened in these recent years, in my judgment, this should go at the top of the list,” said the mayor of the new school.
And the School Board drew praise for its determination and tenacity to see the school projects through.
During the ceremony, the town was also recognized by school officials for the donation of land for the new school located between Houghton and Parker avenues. Blair Construction of Gretna was the contractor.
Del. Clarke Hogan, R-60th, called the dedications “a great day,” focusing “on the people who work in the school system, the teachers, staff,” who will use the new facilities to the children’s advantages.
For Dr. Dietra Trent, Virginia’s deputy secretary of education, it was a homecoming. A county native, she congratulated the community’s leaders. “There’s nothing more important than giving our children an opportunity to learn and succeed in this increasingly competitive world,” she said. “The investments that Halifax County has made in education will provide that opportunity for the students here,” she said.
Alicia Roberts, special assistant Secretary of Commonwealth’s office, and also a Halifax native, observed at the middle school, “If this doesn’t make students want to come to school, what will ....?“
State Sen. Frank Ruff congratulated the leadership that provided the three-school dedication. He noted the importance of new technology, the buildings, but more important, he said, are the people, the teachers and students. “That interaction is the most important part of education.”
At Cluster Springs, Trustee Sandra Rister said that her wish is “that the spark the begins at this school becomes a lifelong fire for knowledge.”
School Board Vice Chairman Steve Anderson said that prior to Stapleton’s hiring four years ago, he would never have believed two new schools and a renovated middle school would be dedicated in one day.
This School Board has made a lot of tough decisions in three years,” said Stapleton, thanking its members for their support and leadership.
He also praised supervisors. “This could not have been done if the Board of Supervisors was not willing to step up to the challenge and do it,” he added. “Not the first shovel of dirt thrown without supervisors’ support.”
D.H. McDowell, chairman of the Halifax County School Board, said the school projects were needed “to prepare for present and future generations” and that they are also a tool for economic development.
School officials also noted the new Cluster Springs opened “south of the Dan River,” a reference to Supervisor Lottie Nunn’s pursuit of new school facilities for that area.
William Fitzgerald, chairman of the Board of Supervisors, said that he and his Board were excited to be a part of history in Halifax County. “This transcends this community into the 21st century in education,” he said. “It is going to get tougher in the 21st century for kids without an education.”
Fitzgerald also noted the schools’ economic impact. “Education is always a key factor as the IDA seeks industry and jobs.”
Perhaps the deputy school superintendent summed up the day’s events most succinctly: “Combine vision and leadership with action and you can’t help but make progress.”

Stapleton’s Contract Up For Renewal

Halifax County School Superintendent Paul Stapleton’s contract expires at the end of June 2008, and speculation is that the School Board will offer him another contract.
“That’s something the Board will have to consider in the next few months,” said School Board Chairman Mac McDowell. “He was given a four-year contract when he came here and that contract expires at the end of this year,” he added.
McDowell said the Board has taken no official action on a contract extension for Stapleton. “When he was hired, he expressed interest in remaining longer than four years,” McDowell said.
As the School Board considers its future, five seats on the Board are up for grabs in the November election.
There will definitely be three new members of the Board when it convenes in January, and possibly as many as five new members. Douglas Fisher from District-1, Nancylee Bagwell from District-5 and Kelly Hill from District-8 are not seeking another term on the School Board. District-4 Board member Joe Bailey and District-7 member Sandra Rister are facing challengers for their seats in the November election.

Supervisors Pass Drought Resolution

Supervisors are seeking drought relief from the state.
“Without intervention, agricultural producers in the county will suffer financial losses in excess of $3 million due to the extreme drought conditions,” according to a resolution adopted Wednesday by the Board.
Drought conditions have affected all aspects of agricultural production, including decreased forage production, limited livestock watering capabilities, pastureland conditions, as well as row-crop production, the resolution states.
Board Chairman William Fitzgerald said, “Some farmers are saying this is the second worse drought they have experienced. Crops are drying up in the fields and cows and other farm animals are suffering from the dry conditions.”
The resolution was adopted following the dedication of South Boston Elementary School. Two supervisors, R.E. “Dickie” Abbott and Doug Bowman were absent.
The drought-like conditions have also had a negative effect on the state’s forests and woodlands.
Officials with the Virginia Department of Forestry warn that dry conditions across the state this summer have dried out woods and fields.
Officials report a 207 percent increase in the number of wildland fires and a 405 percent increase in the number of acres burned this summer than during the same period in 2006.
“All areas of the Commonwealth need some significant and steady precipitation,” sid State Forester Carl Garrison. “Without several inches of rain over the course of a couple weeks, we could be in store for a very active fall fire season.”
Drought Resolution in full states”
Whereas Halifax County is presently enduring sustained drought conditions as a result of severely diminished rainfall and excessive high temperatures during the 2007 growing season; and,
Whereas, these drought conditions have affected all aspects of agricultural production, including decreased forage production, limited livestock watering capabilities, pastureland conditions, as well as row-crop production; and,
Whereas, without intervention, agricultural producers within Halifax County will suffer financial losses in excess of $3,000,000 due to extreme drought conditions; and,
Whereas, the Halifax County Board of Supervisors unconditionally recognizes the economic and aesthetic contributions of the agricultural community to the overall well-being of the county; now,
Therefore, be it resolved, the Halifax County Board of Supervisors respectfully seeks an officials drought designation from the Office of the Governor of Virginia and any available drought assistance that would benefit the agricultural producers of Halifax County.

Obituaries

Thomas T. Ross
Thomas T. Ross, 25, of Hartford, Conn. died August 8, 2007. He was born on October 19, 1981 in South Boston, to Judith Ross and Willie Woodson. He was employed by the Otis Elevator Company in Bloomfield.
Survivors include his parents, both of Hartford; his two sons, Ayden and Khyree Ross; three sisters, Shanita and Lawanda Ross of Hartford and Annette Allen; two brothers, Willie Jr. and Tyrone Woodson of Hartford.
A funeral was held August 14 at 11 a.m. at the First Cathedral, Bloomfield. Burial followed on August 16, at Mt. St. Benedict Cemetery.

Lou Ethel Doones
Lou Ethel Doones, 81, of New York, formerly of Halifax County, died August 9, 2007, at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City.
Ms. Doones was born in Halifax County March 21, 1926, to the late Cleveland Doones and Ulia Watkins Doones. She was a member of Dan River Bethel Baptist Church.
Survivors include three sons, Archie Doones of Danville, Darryl Glover and Anthony Glover, both of New York; one daughter, Linda Glover Williams of New York; one stepson, Harold Claiborne of Cluster Springs; one sister, Christine Gunn of Roxboro, N.C.; eight grandchildren; and one great-grandchild.
One brother, Watkins Doones; and two sisters, Geraldine Drumwright and Willie Mae Walton, also preceded Ms. Doones in death.
A funeral will be held tomorrow, August 18, at 11 a.m. at Jeffress Funeral Home Chapel with Elder David Chalmers officiating. Burial will follow in Dan River Bethel Baptist Church Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the funeral home Saturday morning.

Ruth Eades Mullins
Ruth Eades Mullins, 84, of Charlottesville, formerly of South Boston, died August 14, 2007, at the Laurels in Charlottesville. She was born in Pittsylvania County on April 5, 1923, the daughter of the late Ocie Eades and Sally Barbour Eades and was married to the late Thomas Mullins.
Mrs. Mullins was a retired textile worker with JP Stevens and was a member of First Baptist Church in South Boston.
Survivors include one daughter, Joan M. Snow and husband, Ronnie, of Charlottesville; one sister, Mildred W. Womack of Halifax; one grandson, Greg Perkins and wife, Martha, of Palmyra; and one great-grandson.
Two sisters, Christine E. Mills and Sadie Ridgeway; and four brothers, Roy, Robert, Garland, and Willie Eades, also preceded Mrs. Mullins in death.
A funeral will be held today, August 17, at 11 a.m. at Powell Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Dr. Melvin Bradshaw officiating. Burial will follow at Oak Ridge Cemetery.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider South Boston Alzheimers Association, 301 Powell Road, South Boston.

Roy Randolph Smith Sr.
Roy Randolph Smith Sr., 86, of 1231 Bold Springs Road, South Boston died August 15, 2007.
Mr. Smith was born September 2, 1920, in Halifax County a son of the late Jessie Thomas Smith and the late Ida Trickey Smith, and was married to Mary Brandon Smith. He was a member of Harmony United Methodist Church, American Legion Post 8, and VFW Post 8243.
Mr. Smith was a World War II Army Veteran and was a retired Parts Manager with Wyatt Chevrolet.
Survivors include his wife of the home; one daughter, Gayle Smith Haley and husband, Bill; one son, Roy Randolph ‘Randy’ Smith Jr. and wife, Cindy; one sister, Myrtle S. Link; one brother, Harry T. Smith, all of South Boston; four grandchildren; and eight great-grandchildren.
Two sisters, Maidie Harris and Pauline Johnson; and two brothers, Richard Smith and Thomas Smith, also preceded Mr. Smith in death.
The family will receive friends this evening, August 17, from 7:00 to 8:30, at Brooks Funeral Home, and other times at the home.
A funeral for Mr. Smith will be held tomorrow, August 18, at 11 a.m. at Harmony United Methodist Church with the Revs. Liz Buxton and Raymond Wooten officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Harmony UMC, P.O. Box 12, Alton, 24520, or Halifax County Rescue Squad, P.O. Box 183, South Boston, 24592.
Online condolences may be sent to brooksfh@embarqmail.com

Richard Green Tucker Jr.
Richard Green Tucker Jr., 83, of Fairfax died August 9, 2007.
Mr. Tucker was born in Halifax County July 15, 1924, the son of the late Richard Green Tucker Sr. and the late Ethel Starkey Tucker, and was married to the late Mabel H. Tucker. He was retired from the U.S. Government and was a member of Olivet Episcopal Church in Alexandria.
Survivors of Mr. Tucker include two daughters, Janice Monaghan and husband, Don, of Herndon, and Nora Monaghan and husband, Rick, of Sykesville, Md.; two sisters, Connie Wilson of Virgilina and Mourine Tucker of South Boston; one brother, Alvin Tucker of South Boston; and four grandchildren.
One son, Richard G. Tucker III; one sister, Louise Long; and one brother, Starkey Tucker, also preceded Mr. Tucker in death.
A funeral were held August 13, at Olivet Episcopal Church. Burial followed in National Memorial Park, Falls Church.

Comets Gear Up For Last Test Before Opener

By Joe Chandler
Sports Editor
The Halifax County High School varsity football team will face its final pre-season test today when it travels to Bassett for its second and final preseason scrimmage.
One of the primary goals for the scrimmage, says Comets head coach Stan Hodgin, is to identify players to fill the final open slots in the lineup for next Friday’s season-opening game against Petersburg.
“Friday will give us a good chance to see where we are with one week to go before our first game,” Hodgin pointed out.
“We’ve still got about four positions among our offensive and defensive units that have not been finalized as to where we stand for the opening ballgame. One of the things we’re looking to do is to get those spots identified.”
Twenty-nine seniors from last year’s team graduated, leaving the Comets with four returning starters on offense and three returning starters on defense. Hodgin and his staff have made good inroads in filling the open slots in the lineup but need today’s scrimmage to finish filling those spots.
While filling those spots will be a big goal today, another priority, Hodgin said, is for the team to show improvement over last week.
“The goal for Friday is to be a better team when we finish than when we start,” Hodgin remarked.
“We’re going to approach the scrimmage as a practice. We have the goal each and every day that we end the practice a better football team and each player end the practice being a better player than when we started. If we just take care of ourselves and improve each day in the things that we do, I think the long-range goals and aspirations will take care of themselves.”
Last week’s scrimmage in Bedford with Liberty and Louisa gave the Comets coaching staff and players a lot of good information to work from this week. Hodgin says he expects that to be the case again today.
“We had an outstanding opportunity this past Saturday to evaluate ourselves,” Hodgin said.
“ We’ve watched the film from that scrimmage and practice this week has been focused on correcting the mistakes we made last weekend. Friday we have a second opportunity to see ourselves on film in a game-like environment prior to playing our first ballgame. It will be a good barometer as to how much we’re improving.”
The Comets coach said the team has had a good week of practice, including the Tuesday night practice that was staged in front of fans who attended Comets Fan Appreciation Night at Tuck Dillard Stadium.
“I was pleased with the turnout we had,” Hodgin said of Tuesday night’s special event.
“We’ve certainly had a very good week. The enthusiasm, the level of intensity, the focus that our players have shown through practice this week has definitely been better than it was in weeks prior.
“A part of that,” Hodgin continued, “ we can attribute to the fact that we’re starting to feel a little sense of urgency with the first ballgame being only a week away. The kids are excited. There is a lot of anticipation and I think they’re a lot more focused on what their individual responsibilities are and where they fit into the responsibilities of our team.”
Hodgin said he is pleased with the progress that has been made so far with installing the offensive and defensive schemes.
“We’ve gotten everything installed from the timeline that we had originally set,” he pointed out.
“ Our execution in some areas has not been quite as sharp as it needs to be in order for us to compete at a high level. But, we’re still just in week three of practice.”

Teammates Set For Major Contest In VIR Supersport Race

Special To The Gazette-Virginian
Monster Energy Kawasaki teammates Roger Hayden and Jamie Hacking are primary candidates to win the 2007 Pro Honda Oils Supersport Championship presented by Shoei. At Virginia International Raceway Sunday, Hayden and Hacking will suit up and go about the business of trying to win the coveted title.
VIR is perhaps the perfect neutral ground for both Hayden and Hacking. Both riders have scored Supersport victories at the picturesque, flowing circuit in Alton, Va.
Hacking is the defending VIR winner and Hayden won the race in 2005. Hayden is trying to score his first AMA national road racing championship, while Hacking is shooting for a third AMA Supersport title.
“It should be a great race at VIR,” Hayden said. “I know me and Jamie have a lot at stake at the race and now Josh [Hayes] feels like he has nothing to lose and will be looking to go out winning races. And that’s just the top three guys. On any given weekend there’s three or four other guys who could step up and challenge for the win. So many things could happen, but I’m just focused on doing what it takes to win this championship. It’s important to me and the team.”
Hacking sees this race as one of the most important of the year.
“I’m 13 points down to Rog so the equation is simple for me,” Hacking said. “I need to win the race, it’s that simple. I had a great race at VIR last year, but there really wasn’t much pressure on since I nearly had the championship wrapped up. Now it’s a different story. It’s all on the line there, as far as getting close enough to have a shot at the championship, but as a racer you’ve got to like those kinds of challenges.”
Hacking took the win last year after a race long battle with M4 EMGO Suzuki teammates Geoff May and Michael Barnes.
A crash at Laguna Seca last month took Erion Honda’s Josh Hayes from the Supersport series lead to a distant third. While he joked in a press conference that the Laguna crash may have cost him the price of a new home in California, he said it frees him to think about nothing but winning races.
“I know that mathematically, for sure, you always have a shot in a championship, but if I do my job and Roger and Jamie do their job, I really don’t have a shot at that championship, so I’m not going to think about that,” Hayes said. “I’m going to try to win races. If I can put enough pressure on them to force a mistake on their part, and get myself back in the championship, that’s great. If not, I want to win races for Honda and show the world they have a great motorcycle. I think that’s the best thing I can do for myself right now.”
Hayes could earn the distinction this Sunday of giving Honda its first VIR Supersport win.
Other riders such as M4 EMGO Suzuki’s May and Martin Cardenas, Celtic Racing’s Chaz Davies, Erion Honda’s Aaron Gobert, Yoshimura Suzuki’s Tommy Hayden and Attack Kawasaki’s Steve Rapp and Ben Attard all have real shots at winning this weekend’s race.
This Sunday’s Pro Honda Oils Supersport Championship presented by Shoei is part of the Suzuki Big Kahuna Nationals.

Hayes Seeking First VIR Formula Xtreme Victory

Hayes is firmly in control of the Lockhart-Phillips USA Formula Xtreme Series presented by HMR, but he still has goals to meet this season. One of them is putting his Erion Honda on top of the podium in the Formula Xtreme race at Virginia International Raceway on Saturday.
Hayes comes to VIR this weekend with a solid 50-point lead in the Formula Xtreme standings having won five of the seven rounds. With that type of margin Hayes could have a problem at one race and still hold the championship lead, so with the pressure off he’d like to close out the year with a string of victories. While the Gulfport, Mississippi rider has scored eight career wins putting him tied for fifth on the all-time Formula Xtreme wins list leading up to this Saturday’s race, he’s yet to score a victory at VIR.
“I like VIR and I’d like to think I can win there,” Hayes said. “I came so close last year in a great battle with Eric [Bostrom]. Hopefully it’s my time to get a victory there.”
The VIR Formula Xtreme race last year was one of the all-time classics in the history of the series with Bostrom coming out on top over Hayes by just 0.122 seconds in a riveting last-lap battle.
Hayes’ biggest challenge this year in Virginia may come from within his own team. Aaron Gobert has already scored a win this year on the second Erion Honda and has three runners-up finishes on top of that. While Gobert may be nearly out of the title hunt this year, he’ll certainly be looking to close out the season with some strong finishes. The likeable Australian won the Formula Xtreme race at VIR in 2001.
Attack Kawasaki has also been a leading team in the series this year. Steve Rapp won the Daytona 200 and has been looking to climb to the top of the box ever since. His teammate Ben Attard scored a runner-up finish to Hayes at Mid-Ohio, establishing him as a genuine threat to win at VIR.
If Rapp or Attard breaks through this weekend it would mark the first VIR Formula Xtreme victory for Kawasaki.
Another rider to watch at VIR this weekend will be Celtic Racing’s Chaz Davies who finished third at Mid-Ohio, riding a Supersport-spec Yamaha.
While the Formula Xtreme riders are renewing their rivalry of just two weeks ago, AMA Superstock Series presented by Dyonjet riders are chomping at the bit to get back to racing after a two-month layoff. The Mid-Ohio round was canceled due to weather so that means the last time the Superstock riders raced was at Miller Motorsports Park in Tooele, Utah back on June 24.
Yoshimura Suzuki’s Ben Spies is dominating the series with five wins in six races. He was the only rider in the series to score a point at Mid-Ohio by winning the pole. That pushed his lead to 40 points over Graves Yamaha’s Ben Bostrom.
Jordan Suzuki’s Aaron Yates, just six-points back in third, is looking to close the gap on Bostrom at VIR. Yates is the only rider other than Spies to win in the series this year.
Yates won the 2005 Superstock race at VIR.
This weekend’s Lockhart-Phillips USA Formula Xtreme Series and AMA Superstock Series presented by Dynojet races are part of the Suzuki Big Kahuna Nationals.