Accident Claims Nathalie Woman, Child

A 29-year-old Nathalie woman and her eight-year-old daughter were killed Thursday morning in a two vehicle accident that occurred on Highway 501 just north of Gladys.
Wendy Brightwell Francis and her oldest daughter, both of Pine Tree Trail in Nathalie, died at the scene of the accident that occurred around 8:30 a.m., according to Sgt. K. R. Bumgarner of the Virginia State Police.
Francis’ seven-year-old daughter was seriously injured in the accident and transported to Lynchburg General Hospital. Thursday night, she was transferred by ambulance to the University of Virginia Hospital in Charlottesville, Sgt. Bumgarner said.
Jan Morrison, a spokesman for the UVA medical center, said Friday that the young girl was in fair condition.
Police are not releasing the names of the children because they are minors.
Police believe the accident occurred when Francis’ 2001 Nissan pickup swerved into the southbound land and struck a 2000 GMC flatbed truck operated by 23-year-old Justin Sinclair Walker, then veered off the road.
The accident occurred approximately a mile and a half north of Route 635, according to police.
Both Walker and Sammuel Junior Jackson, 50, a passenger in the GMC, were taken to Lynchburg General Hospital. Both reportedly received non-life-threatening injuries.
According to published reports, Trooper D.A. Beach of the Virginia State Police said Francis was taking her daughters to a relative’s house on her way to work when the accident occurred.
She worked at Cunningham Brothers Used Auto Parts south of Lynchburg and was previously employed at Foster Fuels in South Boston.
No charges have been filed in the accident, which is still under investigation, according to police.

 

Sinai Business Hit In Drive-By Shooting

Hit By Two Bullets, Two Missed, No One Injured

A Sinai Road business fell victim to a drive-by shooting early yesterday afternoon, just hours after police said the business was vandalized.
In an ironic twist, a glass company arrived on the scene to repair the broken windows at Sunny Quick Shop as police were sealing off the area as a crime scene.
According to Lt. Steve Cassada of the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office, a call reporting the shooting was made to dispatchers at 1:22 p.m.
On the scene, police recovered four shell casings and a bullet that they suspect came from a 45-caliber firearm.
They also discovered two bullet holes in separate windows of the business, but found four shell casings, leading them to suspect the shooters missed with two of the shots, according to police at the scene.
“It’s pure luck that no one was hit,” Officer S.M. Comer of the Halifax Police Department said as he surveyed the damage.
The store was open and occupied at the time of the shootings.
Reports at the scene indicate the suspect vehicle was a possible white SUV, but police at the scene said that tags reported by a witness didn’t match the vehicle description.
Cassada said the store fell victim to vandals overnight Saturday, with a large window and the glass of the front door damaged, but added that police do not believe the business was entered in the incident.

 

South Boston Town Council
To Address Town Code Changes

Borrowing Resolution On Agenda

Proposed town code changes to establish rental inspection districts in certain blighted areas, and changes to allow minors 16 years or older to work in fire company activities are on South Boston Council’s work session agenda tonight.
The meeting begins at 5:45 p.m. in Council Chambers at 502 Yancey Street.
In a housekeeping matter, Councilmen will also discuss dropping insurance coverage of rescue squad personnel from town code. With the county providing coverage, the provision is obsolete.
Also on the agenda, the second reading of the 2005-2006 Borrowing Resolution, which allows town officials to borrow up to $1.5 million to meet expenditures in anticipation of tax and other revenue collections.
In other business, Council will also address the proposed transfer of the cablevision franchise from the financially troubled Adelphia to Time Warner ComCast.
Each locality must approve allowing Time Warner to take over the franchise.
Planning Commission
The Current Issues Committee will receive the Planning Commission’s recommendations on the school system’s amendment to allow construction of major additions and entranceways to the Middle School, and on Southside Tower Services’ special use permit application for a 350’ wireless communications facility at the intersection of Farm Road and River Road.
Following public hearings on the applications August 10, the Commission recommended the 350’ wireless communications facility be approved with conditions; and made no recommendation for the school system amendment to allow the construction projects at the Middle School.
Public hearings have been advertised for the September 12 Council meeting.

 

Obituaries

Jannie Mae Wilkins Lovelace

Funeral services for Mrs. Jannie Mae Wilkins Lovelace will be held today at 11 a.m. at the New Bethel Baptist Church in Halifax with the Rev. Ronald Clarke officiating.
Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
Mrs. Lovelace, 81, of Ball Park Loop in Halifax died Thursday, August 25, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
She was born in Halifax County on November 24,1923, the daughter of the late George Wilkins and Fannie Mae Richardson Wilkins and was a member of the New Bethel Baptist Church.
Mrs. Lovelace is survived by four daughters, Helen Moore, Marie Davis, Willamae Lora and Debra Emmanuel, all of New York City; a son, Henry Lovelace Jr. of New York City; a sister, Hilda Davis of Vernon Hill; two brothers, John Daniel and Clifton Daniel, both of Halifax; an aunt, Lonnie Richardson; four sisters-in-law, Catherine Daniel, Margaret Daniel, Virginia Daniel and Frances Daniel; a brother-in-law, Israel Davis; a son-in-law, Lloyd Emmanuel; 20 grandchildren; 21 great-grandchildren and a host of nieces, nephews other relatives and friends.
She was preceded in death by two daughters, Delores Horton and Virginia Jeter, and two brothers, Fletcher Daniel and Akra Daniel.
The family is receiving friends at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Clifton Daniel, 3105 Ball Park Loop, Halifax.

Ellen Lee Womack Barksdale

Ellen Lee Womack Barksdale of South Boston died August 24 in Danville Regional Medical Center.
Mrs. Barksdale was born in Halifax County on August 26, 1939, and was 65 years of age at the time of her death. She was the daughter of the late William and Frances Luck Womack and was married to the late James Henry Barksdale. Mrs. Barksdale was a member of the Womack Chapel Holiness Church.
She is survived by six children, Robert Barksdale of Baltimore, Md., Arnold Barksdale and Janie Veale and husband, Rick, of Virginia Beach, William Barksdale and wife, Gladys, Vernon Hill, Richard Barksdale and wife, Rhonda, South Boston, and Harry Barksdale of New York; 12 grandchildren; four sisters, Maxine Adams and husband, William, of Keeling, Bessie Womack of Danville, Martha Ragsdale and husband, Harold, Nathalie, and Sarah Womack Halifax; and one brother Walter Womack and wife, Doris, of Danville.
Funeral services for Mrs. Barksdale were held August 28, at 2p.m. at Ebenezer Baptist Church, Java, with Bishop Joseph Dixon conducting the services. Burial followed in the Womack Chapel Holiness Church Cemetery.

Harriette Johnston Smith

Harriette Johnston Smith of 109 Averett Court, South Boston died August 25, at The Woodview. She was born in South Boston on July 14, 1918, and was 87 years of age. She was the daughter of the late A. C. Johnston and Willie J. Richardson Johnston and was married to William David Smith Jr. who survives.
Mrs. Smith was a member of the Main Street United Methodist Church.
Survivors include her husband; one nephew: Robert Edmondson of South Boston; two great-nieces, Carey Gardner Williams and Kathy J. Paterson; and one great-nephew, William Hall.
Funeral services for Mrs. Smith were held August 27, at 2 p.m. at Powell Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Robert Johnston and the Rev. Dr. Tim Cannon officiating. Burial followed in Oak Ridge Cemetery.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Main Street United Methodist Church, 701 North Main Street, South Boston, 24592, or a charity of your choice.

Charlie Allen Childs

Charlie Allen Childs, 67, of 2228 Willow Street, South Boston died August 24, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Childs was born in Halifax County on April 20, 1938, the son of the late Herbert Childs and Lizzie Bell Graves Childs, and was married to Anita Talbott Childs. He was a member of New Bethel Baptist Church in Alton.
Survivors include his wife of the home; four sisters, Ada Hamlett and Zelma McGhee, both of Martinsville, Nora Mae Brandon and Willie Ann Holland, both of South Boston; and one brother, Willie Childs of Roxboro, N.C.
Funeral services for Mr. Childs were held August 27, at 1 p.m. at New Bethel Baptist Church with the Rev. Harvey Bigelow officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery.

Wendy Brightwell Francis

Funeral services for Mrs. Wendy Brightwell Francis will be held today at 3 p.m. at Childrey Baptist Church with the Rev. Rodney Barwick officiating.
Interment will follow in Wickliffe Cemetery, Brookneal.
Mrs. Francis, 29, of Pine Tree Trail in Nathalie, died Thursday, August 25.
She was born in Lynchburg, October 31, 1975, the daughter of Billy Ray Brightwell and Virginia Diane Wright Brightwell of Nathalie, and was married to Adam Ray Francis.
Mrs. Francis was a member of Childrey Baptist Church and secretary for Cunningham Brothers Salvage Co.
In addition to her husband and parents, she is survived by one daughter, Cassidy Jade Francis; three step-daughters, Shana Lynn Francis, Codi Leigh Francis and Ashley LaRae Francis of Halifax; maternal grandparents, Shirley Bullen and husband John of Gladys, Joe L. Wright of Nathalie; father-in-law, Howard B. Francis of Nathalie, mother-in-law, Patsy D. Dalton of Nathalie; and one brother, Billy Joe Brightwell of Nathalie.
Mrs. Francis was preceded in death by her paternal grandparents, Tom P. and Rosa M. Brightwell.

Chelsey Nicole Francis

Funeral services for Chelsey Nicole Francis will be held today at 3 p.m. at Childrey Baptist Church with the Rev. Rodney Barwick officiating.
Interment will follow in Wickliffe Cemetery, Brookneal.
Chelsey Francis, 9, of Pine Tree Trail in Nathalie, died Thursday, August 25.
She was born April 19, 1996, in South Boston, the daughter of Adam Ray Francis and the late Wendy Brightwell Francis. She was a student at Brookneal Elementary School.
In addition to her father, Chelsey is survived by one sister, Cassidy Jade Francis of Nathalie; three step-sisters, Shana Lynn Francis, Codi Leigh Francis and Ashley LaRae Francis of Halifax; paternal grandparents, Howard B. Francis and Patsy D. Dalton, both of Nathalie; maternal grandparents, Billy Ray and Diane Brightwell of Nathalie; and three uncles, Billy Brightwell, Howard E. Francis and Shannon L. Crews.
The family will receive friends at the residence of Billy and Diane Brightwell, Pine Tree Trail, Nathalie.

 

Comets Gridders Continue To Improve

The HCHS Varsity Football Team Held Its Own In Friday Scrimmages Against Veteran Colonial Forge And Varina Teams

BY Joe Chandler
G-V staff writer

Halifax County High School validated its status as an improving football team Friday, giving a pair of veteran teams that made the postseason playoffs last season in their respective regions all they could handle in Friday’s 18th Annual GW Football Jamboree in Danville.
The Comets tied the Colonial Forge Eagles 7-7 and fell 13-0 to the Varina Blue Devils in their pair of scrimmages.
It was a good performance in that the Comets held their own against Colonial Forge, a team that finished 7-4 last year after losing in the first round of the Northwest Region playoffs and against Varina, a team that finished 10-1 last season after losing its opening round Central Region playoff game.
“I thought we took some steps forward,” said Comets coach John Lacy Harris.
“We needed this. We need to scrimmage real good teams and I think we did. There were a lot of positives to come out of this.”
Both Colonial Forge and Varina, especially Varina, displayed a good combination of size and speed, something the Comets did not see in their initial scrimmage against Gretna High School.
“The speed of the game tripled from the Gretna scrimmage,” Harris pointed out.
“We have to adjust to that. I don’t know if we did as good a job adjusting to it as we should have.”
The Comets did good things on both sides of the ball.
In the first scrimmage against Colonial Forge, the Comets marched 80 yards in eight plays to pick up their first score of the game.
A 52-yard pass from quarterback Bobby Owens to Patrick Terry helped set the table for the score. Troy Douglas did the honors with a six-yard scamper around the left side and Chris Rorrer added the extra point.
That score, which came with 2:30 left in the scrimmage, allowed the Comets to tie the game at 7-7.
Halifax County’s defense forced a fumble immediately after that score and the Comets got the ball back with 2:23 left with a chance to get the win. The Comets got their chance but Colonial Forge blocked a 28-yard field goal attempt by Rorrer with 1:24 left.
Defensively, the Comets held their own after Colonial Forge marched 66 yards in 11 plays in just over five minutes to take the lead in the first period of the two-period scrimmage.
Halifax County prevented the Eagles from making a 47-yard field goal attempt and forced a fumble that gave the Comets a shot at winning the scrimmage.
If there was a negative, it was that the Comets got off to a slow start offensively.
“We got off to a slow start and I thought we picked it up and did a real good job the last three fourths of the scrimmage,” Harris said.
“ We had a slow start in the scrimmage at Gretna. We’ve got to get over that.”
Against Varina, the Comets found themselves matched up against a faster and bigger team, the biggest and fastest team they have faced thus far.
After a poor start on their first offensive series, a series in which the Comets lost 11 yards before having to punt on the fourth play, Varina marched 65 yards in six plays, scoring in 2:18 when quarterback Devon Morgan scored on a 34-yard run.
The Comets struggled offensively in their second offensive series but the defense gave the team a break by forcing and recovering a fumble for their second forced turnover of the day. Unfortunately, the offensive unit was unable to advantage of the opportunity.
Varina missed a 28-yard field goal attempt a couple of series later but added another touchdown on a 53-yard pass play from Morgan to Dante Boston with 39.2 seconds left in the first period.
With second and third-string players from both sides in the game, the Blue Devils had a chance to add another touchdown late in the second period but chose to allow the clock to run out instead.
While the Comets were defeated by Varina, Harris said there were positives to be gained from the experience.
“I hope they (the players) got some confidence out of it,” he said.
“I think the fact that each individual player went up against a good athlete and held his own throughout the Varina scrimmage should give that individual player confidence and I think it will.
“Varina has a heck of a football team,” Harris continued.
“Our kids don’t understand they can be a good football team. I’m not saying they can be a good football team tomorrow, but they’re going to be a good football team when they start realizing they can.”
The Comets coach pointed out that his team was somewhat limited on offense.
“We only ran about one fourth of our offense,” the coach said.
“ There is no need of getting that on film and sharing it with the team we play next week in a game that counts. We really put our kids in a bind offensively because we didn’t use all of the offense.
“We still didn’t execute as well as we could have,” he added.
“We’re a young team and we’re going to get better. There is no offensive lineman that has started a game ever. There is no offensive player that has started a game at the position where they are now except Marcus Coleman (tailback) and Bobby Owens who started at quarterback two years ago in a non-passing offense.”
The defensive breakdowns in the Varina scrimmage, Harris said, were caused primarily by Varina being the good football team that it is.
“I attribute it to Varina’s athleticism,” Harris said.
“Let’s give them credit. They’re a good football team.”

 

Mladin Sweeps AMA Superbike Doubleheader At VIR Raceway

Mat Mladin Scored A Dominating Victory In Yesterday’s AMA Superbike Race At VIR

BY Joe Chandler
G -V staff writer

Mat Mladin scarcely had to deal yesterday with the trouble that plagued him in Saturday’s opening-round AMA Superbike race in the Suzuki Big Kahuna Nationals here at VIRginia International Raceway.
That was terrible news for the rest of the 38-rider field that started yesterday’s second round AMA Superbike race of the Big Kahuna Nationals.
Mladin fell back to fifth on the start but quickly recovered by driving past Suzuki teammate rookie Ben Spies on the fifth lap and laying waste to the field with a runaway 11.010-second win over fellow Suzuki teammate Aaron Yates.
“It was a good race for us,” said Mladin after winning the race and making a sweep of the weekend’s AMA Superbike doubleheader.
“We got a little better start. It just bogged a little bit and pushed us back to fifth or sixth but we made our way through. It was nice to get the win and I look forward to next week at Atlanta.”
Once Mladin broke into the lead by passing Spies in turn four on the fourth lap the race was no contest as Mladin pulled away from the field by as much as a half a second per lap.
“I just tried to keep pushing on my own pace and just sort of sat there (at the half a second a lap margin),” he said.
Mladin’s win was his 10th win of the season and the 42nd win of his career. It tied the single-season win record Mladin tied in 2003, a record that legendary racer Fred Merckl established in 1984.
Yates, who started fourth, charged past Jake Zemke to take third place on the ninth lap and sped past Spies two laps later to grab second place. The two Suzuki riders held their respective positions the rest of the way to give Suzuki a sweep of the three podium positions for the second time in as many days.
“It wasn’t much of a battle,” said Yates.
“ I got off the line a little slow and ran behind Jake and Ben for awhile. They started slowing down a little bit and I was keeping my pace and got by them. Ben got into turn one a little hot. I was right there with him. I was wondering if I was going to make it but I was able to turn up under him and went on and cruised to the end.”
Spies’ race didn’t go quite as well as he had hoped but he still managed to make his second podium finish in as many days.
“Everything was going relatively good and I started going backwards,” he said.
“All through the year I’ve been concentrating on being strong at the end of the race. On the riding level I’m definitely not where Mat is, even if the bike is set up.”
Honda rider Miguel Duhamel finished fourth and Ducati rider Neil Hodgson rounded out the top five finishers.
Joshua Hayes, Eric Bostram, Jason Pridmore, Steve Rapp and Cory Denton West completed the top ten finishers.
Mladin led 24 laps of the 28-lap 100K race and averaged 94.1 mph in the race that took 40 minutes and 22.160 seconds to complete.
Hayden Brothers Sweep Supersport Race
Tommy Hayden came to VIRginia International Raceway looking to wrap up the Pro Honda Oils Supersport Series title and secure a second-straight series championship.
But, he will have to wait one more week, until the series finale at Road Atlanta, before he can nail down the title.
His chief rival for the series crown, his Kawasaki teammate and brother, Roger Lee Hayden, won yesterday’s 18-lap event, holding off a late charge by Tommy Hayden to win by a narrow .022-second margin, about a half a motorcycle length.
The win was the second in a row for Roger Hayden and his third for the season.
“I definitely didn’t think he was going to be that close,” Roger Hayden said after his win.
“It’s a difficult race when your (pit) board says plus zero for 16 laps and you can hear him behind you. You don’t want to make any mistakes and leave any doors open. It was fun and games.”
Roger Hayden had what appeared to be a somewhat comfortable lead with a couple of laps to go only to see his brother quickly close the gap and make a hard run coming out of the final corner on the last lap.
Tommy Hayden drew alongside his brother but Roger Hayden had enough momentum to hold off Tommy Hayden’s charge at the stripe.
“I had a pretty good run off the last corner,” Tommy Hayden said.
“I thought I was in the perfect spot. When I was driving up behind him, I thought it looked really good at first. It just kind of stalled out on the drive for some reason.”
Tommy Hayden said he was trying to keep pressure on his brother during the late stages of the race.
“I was just trying to hold the pressure and, the last couple of laps I hopefully would be close and could try to make something happen,” he said.
“Roger ran an awesome race. I really, really wanted to get the championship wrapped up today and have a stress free weekend next week and have a little bit of fun. But, it didn’t work out.”
Jason Disalvo of Stafford, N.Y. finished third aboard a Yamaha with Kawasaki rider Ben Attard and Yamaha rider Damon Buckmaster, who started ninth, rounding out the top five finishers.
Aaron Gobert, Geoff May, Nickoles Moore, Taylor Knapp and Blake Young completed the top ten.
Ben Spies and Chris Peris were early contenders, running in the top five. Both riders were knocked out of contention when they were involved in mishaps. Peris finished 25th and Spies finished 26th.
Roger Hayden led 15 laps of the 17-lap race and averaged 91.9 mph in winning the race that took 25 minutes and 5.390 seconds to complete.
Yates Wins Shortened Superstock Series Race
Aaron Yates nailed down his fourth win in a row and his fifth win of the season here yesterday, edging Roger Lee Hayden by .574 second to win the crash-shortened Repsol Lubricants Superstock Series race.
Yates, riding a Suzuki, led all the way in the 18-lap race that was shortened to 13 laps as a result of a serious two-bike crash on the frontstretch between Jason Pridmore and Jacob Holden.
A Suzuki team spokesman said initial plans called for Holden to be airlifted to Duke University Medical Center in Durham, N.C. However, due to weather concerns, a decision was made to transport Holden by ambulance to Danville Regional Hospital.
The crash foiled a planned late bid by Hayden to go for the win.
“It just never happened,” said Hayden, a Kawasaki rider.
“ I was going to wait until two laps to go and try to hold him off for two laps. He was spinning (his wheels) a little bit out of turn one and I was also a little better than him in (turn) one and the turn going up the hill. He was better than me in the middle sections. Those were the two spots I thought I might be able to try something.”
Yates said he was surprised at the way the race ended.
“I was expecting something to go down - some excitement starting to build,” said Yates.
“It was coming towards the end and I had somebody (Hayden) right here fixing to dice it out and nothing happened. It was kind of strange. It just all ended.”
Yates said he was a little surprised at how closely Hayden hung with him.
“Roger just hung on and hung on,” he said.
“I thought maybe he (Hayden) might start fading a little bit but he was sticking right there.
“I thought he was going to try to come by me in a couple of places,” continued Yates.
“I was cautious getting into turn one and up there at the top of the hill, in testing I went down up there. I was trying to pick up the pace a little bit on the lap the red flag came out. I had dropped back a little and was taking a little break and thought he may come by. I’m glad he didn’t since the race got cut short. He might have ended up with the win but he didn’t.”
Jason Disalvo of Stafford, N.Y., riding a Yamaha, finished third with Yamaha rider Damon Buckmaster of Henderson, NV and Suzuki rider Geoff May of Cumming, GA rounding out the top five on a Suzuki.
Defending series champion Aaron Gobert, Steve Rapp, Pridmore, Holden and John Haner rounded out the top ten finishers.

 

Professor Pigskin Begins
A New Season Today

Professor Pigskin kicks off his 56th consecutive season in today’s issue of the Gazette-Virginian and will continue the football prognostication contest for the next 12 weeks.
Fans will find the contest entry blank in the sports section of the newspaper each Monday during the Professor’s 12-week season.
Advertisements containing the games will be placed in different locations throughout the newspaper. Ads containing the Professor Pigskin logo will contain one of the games for the contest. Only one game will be found in each advertisement.
The list of advertisers who have a contest game contained in their ad is shown on the contest entry blank.
Participants will have to look in the advertisements to find the game and then write their pick on the entry blank. Fans will also be asked to enter their guess of the score of the week’s Halifax County High School football game,which will serve as the tiebreaker.
Only two entries will be accepted from each household.
No handwritten copies will be accepted.
Entries may be mailed to Professor Pigskin Contest, The Gazette-Virginian, P.O. Box 524, South Boston, Va. 24592.
Entries will also be accepted at the Gazette-Virginian office.
All entries must be received at the Gazette-Virginian office by 5 p.m. each Friday in order to be eligible for the contest.
The jackpot will start at $88 and will increase by $1 each week until a lucky winner runs the table on the Professor and turns in a perfect ballot with all of the games picked correctly.
The weekly prizes will remain the same as last season with the weekly winner receiving a $30 prize, the runner-up taking home a $20 prize and the third-place winner receiving a $10 prize.
“It’s great to be back and start another new season,” the Professor said.
“I appreciate the support of all of the folks who have participated in the contest over the years and invite everyone to sharpen their pencils, put on their thinking caps and join us this week as we start a new season.”