HCHS: A Community College
School Board To Vote On Eighth ‘Virtual Academy’ Geared To Home-Schooled And Homebound Students

“Your high school probably has more students taking college classes than any other school in the country,” Halifax County School Superintendent Paul Stapleton told members of the School Board yesterday during their annual retreat. “We passed the state of Virginia last year.
“With these kind of totals, I’d like to find the school out there that has more students taking college classes than Halifax County High School,” he added. “I’d say we’re larger than some community colleges right now.”
According to a report released to the School Board yesterday, HCHS students are taking 4,060 college classes totaling 13,254 college credit hours.
Although no exact number of students is available because some students are taking more than one college class, Stapleton estimated that more than1,400 high school students are participating in the program.
“You’re going to have a lot of students graduating with a college degree beginning with the freshman class this year,” Stapleton said. “That’s going to save parents thousands of dollars not only in the cost of tuition, but they’re not having to pay for books, housing, food, etc. Parents are getting a real deal there and the students are getting a real deal because they’re getting a college transcript.”
Director of Technology Paul Nichols told the Board that the innovative approach is receiving national attention.
“And business and industry leaders are thrilled at what we’re doing and have said they’d continue to do anything they can to assist us,” he said.
Nichols said the coursework is challenging, “but our students can do it and we’re giving them the opportunity to do it.”
The director of technology credited business and industry with opening their doors to the students by giving them job-shadowing opportunities.
“The students are getting some of the training that will give them the opportunity to go out and have a very successful career in their chosen fields,” he added.
Stapleton said his goal this year was to more than double the 400 students that took college classes in the high school last year.
“I’d said I’d like to have 1,000 students taking college classes this year, but we went over that,” he said.
“I’m not going to fuss about that, but the second semester we need to pick it up a bit,” Stapleton added with a laugh.
The Virtual Academy
An eighth Academy that is designed to teach students who, for whatever reason, are unable to attend school will debut this year after the School Board votes on it Monday, Stapleton said.
“I think it’s very exciting,” the superintendent said of the Virtual Academy. “We’re going to start with grades K-9 this year and progress a grade at a time until we reach the 12th grade.”
The school system has developed a relationship with a company that specializes in high-quality, virtual education, Stapleton said.
“The company is giving us the program this year for a gifted students in grades 4-6,” he said, noting that Halifax County is the only school division in the state who will offer the program.
“For the first time, we will be able to offer home-schooled students and parents the opportunity to get everything curriculum-wise through a virtual academy,” Stapleton added. “We can say to the home-schoolers that we’re concerned about the education of every child in the county. It will save the parents a lot of money because it will be free and they won’t have to buy a home-schooling program. We can offer them the curriculum that meets all of our standards.
“If it’s successful, we have just created another education model for schools to use.
“This, I think, opens up a whole new ballgame about the way we’re doing business,” Stapleton added. “Halifax County is saying ‘let us give you a model for the state to look at.’ This is an opportunity to offer more and more opportunities for students to learn.
“We can offer a virtual school where they can get all of their instruction at home,” he said. “With this, we’re covering every school-age child in Halifax County.”

 

Shelter Given OK By Supes

Foster: Construction Will Take Six To Eight Months To Complete

The Halifax County Board of Supervisors voted unanimously, with supervisor Doug Bowman abstaining, to accept J.E. Burton Construction’s $502,326 bid for a 7,000 square foot animal shelter.
The action came during a nearly four-hour meeting Tuesday at the Mary Bethune Complex in Halifax.
Canine issues dominated most of the meeting, with the vote to accept Burton’s bid coming early in the nearly four-hour meeting on a motion by Supervisor Ronnie Vaughan and a second by Supervisor Lottie Nunn.
Citing that he is married to the mother of owner Jeff Burton, Bowman declined to vote on the matter.
County Administrator Bryan Foster told the Board that in order to finance the shelter, the county would finance both a new T-hanger at the William Tuck Airport and the shelter over a 10-year period.
“This will be a new facility adjacent to the existing facility on Farm Road,” Foster told the Board.
Foster said the bids on the project were discussed during an August 25 finance committee meeting and the committee unanimously recommends the Burton bid.
The bid includes a base bid of $482,493 and an alternate of $19,833 for a standing seam metal roof in lieu of a shingle roof.
Saying the proposed ordinance would do more to burden legitimate kennel owners than force compliance by “a few bad apples,” supervisors nixed a planned public hearing on proposed changes to the kennel ordinance.
“It is the opinion of the planning commission that only a few bad apples are creating problems,” said Assistant County Administrator Jerry Lovelace. “The commission feels it would do more to burden legitimate operators than fix others.”
Lovelace said the commission recommended creating a study group comprised of citizens and elected officials to address the proposed changes and make recommendations to the Board.
Proposed changes to the zoning ordinance regarding kennels reflected changes in minimum setbacks from roadways, requirements in offsets from rear and adjacent property lines, waste disposal regulations, a requirement that at commercial kennels dogs are kept inside an enclosed building between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m., a noise ordinance and other requirements.
“I agree not to bring this issue before the Board tonight and agree that we need to have a study committee,” Board Chairman William Fitzgerald said. “It’s my wish that this not take us longer than October to bring before the Board in November.”
Nunn appointed Sarah Humber to serve on the committee.
Kennel owners Beth Farmer and Barbara Perkins will join Humber, county residents Ronald Fitch and Duvall Conner. Nunn will serve as a representative of the Board and will be joined by a member of the Planning Commission.
On a motion by Vaughan, the Board unanimously approved canceling the public hearing on the matter.
Hearing On Increased Dog Tag Fees
A plan to increase the fees for dog licenses was met with vocal opposition during Tuesday’s meeting, with the vast majority of the crowd opposing the fees.
The proposed changes are a response to a complaint from Chatham Road resident Wayne Conant, who told the Board during its May meeting that noisy dogs being kept by a private kennel adjacent to his property were bothersome.
Telling the Board that the last increase was in 1980 for dog tags and in 1982 for kennel tags, Lovelace told the Board the proposed increases were:
• For one to five dogs, $5 if the dog is spayed or neutered, $10 if not spayed or neutered. The current cost is $3.
• For a kennel housing between six and 10 dogs, $40. The current rate is $20.
• A kennel with between 11 and 20 dogs - $60, up from the current rate of $30.
• For a kennel with 21 or more dogs - $75, up from the current rate of $37.50.
Nathalie resident Thomas Hines told the Board that he feels the increases unfairly single out dog owners.
“I’m back here again when you go taking money from me,” he said. “Dogs, to my knowledge, are the only animal singled out for tax purposes.”
Hines said that if the increases are passed the number of unlicensed dogs in the county would increase exponentially.
“You can’t collect the three dollars,” he said. “What’s going to happen when you go to five and 10?
“A responsible dog man doesn’t cause you problems,” Hines added. “I don’t see where you’ll gain. You’ll increase the problem with the increase in dog fees.”
County resident Gene Riddle said it is unfair to single out the owners of dogs that are not spayed or neutered.
“To have a dog neutered or spayed costs more than $100 at the vet’s office,” he said. “Am I smart to pay $100 on an operation to save $5 a year on tags? The dog would have to live 20 years to pay the difference.”
Conant told the Board that he feels commercial kennels should be paying three to four times what private dog owners pay for fees.
“They’re running a commercial entity and a lot of times it’s on private property,” he said. “There should be fees to ensure people are operating legitimate businesses.”
“My dogs haven’t cost the county a dime,” kennel owner Beth Farmer retorted. “You don’t know the amount of fees we have to pay. If you don’t know what we have to pay, you don’t understand.”
Farmer told the Board she didn’t oppose a fee increase, “but there are other ways to get money than burden taxpayers.”
She suggested fining unlicensed dog owners at a higher rate.
“Put it on the people causing the problems rather than taxpayers,” she said.
Saying the way the proposed ordinance is written is unclear, Scottsburg resident Jay Reese said Farmer was on the right track.
“I don’t have a problem paying some more,” he said. “But doubling it at one time and saying we have to pay for the pound gets under my skin. The (dogs) that get taken to the pound, (owners) should be written tickets and get the money from them.
“If you’re going to charge for dogs, charge the person causing the problem,” Reese added.
Responding to a statement from the Board that the fees would be used to assist in paying for the new animal shelter, dog owner Jason Talbot said he has a dozen dogs that “are treated better than some people.”
“I couldn’t tell you how to get to (the animal shelter) and you’re telling me I have to pay for a new one?
“Why should we suffer the consequences for the (people) breaking the law?” Talbot asked. “I’m completely against it.”
Fitzgerald told the crowd the increased fees aren’t designed to penalize legitimate dog owners, rather to help the county pay for the new shelter.
“The cost of the kennel is a half million,” the Board chairman said. “The increase in the fees will soften the blow to the taxpayers.”
Fitzgerald noted the fees haven’t been increased since 1982.
“I personally don’t believe it’s to single anyone out or penalize anyone,” he said. “This Board has taken steps to build a shelter, but at the same time there are costs associated with it. An increase in fees that haven’t been raised in 20 years isn’t out of reason.”
Following the public hearing, Bowman suggested the Board table the matter until its October meeting and asked county staff to “look at what can be done.” With a second by Supervisor James Edmunds, the motion unanimously passed.
Once any changes to the proposal are made, the Board can approve the changes without an additional public hearing.

 

South Boston Fire Department Receives $119,414 Homeland Security Grant

A $119,414 Department of Homeland Security Grant will buy new turnout gear and breathing equipment for the South Boston Fire Department and EMS crew, South Boston Fire Chief William Murray said yesterday.
“We’re getting 28 full sets of turnout gear,” he added. “Helmet, coat, pants, boots, gloves and hoods as well as 22 breathing apparatus with a spare bottle.”
Grant awards were announced Thursday.
The South Boston department received grant funds under the Operations and Firefighter Safety Program, which includes provisions for personal protective equipment, training, fire station facility modifications and wellness and fitness.
“This money will help us meet the National Fire Protection Association standards,” the chief said.
He credited two firemen with the grant’s preparation.
“Calvin ‘Sput’ Jones and Dwight Spangler prepared the grant for application,” said Chief Murray. “They did all of that work.
“It was a blessing for us that we didn’t have to put a burden on the taxpayers or the volunteers to come up with funds,” said Chief Murray.
The federal grant share provides 95 percent funding with the town of South Boston providing five percent, he noted.
The South Boston Fire Department includes eight full-time firefighters and 20 volunteers.
Announcing the grant, 5th District Congressman Virgil Goode commended the South Boston firefighters for their dedication and community service.
“This grant will further allow them to expand their capacities to protect the citizens of South Boston and the surrounding areas,” he said.

 

Obituaries

Lonzer DeShazo

Lonzer DeShazo, 66, of 3181 Piney Grove Road, Alton died September 5 at his home.
Mr. DeShazo was born in Halifax County on March 27, 1939, the son of the late John Hubert DeShazo and Alberta Carrington DeShazo. He was a member of New Bethel Baptist Church in Alton.
Survivors include his devoted companion, Vera Pulliam; four sons, Eric and Alonzo DeShazo, both of New York City, N.Y., Selwyn DeShazo of Middletown, N.Y., and Efrem DeShazo of Spring Valley, N.Y.; one daughter, Yolanda DeShazo-Soobyiah of New York City; one brother, James DeShazo of Baltimore, Md.; one sister, Melvina Pointer of Baltimore; three daughters-in-law, Michelle, Jacqueline and Veronica DeShazo; 11 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; and numerous relatives and friends, including Staley Epps and Martha Williams.
Mr. DeShazo was also preceded in death by a daughter, Gail S. Chapel; and three brothers, Charlie, Alexander and Sidney DeShazo.
Funeral services will be held tomorrow, September 10, at 11 a.m. at New Bethel Baptist Church with the Rev. Harvey Bigelow officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family is receiving friends at the home.

John Lacy Fears

John Lacy Fears, 73, of Brookneal died September 6 at Lynchburg General Hospital. He was the husband of Barbara Pierce Fears.
Mr. Fears was born in Halifax County on October 2, 1931, the son of the late Joe Lee Fears and Jennie Coates Fears. He was a member of Ellis Creek Baptist church and a retired logger.
In addition to his wife, he is survived by one son, John Ray Fears of Brookneal; one daughter, Dianne F. East of Brookneal; and one sister, Lillian Hamlet Wright of Brookneal. Mr. Fears was preceded in death by three brothers and four sisters.
A funeral service will be held at 11 a.m. today, September 9, at Henderson Funeral Home Chapel by the Rev. Troy May. Burial will follow in Ellis Creek Baptist Church Cemetery.

Forest Dale Glasscock

Forest Dale Glasscock, 66, of 390 Fifty Lakes Drive, Boiling Spring Lakes, N.C., formerly of Virgilina, died September, 6 at the home of his daughter, Jenine Scruggs in Southport, N.C.
Mr. Glasscock was born in Halifax County on March 27, 1939, the son of the late George Washington and Julia Davis Glasscock.
Surviving are one daughter, Jennie Scruggs; one son, Dean Glasscock, both of Southport; one brother, Mark R. Glasscock of South Boston; three sisters, Faye Whitfield of Hurdle Mills, S.C., Violet Moore of South Boston, and Lou Wiseman of Roanoke; and his former wife, Glenda Eades Glasscock.
Graveside services for Mr. Glasscock were held at 11 a.m. September 8, in the North Fork Baptist Church Cemetery, Virgilina.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider SOAR, Southport/Oak Island Animal Rescue, 3376 St. Charles Place, Southport, 28461.

Virginia Irene Scearce Maxey

Virginia Irene Scearce Maxey, 67, of 4087 Harmony Road, Alton died September 6 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mrs. Maxey was born in Henry County on March 19, 1938, the daughter of the late Edward Scearce and Alma Minter Scearce, and was married to the late William E. ‘Bill’ Maxey Jr. She was a member of Alton Baptist Church where she was a former member of the Joy Ladies Sunday School Class and the WMU, and was the retired owner/operator of Maxey’s Grocery.
Survivors include three daughters, Linda M. Hamlett and husband, Alton, and Wanda K. Stanfield, all of Alton, and Donna M. Cole of South Boston; two brothers, Earl Scearce and Bernard Scearce, both of Martinsville; and six grandchildren, Jenny Perkins, Valerie Podlin, Bobby and Kathy Stanfield, Ric Bates and Samantha Coates. Mrs. Maxey was also preceded in death by one grandson, Steven Hamlett; and two brothers, Cecil and James Scearce.
Funeral services were held September 8, at 5 p.m. at Alton Baptist Church with the Rev. Dennis Ball and Dr. Phil Duckett officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Alton Baptist Church Prayer Garden, P.O. Box 11, Alton, 24520.

Leroy Franklin Oakes

Leroy Franklin Oakes, 71, of Burlington, N.C. died September 7 in the Alamance Regional Medical Center.
Mr. Oakes was born in Halifax County on November 2, 1933, the son of the late Rawley Lee Oakes and Nora Saunders Oakes. He served with the U.S. Navy and was retired from Copeland Mills Inc. in Danville.
Survivors include one son, Larry Oakes of Danville; one daughter, Donna O. Compton of Buffalo Junction; one sister, Andrey O. Fisher of Ga.; two grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. Mr. Oakes was also preceded in death by one son, Timothy Oakes.
Funeral services will be held today, September 9, at Wrenn-Yeatts Westover Chapel with the Rev. Terry Schultz officiating. A private graveside service will be held in Highland Burial Park.

 

Comets To Stick With The Basics

The HCHS Varsity Football Team Will Look To Keep Things Simple In Tonight’s Road Game Against Dinwiddie
Sticking to the basics.

By Joe Chandler
Staff Writer

That’s the plan for the Halifax County High School varsity football team as it goes on the road tonight to Dinwiddie to face the Dinwiddie Generals.
“We actually used less of our offensive package last week against Rustburg than we did in the two (preseason) scrimmages,” pointed out Comets offensive coordinator Stan Hodgin.
“It will be more of the same this week. I foresee us being very simple.”
While the Comets used only a small part of their offensive arsenal in last week’s 42-41 win over Rustburg, they used it well enough to chalk up 529 yards of total offense and 19 first downs.
The Comets showed they can strike quickly with it, scoring two touchdowns in their first three offensive plays of the game, both on pass plays.
“We weren’t trying to hit a couple of home runs early,” Hodgin said.
“It just happened.”
The Comets would like nothing better than to repeat the quick, early strikes tonight. However, the object for the Comets will be to try to take advantage of whatever Dinwiddie’s defense will allow.
“We don’t have a lot of information about Dinwiddie,” Hodgin explained.
“During our first possession or two of the game, a lot of effort will be spent figuring out what Dinwiddie’s defense is doing. Our play selection and strategy is based upon what our opponent allows us to do. We’ll be very simple to begin with and grow from there if need be.”
One of the keys to tonight’s contest will be the effect injuries will have on the Comets’ effort.
Senior running back Marcus Coleman (5-10, 185 pd.), who was injured in the second of the Comets’ two preseason scrimmages and did not play last week against Rustburg, is questionable for tonight’s game as he continues to nurse an ankle injury.
The injury situation is more serious on the defensive side of the ball.
Junior defensive back Travis Word, who has been sidelined for at least two weeks, is out indefinitely. Senior linebacker Damon Chambers (5-10, 195) is questionable and is on a day-to-day status, and senior linebacker Montour Winstead (6-0, 190), is also questionable.
Also on the questionable list is senior defensive end/defensive tackle Shay Crosby (6-1, 225) who was hurt in last week’s game and did not practice early this week. Definitely out of action for tonight is sophomore linebacker Cedric Bouie ( 5-10, 185) who injured an ankle last week against Rustburg.
On a good note, junior linebacker Lyle Moore (5-9, 170), who battled cramps last week, is expected to be back in the lineup tonight.
Ralph Robinson, the Comets’ defensive coordinator, said Wednesday he expects just about everybody on the injured list, with the exception of Word and Bouie, to be healthy again in another week and ready to play in the Comets’ home game next week against neighboring Person High.
In the meantime, Robinson says he and the coaching staff and players will deal with the injury situation by going to a 3-5 defensive alignment tonight.
“It’s not something that we’re doing that’s new,” he said.
“We worked on it during the preseason. With the linebackers we have injured, this alignment will suit our personnel. We’re big up front, we’re good at linebacker and we have a lot of speed around the perimeter.
“After practicing with it this week, it looks pretty good,” he added.
Robinson said he didn’t feel the real Halifax County defense showed up in last week’s game against Rustburg, a game in which the Comets yielded 510 yards of total offense and 27 first downs.
To the defense’s credit, it made the key stop of the game in foiling a potential game-winning two-point conversion attempt by Rustburg and, it forced two turnovers with a fumble recovery and a pass interception.
“This week we’re challenging the kids to step up and we feel like they will step up to meet the challenge that’s ahead of them,” said Robinson.
“I want to see us show up this week and play defense the way we’re capable of playing defense.”
In Dinwiddie, which is facing the Comets tonight in their home season-opener, the Comets are facing a team that was 2-8 overall last year and 2-5 in Richmond’s Central District.
The Generals lost 10 starters from last year’s team including four-year standout running back Khalee Prothro and are in somewhat of a rebuilding mode.
Dinwiddie has a sophomore quarterback in Brandon Hayes (5-10, 170) and has two junior running backs in the backfield with him, Kevin McLaughlin (6-0, 180) and Resean Jones (6-0, 190).
The Generals are also expected to be young on defense, with four sophomores and a freshman projected to start on defense.

 

Varsity Spikers Fall To Magna Vista
Slow Start Hurts Comets In Loss

By Doug Ford
dougford@gazettevirginian.com

The Halifax County High School varsity volleyball team visited Magna Vista in its season-opener Tuesday and returned home with a disappointing loss, dropping three of four games.
Magna Vista won the first game 25-9, but Halifax showed improvement in game two, losing by a 25-22 margin. Magna Vista won game three 25-12 and took game four 25-16 to clinch the match.
Comets coach Kassie Myers said the Comets showed some promise, despite the final scores, but added the varsity needed to work on its service game.
“The other team had a strong serving game,” said Myers. “One player had a jump serve, which is something the girls had not handled before. They will be working on the serving game at practice.”
The Comets varsity volleyball team played at Martinsville last night, and travels to Roxboro tonight to face Person County, with match time at 6:30 p.m.
Match Stats And Coach’s Comments
Lashunda Davis: Seven service points; one ace; six kills; strong attack game
Emily Kavanaugh: Several assists and good passing
Deelynn Leigh: Three service points; one ace; four kills; several assists
Jessica Morris: Eight service points; one ace; good setting
Jasmine Parker: Three service points; good passing game
Betty Rose: One service point; two kills; five assists
Kemper Russell: Two service points; one ace; seven kills; nine assists
Melissa Sims: Four service points; one ace; one kill, good setting
Amanda Toombs: Good passing
Mandy Watts: Good passing
Whitney Stanfield: Good passing
Shannon Bird: Two service points; good passing

 

Coca Cola HC-SB Sports Hall Of Fame Golf Classic Set
Entries Are Being Accepted For The October 14 Coca Cola Halifax County-South Boston Sports Hall Of Fame Golf Classic At Green’s Folly Golf Course

By Joe Chandler
Staff Writer

Area golfers will have a chance to get into another tournament before the weather turns unseasonable with the Coca Cola Halifax County-South Boston Sports Hall of Fame Golf Classic on Friday, October 14, at Green’s Folly Golf Course.
Proceeds raised from the tournament will be used to help fund theHalifax County-South Boston Sports Museum which will house the Sports Hall of Fame.
The entry fee is $250 for each four-man team and includes green fees, cart, cold refreshments lunch and prizes. The entry deadline is October 7.
Tax-deductible checks for the entry fee may be made payable to HC-SB Sports Hall of Fame, 2146 Dan River Church Road, South Boston, Va. 24592. A team entry form must be included with the check.
Each participant may purchase one mulligan and one red tee for $5 each.
Hole sponsorships are available for $100 each.
The tournament format will be a Captain’s Choice format with teams to be flighted based on handicap. At least two of the players on each team must have verifiable handicaps. The two lowest handicaps will determine the flight the team will be placed into. Prizes will be awarded to the top three foursomes in each flight.
There will be shotgun starts at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. Lunch will be served at 11 a.m. and 2 p.m.
The tournament rain date is October 21.
Persons having questions should contact Green’s Folly Golf Course at 572-4998, Don Thompson at 572-1632 or Bobby Wilborn at 572-4471.