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Approximately 125 Community Leaders Gather To Celebrate Completion Of Riverstone Technology Park’s Building I
“Bless us now on this day of beginnings,” said the Rev. Douglas Gibson during the invocation for ribbon-cutting ceremonies for Building I at Riverstone Technology Park yesterday.
Community leaders joined legislators and economic development authorities yesterday for the grand opening of the 67,000-square-foot, $10.6 million building.
Industrial Development Authority Executive Director Mike Eades said the financing for the project came in the form of an initial grant of $3 million from the Tobacco Commission, with debt service of $1 million per year for seven years coming from the Commission.
“The rest will come from rent when we fill it up,” he said.
IDA Chairman Larry McPeters said yesterday’s ceremony was a decade in the making.
“The concept was initially formed in the IDA office during Bill Confroy’s era eight to 10 years ago,” he said.
But Eades told the approximately 125 people gathered for the event that it takes more than an idea to make a dream a reality.
“It takes a community to make it work,” Eades said, citing the vision and support of Halifax County’s leadership. “These gentlemen have done a magnificent job to make this dream a reality.”
Halifax County Supervisor Doug Bowman agreed, adding that county leaders received assistance on the state and federal levels.
“On behalf of Halifax County, we salute those who made this move forward to benefit the citizens of Halifax County,” he said. “This magnificent facility demonstrates that Halifax County is committed to economic development and to building a better quality of life for our citizens by attracting diversified technology companies to this area.”
Building I will feature 10,499 sq. ft. of lab space, 14,346 sq. ft. of office space and 11,733 sq. ft. of high-bay space. It will offer companies multiple broadband Internet options and wireless connectivity.
The building will also feature computer controlled security access, exercise facilities with showers and redundant power supply systems.
During yesterday’s ceremonies, Eades said two businesses have already signed leases on the property.
“We are pleased to report that we have two enterprises that are going to locate in Building I in the immediate future,” he said. “ADESTA, LLC will establish a network operations and control center to monitor the operations of the regional broadband fiber network being installed by the Mid-Atlantic Broadband Cooperative.
“In addition, Virginia Tech will locate its regional outreach office in the building and will be developing a variety of programs in services in cooperation with NASA and other entities,” Eades added.
ADESTA will use 8,000 square feet of the building.
Citing the children currently enrolled in the Halifax County School System, Eades told the group that there were 6,119 reasons for undertaking the project.
“This is why we did this building,” he said as he introduced a representative 13 children from the school system. “Because of the children.”
HCHS Senior Zena Jeffress thanked the community for the initiative and vision to create the technology park.
Jeffress said the cooperation between the school system and Riverstone will serve to enhance the education of Halifax County’s young people.
“We’re grateful to receive these premier educational opportunities here at home without having to travel to receive them. The students pledge to be the hope of Halifax County,” she said.
Pointing to the recent devastation in the Gulf Coast states, Del. Clarke Hogan compared the loss of employment in Halifax County during the 1990s to a storm in the community.
“Things happen that we don’t know about and can’t plan for,” he said. “What has happened to this county over the last 10 years is like a hurricane.
“But this is our answer,” Hogan added. “We are reacting to a situation that is beyond our control. It gives me hope.
“We’re not just sitting here. We’re making things happen in our community,” he said.

Saunders Resigns As SoBo Finance Director

South Boston Financial Director Vandie Saunders resigned Monday night during Council’s meeting.

“Due to a need to have several long-neglected health problems corrected that will require my absence from work for several months, I feel that it is time to announce my intended retirement effective late January or February, 2006,” Saunders told Council.
He said an exact date might be known by October 31.
“It has been an honor and privilege for me to serve the citizens of South Boston since January, 1973,” said Saunders. “I wish to thank all of the many Councils, managers, department heads, citizens, and my staff for their support during all these years.
“I also want to wish all of you continued success in your efforts to make South Boston a better place to live.”
Town Manager Ted Daniel described Saunders as “South Boston’s financial mind for 30 years” and said he had never seen anyone as dedicated.
Daniel noted Saunders helped South Boston make the move from city to town status and transitioned to the town’s first finance director.
“We thank you for your past service and wish you the best,” said Mayor Carroll Thackston.
“It will be a big loss,” added Councilman Coleman Speece.
In other business, following three public hearings councilmen unanimously approved all three requests – with Councilman Speece absent for the tower and public schools requests.
Approved were:
• An amendment to Town Code regarding the establishment of rental inspection districts within blighted areas and designating North Main Street – from Broad to Hamilton - as the first area to be targeted.
Several speakers sought additional information about rental inspection districts. Contractor Christian Roberts asked for written guidelines regarding inspections and asked who would serve as inspector and what qualifications that person would have.
Alan Auld, South Boston director of public works, said that the state sets the guidelines and that Ron Marshall, code enforcement officer, would be the inspector.
“He is trained and certified by the state,” Auld said yesterday.
Jo Schultz, Liz Couch and Chad Elliott all asked questions during the public hearing.
Replying to a question, Auld told citizens that the first inspection was free and the second re-inspection would be $50. He also confirmed that only rental property would be inspected in this program. Citizens also learned that a public hearing would be held prior to the designation of each rental inspection district.
“Overall safety” is the main concern, said the public works director. Responding to a question from Council, Auld said that three houses have been removed on North Main as part of the Unsafe Buildings article, a different program, as the town “moves toward s a safe structure and healthy environment.”
• Council approved a special use permit application from Halifax County School System for an amendment to allow construction of major additions and entranceways to Halifax County Middle School. No spoke in favor of the request or opposed to it during the public hearing.
• A special use permit, with five conditions, for Southside Tower Service for a 350-foot wireless communications tower at the intersection of Farm Road and River Road was approved.
Rick Harrell, Southside Tower Service vice president, spoke in favor of the application, noting there was no opposition at two public hearings. Harrell said the proposed tower is in the shadow of an existing 500-ft tower and that “in 15 years there have been no complaints about it.”
He said the existing tower is full and that the new tower will help reduce the number of towers. No one spokes in opposition to the tower proposal.
Tower conditions included the following: The tower is not to be built speculatively and at least one tenant must sign a lease for at least one year prior to commencement of construction; the existing tree coverage is to be maintained and only the absolute minimum of trees necessary is to be cleared; an annual inspection report is to be submitted to the Planning Department which includes a tenant list; the tower is to have a maximum height of 350 feet; and the tower’s location to be moved so as not to impact the John Anthony Miller property in the event of a collapse.
In other business, councilmen also unanimously approved the deletion of an obsolete section of Town Code requiring the town to pay one-fourth of rescue squad personnel health insurance costs. The county currently pays the health insurance costs.
Council also passed a request from Jim Sullivan of Sullivan Antiques, 234 Main Street, seeking a projecting sign over a public sidewalk. Council approved the request but said the approval could not be grandfathered to a future business.
Council also adopted Housing Rehab Program design guidelines for the Church Hill project, as well as formal acceptance of the grant from the Virginia Dept. of Housing and Community Development with an allocation of $500,000 for Phase I.
Daniel said the program would affect approximately 20 houses with the current budget. Sixty percent of the funding must go to housing rehab, according to the grant.
The project will be undertaken in two phases, with Phase One primarily being the housing rehabilitation and reconstruction at a cost of $500,000.
Grant activities include housing rehabilitation and reconstruction, water/sewer upgrades, façade improvements, street and sidewalk improvements, demolition of dilapidated structures, clearing junk, debris and inoperable vehicles and asbestos and lead abatement of the Taylor Building.
Council declined to take action on a resolution consenting to transfer the Adelphia television franchise to Time Warner/Comcast communications. Speece asked to have representative from the company meet with them, perhaps during Council’s next work session. Several councilmen reported complaints concerning cable’s rising costs as well as service issues.
During its Monday night session, Council also re-appointed Speece and Town Planner Lee Pambid to the Lake Country Development Corporation. Speece was also re-appointed to LCD’s board. In the future, Council will need to appoint one new representative with the completion of Daniel’s term. The town manager is ineligible for reappointment since he has served three terms.

Board Votes To Pilot Virtual Curriculum

The Halifax County School Board took an important first step toward founding Virginia’s first virtual academy Monday evening.
The board voted unanimously to allow the school system to pilot a virtual curriculum for gifted fourth through sixth-graders. The pilot program, administered by McLean-based company K12, will be offered at no cost to the county.
While Halifax will start by offering only the gifted program for three grade levels, the company offers a wide variety of courses. K12 offers virtual courses in all the major subject areas for all grades K-9, according to K12’s Director of Development Chuck Paynter. K12 also has a high school program in development, he added.
Approximately 22,000 students around the nation are utilizing K12 programs this school year, according to Paynter.
The programs can also be used in several different capacities, the director informed the board. It can be used as extra material for gifted students, as extra practice for students struggling in specific subject areas or as a broad curriculum for home-schooled or homebound students.
The program is a self-pacing one, according to Halifax County School Superintendent Paul Stapleton.
“ With this program we will be able to see how far our gifted students can go,” Stapleton said.
If the pilot is successful, the school system will have the opportunity to expand the program.
It would be a service to the county’s home-schooled students, Stapleton said, as well as a valuable tool for teachers and students in the public school system.
In other business, Deputy Superintendent Larry Clark presented the 2005 enrollment analysis for county elementary schools and triennial school census to the board.
The enrollment analysis showed the county’s pupil/teacher ratio at 18.6:1 for the 2005-06 school year, up slightly from last year’s ratio of 17.9:1.
The triennial school census counts all county residents ages five-19 years. The count for 2005 is 7,220, up 76 from the 2002 census. The results of the census are sent to Richmond, Clark said, because they factor in state funding for county schools.
Also at the meeting, several teachers and students were recognized for outstanding achievements.
High school teacher Becky Donner was recognized for Lee-Jackson Scholarship submissions that have led to the school’s language arts department being awarded $8,000 and several students receiving scholarship funds.
Gifted Education Resource Specialist for the primary grades Mary E. Priest was recognized for being the 2005 VAG Teacher Incentive Grant Award recipient. And members of the Technology Student’s Association who participated in the national conference in Chicago were recognized along with their instructor George Paige.
Also on the agenda, the board heard a maintenance report from Director of Operations and Maintenance Larry Roller and a financial report from Chief Financial Officer William Covington III.
Lastly, the board went into executive session to address personnel and student disciplinary matters.

Obituaries

Johnny Carden

Johnny Carden, 87, of Scottsburg died September 10 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Carden was born in Halifax County on May 21, 1918, the son of the late Menzy Carden and Mattie Mitchell Carden, and was married to the late Alberta Carden. He was a member of Spanish Grove Baptist Church.
Survivors include one sister, Edna McGhee of New Brunswick, N.J.; one brother, Matthew Carden of Somerset, N.J.; three sisters-in-law, Marjorie Carden of Somerset, Lois Carden and Gladys Carden, both of Scottsburg.
Funeral services for Mr. Carden will be held today, September 14, at 1 p.m. at Spanish Grove Baptist Church with the Rev. Ronnie Womack officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family is receiving friends at the home of Mr. and Mrs. James Carden, 4056 Dryburg Road, Scottsburg.

Georgia Laverne Crute Fisackerly

Georgia Laverne Crute Fisackerly, 67, died August 19. She was the wife of James Edward Fisackerly, and the daughter of Lawrence W. Crute of Halifax and the late Lydia Crute. She was a member of Aurora United Methodist Church, Algiers, La., and a registered nurse employed by the Department of Health and Hospitals as a certification specialist.
Survivors include one daughter, Linda Kay Soileau and her husband, Ike; three sons, James Edward Fisackerly and wife, Beth, Kenneth Roy Fisackerly and wife, Lissa, and Michael Roy Fisackerly and wife, Darla; one brother, Leonard Glenn Crute of Nathalie; one sister-in-law, Gloria C. Crute; one sister, Peggy Meade of Lynchburg; eight grandchildren, Ike, Nicholas, James III, Caroline, Eric, Brett, Jeff and Emma.
Mrs. Fisackerly was also preceded in death by one brother, Gilmore R. Allen, of South Boston. She was the daughter-in-law of Frances Fisackerly and the late Roy Fisackerly.
Funeral services were held August 21, at 4 p.m. in Gretna, La. Burial followed in Morton, Ms.
A memorial service for Mrs. Fisackerly will be held at Crystal Hill Southern Baptist Church in Crystal Hill on September 18, at 2 p.m.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the American Cancer Society in Halifax.

Charles Anthony Lloyd

Charles Anthony Lloyd, 45, of 1094 Clays Mill Road, Halifax died September 12 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Lloyd was born in Baltimore, Md. On June 2, 1960, the son of Charles A. Lindberg Lloyd and Jackie Horton Snead, and was married to Frances Bass Lloyd. He was a member of Centerville Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife; one daughter, Virginia Jolene Lloyd of Halifax; his father of Gretna; his mother of Alton; one brother, Robbie Lloyd of South Boston; three sisters, Cheri Dease of Halifax, Lindy Heath of Roxboro, N.C., and Carrie Murray of Alton. Mr. Lloyd was preceded in death by one son, Brian Richard Lloyd.
Funeral services will be held tomorrow, September 15, at 2 p.m. at Centerville Baptist Church with the Rev. Richard Saunders officiating. Burial will follow in Providence Presbyterian Church Cemetery.
The family will receive friends this evening, September 14, from 7:00 until 8:30, at Powell Funeral Home and other times at the home of his mother, 1075 Paradise Road, Alton.

Susie Lowery Thomas

Susie Lowery Thomas, 95, of 2113 Cedar Grove Road, Alton died September 13 in Berry Hill Nursing Home.
Mrs. Thomas was born in Halifax County on June 5, 1910, the daughter of the late Willie E. Lowery and Geneva Cliborne Lowery and was married to the late Bernard Thomas. She was a member of Harmony United Methodist Church.
Graveside services will beheld tomorrow, September 15, at 3 p.m. at Harmony UMC with the Rev. Liz Buxton officiating.
Survivors of Mrs. Thomas include two sisters-in-law, Frances Lowery of Alton and Hallie B. Lowery of Danville; and a number of nieces and nephews.

Comets Golf Team Takes Third In District

The HCHS Golf Team Finished Third In The Regular-Season District Standings Despite A Fourth-Place Finish In Monday’s Final Tournament Round

There was no hope for the Halifax County High School golf team in catching Western Valley District leader Franklin County and second-place GW when the district teams gathered for the final regular-season district tournament Monday at Caswell Pine Country Club near Yanceyville, N.C.
But the Comets did accomplish the next-best thing, earning a third-place finish in the final regular-season team standings despite finishing fourth among the five district teams in Monday’s round.
“I think that is a good finish for us this year,” said Comets coach David Graham.
“We couldn’t catch Franklin County and GW but we did beat the other two teams.”
The Comets turned in a round of 344 Monday, falling one shot shy of the 343 total posted by E.C. Glass and topping Patrick Henry by a 24-shot margin. That was good enough to allow the Comets to win the battle among the three teams that has waged all season behind runaway leaders Franklin County and GW.
“It wasn’t pretty, but we’ll take it,” Comets coach David Graham said of Monday’s round.
“This is the toughest course we play. I didn’t think we played well. Luckily, the other teams didn’t either.”
Senior Matt Conner led the Comets with a round of 78. That was good enough to earn Conner a 10th-place finish in the Western Valley District individual standings and likely earned him a spot in the Northwest Region Tournament.
“That was a good round by Matt,” Graham said.
“That may have locked him into the regional tournament. He’s been working hard on his game. If he continues to play well, he may have a possible shot at getting into the state tournament.”
Senior Michael Boyd followed with a round of 88. Michael Ferrell and Will Hunt both carded a round of 89 to complete the four scores that counted towards the Comets’ team total.
Brad Tribble turned in a round of 90 and Raleigh Powell came in with a round of 99.
Franklin County won Monday’s district tournament round with a team total of 314 and locked up one of the district’s two berths in the upcoming Northwest Region Golf Tournament. GW finished second with a round of 320.
Graham said he and the team are looking forward to the Western Valley District Championship Tournament will be held Monday at West Lake Country Club at Smith Mountain Lake in Franklin County.
With Franklin County having locked up one of the district’s two team berths for the Northwest Region Tournament, the target for the Comets is to finish in the top two. If Franklin County wins Monday’s tournament and the Comets can finish second, the Comets will earn a regional tourney berth as a team.
“That (a regional tournament berth) is what we’re shooting for,” said Graham.
“It might just be our day. If Matt and Michael can shoot in the 70’s and a couple of others can come up with a round in the low 80’s we can do it..
“I think it (West Lake Country Club) is a fair course for high school golf,” added Graham.
“If you hit good shots you will be rewarded and if you hit a bad shot you’re not penalized very bad.”
Monday’s Results
Franklin County 314
GW 320
E.C. Glass 343
Halifax County 344
Patrick Henry 368
Final Regular Season Standings
Franklin County 1,491
GW 1,562
Halifax County 1,667
E.C. Glass 1,674
Patrick Henry 1,694

Clay Doubles Up For Second Time

Jimmy Clay Won The Green’s Folly Golf Course Club Championship Golf Tournament Sunday To Earn A Sweep Of Local Club Titles

There is a lot to be said of a golfer who can sweep the club championships at both Green’s Folly Golf Course and Halifax Country Club in the same year.
Jimmy Clay accomplished that feat last year and, on Sunday, scored a repeat.
Clay won the Green’s Folly Golf Course Club Championship Golf Tournament Sunday, edging runner-up David Graham by one shot to secure the title with Kevin Haskins finishing third, six shots off the pace.
Earlier this year he won the Halifax Country Club title to take the first toward the repeat.
“I hit the ball real good for two days and putted well,” said Clay.
“It was a battle. They never quit. The golf course played tough, but it played well.”
With their one-two finish, Clay and Graham continued their stronghold on the Green’s Folly Golf Course field. This marked the fourth year in a row that the pair have finished either first or second in the Club Championship tournament.
Graham won the championship in 2003, ending a two-year run by Clay but was unable to prevent Clay from winning his fourth Green’s Folly title in five years.
Graham and Haskins both turned in a two-under-par round of 70 on Saturday and shared a one-shot lead over Clay at the end of the day. However, Clay was the one among the trio that came the closest to backing up their Saturday round.
Haskins carded a round of 79 on Sunday, nine shots worse than his Saturday round. Graham turned in a round of 74, falling off of his opening-round mark by four shots.
Clay, on the other hand, carded a round of 72 on Sunday, the best round posted among the 70 golfers that teed off for Sunday’s round, and was only one stroke off of his Saturday round of 71.
One of the keys to Clay’s win was his start in Sunday’s round. Clay turned in a four-under-par round of 31 on the front side to build a solid lead. Things got away from him a little on the final nine holes as he carded a 41 but he was able to hold on to finish with a round of 72 and snare the win.
“I had a few mental lapses and I just cruised it in, trying to make pars,” said Clay.
“I knew I had a three-shot lead and I bogeyed 17 and parred 18 and David birdied 18 to cut it (the lead) to one.”
Graham said that while Clay had the lead going down the stretch he felt like he had a shot at the win.
“He had me by a couple (of shots) going into 18 and I figured if I could make a birdie you never know what will happen. He made a good par.”
Graham said Clay’s hot start was the difference.
“That took control of the day,” Graham said.
“He was pretty much in control after that.”
Graham made a run down the stretch to cut Clay’s lead from three shots to one. He narrowly missed a birdie putt on 17 and had to settle for a par and came back to birdie the final hole.
“I missed a couple of short putts,” Graham said.
“We both made some mistakes. It was a good match.”
Both golfers said the Green’s Folly Golf Course layout was in excellent condition.
“The golf course was as good as I’ve ever seen it but it played as hard as I’ve ever seen it,” Clay said.
“The greens were fabulous. You couldn’t have asked for anything any better.”
Graham echoed that sentiment.
“The course was in excellent shape,” Graham said.
“I want to give credit to the Green’s Folly staff for all of the work they have done on the course and for putting on this tournament.”
Also on Sunday, June Hancock, with back-to-back rounds of 76, won the Green’s Folly Golf Course Senior Club Championship.
This was the second year in a row that Hancock, who won the Second Flight, has earned the seniors title.
Michael Ferrell, a member of the Halifax County High School golf team, won the Junior Club Championship.
GREEN’S FOLLY CLUB CHAMPIONSHIP RESULTS
First Flight
Jimmy Clay – 71-72-143
David Graham – 70-74-144
Kevin Haskins – 70-79-149
Brad Mele – 72-78-150
Woody Clay – 73-78-151
Second Flight
June Hancock – 76-76 – 152
Tommy Spencer – 76-76-152
Don Gravitt – 78-78-156
Phillip Payne – 77-79-156
Robert Fallen – 76-81-157
Charlie Payne – 78-79-157
Third Flight
Scott Martin – 80-75-155
Dennis Gravitt – 80-77-157
Don Moore – 80-80-160
Dan Shaw – 79-82-161
Paul Glass – 80-81-161
Fourth Flight
Mark Dickerson – 81-80-161
Ricky Buchannon – 81-82-163
Joel Hughes – 84-80-164
Bobby Murray – 82-84-166
Chris Cole – 83-83-166
Fifth Flight
David Green – 85-83-168
Wayne Walker – 87-84-171
Bob McCoy – 85-86-171
Chris Prevett – 85-87-172
Bobby Dockrill – 85-88-173
Sixth Flight
Mike Daniel – 90-82-172
Joe Watts – 89-84-173
Rick Evans – 91-83-174
Everett Snead – 90-84-174
Phillip Saunders – 90-85-175
Woody Long – 92-83-175

Fans Can Win A Chance To ‘Race The Racers’ At VIR 400

Did you ever watch the stars of the Grand American Road Racing Association’s Rolex Sports Car Series – drivers like Scott Pruett, Max Papis, Andy Wallace, Butch Leitzinger, Elliott Forbes-Robinson and Hurley Haywood – battling wheel-to-wheel over mere millimeters of pavement and say to yourself, “That doesn’t look so tough. I could do that!”
Well, VIRginia International Raceway is going to give you a chance to find out if you have what it takes to go toe-to-toe with some of the world’s top drivers.
On Friday, October 7, as part of the Rolex Sports Car Series VIR 400 weekend, VIR will host the inaugural VIR 400 Celebrity Pro/Am Kart Enduro, in which 10 lucky fans will be able to win a chance to race against some of the series’ best.
Here’s how it works: All fans who purchase an advance ticket to the event by 6 p.m. ET on Wednesday, September 28, will have their names entered into a lottery. On September 29, 10 names will be drawn and those selected will be invited to participate in the race.
The race will take place on VIR’s Plantation Valley Kart Track, a paved 5/8-mile, 24-foot-wide circuit with 30 feet of elevation change located adjacent to the historic 3.27-mile VIR track.
There will be 10 teams, with four drivers per team. Each team will be comprised of a Rolex Series driver, a media celebrity, a staff member from VIR, Grand-Am or an event or series sponsor and a lucky fan.
Each driver will get eight laps in one of 10 identically-prepared 200cc Zip karts, and each driver’s fastest lap will be scored. Each team’s four fastest laps will be compiled and the team with the lowest cumulative time will be declared the winner.
Trophies will be awarded to the top three teams, and all fan participants will receive a CD of event photos immediately following the race.
“The VIR 400 Celebrity Pro/Am Kart Enduro is going to be a lot of fun,” said VIR general manager Cal Frye.
“It’s a way to give our fans something that is unobtainable at any price; the chance not only to meet their favorite drivers, but to actually get to race with and against them on equal footing. The Plantation Valley Kart Track is a very good karting facility, and will provide a perfect setting for the big showdown. We plan to make this an annual event, so the winning team will have a year’s worth of bragging rights to enjoy, plus the winning fan participant will receive a free three-day pass to the following year’s VIR 400 and a guaranteed slot in the second annual VIR 400 Celebrity Pro/Am Kart Enduro.”
The VIR 400 weekend will not only include a 400km race for the Rolex Sports Car Series’ Daytona Prototype and GT classes, but also the 200-mile season finale for the popular Grand-Am Cup series for high-performance sports cars, coupes and sedans straight from the dealer showroom floor and racing from the Porsche Club of America.
Advance three-day Super Tickets for the VIR 400 are priced at $50. At the gate, three-day Super Tickets will be priced at $60. Also, single-day tickets will be available for Friday ($15, gate only), Saturday ($25, gate only) and Sunday ($40 advance/$50 gate). VIR is a family-friendly facility, where children 12 and under are admitted free with a paying adult. Spectator camping is available. Visit www.virclub.com for advance ticket sales.
For more information, visit the track’s website at www.virclub.com or contact VIR at 434-822-7700. For more information on the Grand American Road Racing Association, visit their website at www.grandamerican.com.