IDA Gives Nod To Berry Hill Incentives

If Incentive Is Approved By Supervisors, Plan Will Allow Up To $40,000 Per Year Grant For Five Years

The Halifax County Industrial Development Authority, on a 3-1 vote, approved sending an application by Berry Hill Conference Resort for up to $200,000 in Halifax Opportunity Funds to the Board of Supervisors.
Board member Billy Royster opposed the measure and Board member Carlyle Ramsey was not present for the vote.
Berry Hill is seeking the funding, in the form of a grant of up to $40,000 annually for five years, based on job creation and investments in improvements to the property.
Halifax Opportunity Funds, approved by supervisors in April, 2003, stipulate a two percent return to new businesses that create at least 20 new full-time jobs that pay at least 175 percent of the $5.15 minimum wage and invest at least $2 million in property.
“They have substantially over that,” IDA Executive Director Mike Eades told the Board, pointing out that Berry Hill has 51 full-time employees and claims an investment of $10 million in its application.
Eades said IDA staff recommends approval of the application.
But Royster questioned how the tax breaks will affect existing businesses.
“This gives them an advantage over the hiring of employees,” he said.
Eades said the opportunity to apply for the incentives applies to existing businesses as long as the requirements are met.
“What we have to do is review the application and if it meets the guidelines the county has passed, recommend it to the county,” IDA Board Chairman Larry McPeters said.
Royster questioned whether Berry Hill had met all the requirements set forth by the county.
“But can we recommend it without making an informed decision?” Royster asked. “I think we have a duty and responsibility to provide the best jobs we can for the citizens of the county. I’d like us to spend our money for the potential of jobs with a future. I don’t see us spending our money for servers and cooks.”
“Gentlemen, we have to deal with the application and the ordinance that the Board of Supervisors passed,” McPeters said. “(The question is) did this meet the Opportunity Fund guidelines?”
Eades said that IDA staff feels the application meets the requirements.
“I don’t want to pick on this particular application, because I think they’ve met the letter of the ordinance,” Board member Garland Ricketts said. “But I don’t know who is supposed to be the filter (to verify the investment and the job-creation requirements) and confirm the ordinance.
“Is it up to us or the county?” he asked. “I think my concern is the process.”
“That’s not our authority. That’s the county’s problem. We have to look at the application,” Eades said. “We’re confirming the application, not the payment of the money.”
Development Director Patsy Vaughan said that based on the ordinance, Berry Hill had met the requirements of the ordinance to apply for the funds.
“They’re paying 175 percent of the federal minimum wage,” she said. “They’re creating more than 20 jobs. They’ve made the investment. They have met the criteria set forth by the county.”
“The problem is what are the steps of the application? It’s not clear,” Ricketts said.
Following a lengthy discussion on the matter, on a motion by Ricketts and with a second by John Bosiger, the motion passed with Royster opposing.
In other business, after emerging from executive session, IDA members unanimously passed a motion to purchase the 103.4-acre site of Georgia Pacific.
The property will be purchased for $175,000 using already-approved Tobacco Commission funds.
During yesterday’s meeting, Board members also received an update on a contract to clear timber from a 14-acre parcel owned by the Authority in the Sinai Road.
Board members also agreed to deed 2.65 acres to Annin & Company for a stormwater retention basin.
The IDA also voted to work with South Boston, Halifax County and the Town of Halifax to amend the existing enterprise zones to include Virginia International Raceway, Berry Hill Conference Resort, Georgia Pacific and Riverstone Technology Park.
The Board agreed during yesterday’s meeting to offer real estate commissions on the sale and lease of IDA-owned properties to qualified brokers.
Eades said yesterday that for leased space, the broker would receive four percent of the gross lease amount payable monthly upon paymment of rent.
The rate would be two percent for lease renewal payable monthly upon receipt of rent payment
Property sold would result in a six percent commission payable at close of transaction, Eades said.

 

Judge Denies FOIA Request On SoBo PD

Says Release Of Personnel Records Would Violate Freedom Of Information Act
In a letter to Halifax attorney Bob Meeks and Commonwealth’s Attorney Michael Freshour, General District Court Judge M. Lee Stillwell Jr. announced he will dismiss a Freedom of Information request for information regarding complaints against three South Boston police officers.
The formal order will be entered dated September 14, according to the letter.
“This matter is before the Court on petition of mandamus by (Meeks) for records of the South Boston Police Department relating to citizens complaining of excessive force, misbehavior and misconduct by South Boston police officers,” Stillwell wrote in the letter.
In this context, a petition of mandamus is a court order mandating the release of requested information.
The judge then noted that South Boston Police Chief Mick Reed objected to the request, citing the information requested was exempt from FOIA because they are considered personnel records.
“As requested by (Meeks) in his letters dated May 2… and May 11…, he is seeking information regarding three specific officers.
“According to Chief Reed, the information being requested has been placed in the personnel files of the officers. For that reason, the petition as filed is denied,” Stillwell continued.
The judge said that if Meeks chose to file a FOIA request without naming three specific officers, the request could be upheld.
“There was discussion during argument by counsel of a willingness to redact names of the officers and request only information regarding complaints,” he wrote. “If counsel would agree, I would enter a consent order for disclosure of complaints made within a specified time period… with all names being redacted from the complaints. It is my opinion that a request as stated above would be consistent with the intent of the Freedom of Information Act.”
Meeks wrote in reply that he would seek release of information - without naming specific officers – for the past five years.
“I hereby consent to the entry of such a consent order as a way of compromising my petition seeking a writ of mandamus,” he wrote.
Stillwell said he would dismiss the petition for the court to order the release of the records “with an entry date of 9/14/05.”
In reply to Meeks’ seeking information without naming specific officers, Freshour responded that Reed is “not agreeable to a consent order” seeking information about the personnel records of the department.
“It’s not a matter of trying to hide anything,” Freshour said Wednesday, “it’s a matter of upholding Virginia Code. The chief can’t disclose personnel records.”
Contacted Wednesday, Reed said he had no comment on the matter.
Meeks filed the initial request on May 2 for “any and all existing records, of whatever form or nature, reporting to the South Boston Police Department alleged use of excessive force or other misbehavior or misconduct, while in the performance of their law enforcement duties, by any of the following members of the South Boston Police Department.”
The request then named three members of the town’s police force.
The FOIA request also asked for information on policies in place within the department “under which officers… (are) authorized to spray pepper spray or other substances into the eyes or the face of any individual while in performance of their law enforcement duties.”
Reed subsequently supplied the policy information but - citing the matter is a personnel issue and therefore is exempt from FOIA - declined to supply any citizen reports of excessive force or alleged misconduct.
“Any such information like that you requested is considered to be confidential administrative material and would be contained in personnel records,” Reed wrote in a May 3 letter to Meeks. “As such it is exempted from disclosure under (FOIA).”

Rabies Alert Issued By Health Department

The Virginia Department of Health yesterday issued a rabies health alert in the North Terry’s Bridge area of the county.

“It has been reported to the Halifax County Health Department that foxes have been observed in this area demonstrating unusual behavior,” warned the alert.
Although a fox from the area has not been submitted for testing, department spokesmen said they wanted to make all residents in the area aware of the presence of the foxes.
“Rabies is a deadly disease caused by a virus that lives in the saliva and central nervous system tissue of animals that are rabid,” warned the alert.
“Rabies is transmitted through a bite or by getting saliva or brain tissue in the wound or in the eye or mouth.”
If pets display any unusual behavior or becomes ill during the next 10 days, residents are urged contact a veterinarian or Animal Control at (434) 572-4292 or the Sheriff’s Dept. at (434) 476-3334 or the Health Department at (434) 476-4863 Extension 1.
“Avoiding all wild animals is recommended,” health department officials advised.
The warning comes on the heels of a fox attack on a dog and threatening actions toward Brian Phillips at his 3236 North Terry Bridge Road home last week.
Authorities told Phillips that they are unable to check the fox, which was shot by his father, for rabies because the fox’s body was too decomposed for testing. A fox bit Phillips’ dog on the leg.
Phillips said that he was told by health department officials this week to get his dog a booster shot even though the dog is up-to-date on its rabies shots and to observe the dog for the next 10 days (until 9/22/2005) for signs or symptoms of rabies.
Thomas Coleman of McDonnald Road also reported this week seeing a fox behaving suspiciously last Friday.
Coleman said the fox came into the field where he was plowing and just sat there. He said he shot over the fox’s head and it ran into the woods. “About 20 minutes later it returned from the woods to the field,” he added.
The following day he said he saw the fox near his home and that it headed toward his mother’s home and he called to warn her. Coleman said the fox was drinking from the cat’s water. He said she shot at it and thought she hit it. He said they have not seen the fox since that time.
“It could be different foxes,” Coleman said, describing the one his mother saw as scraggily and the one he saw as sleek.

 

Obituaries

Lacy Weldon ‘Rock’ Bane
Lacy Weldon ‘Rock’ Bane, 87, of 10180 Mountain Road, Vernon Hill died September 14 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Bane was born October 25, 1917, in Halifax County the son of John Jinks Bane and Birda Carol Moorefield Bane, and was married to the late Arlene Hill Bane. He was a member of Mt. Vernon Baptist Church where he served as a deacon and Training Union director, a member of Halifax Masonic Lodge 96 A.F. & A.M., Wilson Memorial Ruritan Club, and the Woodmen of the World. He was a retired employee of U.S. Plywood and farmer.
Survivors include one daughter, Mary Thomas Bane Ligon and her husband, Mason, of Rocky Mount. Mr. Bane was also preceded in death by a son, John Jinks Bane; four brothers and two sisters, Garland Kermit Bane, Jack Warren Bane, Woody Kent Bane Sr., James Edward Bane, Nannie Dorothy Bane Hodnett and Molly Lillian Bane.
Funeral services for Mr. Bane will be held today, September 16, at 11 a.m. at Mt. Vernon Baptist Church with the Rev. Bill Wilkins officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the home.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Mt. Vernon Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, c/o J.E. Hall, 2222 Loop Road, Vernon Hill 24597, or a charity of choice.

Rosetta Dunkley Canada
Rosetta Dunkley Canada, 95, of south Boston died September 13 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mrs. Canada was born in Halifax County on January 26, 1910, the daughter of the late Dave and Rosa Lee Dunkley, and was married to the late Joseph Canada. She was a member of Ellis Creek Baptist Church.
Survivors include a daughter, Vivian C. Martin and her husband, Emerson; one son, Leonard Canada of Eden, N.C.; 18 grandchildren; 41 great-grandchildren; 51 great-great-grandchildren; and a Goddaughter, Evangelist Shirley Jackson.
Funeral services for Mrs. Canada will be held tomorrow, September 17, at 1 p.m. at Ellis Creek Baptist Church with the Rev. Rodney Forest officiating. Burial will follow in Mt. Pleasant Baptist Church Cemetery in Nathalie.
The family will receive friends one hour prior to the services, and other times at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Emerson Martin, 1060 Lower Liberty Road.

Wilson E. Dixon
Wilson E. Dixon, 86, of Clearwater, Fla. died August 9 at Advanced Health & Rehabilitative Services.
Mr. Dixon was born in Halifax County on July 14, 1919, and was married to Mary Dixon.
Survivors include his wife; one son, James Dixon and wife, Rita; two daughters, Joann Dixon and Judy Kotleszka, all of Fla.; one grandson, Zachary James Dixon; four brothers, Gene Dixon, Harry Dixon and wife, C.B. Dixon and wife, Katharine, and Charlie Dixon; and two sisters, Virginia Crews and Joyce Powell.
Services were held on August 21 in Clearwater.

Viola W. Richardson
Viola W. Richardson, 80, of Easley Street, South Boston died in Arizona.
Mrs. Richardson was born in Halifax County on July 25, 1925, the daughter of the late Charlie A. Woods and Marie Newton Woods, and was married to the late James C. Richardson. She was a member of Greater Mayfield Apostolic Church.
Survivors include one son, Melvin Richardson of South Boston; two sisters, Mary Lena Willoughby of Laveen, Ariz. And Sallie Smith of Norfolk; one daughter-in-law, Charlene Richardson of Virginia Beach; two brothers-in-law, Ronald Willoughby and Thee Artis Spivey Jr.; and two grandchildren, Jamie and Grace Richardson. Mrs. Richardson was also preceded in death by two sons, Raymond Richardson and James Curtis Richardson Jr.
Funeral services will be held tomorrow, September 17, at 1 p.m. at Greater Mayfield Apostolic Church with Elder Bernard Wilkins officiating. Burial will follow in Rose Garden Cemetery.
The family is receiving friends at the home of Clyde and Doresa Lindsey, 800 Easley Street, South Boston.

Barbara Gammon Camp
Mrs. Barbara Gammon Camp, of Greenway Drive in South Boston, died Wednesday, September 14 at her home.
She was 72.
Funeral services will be held at 11 a.m. Saturday, September 17, with services at the Ash Avenue Baptist Church. The Rev. John Eure will officiate.
Burial will follow in the Oak Ridge Cemetery.
The family will receive friends at Powell Funeral Home Friday from 7:00 until 8:30 p.m.
Mrs. Camp was born in Schoolfield, Va., on December 18, 1932.
She was the daughter of the late Andrew Jackson Gammon and Ottis Weddle Gammon and was married to Harold David Camp.
She was a member of Ash Avenue Baptist Church, where she was a choir member and active with the WMU.
Mrs. Camp is survived by her husband, one daughter, Andrea C. Sizemore and husband Mike of Halifax, one son, Jason “Jay” Camp and wife Cynthia, all of South Boston; three grandchildren, Jessica L. Camp, Christopher B. Sizemore and Allyson C. Sizemore and a loving second mother, Lillian Gammon of Danville.

Kaylee Patricia Blue
A graveside service for infant Kaylee Patricia Blue will be held Sunday, September 18, at 2 p.m. at North Fork Baptist Church with the Rev. Lewis Wall officiating.
Blue died yesterday at Halifax Regional Hospital.
She was the daughter of Rose Maria Moore and Matthew Everett Blue of South Boston.
In addition to her father, she is survived by a brother Dylan Thomas Whitt of South Boston, a maternal grandmother, Violet G. Moore of South Boston, paternal grandparents, Robert L. and Linda P. Blue of Buffalo Junction; two uncles, John and Don Moore of South Boston and one aunt, Jennie F. Blue of Buffalo Junction.
She was preceded in death by her mother, Rose Maria Moore, and her brother, Joseph Blue.

Rose Marie Moore
Graveside services for Mrs. Rose Marie Moore will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, September 18, with services at the North Fork Baptist Church Cemetery.
The Rev. Lewis Wall will officiate.
The family will receive friends Saturday from 7:00 p.m. until 8:30 p.m. at Powell Funeral Home.
Mrs. Moore died Thursday, September 15, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
She was 29.
She was the daughter of Cecil Moore and Violet Glasscock Moore and was married to Matthew Everett Blue.
Survivors include her husband, one son, Dylan Thomas Whitt, her mother, two brothers, John Moore and Don Moore, all of South Boston, her mother and father-in-law, Robert and Linda Blue, and a sister-in-law, Jennie Blue, all of Buffalo Junction.

State Border Rivalry Renews Itself Tonight

Undefeated Halifax County Will Face Undefeated Border Rival Person High Here Tonight At Tuck Dillard Stadium

The long-standing border rivalry between Halifax County and neighboring Person High of Roxboro, N.C. renews itself here tonight with both teams bringing perfect marks into the contest.
Halifax County will be gunning for its third win in a row in tonight’s 7:30 p.m. J.M. Huber Night contest at Tuck Dillard Stadium while the Rockets will come in with a 3-0 mark and looking to make it four consecutive triumphs.
Tonight’s game takes on a little more of a rivalry flavor than in the past as the Comets’ new head coach, John Lacy Harris, coached Person High for 16 years and compiled a 9-4 record in games against the Comets during that span.
That, coupled with the fact that both teams will be facing their biggest test thus far, gives this game a good deal of importance to both teams.
A large crowd of fans from both schools is expected to be on hand tonight and Harris is urging Halifax County fans to come out in full force to support the team.
“I hope we will get the kind of crowd that we had for our first game, even larger,” Harris said.
“ Having a big crowd will certainly be in our favor. We need to turn Tuck Dillard Stadium into a definite home field advantage for us. The fans did that two weeks ago and we need them to do it again.”
For the Comets, tonight’s test will be a measuring stick, a gauge of how much the team has improved since the start of preseason drills. The Comets derailed Group AA Rustburg in a 42-41 thriller here in the season opener and thrashed Group AAA Dinwiddie 41-6 on the road last week.
In both games, the Comets piled up huge offensive numbers while scoring a combined 83 points in the two contests.
Person High will bring a team that will feature good size up front on both the offensive and defensive lines. The Rockets have a defensive standout in Division I caliber linebacker Morgan Vincent (6-1, 250 pounds) and its offensive unit has standouts as well.
Person High’s offensive backfield features runners Brentley Yancey, a 6-1, 210-pound senior who has rushed for 290 yards on 48 carries and scored six touchdowns and Darnell Walker, a 5-6, 160-pound junior, who has rushed for 337 yards on 50 carries and scored five touchdowns.
“Person is a good football team,” said Harris.
“ It is the best team we will have faced so far by far. We should get some indicators of how we will be the rest of the season.”
Defensively, Harris said Vincent is as good a player as they come.
“They have one of the top two or three linebackers in the state with Morgan Vincent,” Harris said.
“ He’s really special and he’s surrounded by other good football players. Their linebacker corps will be one of the best, if not the best we’ll see all year.”
Offensively, Harris said the Rockets are solid as well. The challenge, he said, will be to stop the Rockets’ ground game.
‘They have an extremely big offensive line and running backs as well as a gifted quarterback and talented wideouts,” the Comets coach pointed out.
“ Offensively, this is a well-rounded football team.”
The Comets have proven to be no slouch themselves.
In the season opener against Rustburg, the Comets tallied 529 yards of total offense and 19 first downs. They passed for 408 yards. Last week against Dinwiddie, the Comets had 469 yards of total offense and 28 first downs.
Offensively, the Comets have shown the ability to hit the quick strike as well as to grind off big chunks of the clock and control the football. Harris, however, said there is still room for improvement.
“We need to see a lot of improvement from last week,” noted the Comets coach.
“We scored a lot of points last week, but we can still do things a lot better and we had better do them a lot better this week.”
Defensively, the Comets have been somewhat sporadic, giving up 41 points to Rustburg in the opening game while clamping down last week to hold Dinwiddie to 163 yards of total offense and eight first downs.
The Comets still have injury issues but Harris and defensive coordinator Ralph Robinson are confident the defensive unit will rise to the call tonight.
“Defensively, we have a lot of work to do,” Harris said.
“The biggest area we need to improve in is the kicking teams, especially our coverage teams. We’ve changed a lot of personnel this week. We definitely have to do a better job of covering kicks.”
Robinson admitted “we have our work cut out for us.” However, he says he has put the challenge in front of his defensive unit.
“ I’ve challenged them to step up to the challenge we’re facing this week,” Robinson said.
“As long as we get people doing the right things, we’re pretty good on defense too.”

 

Lions Turnovers Costly In Russell Loss

Fumbles Proved Costly To The Halifax County Middle School Lions In Wednesday’s 8-0 Loss Here To Russell

If you don’t believe turnovers will kill you, ask the Halifax County Middle School Lions football team.
The Lions lost four fumbles in Wednesday night’s game here against Russell and one of them proved costly as Russell capitalized on one of the Lions’ errors and escaped with an 8-0 win in a Southside Middle School Conference contest.
Wednesday’s loss put the Lions at 2-1 over all and 1-1 in Southside Middle School Conference play.
Fumbles were the key to the contest, especially during the rain-drenched second half when the Lions lost all four fumbles.
It was only a matter of time before the larger Russell team would take advantage of the situation and they finally did early in the fourth quarter.
A fumble by the Lions’ Lamel Adams was recovered by Russell at the Lions’ 23-yard line with 7:54 left in the game. Russell capitalized immediately, springing loose a runner for a 23-yard touchdown gallop on the first play from scrimmage and taking a 6-0 lead with 7:45 to play.
After Halifax County called a timeout to set up its defense for the conversion attempt, Russell scored again, tacking on a two-point conversion to grab an 8-0 edge.
The Lions tried to rally and gambled on a fourth-down play on their side of the field on the ensuing possession. Unfortunately, the Lions fumbled the ball again and Russell recovered near midfield to stop the Lions’ drive.
That appeared to have put Russell in a commanding position, especially after a long run allowed the visitors to move the ball down to the Lions’ 20-yard line. But the tables turned on the visitors when they coughed up the football.
Halifax got the ball back on its own 20-yard line with 4:43 left in the game but, for the second time in as many possessions, failed to convert on a fourth-down play.
Facing a fourth down and 12 yards to go situation, Adams lofted a pass to teammate Devin Walton. Walton ran under the ball near midfield and got his hands on the ball, only to see the ball slip off of the ends of his fingers.
Russell got the ball back at the Lions’ 18-yard line and had a first-and-goal situation at the Lions’ 9-yard line. Again, a fumble allowed the Lions to gain one last chance.
As had happened before, the Lions made a good attempt at a score with Adams springing loose on a big run to the 40 yard line. However, the Lions could move no further in the last two plays of the game, leaving Russell to escape with the victory.
The first half was a virtual stalemate.
Russell appeared to have scored on a 24-yard run early in the second quarter but the score was waved off due to a penalty.
Adams was the bright spot for the Lions in the first half as he netted 56 yards on seven carries.
The Lions will be back in action here Wednesday when they host Nottoway here at Tuck Dillard Stadium at 6:30 p.m.

 

Deiny, McCaskill Seek To Snap Sellers’ Five Race Winning Streak At SBS

A $1,500 Bounty Has Been Placed On Points Leader Peyton Sellers For Saturday’s 150-Lap LMSC Race At South Boston Speedway

Buckle up! The racing action Saturday night at South Boston Speedway should be something special.
America’s Hometown Track will return to action Saturday night for the running of the Champions Night race program. Divisional winners will be officially crowned in the Barkhouser Late Model Stock Car Division, the Limited Sportsman Division and the Virginia Army National Guard Pure Stock Division.
Highlighting the night of racing, which will get underway at 7 p.m., will be a 150-lap shootout for the drivers in the Barkhouser Late Model Stock Car Division.
Peyton Sellers of Danville has already clinched the Late Model title at South Boston, but his sights are now set on locking up the NASCAR Dodge Weekly Series Division I crown and the NASCAR national title as well. Heading into the weekend, Sellers is the frontrunner for both of those championships.
Sellers, however, will have his hands full as a star-studded field is expected to be on hand. Sellers has reeled off five consecutive victories on the four-tenths mile asphalt oval and he owns 12 overall triumphs for the season at South Boston Speedway.
The five straight wins by Sellers has upped the current bounty on the Late Model title leader to $1,500. Therefore, any driver, other than Sellers, who posts a win Saturday night would collect a winner’s share of $4,500. Sellers could earn the bounty money if he opted to start from the rear of the field and battle through to secure a win.
In addition to the normal strong field of drivers who compete weekly at South Boston Speedway, Frank Deiny, Jr. of Mechanicsville and Deac McCaskill of Raleigh, N.C. have said they will be on hand to try and claim the bounty money Saturday night. McCaskill has already posted a pair of triumphs on the four-tenths mile asphalt oval this season.
Other drivers who have been to Victory Lane in the Late Model Stock Car ranks this season who are expected to be on hand and include Drew Herring of Benson, N.C., Scott Worley of Long Island, Wayne Ramsey of Amherst and Justin Johnson of Roxboro, N.C.
Justin Snow of Danville heads into the Limited Sportsman race Saturday night with a 14-point lead over Jonathan Bailey in the chase for that division’s championship.
In the Pure Stock Division, Joey Throckmorton of Scottsburg owns a 14-point lead over second-place Nick Igdalsky of South Boston in the battle for a track championship, while Lee Anderson sits in third place, just two points behind Igdalsky.
Other events slated Saturday night include races for the touring INEX Legends Series and the touring Legendary Flathead Series.
Pit gates will open Saturday at 1 p.m. and practice for all divisions will be held from 2:15 p.m. until 3:45 p.m. Grandstand gates will open at 5 p.m. and qualifying time trials will get the green flag at 5 p.m. as well.
Adult admission for the race will be $8 up to 6:30 p.m. and $10 after that. Youth, ages 10-15, will be admitted for $5 and children under the age of 10 will be admitted free with a paid adult.