Wednesday, January 7, 2004

Fitzgerald Elected Supes’ Chair
James Edmunds Elected Vice-Chair Of Supes Board

Supervisors elected William Fitzgerald chairman of the Board in a 6-2 vote Monday night, and accepted county administrator Joe Morgan's resignation effective August 31.

Supervisors R.E. "Dickie" Abbott and Lottie Nunn cast the two nay votes in the chairman's bid.

Supervisor James Edmunds II was elected vice-chair with only Abbott opposing. Both the chair and vice-chairman are chosen for a one-year period.
Public hearings were set for the February 9 Board of Supervisors meeting for the Nelson Motley plat vacation in Election District 7 of six lots and an unopened 50-ft. right of way (Forest Drive) in Hyco Estates Subdivision.

Also scheduled for public hearing, the revocation of conditional use permits for several telecommunications tower sites, including Stovall and Volens in ED-1 and Hyco and Carlton in ED-7.

Lovelace said that it has been three years since issuance of the Hyco and Carlton sites' permits to American Tower and over two and one-half years since issuance of the Stovall and Volens sites' Permits to Unisite.

The Board also received an update on the King Village Trail Rural addition, but deferred action to the February 9 supervisors meeting on motion of Supervisor Claiborne.

That action followed the county administrator's report of a meeting with King Village representatives who agreed to recommend the following at Monday night's meeting:

• Confirm acceptance of the Report of the Halifax County Road Viewers.
• Accept the pledge of donation of right of way offer from D. Epps Lacy on Dec. 19, 2003.

• Confirm the instruction to the county administrator and legal counsel to pursue the new road route for recreational purposes and King Village neighborhood improved road access.

Morgan also told the Board that he and Del. Clarke Hogan had met in Richmond with James Adams, Capital Program Director, Virginia Dept. of Game and Inland Fisheries, regarding an application for a state sponsored boating access in conjunction with King's Village Trail Road. A request form has been subitted to the DGIF manager, Boating Access Program.

County Attorney Russell Slayton is to contact the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to initiate a request to locate the boating access and access road improvements.

King Village residents are seeking road improvements citing lack of drainage on the current road which, at times, makes it impassable.

Chairman Fitzgerald asked VDOT Resident Engineer Joe Barkley II about funding for King Village Trail and was told that about $81,000 was available today and $90,000 in the July 1 budget.

Barkley told supervisors that he thought there should be secondary funds sufficient to cover the rural addition phase.

Recreational access funding to the boat ramp is through separate agencies.
Later in the meeting, Carolyn Ballou said that King Village residents preferred use of the existing King Village Road with a VDOT funded rural addition as opposed to the new road recommended by the Board of Viewers.

Supervisors also approved a guard rail request for Route 652 at Toots Creek where Academy Lane becomes Crawford Road in the town of Halifax. Doug Bowman offered the motion, with a second from James Edmunds, that VDOT proceed with the installation.

Barkley also said that plans are underway to add a left turn lane southbound on U.S.

Route 501 heading west on U.S. Route 58.

Supervisor Ronnie Vaughan sought traffic improvements for those entering Sheets at the Riverdale intersection. Barkley said he would investigate.
Barkley said bids will taken this fall to replace the Route 58 bridge over the Dan River in the western part of the county.

Dewberry and Davis landscape architect Jim Brown and architect John Ranson presented a large photograph of the completed Halifax War Memorial project to supervisors.

Jason Fisher, unit chairperson, presented an overview of Extension Service activities.

Fisher estimated as many as 300 youth are expected to participate in 4-H summer camp next year.

He detailed some of the agricultural, 4-H, horticulture and school programs offered.

Morgan presented an update on out-of-town water/sewer discussions.
He said that the towns had not yet named two representatives each to meet to discuss w/s rate issues, but that he and South Boston Town Manager Ted Daniel met in December.

In that meeting Morgan said it was agreed it was desirable to establish a long-term goal of a county wide utility system that would provide uniform rates for services, without a general fund operational subsidy.

Extension of w/s service out the Town of Halifax to Banister Shores and Mt. Road west areas was deemed generally desirable, "but should be reviewed by the Board of Supervisors prior to installation," according to Morgan's report.
Also, the upgrade of the Town of Halifax's water treatment plant should include evaluation of the option of service form South Boston's large water treatment capacity, according to Morgan's report submitted to supervisors.

During Monday night's meeting Thomas Hundley told supervisors that he "expected more information" that night regarding water/sewer rate progress for out-of-town users.

He also asked that two citizens be appointed to the committee studying the problem, in addition to town and county officials.

"We take this very seriously," said Hundley. "Folks out of town are really getting nailed and we're not going away until we get relief."

Budget and rate schedules for the county operated system were shared with town managers to evaluate how each town might best assume billing or operation of the systems for more efficient service to citizens, according to Morgan's report.

The Riverdale system, adjacent to South Boston, has about 150 customers.

The Clover system has about 150 customers. The Grubby Road sewer system has less than 50 residential customers and the Sinai Elementary School. The VIR area utilities system wild have abut a dozen individual entities receiving service, according to Morgan's report.

During the Monday night meeting Randy Bailey of Mason Chapel Road alleged potential building code violations in his neighborhood as well as alleged drug use during.

Bailey, who also leveled charges during the December Board meeting, urged that warrants be filed.

The following appointments were approved by supervisors: Supervisor Doug Bowman to the Airport Commission, as well as the reappointment of current members for a two-year term; reappointment of Barbara Perkins to the Halifax County Improvement Council from ED-6; Henry Murray and Barbara Bass appointed to the Transportation Safety Commission from ED-6; reappointment of Harrison Conner to the Recreation Commission.

No action was taken on a Berry Hill report. Morgan said that he and South Boston Town Manager would encourage looking at revenue streams to divide the cost of any future study.

Following executive session Monday night, the Board increased building Inspector Detrick Easley and Building Inspector Dwight Waller's salaries following completion of certifications. Waller is also to be offered duties of interim building official.

Former Building Official Brian Satterfield will now serve as a building inspector with continued employment to be conditioned on certification attainment.

Supervisors also approved a moral obligation authorization for financing a $40,000 loan to the Industrial Development Authority of Halifax County for a motorsports related prospective industry to locate in the county.

Faye Tuck Captures County’s Heritage
Historian’s New Book Was A Labor Of Love

Halifax County native Faye Royster Tuck has parlayed her love of local history and her penchant for research into a book chronicling a rural Virginia lifestyle slowly but surely melting away.

The book, entitled "Yesterday - Gone Forever," is composed of a collection of articles meant to give the reader an insight into personalities and institutions in Halifax County since pre-Revolutionary War days.

Tuck's work in researching and compiling the book was obviously a labor of love.

"It was supposed to be here before Christmas, but it didn't make it," Tuck said yesterday.

"It took about a year to compile, not counting research," she added.

"Yesterday - Gone Forever" is a collection of articles exploring such diverse county institutions as the legal system and churches, in addition to the well- known roles the county has played in the tobacco industry and the Civil War.

The photograph on the book's cover pays homage to Halifax County's best known traditional product.

"The photograph on the cover of this book shows the men at Berry Hill Plantation 'pulling' tobacco as it was called in 1935," said Tuck in her book.

Tuck, herself born and reared on the grounds of the plantation, still remembers the sights and smells that accompanied life along Berry Hill Road.
Her father managed the plantation for many years.

"One can almost smell the aroma of the tobacco curing along Berry Hill Road in the barns that are slowly deteriorating each day," Tuck recalled.

"In the past, the tobacco being cured with wood, the aromas could be smelled for miles.

"To have lived in Halifax County, on Berry Hill Plantation, as I did, what a wonderful feeling on a July evening to have the breeze blowing in your hair, the moonlight shining down with the heavenly honeysuckle smell everywhere, bobwhites calling their mates, crickets singing so sweetly, and the aroma of tobacco curing when you are sixteen and so young.

"This was heaven first class and it doesn't get any better."

Tuck said that, although she was educated in local schools, her interest in research began while visiting a friend, Katherine Sewell.

The two spent many hours in courthouses in Virginia and many times Mrs. Berryman Green (Martha) and Mrs. Page Loftis (Frances) would accompany them, according to Tuck.

The author began her career in historical research in 1967 and in 1977 remarried and moved to Richmond.

There she spent most of her time at the Virginia State Library and the Virginia Historical Society.

She has worked at the Library of Congress, the DAR Library, libraries of major universities in Virginia and North Carolina, and the Carnegie Library in Pennsylvania.

Tuck would always search until she found something relating to Halifax County.

In 1984, following her husband's retirement, they moved to Halifax County.

Tuck has already received a positive review of her book, from Fifth District Congressman Virgil H. Goode Jr., who wrote the forward to "Yesterday - Gone Forever."

"Faye Royster Tuck is well known in Halifax County and adjacent communities as a preserver of our history and as a promoter of our heritage," began Goode.

"Her collection of articles, entitled "Yesterday - Gone Forever," has captured the flavor and character of much of Halifax County over the last two and a half centuries.

"Faye has not undertaken a standard chronological history from the pre-Revolutionary War period down to the twenty-first century.

"Instead, she has focused on specific aspects of our rich and diverse history...

"Faye's in-depth look at certain other personages and places central to the history of Halifax County provides a wealth of material not only for the casual reader but also for historians focused on Southside Virginia," Goode continued.

"For example, the Civil War, particularly in the South, has received more coverage in books and articles than any internal conflict of any English speaking country.

"...Faye gives us details and information about the Civil War in our area that I have never seen covered in the articles, stories and books on that great conflict.

"Likewise...,she provides material and insight into the Nineteenth Century African American history of Halifax County that is a treasury of information to a researcher."

Tuck is a member of Berry Hill Presbyterian Church, Berryman Green Chapter of the DAR, Virginia Historical Society and a former member of the Daughters of Colonial Wars and past president of Founders and Patriots.

"While growing up on Berry Hill Plantation, I remember one rainy day going with my father to the low grounds of Berry Hill, where the airport used to be, during World War II and seeing those big airplanes covered with canvas," Tuck said in her book.

"Even after thirty-six years of research, I still find myself drifting into another world of long ago when things were simple.

"My husband, Bob Tuck, told me to 'take each day and live it as if it were your last day on this earth.'

"We just have today because Yesterday - Gone Forever."

cutline: Halifax County native and historian Faye Royster Tuck is the author of a book entitled, "Yesterday - Gone Forever," a collection of articles chronicling the persons, institutions and events throughout Halifax County's past.

Field For Riverstone Contractor Narrows
Group's Board Narrows Potential Builders On $10M Project From 16 To Six

Contractors for an approximate $10 million building project in Riverstone Technology Park could be announced by the end of the month, according to Scott Morris, executive director of the Halifax County Industrial Development Authority.

"We hope to have contractor selection finalized by the end of the month and then they could come in and begin getting sub-contractors in line as soon as possible," he said.

Beginning with 16 potential contractors, the group's board of directors narrowed the field of contractors being considered for Riverstone in a two-hour closed session Monday, according to Morris.

"We took no formal action outside of closed session," he said. "But we did narrow down the list we're negotiating with to a group of six."

Morris said contractors being considered for the approximately $10 million project reflect national, regional and local contractors.

"We don't want to release who the six are today until we've had a chance to conduct some interviews with them," he said.

But the executive director said the names of the contractors being considered could be released at the board's January 15 meeting.

Although the 66,000 square foot building is not scheduled to be completed until January, 2005, Morris said some industries had already expressed "a preliminary interest in the property."

"By the middle of this year, we'll be able to start working with interested companies," he said. "At that point, we should know how much their lease will cost and other things so we can give them a more concrete figure.

"It would be kind of hard for a company to commit a year in advance," Morris added.

Comets Swimmers Earn Split
HCHS Defeated GW And Lost To E.C. Glass Monday Night In Its Final Home Meet Of The Season

By JOE CHANDLER| G-V Staff Writer

The Halifax County High School swim teams shook off the rust of a lengthy layoff to earn a split with Western Valley District opponents GW and E.C. Glass here Monday night.

Halifax County's girls and boys teams downed GW with the girls scoring a 60-32 win and the boys earning a 52-32 win.

It was a different story, however, when it came to the contest against E.C. Glass.

The Hilltoppers girls downed the Comets 56-36 and the E.C. Glass boys team defeated Halifax County 70-24.

E.C. Glass also downed GW in both the girls and boys competition.

Comets coach Dewey Compton said he was pleased to get the win over GW but pointed out that the lengthy layoff his team has had from competition adversely affected the times his swimmers posted.

The Comets' last competitive meet was the Heritage Invitational on December 13.

And, Compton noted that during the two-week Christmas holiday break, some team members missed some practice sessions because they were out of town with their families.

"We need more time in the pool to get back to where we were before the (Christmas) break," Compton said.

"The layoff hurt our times some."

The Comets girls picked up several wins in the contest against GW.

Ann Ashley Compton won two events, capturing first place in the 200-meter freestyle with a time of two minutes and 29.85 seconds and winning the 500-meter freestyle with a time of 6:53.85.

Kylie Lowe won the 200-meter IM and the 100-meter breaststroke. Her time in the 200 IM was 3:20.19 and her winning time in the breaststroke was 1:34.47.
Caroline Clements won the 100-meter backstroke with a time of 1:18.65.

Halifax County also won the 200-meter medley relay, the 200-meter freestyle relay and the 400-meter freestyle relay.

The Comets boys team also had a good outing against GW with Dane Ferguson and Eric Nelson leading the team with two wins each.

Ferguson won the 200-meter IM with a time of 2:51.86 and won the 100-meter freestyle event in a time of 1:04.03.

Nelson won the 200-meter freestyle in a time of 2:53.62 and won the 500-meter freestyle in a time of 8:07.06.

William McGhee won the 100-meter backstroke with a time of 1:35.31 and Jimmy Bishop won the 100-meter breaststroke with a time of 1:33.75.

The Comets boys also won two of the three relay events.

Wins were much harder to come by for the Comets against E.C. Glass.
Compton topped the field in the 200-meter and 500-meter freestyle events and Clements won the 100-meter backstroke.

The Comets girls won the 400-meter freestyle relay without opposition.
Halifax County's boys team failed to pick up a win against the Hilltoppers.

The Comets' best individual showings against E.C. Glass were a second-place finish by Ferguson in the 200-meter IM and a second-place finish by Clark in the 50-meter freestyle.

Halifax County's two relay team entries in the 400-meter freestyle relay swept that event as E.C. Glass did not enter that event.

The Comets swim teams will return to action Friday when they travel to Martinsville to face Franklin County and Martinsville.

The meet will start at 5 p.m.

Obituaries

Alice Coleman Barksdale

Alice Coleman Barksdale, 79, of 1077 Cedar Grove Road, South Boston died January 5.

Mrs. Barksdale was born in Halifax County on October 14, 1924, the daughter of William Coleman and Fannie Tucker Coleman and was married to James William Barksdale Sr. She was a member of Dan River Bethel Baptist Church and a retired employee of Halifax Regional Hospital.

Survivors include her husband; four daughters, Dorothy Brigham of South Boston, Alease Parson of Clinton, Md., Sallie Nash of Spring Valley, N.Y. and Mildred Williams of Waldorf, Md.; 11 grandchildren; and 23 great-grandchildren. Mrs. Barksdale was preceded in death by a son, James W. Barksdale Jr.

A funeral service will be held tomorrow, January 8 at 1 p.m. at Dan River Bethel Baptist with the Rev. James L. Thomas officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

The family will receive friends at the home.

Leslie Bernard Carr Sr.

Leslie Bernard Carr Sr., 102, of James D. Hagood Highway, Halifax died January 2.

Mr. Carr was born in Halifax County on February 6, 1901, the son of Elder Austin Carr and Amanda Panniel Carr and was married to Mamie Graves Carr. He was a member of The Church of God & Saints of Christ, a retired farmer and former employee of Southern Processors, Inc.

Survivors include six children, Alice Carr Coleman, Melba Lipscomb and husband, Robert, and James Carr, all of South Boston, Mary Cartwright and husband, Barry, of Croton-on-Hudson, N.Y., Leslie B. Carr Jr. of Mt. Vernon, N.Y. and John Carr and wife, Luvearn, of Piscataway, N.J.; 13 grandchildren; and 22 great-grandchildren.

A funeral service for Mr. Carr will be held at The Crawford House in Halifax today, January 7 at 1 p.m. Burial will follow in Oak Ridge Cemetery.

Stephen Addison Powell

Stephen Addison Powell, 51, of 7092 Huell Matthews Highway, Alton died January 4 at his home.

Mr. Powell was born in Mecklenburg County on May 18, 1952, the son of Charles Addison Powell and Lucy Estelle Poteat Powell and was married to Jo Ann Perkins Powell. He was owner/operator of S&J Grocery.

Survivors include his wife; one daughter and son-in-law, Tara Lynn Powell Wilborn and Jason Edward Wilborn of South Boston; one son, Christopher Adrian Powell of South Boston; his mother of South Boston; one sister, Sandra Powell Warren of Bolivia, N.C.; and one grandson, Joshua Wilborn of South Boston.

Funeral services for Mr. Powell will be held today, January 7 at 2 p.m. at Powell Funeral Home Chapel with the Revs. Richard Saunders and Vance Midgett officiating. Burial will follow in Halifax Memorial Gardens.

Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Halifax Regional Hospice, 2204 Wilborn Avenue, South Boston, or the ALS Foundation.

Maggie Lee Bolton Shearin

Maggie Lee Bolton Shearin, 93, of Bullock, N.C. died January 3 in South Boston.

Mrs. Shearin was a native of Warren County, N.C. and retired from Burlington Industries. She was the widow of Malvin Hill Shearin.

A funeral service was held January 6 at 2 p.m. in the Watkins Cooper Lyon Funeral Home Chapel in Clarksville. Officiating was the Rev. H.V. Conner. Burial followed in Rock Spring Baptist Church Cemetery in Townsville.

Surviving Mrs. Shearin are her son and daughter-in-law, David and Norma Shearin of Chesterfield; grandchildren, Brenda Dyer, Marion Newby, Terry Grogg and Susan Fazzio; 10 great-grandchildren; and 12 great-great-grandchildren.

Mrs. Shearin was preceded in death by children, Dorothy Shearin Williams, Jerry Hartwell Shearin and Jackie Hill Shearin.

Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Rock Spring Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, Townsville.

Virginia Farrar Wilborne

Virginia Farrar Wilborne died December 28 in Halifax Regional Hospital.

Survivors include her daughters, Melissa Davis and husband, Simmie, Gladys Tucker and Gloria Jackson; one son, Joseph Wilborne and wife, JoAnne; 13 grandchildren; 14 great-grandchildren; two great-great-grandchildren; and one sister, Robina Farrar.

Services were held at 1 p.m. January 2 at Bethel Grove Baptist Church in Clover with the Rev. William Hicks officiating. Burial followed in the church cemetery.

Mildred Louise Crews Williams

Mildred Louise Crews Williams, 85, of 1218 Ellis Creek Road, Nathalie died January 5 at Twin Oaks Convalescent Home.

Mrs. Williams was born in Prince Edward County on December 11, 1918, the daughter of Annie Coffey Crews and Earlie C. Crews and was married to Daniel Walker Williams. She was a member of Mt. Laurel United Methodist Church.

Graveside services will be held today, January 7, at 2 p.m. at Mt. Laurel UMC Cemetery with the Rev. Don Pizzeck officiating.

Survivors of Mrs. Williams include one daughter-in-law, Thelma Crews; one granddaughter, Tracey Richards; and two great-granddaughters, Keira Pillow and Rachael Richards, all of Richmond.

She was preceded in death by her parents, husband; one daughter, Myrtle Williams Watson; one son, Francis Lee Crews; one sister, Annie Laura Crews; three brothers, Harold, Herbert and Earlie Crews; and one granddaughter, Susan Watson.

Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Mt. Laurel UMC.