Friday, January 9, 2004

G.A. To Look At Drug Costs
Northern Virginia Delegate To Propose A Bill That Will Allow Importation From Canada

From Staff And Wire Reports

If a bill expected to be introduced in the 2004 General Assembly passes, some Virginians could soon be paying less for their prescription medicine.

A northern Virginia delegate said earlier this week that he will introduce a bill in the state's General Assembly allowing Virginians to buy inexpensive prescription drugs from Canada, despite a federal ban on the imported pharmaceuticals.

Del. Richard H. Black’s proposal applies only to state-sponsored medical programs, including those for state employees and retirees.

Black estimates the program could save Virginia about $90 million a year.

According to a recent survey, the 10 best-selling prescription drugs are 33 percent to 80 percent cheaper in Canada than in the United States, the legislator said.

The cities of Montgomery, Ala., and Springfield, Mass., already make Canadian drugs available to their employees, and officials in several other states are considering similar initiatives, the Associated Press reported.

‘‘This is really a grass-roots rebellion that’s starting to sweep the country,’’ said Black, R-Loudoun. ‘‘There’s so much pressure building it’s going to blow the lid off at some point.’’

"I don't know if I would call it a rebellion," Fifth-District Congressman Virgil Goode countered. "But many people are upset and would like to have the right to buy their medication where it is the cheapest. I would think that a number of people are getting them (from Canada) now, they just don't want to be breaking the law doing it."

Senior citizens in the northernmost states routinely cross the border to illegally buy Canadian drugs, largely without fear of prosecution, according to published reports.

‘‘Americans pay the highest drug prices on earth,’’ Black said. ‘‘Our own trade barriers deprive Americans of needed medicines.’’

Legislators on the national level seem to be taking notice.

The U.S. House of Representatives recently passed a bill allowing drugs to be purchased in Canada. The proposal, known as the Pharmaceutical Market Access Act of 2003, is currently awaiting Senate approval.

"This particular bill is very early in the process and is under committee review," a spokesman for Sen. George Allen's office said. "If it's even reported out of committee, the bill could possibly be a very different bill than was introduced."

The spokesman said Allen supported "the concept of importation, provided it's deemed safe by the Secretary of Health and Human Services."

The last two secretaries have declined to deem imported drugs safe.

On the federal level, Goode has said he would endorse the measure.

"I support allowing the importation of drugs from Canada," he said yesterday.

However, the congressman said that drugs purchased outside the U.S. wouldn't be subject to U.S. regulations governing their efficacy.

"You have to remember that it's buyer beware.

"A person buying drugs from Canada wouldn't have the rights and remedies they would have if they were bought in the states," Goode added.

The Food and Drug Administration has fought efforts to import drugs from Canada, saying their safety cannot be guaranteed. The U.S. pharmaceutical industry also cites safety concerns.

‘‘We understand that there are some people having trouble paying for their prescription drugs,’’ said Wanda Moebius, spokeswoman for the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America. ‘‘Nobody’s first choice is to get drugs from Canada. There are safer ways than importation to help people.’’

She noted that Congress recently approved a Medicare drug benefit, and the drug industry offers discounts to needy patients through a website, wwww.helpingpatientsorg.

Black's bill has not yet been filed for the 2004 General Assembly, which begins Wednesday.

Becky Snead, executive director of the Virginia Pharmacists Association, said the organization supports efforts to reduce drug prices, but not at the expense of public safety.

‘‘Until there is some assurance that drugs coming into this country are safe, effective and what they say they are, we would be on the side of caution,’’ Snead said. ‘‘How cost-effective is it if it doesn’t work or causes harm?’’

Black said his bill would require that Virginia’s program be developed in consultation with the FDA and the U.S. attorney general.

Huddle House Eatery coming
Will Remodel, Enlarge Former Sonic Building

Huddle House, a 24-hour, full-service family restaurant chain based in Decatur, Ga., will be opening in South Boston on the Old Halifax Road in late March or early April.

Founded in 1964, Huddle House Inc. has nearly 400 restaurants located in 13 states throughout the Southeast. Huddle House makes the claim of serving any meal, any time, cooked-to-order, 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The new restaurant will be taking up residence in the former Sonic restaurant building which property is owned by South Boston builder/developer A.B. Jones Jr.

Richard Riley, president of Richmond-based H20 Hospitality, LLC, the franchisee for Virginia, told reporters this week that construction work on the new Huddle House would begin immediately and include enlarging the existing building.

When completed, the restaurant in South Boston would “look entirely the same as the prototype” Huddle House restaurants located elsewhere.

The work will include window replacements, added floor space and the removal of existing parking canopies once used by Sonic restaurant.

Huddle House, said Riley, will initially hire approximately 50 people and, based on the volume of business, maintain a regular staff of between 25 and 40 persons,

Riley called South Boston a “vibrant community” and one that he had searched for a location within for some time. He said the Old Halifax Road location “fits perfectly with what Huddle House is all about.”

Almost directly across from the Huddle House restaurant, construction is underway on a new Applebee’s Neighborhood Bar & Grill which is scheduled to be completed in February.

Huddle House restaurants boast colorful decors and are designed to resemble cozy neighborhood diners of the past. At the core of the menu are sandwich platters, barbecue, country-fried steak, burgers, breakfast platters that include eggs, bacon, sausage, country ham, waffles and omelets.

H20 presently operates four other Huddle House restaurants in Virginia, the closest of which is in Farmville. Riley said that his firm plans to open 26 more Huddle House restaurants in Virginia this year.

Competing Studies Laud, Condemn Tax Plans

By Bob Lewis | Associated Press

RICHMOND, Va. — The economic benefit of lower income taxes on all but the richest Virginians, cuts in the food and estate taxes and more spending on schools will offset higher sales, cigarette and corporate taxes, a study by the Warner administration says of the Democratic governor’s tax plan.

Equally predictable, a Republican study by President Reagan’s former top budget aide contends that Gov. Mark R. Warner’s tax proposal will cost Virginia billions of dollars and nearly 30,000 jobs.

Both analyses became public Thursday in the lead-up to Wednesday’s opening of the 2004 General Assembly and the tax reform topic that will dominate the debate at least into March.

They also precede a competing tax reform proposal that the Senate’s chief budget writer, Finance Committee Chairman John H. Chichester, R-Stafford, plans to introduce this session and outline for reporters early next week.

Another tax restructuring plan, filed by Del. Allen L. Louderback, R-Page, also awaits consideration.

The administration’s examination of the tax plan concludes that various tax cuts and bolstered spending for public education, critical transportation needs and Medicaid that will improve the state’s business climate ‘‘will outweigh any plausible negative effects from the proposed change in the sales tax and the increase in the top bracket of the income tax.’’

The study was done by four economists within the state Economic and Regulatory Analysis division of the Department of Planning and Budget.

Cornerstones of Warner’s plan include a 1-cent increase in the sales tax, to 5.5 cents on all non-food goods, and an increase from 5.75 percent to 6.25 percent in the income tax rates paid by Virginians whose taxable incomes exceed $100,000 a year.

Because of increased deductions for all filers and a lower income tax rate for some middle-and low-income taxpayers as well as other breaks, Warner is adamant that at least 65 percent of the state’s taxpayers will have a lower overall tax burden.

Finance Secretary John M. Bennett said the study was at least as credible as the one prepared by James C. Miller III, twice an unsuccessful GOP candidate for a U.S. Senate seat in Virginia and Reagan’s former budget director.

‘‘Don’t take either of our words. First, ask the question: Are both of the studies thorough, meaning has it included all the elements of the plan or has it said, ’I’m going to look at the sales tax increase and the cigarette tax increase and ignore the fact that most Virginians are going to get a tax break out of this, and I’m going to ignore the fact there is an estate tax reduction, I’m going to ignore the fact that there are clear investments going on with the money?’’’ Bennett said.

The GOP plan, released a few hours later, contends the sales tax and cigarette tax increases would leave most Virginians paying more each year, reduce personal income by about $10 billion annually as of 2006 and prevent the creation of 28,000 new jobs.

Miller, one of the architects of Reagan’s ‘‘trickle-down economics,’’ conceded that his mathematical model did not allow for benefits from spending on schools and roads, nor did it contemplate cuts to the estate tax, the grocery tax or lower brackets for some taxpayers.

Miller nevertheless disputed Warner’s contention that 65 percent of Virginia’s taxpayers would pay less under the Democratic plan. ‘‘In fact, you’d be hard-pressed to come up with any double-digit number,’’ he said.

The report was commissioned and paid for by House Speaker William J. Howell of Stafford and fellow Republican Attorney General Jerry W. Kilgore, both of whom have attacked Warner’s plan

‘‘This report clearly shows that the massive tax increase proposed by the governor will have a very negative and damaging impact on the incomes and job opportunities on the working families of our state,’’ said Howell, R-Stafford.
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On the Web:
The Republican Analysis: http://www.capanalysis.com/docs/SalesTaxes.pdf
Warner Administration’s Analysis: http://www.governor.virginia.gov/Initiatives/TaxReform/TaxAnalysis-E xecSumma ry.pdf

Comets Face Pivotal Game
Halifax County High School Downs E.C. Glass; Faces Franklin County Tonight For District Lead

By JOE CHANDLER| G-V Staff Writer

Halifax County will face a big challenge tonight in what could be a pivotal game in terms of the Western Valley District regular season championship chase.

The Comets will go on the road tonight to face Franklin County in a showdown for the early lead in the Western Valley District standings.

Halifax County (7-4) will go into tonight's game riding the crest of a four-game winning streak including a big 46-38 road win over E.C. Glass Tuesday night.

Franklin County (8-1) enters tonight's game with district wins over GW and Patrick Henry.

Tonight's game in Rocky Mount is a big one in that many observers have picked Halifax County and Franklin County as the primary contenders for the district title.

The winner of tonight's game will have a leg up on everyone else in the district as GW, E.C. Glass and Patrick Henry already have a loss.

Comets coach Garrett Dillard says a win over Franklin County on the road will be big for his team.

"It will be like a bubble bursting," Dillard said.

"That would be a huge win for us on the road early in the year with Franklin County having the team they have this year."

Dillard said he and his team will focus some attention on what they expect Franklin County will try to do tonight but that the real focus is on what he wants his team to do.

"We're not going to talk too much about Franklin County," Dillard said.

"This is all about Hali-Heat. We're going to show up and play our ballgame and make them adjust to us."

Before the Comets could look at Franklin County, they had to make sure they got the job done against E.C. Glass in Tuesday night's Western Valley District opener.

The Comets did exactly what they needed to do and cruised to 46-38 win in a game that was nowhere near as close as the score would indicate.

Tuesday night's win upped the Comets' win streak to four games in a row.

"It does no good to beat a good team and lose to a team that you should beat," said Dillard.

"We had to get this one (E.C. Glass) so we all could take that deep breath and focus on Franklin County."

The Comets displayed their best effort at the post thus far as Derrick Sprattley scored seven points, blocked three shots and grabbed three rebounds.

Chase Weddle hit one basket but led the team with six boards and blocked two shots.

James Wyatt came into the game at the post in a reserve role and played well despite not scoring any points.

"We told the post guys they had to step up and play and they did a super job," Dillard said.

Dillard said he was pleased with Wyatt's effort in the limited minutes he played.

"He didn't score but he was a big body and posted up and made them respect that," Dillard noted.

"It's not always about scoring, but doing something that draws attention to you so that they (the opposing team) can't double team on the guards."

The Comets, showing more patience in their offensive sets, had a good shooting night.

Halifax County canned 20 of its 46 shots from the floor for a 43.4 percent effort and was 6-16 from three-point range for a 37.5 percent mark.

Quintin Brown led the Comets scoring with 14 points and Craig McCargo followed with 11 points.

Sprattley was next with 7 points, Sharmane Holeman scored 6 points, Jeremy Jeffress scored 4 points and Weddle had 2 points on the night.

The big thing for the Comets, however, was the fact that they were able to what they needed to do despite an effort by E.C. Glass to slow down the pace of the game.

"It's a testament to the guys when you play at the other team's tempo and play their type of game and still win the way we did," Dillard pointed out.

"It was a slow-paced game but we still did what we wanted to do. We forced 19 turnovers, got up and down the floor and made them play a little faster than they wanted to play.

"They've had some games where they scored 27 or 28 points," continued Dillard.

"So, 38 (points), to them, is like driving 65 (miles per hour) in a 55 (miles per hour zone).

"We just enjoyed it," added Dillard.

"Everybody played and had fun."

Halifax County broke the game open early and never lost the lead.

A 9-0 run that carried the Comets through the middle stages and into the final minute of the first quarter allowed them to grab a nine-point lead and finish the first quarter with a 14-7 lead.

The Comets started the second quarter by coming up with two easy baskets off of steals, one by Jeffress and one by Brown, to break out to a 19-7 lead in the first 30 seconds of the quarter.

Glass cut the Comets' lead to 8 points but the Comets outscored the Hilltoppers 6-1 in the final 3:54 of the second quarter to take a 26-12 lead into the dressing room at halftime.

Halifax County maintained a double-digit lead through the third quarter.

Sprattley ignited a 9-0 Comets run midway through the fourth quarter in which he canned three baskets in a row, one a three-pointer, and got a basket by Brown with 3:11 left in the game to give the Comets a 43-22 lead.

Brown hit a trey for the Comets with 2:47 left in the game to put the Comets up by a comfortable 46-24 score.

Dillard emptied the bench after that and gave the reserves an opportunity to play the last two and a half minutes.

Glass kept playing its full-court pressure defense and, with the help of three three-point shots, finished the game with a 14-0 run to make the final 46-38 score.

Dillard said afterward he was not upset that Glass had scored more points in the last two and a half minutes of the game than it had produced in any previous quarter of the contest.

"The thing is we want everybody to play anytime we get a chance to do that," Dillard explained.

" We felt comfortable with those guys out there. They just didn't know whether to shoot or whether to hold the basketball and that threw them off a little bit."

Obituaries

Margaret Wilborn Bane

Margaret Wilborn Bane, 78, of 2205 Willow Street, South Boston died January 7 at her home.

Mrs. Bane was born in Halifax County on July 30, 1925, the daughter of Herbert Wilborn and Lillie Conner Wilborn and was married to Harold Lewis Bane Sr. She was a member of Ash Avenue Baptist Church and retired from J.P. Stevens.

Survivors include one son, Harold L. Bane Jr. and wife, Nancy, of South Boston; three sisters, Lula Wilbourn, Winnie Newby and Betty Wazeka, all of South Boston; two granddaughters, Marty D. Bane of Centreville and Hope B. Kvasnicka of Petersburg; and one grandson, Wesley Harold Bane of Petersburg.

Services for Mrs. Bane will be held at Brooks Funeral Home Chapel tomorrow, January 10 at 11 a.m. with the Rev. John Eure officiating. Burial will follow in Oak Ridge Cemetery.

The family will receive friends this evening between 7:00 and 8:30, at Brooks Funeral Home, and other times at the home of her son, 2005 Eastover Drive, South Boston.

Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the Halifax County Cancer Association, P.O. Box 875, South Boston, 24592.

Clara Lacks Duffer

Clara Lacks Duffer, 87, of Red Oak died January 6.

Surviving are three sons, John R. Duffer, Dr. Randy Duffer and Joe Duffer; one brother, Carlton Lacks; six grandchildren; and two great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by her husband, Rufus J. Duffer.

Mrs. Duffer was a member of Wylliesburg Baptist Church and instrumental in the establishment of the Wylliesburg Branch of the Charlotte County Library.

Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. tomorrow, January 10 at Wylliesburg Baptist Church with burial in the church cemetery.

The family will receive friends at Browning Funeral Home in Keysville from 7:00 until 8:30 this evening.

Memorials may be made to Wylliesburg Library.

Mary Lessie Reid

Mary Lessie Reid, 93, of Halifax, formerly of New York, died January 7 at The Woodview.

Ms. Reid was born in Halifax County on March 10, 1910, the daughter of Phenious Reid and Alice Sydnor Reid. She was a member of Ellis Creek Baptist Church.

Survivors include two sisters-in-law, Mary Reid of Baltimore and Edmonia Frazier of Clover.

Funeral services for Ms. Reid will be held tomorrow, January 10 at 11 a.m. at Crawford House Chapel in Halifax with the Rev. Sandy Palmer officiating.
Burial will follow at Ellis Creek Baptist Church Cemetery.

The family will receive friends at the service.

Essie Martin Wade

Essie Martin Wade, 92, of L.P. Bailey Memorial Highway, Nathalie died January 8 at Halifax Regional Hospital.

Mrs. Wade was born in Halifax County on July 31, 1911, the daughter of Felix D. Martin and Mary Powell Martin and was married to Earlie Thomas Wade Sr.

Mrs. Wade was a member of First Baptist Church of Millstone and was employed many years by the Halifax County Public School System.

Survivors include two sons, Earlie T. Wade Jr. and wife, Lorene, of Halifax, and Howard F. Wade and wife, Algie, of Nathalie; one daughter, Emily W. Roark and husband, Buddy, of Martinsville; one sister, Hallie M. Puckett of Nathalie; four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.

A funeral service for Mrs. Wade will be held tomorrow, January 10 at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church of Millstone with the Revs. Bob Watts and Donnie Stevens officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.

The family will receive friends this evening from 7:00 until 8:30 at Powell Funeral Home and other times at the home of her sons, 3067 L.P. Bailey Memorial Hwy, and 14220 L.P. Bailey Memorial Hwy.

Queen Wade White

Queen Wade White, 67, of Grubby Road, Halifax died January 5 at Halifax Regional Hospital.

Mrs. White was born August 10, 1936, the daughter of Solomon Wade and Mattie Wade and was married to William White. She was a member of County Line Baptist Church.

Survivors include four daughters, Barbara Edmunds of Richmond, Carolyn White of Frederick, Md., Linda Henderson of Halifax and Deborah Barnette of South Boston; one son, Michael White of Halifax; one stepson, Jerry Ragsdale; two sisters, Bessie Ferrell of South Boston and Thelma White of New York; two brothers, Kenneth Womack of Md. and Walter Womack of South Boston; 35 grandchildren; 29 great-grandchildren; one aunt, Marie Ferrell of the home; a devoted nephew, George Sparrow; and Emily Edgar whom she raised.

A funeral service for Mrs. White will be held tomorrow, January 10 at County Line Baptist Church at 2 p.m. with the Rev. Otis Dillard officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.