A greater citizens' voice on the proposed Roanoke River Basin Commission has spurred a public meeting sponsored by the Roanoke River Basin Association (RRBA) this Saturday at St. John's Episcopal Church in Halifax. The meeting will begin at 10 a.m.
"It will be similar in format to the summit held in July," said Tom Brawner, RRBA executive director.
"We need to get public feedback on this issue. Our concern is a greater citizen voice on the commission."
The State Water Commission, which originally appointed a Special Subcommittee to consider draft legislation for the entity, was scheduled to take action on the draft on January 8, but recent developments have delayed the committee's consideration for the present.
Brawner's comments reflected the feelings of many associated with the RRBA - that representation in the commission should include local citizens within the basin.
Commission Representation
The draft legislation, as it currently stands, calls for membership for the commission to consist of one member from each of the elected governing bodies of the jurisdictions found wholly or partially within the Roanoke River Basin, as well as an alternate.
One member would be a representative of the soil and water conservation districts found wholly or partially within the Roanoke River Basin, as well as an alternate.
Representation on the commission would also include members of the state Senate and House of Delegates "whose districts include a portion of the Roanoke River Basin and who express a desire to be a commission member to the Senate Committee on Privileges and Elections or to the Speaker of the House.
Membership would finally include U.S. Congressional representation, "composed of those members of the U.S. House of Representatives whose districts include a portion of the Roanoke River Basin."
The proposed Roanoke River Basin Commission would provide guidance and advice to federal, state and local administrative bodies and others concerning the water resources in the Virginia portion of the Roanoke River Basin.
The commission would have the option, but not the obligation, to establish "balanced advisory committees" for the purpose of considering views of industry, agriculture, landowners, environmental groups, recreational groups and others.
Most of the commission's funding would come from the Commonwealth of Virginia and local governments.
RRBA Objections
The RRBA has objected to what it sees as the exclusion of many of the Basin's stakeholders both from the process of forming the commission and from the makeup of the proposed commission itself.
"Despite good intentions, this process has taken place behind closed doors," said Brawner.
"If the commision is forced on the basin by the powers that be in Richmond rather than developed out of a consensus of the basin's stakeholders, it will be doomed from the start."
Del. W.W. "Ted" Bennett has long advocated meaningful citizen involvement on any such commission.
Bennett had earlier stated that "the pressure for the current draft came from the Department of Environmental Quality, the Department of Game and Inland Fisheries, and the Forestry and Conservation departments."
According to Bennett, they were concerned that local governments would be major players in the commission, due to their stewardship of water usage throughout the basin and their influence in recruiting potential industrial use of basin water.
"Recognizing that, we still need flexibility to appoint local citizens as designees, said Bennett."
The RRBA also believes that the commission structure - which is controlled by governmental interests - is at odds with the views expressed by stakeholders at last July's Roanoke Summit in South Boston.
In addition to expressing a preference for a basin-wide entity that would include both Virginia and North Carolina, the stakeholders there clearly envisioned an important role for private, nongovernmental interests on any such basin-wide entity.
"Those views were presented but so far have been given no credence in this legislative process," said Brawner.
Other groups, including Friends of the Roanoke River, Southside Concerned Citizens, Float Fishermen of Virginia and Friends of the Rivers of Virginia, have expressed similar sentiments, objecting to the lack of citizen membership on the proposed commission.
In response to these objections, Sen. Charles Hawkins (R-Chatham), chair of the subcommittee in Richmond that recommended the commission legislation, has proposed that the commission membership include one "citizen-at-large" to be appointed to a four-year term by the governor, a proposal that RRBA regards as insufficient representation on non-governmental interests.
Expectations
The legislative subcommittee that Sen. Hawkins chairs - the State Water Commission's Roanoke River Basin Study Committee - voted in November to recommend the proposed commission legislation to the State Water Commission.
Others on that subcommittee include Brawner, who voted against the proposed legislation; Del. Bennett; Del. Watkins Abbitt Jr., (D-Appomattox); Del. R. Steven Landes (R-Weyers Cave); who also chairs the State Water Commission; Shannon Varner, a Richmond attorney; Lawrenceville attorney Russell Slayton, who is coordinator of a partnership of local governments in the Kerr Lake/Lake Gaston area; and John Van Hoy, of Fredericksburg, who also serves on the State Water Commission.
The State Water Commission, an arm of the Virginia General Assembly, had been expected to consider the proposed commision legislation on Monday afternoon, January 8, in Richmond.
Had the State Water Commission approved it, the General Assembly was expected to take action on it during the upcoming session that commences on Wednesday, January 10. It was this "fast track" schedule that provided the immediate impetus for RRBA to schedule this public meeting.
In a late reversal of course, however, Sen. Hawkins in a letter dated December 28, acknowledged that introduction of the proposed commission legislation this year "indeed may be premature."
Hawkins goes on to say, "It will be my recommendation to the State Water Commission that no legislation be introduced this year."
Sen. Hawkins now proposes that a series of public meetings take place throughout the basin, "using the current legislative proposal as a starting point."
Hawkins concludes in the letter, "The main thing is to guarantee adequate review by citizens of the basin. And the time taken to accomplish this will be time well spent."
Sen. Hawkins' letter diminishes the urgency for the public meeting in Halifax - but not the need. Comments from the public meeting will be presented to the State Water Commission and the General Assembly at the appropriate time.
Given the breadth of the Roanoke River Basin, RRBA is pleased that Sen. Hawkins anticipates further public meetings in other parts of the basin.
"If this commission concept is a good idea, it should have no problem withstanding this kind of public scrutiny," said Brawner.
For further information, call (804) 577-2159 or (336) 294-0744, send an e-mail to info@rrba.org or go to www.rrba.org/commission.html.

Constitution Square played host last year as thousands ushered in Year 2000, kicking off a year that would feature a bizarre and high-drama presidential election, GOP gains in Virginia, ground breaking at the $3.5 million Continuing Education Center in South Boston, the return of Joe Morgan as Halifax County administrator, a changing of the guard in the public school system and the loss of veteran legislator and Virginia gentleman, Sen. Howard Anderson Sr.
Tobacco's fate continued along a rocky road with the old auction system thrown into jeopardy as major buyers sought contracts with tobacco farmers.
Year 2000 Review
George W. Bush will be sworn in as president this month, taking the GOP resurgence to the nation's top job. In the November election, Bush also carried Halifax County en route to sweeping the state.
In the November race, popular former governor George Allen captured the U.S. Senate seat held by Democrat Charles Robb, and 5th District Congressman Virgil Goode, formerly a Democrat, won reelection as an independent. Goode, who received backing from the GOP in his reelection bid, caucuses with Republicans in the House.
In Halifax County, Goode captured the most votes with 8,091. Bush was second with 7,732 votes and Allen third with 7,534. Goode easily swept the field in his three-man contest with Democrat John Boyd taking 4,549 votes and independent Joseph Spence 197 votes.
Halifax County
In Halifax County, former administrator Joe Morgan returned September 1 to fill the county administrator's post left vacant by Dan Sleeper.
Morgan, who was chosen from a full file of candidates, served as Halifax County administrator from 1984 until 1986, when he took the administrator's post in Pulaski County.
Sleeper, a former Pittsylvania County administrator, returned to that position.
FY 2000-2001 Budget
To meet financial demands in school funding, supervisors also set new tax rates for the FY 2000-2001 budget. Supervisors approved a real estate tax hike increasing the rate from 31 cents per hundred to 36 cents. Other tax increases included the machinery and tool tax, set at $1.26 per hundred, the same as the personal property tax. The E-911 fee increased from 40 cents to $2.50 monthly.

Town of Halifax runs before highlights, which is last in the review. Beth

Town of Halifax
The Town of Halifax gained new territory in its January 2000 boundary adjustment, but problems followed when the Justice Department failed to approve its new ward voting plan. "Taxation without representation," was the cry among some new residents.
In other town business, Halifax Councilman Harold Ray Younger was returned to office following the May election and H. C. Phillips Sr. won his bid to join council. Veteran councilman John Murphy did not stand for reelection.

If Christmas is the season of miracles, Tabitha Martin is in line to become one of its standard-bearers.
Born profoundly deaf, 14-year-old Tabitha - a cheerleader, dancer and red belt in karate - stepped up to her latest challenge Christmas week and came home from the UVa hospital with a chance to hear.
Through a cochlear implant it is hoped the teenager will join the everyday "hearing" world.
Initial reports following Tabitha's surgery last week were very optimistic, according to Linda Martin, Tabitha's mother.
The teenager will return to the Charlottesville medical facility in the latter part of January to have the implant activated.
"She came home to heal and will go back in three or four weeks," explained Mrs. Martin.
Once the implant is activated, Tabitha will return home and "take it day by day," added her mother. "Some people hear right off. Sometimes it takes three weeks to respond."
Although the teenager takes speech classes now, she will began speech therapy when she begins hearing.
Described as an excellent lip reader, Tabitha has been combining that skill and hearing aids, which allow her "to hear a little bit," to pursue an incredibly active schedule, which includes being an honor roll student.
In addition to cheerleading, dancing and karate, she plays basketball, soccer and softball.
The five-foot-three-inch bundle of energy also holds the title of Junior Miss South Boston and was recently invited to submit photographs for a magazine published for teenagers.
The first thing Tabitha would like to do when she can hear?
"Take voice lessons and sing," replied the multitalented teenager. "I love to dance," said the teenager who feels the music's beat through her feet. "And I want to be able to sing."
Although Tabitha's pre-surgery world was packed with successes, a successful cochlear implant will no doubt open new doors.
"Educational doors," said her mother quickly.
But most of all, Tabitha's mother wants her daughter to have the hearing opportunity. "To be deaf in a hearing environment, it would be wrong not to have this surgery," she said.
But to Mrs. Martin, this surgery is not just about her daughter. "They are doing this surgery on infants 10 months old. Those children will never know what it was to be deaf."
To the Martins and many other families, Dr. John Mason and the cochlear implant program at the University of Virginia hold the hope of a modern-medicine miracle.
For Tabitha Martin, it just happened to be a chance at a Christmas miracle.

January - The first month of the New Year 2001 began with the announcement that the Halifax Woman's Club was prepared to sue the Town of Halifax and the Board of Supervisors for lagging on their promise to build a War Memorial. Women set a deadline of July 1 to begin work whereby Halifax Councilman Jack Dunavant said the delay was absurd. Unless construction is begun sooner, Dunavant said he would resign. Reacting quickly to Dunavant's ultimatum, supervisors and councilmen called for a hurry-up special joint meeting and set a starting date of May 1, 2007, for work to begin. If started sooner, the contractor would face penalties. It's great to be a man because..... "your last name stays put."

February - Hugh Moore, the original Fearless Forecast author, has quit, no notice or anything! He said that some of his predictions were actually coming true. He expressed his sincerest apologies to everyone who might have been offended except for Leo Carden.
It's great to be a man because..... "a wedding dress costs $2,000. A tux rents for 100."

March - Now that South Boston Colonel Jim (Chief of Police - Search 'em All) Hall has two offices, he is turning his attention to updating his equipment portfolio. He has told council that he has submitted bids on five surplus Korean War-era tanks, indispensable to his anti-terrorist program. Council should turn its attention to the purchase of land for a firing range, Hall said.

April - "No problem," South Boston Mayor Glenn Abernathy said. But he told Hall, "You'll have to wait another week or two while we put the finishing touches on our plan to annex all of the county that remains unincorporated since the last deal with Halifax."....... On learning of Abernathy's comment, Supervisor Dickie Abbott held a press conference and stated, "I told you so.... I told you so!"
It's great to be a man because "You never have to drive to another gas station because 'This one's just too icky.'

May - Council tells Hall that his plans might be a little too rich for the town. Hall announces an austerity program that includes a directive that no more than five officers and three cruisers will work cases involving stop sign runners...... Dickie Abbott begins work on a bunker he said could stand for ten years provided his wife keeps on canning through the fall.

June - Colonel Jim Hall announces that a special awards night will be held to recognize four officers whose voices changed during the past 12 months....On learning of South Boston's plan to annex all of the county, Board Chairman Joe Satterfield said, "You know, somebody called me about that."...... William Coleman decides to move across the river to run against Satterfield. "I was the one who called him."
It's great to be a man because "You don't have to shave below your neck."

July - A special state police investigation uncovers a N.C. state plot to take over Halifax County. Named as undercover operatives were Clerk of Court Bobby Conner, Supervisor Tom West and County Administrator Joe Morgan, all State grads. The sting operation was funded by a grant from Smithfield Foods......It's great to be a man because "You have one wallet, one pair of shoes, one belt, one color for all seasons.....

August - The county hires Kenneth Cranford to be its chief negotiator with South Boston over the town's annexation plan..... "chiefly because nobody knows what he's saying," according to Satterfield. Town brings former City Manager Aubrey Houghton out of retirement because he has a "read" on Cranford.
It's great to be a man because "You are not expected to know the names of more than fine colors."

September - Alarmed by comments that the annexation program would be far too costly, Abernathy says he has a plan. "Everyone would have to pay their taxes four years in advance," he said. "I've talked with a lot of people who like the idea," Abernathy said......." I think I got a call, too," said Satterfield.
It's great to be a man because "Everything on your face stays the same color."

October - Hall promotes himself to Brigadier General to celebrate the arrival of the five tanks.....Before he leaves office, Governor Gilmore said he will ask the General Assembly (no relation to Hall???) to cut local real estate taxes by 40 percent, the shortfall in tax revenues to be paid from the tobacco program..... "I think I got a call on that," Satterfield said...... "You did and it was from me," West said.

November - The gray ghost of Republican politics, Weldon Tuck of Virgilina footprints, continues to sneak in and out of the community because: (1) He doesn't want to stir speculation; or, (2) he owes Ye Editor for a long-ago bet....... Put your money on Number 2.
It's great to be a man because "If somebody forgets to invite you to something, he or she can still be your friend."

December - Hey, it looks like Hugh headed this way with a typewriter under his arm. What do you make of that?..../ . XXXX@@@(*&^%%.

By MICHAEL A. PAIGE
It was a crowning achievement for the Halifax County High School Blue Comets basketball team, which took the title in the seventh annual BB&T Bank Holiday Classic.
In dominating victories, Halifax overtook Northern Durham 68-52 on Thursday and then seized the championship game by beating Person High School 52-46 on Friday.
The matchup against Northern Durham was followed by the tournament's opening game between Person High and Laurel Park High School.
Person High won that match 61-54 with a strong second-half performance that lifted the team into the championship game with Halifax.
Facing each other for the third time this season, the Halifax/Person match up was an opportunity for the Comets to reinstate themselves after winning their first encounter and then suffering a disappointing loss in a December 15 game in Roxboro, N.C.
The matchup was also between teams that faced each other in the BB&T Bank Holiday Classic in 1997, in which the Comets edged Person High by one point.
Halifax had prepared for its next encounter with Person High.
"We did more mental preparation than physical," Coach Garrett Dillard said after winning his first BB&T tournament victory.
Dillard saw his Comets lose the tournament championship by one point in each of the past two years.
"We tried to instill in these guys that we had to play physical and play hard.
"We're a small team and we have to get out there and bang. And I think when it counted, we did," Garrett said.
Halifax jumped out to a 6-2 lead after knocking down two three-pointers by Carleton Roach and Shamoni Faulkner.
Person climbed back to within one point at 10-9 with just under two minutes to play in the first quarter when Halifax stretched its lead again, with Theodore Bradley hitting a three pointer at the buzzer.
Person again managed to stay close by the end of the first half with the score at 27-24.
"Early in the ball game, they (Person) got a lot of second shots, but late in the game, when the ball went up , we were going to get it for the rebound and that is what it takes," Dillard said after his Comets increased their lead in the fourth quarter.
The three-pointer was the clincher for Halifax, which created a five-point run with 3:20 to play in the fourth quarter, while three-straight turnovers hurt the Rockets and gave Halifax a seven-point lead with 1:20 seconds to play in the game.
"I told the guys that champions play like champions and down the stretch we did, we played like champions," Dillard said.
A fourth-quarter three-pointer by Roach was his seventh in the tournament and that was a tournament record.
Roach also tied a tournament record for most points in a game, with 23 in the Thursday night match against Northern Durham, and he broke another tournament record for the most three-point field goals in one game with five three-point shots against N. Durham.
"Fortunately guys came off the bench like Korey Townsend and he was knocking the shot down.
" And that's what we're going to do the rest of the way, that is, play the guys that are getting the job done," Dillard said.
"You can't rely on your big-time guys all the time, so you have to get other guys in and Kory stepped in and did what he had to do," Dillard added.
Townsend led the Comets in scoring against Person with 13 points, while Bradley and Roach each had 12 points.
Roach was also six for six at the line, while Bradley was three for four.
This was Halifax County's third BB&T Holiday Classic Tournament title in seven years.
Halifax improved its record to 6-3 for the season.
In the Halifax/Northern Durham match on Thursday night, the Comets fell behind in the first quarter 17-14, before finding their rhythm and going ahead 32-23 at the half.
Roach hit two three-pointers in the first quarter and then added two more in the third quarter.
"We wanted to establish the lead early or be right there in the ball game.
"We didn't want to have to try and fight back because we've been trying to get away from this pressing and pressing so much," Dillard said.
"We want to get down to playing the guys that are playing good and we don't want to wear them out by running up and down the floor too much.
"Plus, we're doing a pretty good job with our half-court defense, so it's really big that we're able to play a different style and stay in the ball game and keep it tight early, and then down the stretch makes the runs that we need to win the games," Dillard added.
While Roach led the team in scoring with 23 points, he added a fifth three-pointer of the game in the fourth quarter to break the tournament record.
The Comets opened the second half against N. Durham by extending on a four-point run after the first half and creating a five-point run to make the score 43-27 and a four-point run to extend the lead to 47-29 with under 2:50 to play in the third quarter.
The Comets went into the fourth quarter with a 20-point lead with 7:15 to play in the game before cruising into the championship game.
Dashawn Baird and Townsend each scored 11 points to contribute to the win.
While Roach was six for six on the line in the championship game, he was also two for two in free throws against N. Durham.
Townsend was three for four on the line, while Faulkner was two for four.
Before Halifax took the championship, a consolation game was played between N.Durham and Laurel Park.
N. Durham won the consolation game 79-71.