Del. Clarke Hogan said yesterday that he was by-and-large pleased
with the announcements Gov. Mark R. Warner made during Wednesday
night's State of the Commonwealth address.
"I think all in all it was a good speech," the delegate
said. "The only thing I would take exception to is what's
being done to Medicaid."
In the address, Warner announced that he plans to freeze Medicaid
reimbursements at the 2003 level.
"Around the country, states are experiencing rising health
care costs largely driven by the dramatic increases in Medicaid,"
the governor said. "The fact is that Medicaid growth has
been out of control for a generation. In 1990, Medicaid spending
nationwide was just over $72 billion.
"By 2000, it had nearly tripled to $195 billion. The federal
government's decision not to fully fund its share of Medicaid
costs Virginia $65 million a year," he explained.
"That was the one big surprise in the governor's budget that
really bothers me," Hogan said. "Because Medicaid is
such a huge mechanism for funding in Southside Virginia."
Warner's proposal calls for freezing Medicaid reimbursement to
hospitals, nursing homes and HMOs, according to Ellen Qualls,
the governor's press secretary.
She said the proposed freeze will cap the amount of reimbursement
at the current levels.
"The only way we could save money on Medicaid is if we made
fewer people eligible for services," Qualls suggested. "The
governor said that to do that would not be protecting the social
safety net."
But Hogan said that the freeze could cost patients in the long
run by putting an extra burden on caregivers.
"I'm very disappointed in that part (of the budget plan),"
the delegate said. "That puts a huge burden on hospitals.
"That is the piece of the budget proposal that I would take
exception with," Hogan added.
Although he disagrees with the governor on the Medicaid issue,
Hogan said he supports many of the initiatives outlined by the
governor.
"I support the governor's comments about protecting K-12
education, his public safety initiatives and protecting the Virginia
Retirement System," the delegate said.
During the speech, Warner outlined reforms and new initiatives
in education, workforce training, transportation, public safety
and mental health programs.
He also advocated the state making better use of information
technology and streamlining state government itself.
In his second State of the Commonwealth speech, the Democratic
governor won a standing ovation from the GOP-dominated Legislature
by ruling out any tax increases or attempt to attach tobacco funds.
He also defied lawmakers to cut public school funding.
He has proposed an additional $65 million in basic aid to public
schools.
''We have made too much progress to retreat from our commitment
to public schools,'' Warner said. ''So let me be clear: If you
send me a budget that cuts funding for education, I will not sign
it.''
But the delegate said he would need to look at the details of
the funding, and cautioned against targeted funding.
"I philosophically believe in letting the local school administrators
use the money as needed," he suggested.
Halifax County School superintendent Dennis Witt said yesterday
that he was pleased with the governor's focus on education.
"We agree with the governor and think he perceives the importance
of education in the great scheme of things," Witt said.
"At a time when we are trying to raise the quality of our
workforce and quality of life, adequate funding of education is
critical," he added.
DMVs To Reopen
In what many have called the surprise of the evening, Warner,
sounding confident and upbeat, proposed reopening the 12 Department
of Motor Vehicles offices that were shut down in October as part
of his budget-balancing plan.
Warner said the shuttered offices would be reopened using $6 million
of the $10 million the state received in a national settlement
with major Wall Street banks.
But the governor said it would not be business as usual at the
reopened offices.
''These offices will reopen in a manner consistent with the reforms
we are putting in place throughout the agency, with a greater
use of license agents, self-help kiosks, and greater use of on-line
services,'' Warner said during the 55-minute speech on the first
day of the 2003 General Assembly.
On Oct. 15, the governor ordered the offices, spread across the
state, closed and 587 DMV employees laid off in the most Draconian
budget cuts that resulted from billions of dollars in budget shortfalls
over the past two years.
Total cuts to DMV's budget last fall came to $45.5 million.
Hogan said that the cuts in DMV funds haven't affected Halifax
County as much as other localities.
"But we are having problems with adequate staffing in our
area, and whether or not the others are opened, our problems are
still there," the delegate said.
Several key Republicans, including House Majority Leader H. Morgan
Griffith, had assailed Warner's decision to close the DMV offices.
The DMV closures came as Warner and the Legislature continued
efforts to close a budget shortfall that still approaches $1 billion.
By the time the legislative session ends on Feb. 22, the budget
will have been trimmed by about $6 billion, according to estimates.
''In our first year, we have embarked upon a long-term plan to
reform state government, to streamline programs and to make smart
investments,'' Warner said. ''We have faced the most serious fiscal
crisis in modern history.''
The Democrat urged the Legislature to use the forced austerity
as an opportunity to improve the way government operates.
''If we can achieve reforms now when times are tough, we will
position Virginia to emerge from the national economic slump stronger
and better prepared,'' he said.
Warner also was adamant in insisting that legislators not divert
money from the state retirement system to help balance the budget.
''I will not accept any budget amendments that raid the Virginia
Retirement System,'' he said. ''We have asked much of our teachers,
police, firefighters, and state and local workers, and we have
a duty to safeguard their hard-earned retirement savings.''
"I was somewhat surprised by that," Hogan said. "I
hadn't heard any proposals to tap the retirement money, and no
legislator that I know of has said anything about it publicly
or privately."
The governor also proposed giving the Board of Medicine more authority
to crack down on ''doctors who fail to meet the highest standards.''
''Our goal is not to burden the great majority of physicians who
deliver quality care, but to help weed out the few bad doctors
who should not be practicing,'' Warner said.
A proposal to shuffle economic development efforts to a single
"umbrella" source appears to be generating interest
among elected officials.
The recommendation would combine the Industrial Development Authority
of Halifax County and the South Boston IDA.
Enabling legislation must be passed by the General Assembly to
name a central Economic Development Authority of Halifax County
and to define its board's composition.
That Authority would be the policy maker.
Currently, there are four economic development entities at work
in the county.
They include the seven-member Industrial Development Authority
of Halifax County and the seven-member IDA of South Boston.
A 24-member Economic Development Council advisory group to supervisors
is also a primary player.
The EDC is appointed by supervisors and Dennis Witt, superintendent
of schools, currently serves as its chairman.
The Economic Development Committee, a Board of Supervisors committee,
also works closely with the IDA of Halifax County.
At Monday night's supervisors' meeting, and at South Boston Town
Council's work session the same evening, the initial IDA consolidation
proposal was aired.
Scott Morris, IDA of Halifax County director, and Supervisor
Ronnie Vaughan, chairman of the Board's Economic Development Committee,
introduced the consolidation plan to supervisors, which they agreed
to discuss with the various organizations.
It is through consolidation that the move's backers hope to produce
a single entity, the Economic Development Authority of Halifax
County.
"They are not going to disappear," said Vaughan of the
existing economic development committees.
"The Economic Development Council Authority of Halifax County
will be over all of them.
"We have got a lot of smart people in the county, and we
think if we start working together we can get out of the (economic)
state we are in," Vaughan said yesterday.
"Then we could have an overall goal and have each group charged
with certain tasks. Basically, get everyone working on the same
page, going in the same direction," said the supervisor.
South Boston Manager Ted Daniel described the proposed EDCA as
having merit.
"It leaves the IDAs intact, it brings in some economic development
people from the town into that joint board," Daniel said.
"It brings together the strength of the town and the county,
and the strength of the town is its water/sewer, which is a tremendous
economic development asset."
The current EDCA board proposal considers two members appointed
by South Boston Council and five from Halifax County.
Phase I
In conjunction with that effort, a Phase I economic development
plan was presented to supervisors Monday night, a plan Vaughan
said the Economic Development Council had not developed as asked.
EDC Chairman Dennis Witt said yesterday that the charge was "somewhat
true."
"The EDC has not really presented a formal plan. What we
have done is to work individual aspects of economic development
as a body," he said.
While not formalized in a plan, Witt said the work was being done.
"All the elements in the plan as presented are elements we
work with on the EDC. We have standing committees in about five
areas, education, technology, agriculture, tourism, Tuck Airport,"
he added.
"And then we take issues as they surface," he said.
He said that keeping tabs on Tobacco Commission requests was one
ongoing issue for the EDC.
"It is a very active group," said Witt. "And we
were very active in redistricting, trying to keep Halifax County
whole in the General Assembly.
"We were very proactive in that situation and, of course,
it was successful. I felt the EDC had a great part in that."
IDA Focus
In contemplating economic development's future, Morris wants to
see more concentration on existing industry.
"Typically, about 80 percent of growth comes from your existing
base," said the IDA chief.
He named Annin Flag as one expansion example.
"I think there are opportunities there (in existing manufacturing),
but we need to work with them," he added.
He said interaction between manufacturers and the community needed
to be stronger to assist companies, whether with training or expansion.
Communication with corporate headquarters is yet another lead
to expansion, he noted.
He also called workforce training a "huge issue" here
and said he would like to see more training done in Halifax County.
While training opportunities are available through nearby community
colleges, Morris called for on-site workforce training in the
county as well, possibly through the CEC.
"We are not focusing on workforce training there," he
said.
Southside Planning
District Commission
The IDA director took issue with Joyce French, executive director
of the Southside Planning District Commission.
The SPDC serves Halifax, Mecklenburg and Brunswick counties.
Morris charged that Lake Country Marketing Council, which is
under the SPDC, is doing a poor job for Halifax County.
French denies the allegations.
"As soon as the (prospect) requests come in I send them to
the counties and they respond to the state themselves," she
said yesterday.
"They choose sites they want to submit from their own localities."
And if the prospect is interested in Halifax County specifically,
French said the request goes directly to the county.
She said the Lake Country Marketing Council is used for scheduling
in multi-location visitations.
"The concept that we have become involved with economic development
lately is false. We've been in the economic development arena
for 30 years, and in marketing for 20 years," she said.
She said their focus is on what needs to be done regionally to
improve transportation to get products to and from market, to
improve airports, industrial park needs and funding and implementation,
she explained.
"Part of the problem with the economy is there are no prospects,"
French said yesterday.
"There is only one that Brunswick and Mecklenburg are working
now, and that requires a lake."
Short of a miracle, the sound of weaving looms so familiar
to the hundreds, even thousands, of persons whose entire working
careers were spent inside these walls, will never be heard again.
Not in Halifax, anyway.
Ordered closed, along with six other Burlington Industries plants,
in mid-2002, over 600 workers walked away from some of the best
jobs Southside Virginia had to offer.
At its Clarksville operations, another 800 Burlington employees
found themselves without a job.
Halifax called back two dozen or more workers in September and
restarted approximately 20 looms to "satisfy some customers
who are breathing down our back!" said Plant Manager Lott
Rogers, who had been with the company for over 30 years.
At the height of production, Halifax's weaving machines could
crank out 35 million yards of fabric a year. When the plant ceased
normal production last year, a number of the looms were sent to
Burlington's weaving operations in Hurt.
Machinery and tools at the Halifax plant are assessed for tax
purposes at $24 million. It's all located on the 89-acre site
which has 350,000 sq.ft. of manufacturing, storage and office
space.
Burlington paid an estimated $330,000 in property taxes in 2001
to Halifax County and another $15,000 to the Town of Halifax.
Burlington Industries owns another 90 acres across and fronting
on Cowford Road in the Town of Halifax.
All must be sold.
Burlington Industries filed for bankruptcy last year and the Halifax
properties are among the assets to be sold to help satisfy its
creditors. The company listed $1.18 billion in assets and $1.1
billion in debts in a Sept.29 filing with the U.S. Securities
and Exchange Commission.
Hired to represent the debtors to assist with the marketing and
sale of the properties is the Norfolk, Illinois firm, Hilco Real
Estate, LLC.
Hilco has erected a "Bankruptcy Sale" sign near the
entrance of the Halifax plant which provides phone numbers (704.375-1000)
and a web site (www.burlington-RE.com) for information.
No sale date or other specifics appear.
The web site shows that bids for the real estate, which lists
four other property sales in Clarksville, Mount Holly N.C., Johnson
City, Tenn., and Stonewall, Miss., are due January 15, 2003.
All properties are being sold "as is, where is" with
no warranty.
Marketing efforts are being coordinated with the Virginia Economic
Development Partnership.
Hilco officials said yesterday that the bids will be opened and
presented to the bankruptcy judge for consideration.
The machinery and tools will be sold separately. Interested buyers
must register in order to obtain a list of what will be sold.
That sale, according to officials with Burlington, will be held
February 28, 2003.
Officials say that the real estate offering deadline of January
15, could be extended if no acceptable offers are made.
Lawrence William Byrd, a 45-year-old Halifax
resident, was sentenced yesterday to a total of 30 years in prison
for six separate convictions relating to his failure to perform
construction after receiving advance payments.
The sentencing hearing took place in Halifax County Circuit Court.
Judge William L. Wellons suspended all but three years and seven
months of Byrd's sentence, to be imposed on the most recent offense.
Judge Wellons ordered the suspended portions of Byrd's sentence
be conditioned on his good behavior for 30 years following his
release.
The court additionally ordered Byrd to be placed on supervised
probation for two years.
According to court records, Byrd's six offenses took place between
August 2001 and April 2002.
Byrd approached his victims and accepted advance payment for various
forms of yard work and home improvements, such as pruning trees
and repairing porches.
In each instance, Byrd accepted advance payments from the individual
homeowners for construction he failed to perform.
The court ordered Byrd to make restitution in the amount of $7,335
to his victims.
· Tammy Lynn Collins, 28, of Providence, N.C., was sentenced
yesterday to five years in prison for embezzlement of more than
$200 in currency from Taco Bell in South Boston..
Judge Wellons suspended all but 30 days of Collins' sentence,
with weekend service authorized, and ordered Collins to be placed
on probation for one year.
· Elias Orozco Martinez, 40, of Virgilina was convicted
yesterday of forging a public record (voter registration), of
forging and uttering a public record (passport application), and
forging and uttering an application (Virginia duplicate driver's
license).
Martinez was additionally convicted of one merged count of altering
or forging a title to a motor vehicle.
As part of a written plea agreement, the Commonwealth nol prossed
two additional charges, one alleging Martinez uttered a forged
public record (voter registration card) and one alleging Martinez
forged and uttered a public record (Virginia driver's license
application).
Martinez was remanded to custody to await sentencing during the
January term of court.
· Avery Deone Owen, 31, of South Boston, was sentenced
yesterday to five years in prison for possession of cocaine with
intent to distribute.
Judge Wellons suspended all but 12 months of Owen's sentence,
conditioned on Owen's good behavior for five years following his
release.
The court ordered Owen to be placed on probation for one year
upon his release, to abstain from illegal drugs and to submit
to random drug tests.
The court also suspended Owen's operator's license for six months.
· Carlton Clay Hodnett Jr., 45, of Long Island, entered
an Alford plea yesterday to the theft of an Ariens lawn tractor
and GPC aerator belonging to Good's Lawn and Garden Center.
Under terms of an Alford plea, a defendant does not admit guilt,
but realizes prosecution evidence would make a guilty finding
at trial almost a certainty.
The court remanded Hodnett to custody to await sentencing in the
January term of court.
· Jeffrey David Miller, 39, of South Boston, was convicted
yesterday of a probation violation.
Judge Wellons revoked one year of Miller's previously suspended
prison sentence and remanded him to custody.
· Christy Gail Lloyd, 28, of South Boston, was convicted
yesterday of a probation violation.
The court revoked six months of Lloyd's previously suspended prison
sentence.
· Daniel Shawn Lowery, 41, of South Boston, previously
found guilty of a probation violation, had his entire reimposed
sentence resuspended following a hearing yesterday.
· Cody Clint Bedford, 32, of Virginia Beach, had a charge
alleging he issued a bad check in an amount of more than $200
dismissed yesterday.
Phillip Edmonds, 57, of South Boston died January 5.
Mr. Edmonds was born in Halifax County on January 4, 1946, the
son of the late Charlie Edmonds and Belva Brandon Edmonds, and
was married to Maggie Richardson Edmonds . He was a member of
New Vernon Baptist Church, a retired employee of the Department
of the Army, and was a Army Veteran.
Survivors include his wife, Maggie Richardson Edmonds; one son,
Courtney B. Edmonds of Bladensburg, MD; three sisters, Lottie
Patterson of Riverdale, MD, Joyce Edmonds of Landover Hills, MD,
and Deloris Price of Silver Springs MD; two brothers, Velton H.
Edmonds of Temple Hills, MD and James E. Edmonds of Landover Hills.
Funeral services for Mr. Edmonds will be held today, January 10
at 1 p.m. at New Vernon Baptist Church with the Rev. Roger Ford
officiating. Burial will take place in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the home of Mr. and Mrs. John
Terry, 301 Glendale Drive, South Boston.
Mildred Livingston Evans Farrington, 73, of 389 Mountain Road,
Halifax, died January 6 at The Woodview.
Mrs. Farrington was born in Danville on July 6, 1929, the daughter
of the late John Davis Evans and Mary Peachie Easley Evans and
was married to James Woodworth Farrington. She was a member of
St. Johns Episcopal Church where she was the former church secretary.
She graduated from Longwood College and taught in Petersburg and
Halifax County School Systems.
Survivors include one daughter, Canby F. Johnston of Ft. Lauderdale,
FL; three sons, James W. Farrington of Chesapeake, Stephen Todd
Farrington of Tullahoma, TN, and John Evans Farrington of Halifax;
one sister, Betsy E. Holt of Orange; two brothers, John D. Evans
Jr. of Richmond and Col. Robert Holt Evans of Halifax; and four
grandchildren.
Services for Mrs. Farrington will be held January 11 at 2 p .m.
at St. Johns Episcopal Church with the Rev. David Booher conducting
the service. Burial will take place in the church cemetery.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Patrick
Henry Boys Home, PO Box 1398, Brookneal, 24528.
Mildred Briggs Dance Thomas, 89, of Greensboro, NC, died January
8 at Evergreens Nursing Center.
A graveside service will be held tomorrow, January 11, at 12:15
p.m. at Guilford Memorial Park Cemetery.
Born March 27, 1913, in Halifax County, to the late Charles Henry
Dance and Fannie Francisco Dance, Mrs. Thomas moved to Greensboro
in 1931. She was married to the late Raymond A. Thomas. She attended
Bethel Baptist Church, while in Halifax County.
Survivors include one daughter, Julia Thomas Forrest and her husband,
Calvin, of Greensboro; two sons, Leland P. Thomas of McLeansville,
NC, and Allen B. Thomas and his wife, Gail, of Aiken, SC; grandsons,
Gregory A. Thomas and his wife, Evelyn, of McLeansville, and Timothy
Forrest and his wife, Teressa, of Reidsville, NC; granddaughters,
Sheena Forrest of Winston-Salem, NC, and Sheri Clemons and her
husband, Andrew, of Aiken; a great-granddaughter, Abigail 'Abby'
Clemons of Aiken; and one brother, C.H. Dance and his wife, Annie
Lee, of Mebane, NC. She was preceded in death by two sisters,
Salley Dance Smith and Rachel Dance Rodgers; and one brother,
Woodrow Dance.
The family will receive friends prior to the service, from 11
until noon at Hanes-Lineberry Sedgefield Chapel in Greensboro,
and other times at the home of Julia and Calvin Forrest.
Charlie Bob Wilson Jr. of Drakes Branch, formerly of Nathalie,
died January 7 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Wilson was the son of the late Charlie Bob Wilson Sr. and
Estell Elkes Miller. He was a member of Christian Tabernacle Baptist
Church.
Survivors include his mother; his stepfather, Joe Nathan Miller
of Nathalie; six sisters, Mildred Easley and Virginia Cook, both
of Nathalie, Jeraline Robins of Norfolk, Zondie Pauling of Fayetteville,
NC, Ruth Harris and Angela Davis, both of Brookneal; two brothers,
Quinton Wilson of Rowlette, Texas and Swannie Miller of Nathalie;
and one stepbrother, Leon Miller of Nathalie.
Funeral services for Mr. Wilson will be held January 11 at 2 p.m.
at Christian Tabernacle Baptist Church in Nathalie with the Rev.
L.S. Otey officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Jesse
Cook, 3087 Hog Wallow Road, Nathalie.