Monday, January 12, 2004

Hogan: Role Of Government Key Issue
Delegate Expects Proposed Tax Increases To Dominate Session

On the eve of his third session in Virginia's general assembly, Del. Clarke Hogan (R-5) said that while he suspects Gov. Warner's proposed $500 million tax increase will dominate the session, the real issue revolves around the size of the state's government.

"We hear a lot about how the state's underfunding core services," he said. "But that's being said by people who aren't getting all the money they wanted.
"Before we ask people to take money out of their pockets and pay for more and larger programs, we need to know what programs need to be paid for," the delegate said yesterday.

The delegate said it was the responsibility of the legislature to ensure taxpayer's money is being spent efficiently.

"I welcome a real discussion about the proper role of government in society," Hogan added. "While it may be more fun to accuse others of having done certain things and makes for better media, (the role of government) is a conversation worth having.

"To me, that's what this session is going to be about," he said.
In anticipation of the 2004 general assembly session - which convenes Wednesday - Gov. Warner has been traveling the state touting his tax reform package.

Warner's plan raises some taxes and lowers others for what he asserts will be a net revenue gain of about $500 million.

Integral to the plan is a proposal to increase the state's cigarette tax - the nation's lowest - from 2.5 cents per pack to 25 cents. The governor additionally wants to allow localities to levy an additional tax of up to 50 cents per pack if they choose.

"The governor's made his proposal at this point," the delegate said. "But the real discussion is going to be between the House and the Senate. That's where the fight will be this time."

But Hogan said that while he won't reflexively vote against the governor's proposal, many facts need to be considered before he will vote to raise taxes.
"We'll look at the budget and try to consider it carefully and weigh the cost for services against the impact on the consumer," he said.

Despite claims that the state is going deeper in the hole every year, Hogan suggested the state wasn't in the dire financial straits some would have the public believe.

"A couple of facts need to be considered," he said. "We hear about the massive deficits in the budget each year about this time.

"You'll have to forgive me for being a little cynical, but my experience is this is sort of standard operating procedure every year."

Part of the problem, the delegate suggested, is the ever-increasing size of state government.

"While we're told to cut the budget by $6 billion, the budget has grown every year," he said.

Even with adjustments for population and inflation, Hogan said the increase was substantial.

The budget passed during the last session totalled $53.3 billion, the delegate pointed out.

Conservative estimates put the increase in the state's government at around 10 percent, Hogan said.

"What we're going to argue about this session is whether we're going to grow that number to $58.8 billion or $60 billion," he added.

Although Hogan said he would consider any proposal with an open mind, he added he was reluctant to support an increase in the state's cigarette tax.
"I'm not inclined to promote 'behavioral adjustment taxes' for a variety of reasons," he said.

While proponents of the increase are publicly advocating the health benefits, the fifth-district delegate suggested their motives were less magnanimous.
"There are two ideas here," he said. "One is to advance this social agenda and the other is about raising revenue.

"This is about raising revenue. Otherwise, people would offer a tax deduction to offset this increase," Hogan added.

First Snow Blankets County
Winter Returns With Snow, Bone Chilling Temperatures

Despite an unusually warm start, Halifax County was reminded this weekend that January is still, in fact, a winter month.

The first snow of the year led to dangerous roadways Friday morning, causing several accidents and closing Halifax County Schools.

Officials at the South Boston Waste Water Treatment Plant measured a total accumulation of three inches on Friday.

Mike Gillen, service hydrologist with the National Weather Service, said that accumulation amounts varied throughout the county.

Friday’s snow was just a prelude to dramatically low temperatures over the weekend.

Temperatures dropped as low as seven degrees early Sunday morning, according to the National Weather Service.

Gillen said he could not determine if it was a record low temperature since South Boston temperatures are only reported once a day.

He added that this weekend's lows were 15 to 20 degrees below the normal temperature for this time of year.

Gillen said that although he did not have specific averages for Halifax County, the average temperature for January 11 in Danville is 26 degrees.

Two SoBo Women Convicted In Belk Scheme

Two South Boston women were convicted Friday in Halifax County Circuit Court of charges related to an embezzlement scheme that resulted in losses exceeding $4,000 from Belks of South Boston.

Under terms of a plea agreement, 36-year-old Jennifer Throckmorton Bomar pleaded guilty to an amended indictment charging her with 10 counts of embezzlement/petty larceny.

Judge Leslie M. Osborn sentenced Bomar to one year in jail for each of the charges, suspending all but two days, based on the first conviction.
The court ordered Bomar to pay $2,045.80 restitution within 60 days in addition to court costs.

Co-defendant Kimberly Boyd Conner, 39, pleaded guilty to an amended indictment charging her with four counts of petty larceny.

According to evidence presented at trial, each indictment against Conner reflects similar transactions in which the defendant engaged in false transactions to add money to a debit card.

Conner pleaded guilty to the amended indicments as a result of a plea agreement.

That agreement stipulates Conner serve one year in jail for each of the four convictions, with all but two days suspended, and pay $1,215.19 restitution and court costs.

Court records indicated Bomar, an employee of Belks while she commited the offenses, would, with the aid of Conner, create a false return credit, the two of them splitting the money.

The offenses for which Bomar and Conner were convicted occurred between April 2 and July 15, 2002, according to court records.

Other Court

• Alvin Brent Bell, 33, of Halifax, was convicted Friday of the robbery of Ruth Hitt on March 4, 2003, after entering into a plea agreement.

Under terms of the agreement, the court sentenced Bell to 50 years in prison, with all but 11 suspended, conditioned on his good behavior for 50 years.

The court ordered Bell to be placed on probation for two years and to undergo random drug testing.

HCHS, HCMS Face Busy Week
Snow Forces Postponement Of This Past Weekend's Games

By JOE CHANDLER| G-V Staff Writer

While Friday's snow forced postponement of all of this past weekend's high school sports events, there won't be a shortage of contests this week
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The Halifax County High School Blue Comets varsity boys basketball team has a busy three-game week this week with three non-district games on tap while the Comets varsity girls team has a pair of non-district contests at hand.

With this past Friday's Western Valley District contests against Franklin County being snowed out, the hardwood action will resume Tuesday night for both teams as they will travel to Carlisle School in Martinsville to face the Chiefs.

The Comets varsity boys team, now 7-4 overall, will be trying to extend its winning streak to five games in a row in Tuesday night's contest.

Based on an earlier contest, the Comets should be favored to do just that.
Halifax County defeated the Chiefs 76-64 here on December 2 and has stepped up its game since that time.

Halifax County's varsity girls team, which has lost its last two games, will be trying to get back into the win column Tuesday night.

The Comets varsity girls struggled against the Lady Chiefs in a 60-38 defeat here on December 2.

Former Halifax County High School player Nicole Grant burned her former teammates for 19 points in that game.

However, the Comets, now 5-4 overall, have improved since that time and will be looking to prevent the Lady Chiefs from making a sweep of their two regular season contests.

On Wednesday night, the Comets varsity girls and varsity boys basketball teams will return home and will be joined by the Comets jayvee boys cagers for a tripleheader against Bartlett-Yancey High School of Yanceyville, N.C.

The Comets jayvee boys, 6-2 overall, defeated Bartlett-Yancey 60-49 earlier this season in Yanceyville, N.C. and will be looking to extend their current win streak to four games in a row.

Halifax County's varsity girls cagers will be looking to turn the tables on the Lady Buccaneers Wednesday night after having lost to Bartlett-Yancey 58-39 in their earlier meeting.

The Comets varsity boys cagers will be looking to complete a sweep of their two regular season meetings when they face the Buccaneers in the evening's nightcap.

Halifax County shaded Bartlett-Yancey 61-59 when they met in Yanceyville, N.C. on December 12.

The Comets jayvee and varsity boys teams will wrap up the busy week Friday night when they face prep basketball powerhouse Mt. Zion here Friday night in Blue Heaven.

Halifax County Middle School, which had its girls and boys basketball games against Sacred Heart Academy on Friday ditched by the snow, has two games scheduled this week.

The Lions will travel to Emporia Wednesday for a Southside Middle School Conference contest against E.W. Wyatt.

On Friday, the Lions are scheduled to hit the road to face Martinsville in a non-conference game.

This past Friday's snow also forced postponement of the Halifax County High School swim team's contest against Martinsville and the Heritage Invitational indoor track meet on Saturday in which Halifax County High School indoor track teams was scheduled to participate.

The Comets swim teams have two meets scheduled this week, both of which will be on the road.

Halifax County will square off against Northern Vance on Wednesday and against McMichael on Thursday.

Obituaries

Edith Blackstock Francisco

Funeral services for Edith Blackstock Francisco, 88, of Nathalie, will be held Wednesday, January 14, at 3 p.m. at Hunting Creek Baptist Church.

Mrs. Francisco died Sunday, January 11, at Duke University Hospital.

The family will receive friends at Powell Funeral Home Tuesday night from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m. and at other times at her home, 5031 Hunting Creek Road, Nathalie.

No further information was available at press time.

Mildred Weatherford Murray

Funeral services for Mrs. Mildred Lee Weatherford Murray, 88, of South Boston, will be held Wednesday at 3 p.m. at Main Street United Methodist Church.

A private burial will follow at Oak Ridge Cemetery for those wishing to attend.
Mrs. Murray died Saturday, January 10, at Halifax Regional Hospital.

She was born in Halifax County on July 4, 1915, a daughter of John Anderson Weatherford Sr. and Annie Hardie Weatherford and was married to Clarence Eugene Murray.

Mrs. Murray was a member of Main Street United Methodist Church.

She is survived by three daughters, Patricia M. Conner and husband Edwin of Clover, Lorraine M. Brandon and husband Dean of Alton and Valerie M. Compton and husband Dewey of South Boston, one brother, W. Burton Weatherford Sr. of Halifax, one sister, Annette W. Turner of Lawrenceville, eight grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

The family will receive friends at Powell Funeral Home on Tuesday from 7:00 until 8:30 p.m. and other times at her home, 726 Marshall Avenue in South Boston.

For memorials, please consider the Prayer Garden at Main Street United Methodist Church, the South Boston Halifax County Museum of History and Fine Arts or a charity of your choice.