Drop over 300 JPS Apparel jobs out of manufacturing - with
650 Burlington Industry jobs destined out by summer - and the
county's 2001 work force analysis takes shape.
Virginia Employment Commission figures for November 2001- the
latest available, revealed a 10.8 percent unemployment rate in
Halifax County.
It is important to note that these figures do not reflect Burlington's
announced closing.
Last year, a county analysis offered the following work force
breakdown:
· Agriculture, 3,058 individuals or 16 percent of the work
force.
· Manufacturing, 4,371 individuals (deduct over 1,000 jobs
to account for JPS and Burlington closing), or 24 percent of the
work force.
· Construction, 774 individuals or 4 percent work force..
· Government, 2,268 individuals or 12 percent work force.
· Unemployed, 1,767 individuals or 9 percent.
· Services, 3,449 individuals or 19 percent of work force.
(Services include service industries, transportation, communication,
insurance, real estate, public utilities and finance.)
· Trade, 3,059 individuals or 16 percent of total work
force.
"We tried to make our own picture, one that we think is reasonably
representative (of the work force)," Joe Morgan, county administrator,
said yesterday.
Sources for the study included the Virginia Employment Commission,
the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services, Ag Statistics,
2001, the USDA, National Agricultural Statistics Service and 1997
Census of Agriculture.
There are 940 farms in Halifax County, according to the 2000 Virginia
Census.
"Industries come and go, but agriculture has been with us
since the county was settled," said one farm advocate.
"Farms are consolidating and, unfortunately, that leaves
out some of the small farmers," said Linda Wallace, Halifax
County Agricultural Development director.
Also, there has been a tobacco quota cut since the 1997, which
could cut into farm labor employment statistics.
Agriculture officials agree that Virginia Employment Commission
figures regarding agriculture do not accurately reflect ag employment,
which is why agriculture sources were tapped in compiling the
county profile.
As the county faces harsh unemployment figures, Bill Confroy,
Industrial Development Authority director, sees employment opportunities
here in 2002.
When the economy swings out of recession, Confroy said that "Halifax
County is positioned for 2002 opportunities from existing industries.
There is also the potential for location of new jobs from outside,"
he added.
A juvenile and a 20-year-old were arrested Wednesday and charged
in the murder last summer of Douglas Witcher, the charges stemming
from a drive-by shooting on Beulah Road.
Ronald Lynn Lacks II, 20, of L.P. Bailey Memorial Highway was
arrested for murder and use of a firearm in the commission of
a felony.
Lacks is currently being held without bond in the Blue Ridge Regional
Jail.
A 16-year-old female was also arrested and charged with the murder.
The juvenile was charged with the murder of Douglas Witcher and
is currently being held in the W.W. Moore Juvenile Detention Center
in Danville.
The charges are the result of an investigation that began June
25, 2001 when Douglas Edward Witcher, 22, of Henry's Trail in
Nathalie was killed as the result of a drive-by shooting at a
residence on Beulah Road.
Another victim of the drive-by, Luther Powell, 20, of Nunley Bridge
Road in Nathalie was shot four times.
Powell was treated at the Halifax Regional Hospital and released.
The Halifax/South Boston Regional Narcotic Task Force announced
earlier this week that two arrests were made in the Witcher murder.
James Earl Hodge, 19, of Mountain Road in Halifax was arrested
and charged with murder over the weekend.
Also arrested in the first series of arrests was a 16-year-old
male juvenile.
Tom Brown has been named the new Executive Director of the
Halifax County YMCA, and his excitement about the prospect is
contagious.
Brown and his wife Lisa, moved to Southside with their two children
Glenn, 13, and Erin, 11 last spring, after Brown spent six years
as a regional manager for a boat trailer company.
"It was financially rewarding, but I had such a large territory
that I had to travel a great deal," Brown said that the travel
kept him away from home and his wife and children too much.
"I'm deeply interested in kids, and I want to be able to
help the community by working with children outside my own family,"
he said.
"I believe that God looks favorably on community service,
and when you have the opportunity to give of yourself, you should
take advantage of it."
Brown feels that he has the unique qualifications necessary to
lead the YMCA.
"I've had management, marketing and fund-raising experience
in my career," he notes.
He also wants community input on what is needed at the Y.
"I believe in getting around. The best way to know what people
want and need is to talk to them," he said.
Communication with the Board and employees is important to the
new Director.
"I respect other people's opinions. Even though you may not
agree with everyone, and you may not be able to do everything
they want, their opinion is valuable.
"Together we can work toward major goals," he added.
Brown has nothing but praise for Bill Harris, who left the Halifax
County YMCA to continue working with YMCA in the Norfolk area.
"Bill did a great job with the Y in the past three years.
I plan on continuing his legacy, and to continue to work with
the community to move the Y forward. I have heard that the staff
is superb," he said.
With the county and state in the throes of an economic downturn,
Brown says that he realizes he faces a struggle.
"I think that the job will be challenging, but I want to
help the Y grow and offer new programs to local youth and to the
community as a whole," he said.
Brown also has praise for the Board of Directors of the YMCA.
"They has some good ideas," he said.
"Everyone seems to be interested and involved. That is something
I have noticed since I moved here in April.
"You could have the best programs in the world, but if no
one knows about them, it does no good," he noted.
"We've really enjoyed being here in Southside since we moved
here in April.
Lisa Brown has ties to South Boston. Her father was Glen Kipps,
the owner of Howlett's Music downtown.
"Because of Lisa's ties to South Boston, people stop us to
talk everywhere we go. The kids think she's a celebrity,"
he says with a laugh.
Brown said that when he was living in Jacksonville, he didn't
even know the neighbors in his subdivision.
"It's nice to walk into a store and know everyone, it makes
you want to help the community," he added.
"Our family is very excited about Tom leading the Y".
said Lisa Brown. "We're unique in that we've always been
involved in his work. Navy life, owning the boat dealership and
the travel involved in his last position all were conducive to
family involvement. Glenn, Erin and I look forward to continuing
this family involvement and contributing to the Y in our own ways,"
she continued.
Brown is eagerly anticipating the new challenge.
"I look forward to meeting everyone," he said.
A new Board of Directors and an new Directer will be elected
when the Flue-Cured Tobacco Cooperative Stabilization Corporation
holds its 44th Annual District Meeting for District 10 tobacco
farmers in South Boston.
Andrew Shepherd, Stabilization's director representing the district
announced Tuesday that the meeting will be held at the American
Legion Building, 1710 Jeffress Blvd., on Wednesday, January 30,
beginning at 2 p.m.
District 10 includes all flue-cured producing counties in the
state of Virginia.
Stabilization is a farmer-owned organization administering the
price support program for flue-cured tobacco.
"Stabilization's flue-cured marketing centers and the future
of an auction marketing system will be the key topics at the annual
district meeting this year," Shepherd noted.
"Significant data from the 2001 tobacco season will also
be presented by representatives from Stabilization, Tobacco Associates
Inc., and USDA's Tobacco Division Agricultural Marketing Service."
Shepherd said that ample time will be provided for comments and
discussion at the meeting.
A brief business session will be held immediately following the
regular meeting to elect the Director to represent the district
on Stabilization's Board of Directors for the ensuing three-year
term.
The selection of Advisory Committee members from each of the flue-cured
producing counties in District 10 will be held during the business
meeting.
"I encourage flue-cured farmers to make every effort to attend
and participate in this important meeting.
"Critical issues regarding our tobacco program will be discussed
and we would appreciate insight and input on these issues from
our farmer members," Shepherd said.
Among the issues discussed at the meeting is the issue of using
UDSA graders in all flue-cured tobacco sales.
The referendum is set for vote in June, according to Shepherd.
"I see the vote as a very important issue within the price
support system," he said.
The Director said that although many farmers have been raising
tobacco for years, they often don't know what they are selling.
"Since farmers can't grade their own tobacco under current
policy," he said, "if you don't have graders, the farmer
has no way of knowing what price their product is bringing."
Shepherd said that the importance of the vote cannot be stressed
enough.
"If we let the historic gains that growers have fought for
get away from us, we won't be able to get these benefits back,"
he said.
Shepherd said that the meeting is important to all growers.
"This is an election meeting for Virginia, the farmers will
have a chance to elect a new director as well as a new board of
directors," Shepherd said.
Vernesa Dance Burton, 64, of Hillside, NJ, formerly of South Boston,
died January 11 at Beth Israel Hospital in Newark, NJ.
Mrs. Burton was born in Halifax County on January 27, 1937, the
daughter of the late Rufus Dance and Ada Rogers Dance and was
married to Lambous Burton. She was a member of Solid Rock Baptist
Church in Irvington, NJ.
Survivors include her husband; daughter, Renee Burton of Hillside;
son, Lorenzo Burton of San Diego, Calif.; granddaughter, Revae
N. Burton; her mother of South Boston; four sisters, Eva Lawson,
Sadie Drumright, Sylvia Whitt and Jean Dance Crawley; three brothers,
Garfield Dance, Roosevelt Dance and Rufus Dance; her daughter-in-law,
Dawn Taggett-Burton and her mother-in-law, Marion Burton.
A funeral service will be held today, January
18 at 2 p.m. at Dan River Bethel Baptist Church with the Rev.
James L. Thomas officiating. Burial will follow in the church
cemetery.
Lindsey Harold Womack III, 37, of 2040 Philpott Rd., Lot 22, South
Boston, died January 16 at his home.
Mr. Womack was born in Halifax County on November 12, 1964, the
son of Lindsey Harold Womack Jr. and the late Joan Marie Schleigh.
He served in the U.S. Army.
His survivors include his father of Scottsburg; paternal grandmother:
Sallie 'Betty' Womack of Scottsburg; maternal grandparents: Joseph
and Deloise Schleigh of South Boston; brother: Robert Anthony
Womack of Halifax and sister: Tracie Lynn Wall of Clover.
He was preceded in death by his mother and paternal grandfather:
Lindsey H. Womack Sr.
A graveside service will be held today, January 18, at 2 p.m.
at Halifax Memorial Gardens with military rites. The Rev. Dr.
Bill Leonard will officiate.
Pearl Glascock Murray, 84, of 1014 Eighth Street, Virgilina, died
January 16 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mrs. Murray was born in Granville County, NC on December 8, 1917
to the late William Berry Glascock and Annie Bell Glascock. She
was a member of Union United Church of Christ where she was a
trustee and member and past president of the Virgilina Women's
Club.
Her survivors include her husband: O. Fraser Murray Sr. of Virgilina;
daughter: Patricia and George Owen of Burlington, NC; two sons:
Ocie F. Jr. and Deborah Murray of Fayetteville, NC and W. Allen
and Wanda Murray of South Boston; two brothers: Roy Glascock of
Virgilina and Carroll Glascock of Oxford, NC; two granddaughters:
Lawanna Murray and Trina Baker; four grandsons: G. Edward Owen
Jr., Michael Murray, David Murray and Jason Murray and two great-grandchildren:
Kayla and Kesley Baker.
A funeral will be held tomorrow, January 19 at 11 a.m. at Union
United Church of Christ with the Rev. Michael Wilborn officiating.
Burial will be held in the Virgilina Cemetery.
Visitation will be held tonight, January 18, from 7-9 p.m. and
at other times at the home.
Charlie Edward Carden Sr., 80, of 4233 Dryburg Rd., Scottsburg,
died January 17.
Mr. Carden was born in Halifax County on September 8, 1921, the
son of the late Menzy and Mattie Mitchell Carden. He was married
to Lottie Powell Carden and was a member of the Spanish Grove
Baptist Church. He was a World War II Army veteran.
His survivors include his wife; five daughters: Pricilla Overby,
Mattie Sydnor and Frances Martin of Scottsburg, Lottie Penick
of Nathalie and Michele Gayles of Manassas; two sons: Norman V.
Carden of Augusta, GA and Charlie E. Carden Jr. of Clover; sister:
Edna McGhee of New Brunswick, NJ; two brothers: Johnnie Carden
of South Boston and Matthew Carden of Somerset, NJ and seven grandchildren.
A funeral service will be held Sunday, January
20 at 2 p.m. at the Spanish Grove Baptist Church with the Rev.
Ronnie Womack officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the residence.
James Edward Palmer, 45, of 1010 Coleman Trail, Nathalie, died
January 17 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Palmer was born in Halifax County on February 18, 1956, the
son of the late Henry Harold Palmer and Louise Polk Palmer. He
was married to Brenda Womack Palmer and was a member of the New
Zion Baptist Church. He was a member of the Army National Guard-South
Boston Unit.
His survivors include his wife; three daughters: Rhonda Womack
of New York, NY, Carmen Chatten of Greensboro, NC and Tiffany
Palmer of South Boston; his mother; three sisters: Brenda Jackson
of South Boston, Joyce Mosley of Scottsburg and Joan Crews of
South Boston; two brothers: Harold Palmer of Nathalie and Jesse
Palmer of Halifax; his mother and father-in-law: Harold and Martha
Ragsdale of Nathalie and a grandchild.
A funeral service will be held Sunday, January 20 at 3 p.m. at
the New Zion Baptist Church with the Rev. Willie Yancey and Rev.
Joseph Dixon officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the home.