By LARRY O'DELL
Associated Press Writer
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - Jim Gilmore, a butcher's son and self-described ''common man,'' took the oath as Virginia's 68th governor Saturday, ushering in an unprecedented period of Republican power in the once solidly Democratic state.
Under a gray, overcast sky, the former prosecutor placed his left hand on a Bible held by his wife, Roxane, and raised his right hand to recite the oath of office. Three Howitzers arrayed on the Capitol's south lawn then thundered a 19-gun salute.
Moments earlier, Lt. Gov. John Hager and Attorney General Mark Earley had taken their oaths before a crowd of about 6,000 people on a windy, 40-degree day. The crowd cheered loudly when Hager, a polio victim who uses a wheelchair, reached the top of the ramp leading to the podium.
Gilmore won the job once held by Thomas Jefferson and Patrick Henry largely on a promise to cut a hated local tax on personal cars and trucks. His landslide victory over Democrat Don Beyer led a first-ever GOP sweep of the state's top three offices.
In a plain-spoken 17-minute speech interrupted a dozen times by applause, Gilmore declared that ''God has blessed this common man with a truly uncommon chance to serve the people as governor.''
He emphasized his tax-cut pledge, vowing to run a state government mindful of the travails of average Virginians - the bank teller, the grandmother on fixed income, the harried commuter.
''Let us never allow the complexities of billion-dollar budgets and highly technical new issues to cloud our minds and prevent us from remembering that it is the people who ultimately pay every dollar,'' he said.
In a remark apparently aimed at state legislators who must act on his tax-cut pledge, Gilmore said voters ''delivered a clear mandate. Now we must deliver on our promise to the people.''
The tone of Gilmore's speech was more conciliatory to Democrats than the one his predecessor, Gov. George Allen, delivered four years ago. In 1994, Allen called Democratic leaders ''monarchical elitists,'' setting a harshly partisan tone that dominated the first half of his term.
''This governor is starting off a little differently than the last governor,'' said House Speaker Thomas W. Moss Jr., D-Norfolk. ''I think we'll work well together.''
Clad in a gray morning suit with a white carnation in his lapel, Gilmore grinned broadly as he strode to the podium with Mrs. Gilmore and their two sons, Jay and Ashton, to take the oath. A fife-and-drum corps accompanied them.
Among the special guests seated on the Capitol steps as Gilmore took his oath were religious broadcaster Pat Robertson, who gave $50,000 to Gilmore's campaign for governor, and the Rev. Jerry Falwell. Oliver North, the Iran-Contra figure who ran unsuccessfully for the U.S. Senate in 1994, also attended along with most of the state's congressional delegation.
Although his inaugural address emphasized the car-tax cut, Gilmore also spoke in generalities about his other plans for the next four years: to fully implement Allen's welfare reforms, fight crime, protect the environment, improve transportation and health services, and strive for top-notch schools.
At one point he paused and pulled a pen from his coat pocket and signed an executive order creating a blue-ribbon commission on higher education - his first official act as governor.
He is expected to elaborate on his plans Monday night in his first State of the Commonwealth speech to the General Assembly.
Gilmore, 48, was Henrico County commonwealth's attorney before being elected state attorney general in 1993, the same year Allen was elected governor. The attorney general and lieutenant governor positions are traditional stepping-stones to the governor's office. Virginia is the only state that does not allow its governor to run for re-election.
As attorney general, Gilmore helped Allen abolish parole and organized a regional summit focusing on the arsons of Southern black churches.
U.S. Sen. Charles Robb met with tobacco growers in Southside on Friday to review and to take input on his "Tobacco Market Transition Act," legislation he plans to introduce this month when Congress convenes.
The Robb plan would provide assistance for quota holders, active tobacco producers and tobacco-growing counties.
The legislation would also authorize a private Tobacco Production Control Corp. and tobacco loan associations to control production and marketing and ensure the quality of domestic tobacco, and end Federal Tobacco programs.
It is a bill Southside grower advocates like.
Last week the Virginia Tobacco Growers Association voted to support and work for the legislation, according to Association president Don Anderson.
"Andy Shepherd, our Virginia director on the Board of Stabilization, had a tremendous amount of input," said Anderson prior to the Robb meeting.
And Shepherd told reporters in Danville on Friday that growers in other tobacco producing states like Sen. Robb's plan.
Sen. Robb hopes to join with colleagues like Sen. Wendell Ford of Kentucky in forwarding the Virginia plan, one with both tobacco grower and health advocate imprints.
Health advocates particularly want to limit teenage consumption of tobacco. They have sought higher prices and to limit supply.
The senator said he was "very hopeful" that ultimately President Clinton "will wrap his arms around" the proposal.
"If you don't lead on this kind of issue, it is not going to happen," said Robb.
The senator described as the biggest question whether there would be some limitation on liability for cigarette companies, a factor he views as essential for a settlement.
Will there be a tobacco settlement this year? "I hope," began Robb, noting Sen. Trent Lott had said there would not be one this year. "It is my hope to push to resolve it sooner rather than later," added Robb.
"As far as concepts and input, they came very much from the grower level and I think that is what makes this a very important piece of legislation," said Don Anderson discussing the Robb proposal.
"When you look at other plans out there, we aren't assured of continued production in Virginia after a settlement proposal is passed. Robb's plan assures tobacco production would continue," said Anderson, which is also a plus for communities and businesses dependent on tobacco production.
"There is a consensus of grower organizations in Virginia that the Robb plan is the one," said J.T. Davis, a Concerned Friends for Tobacco board member.
Davis, who met with health advocates and White House staff last week on the tobacco issue, describes the Robb plan as one which will "maintain our economic viability" in the future.
"It serves as a bridge to take these tobacco communities into the 21st century and make us whole," said Davis.
"The entire community is indebted to Sen. Robb for his leadership in crafting the legislation," added the grower advocate.
And Davis sees a Halifax County imprint on the legislation.
The Halifax connection began last August when Concerned Friends for Tobacco, in conjunction with the Southern Tobacco Communities Project, sponsored a dinner for national health advocates, tobacco growers and officials to "put a face" on the American tobacco grower. A Halifax County farm tour, which also included businesses dependent on tobacco production, was held the following day.
Davis recalled sitting at a picnic table at the Hudson Reese farm after the tour with Delegate W.W. "Ted" Bennett of Halifax and Sen. Robb's Southside office representative Anne Geyer and discussing "moving forward" on the issue.
In the fall, growers met with Robb's legislative director Ridge Schuyler in Bennett's Halifax law office to discuss the tobacco issue.
Pittsylvania County farmer Henry Maxey is credited with putting some of the plan's grower issues on the table at the Halifax session.
"This is a plan that flowed up, not a bureaucratic plan that flowed down from Washington," said Davis. "This will protect the grower and grower community to keep us whole."
Tobacco's economic impact in Halifax County is reflected in the following market figures last year. In 1997 there were 17,172,137 pounds sold in Halifax County. The average price was $1.72 plus, rounding up to $1.73 in the state for our type of tobacco, explained Halifax County Extension Agent Larry McPeters, for total sales in Halifax County of $29,625,370 for the 1997 crop. "This is raw farm sales," added McPeters.
The extension agent also said that "research shows a dollar rolls over in a rural community four to six times."
Agriculture as a whole - livestock, vegetable production and forestry included - continues to be a major influence on total jobs and total income to households in the county, according to McPeters. "Highly dependent on that, and tobacco is 80 percent of that."
Addressing the 17 percent tobacco quota cut, McPeters said he "doesn't like it but it is good for prices in 1998," which he expects to be good. "There is a home for our tobacco this fall."
By KATIE FAIRBANK
AP Business Writer
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) - Texas will receive $725 million up front and another $1.2 billion this year under a multibillion-dollar settlement the state reached with the tobacco industry, with most of this year's money set aside to benefit children.
Under the $15.3 billion settlement announced Friday, the tobacco companies will pay the remaining $14 billion to the state over the next 24 years. The Legislature will decide how the money will be spent.
The money easily tops the combined amount the industry has agreed to pay two other states. Florida and Mississippi settled their lawsuits for a total of $14.4 billion last year.
''Our lawsuit asserts that the history of this industry has been rooted in a concerted, decades-long conspiracy to conceal the truth about tobacco,'' Texas Attorney General Dan Morales said.
''As a direct result, millions of Americans - fathers, sons, daughters, mothers - have died horrible, preventable, premature deaths.''
U.S. District Judge David Folsom, who oversaw the settlement, still must sign the deal before it becomes official. He's expected to formally approve it Tuesday.
The state also asked Folsom to decide how much money to pay five private attorneys who assisted in the case. They would have received 15 percent of a jury award. If they get the same amount of the settlement, that would be nearly $2.3 billion - or $460 million each.
Aside from the money, the settlement requires the industry to remove all billboard advertisements for tobacco in Texas - including those in sports stadiums - within four months. Tobacco advertising also must be removed from buses, taxis, airports and trains.
In addition to a proposed national settlement before Congress, there are 37 other state lawsuits pending against Big Tobacco. A trial is to start Tuesday in Minnesota, where the state and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota are seeking unspecified punitive damages on top of actual damages estimated at $1.75 billion.
Texas sued eight tobacco companies and three trade groups in March 1996 seeking reimbursement of about $8.6 billion in Medicaid funds spent on Texans' smoking-related illnesses dating to 1968. With damages, the lawsuit grew to more than $14 billion.
The lawsuit included federal racketeering charges alleging the industry lied to federal officials, committed fraud, illegally marketed its products to children and conspired to deceive the public about the dangers and addictive nature of cigarettes.
The industry said it did nothing wrong by selling a product that not only was legal in Texas, but also provided plenty of taxes for the state.
In a joint statement, Philip Morris, R.J. Reynolds, Brown & Williamson, Lorillard and United States Tobacco - five of the 11 defendants - said: ''Today's settlement with the state of Texas again demonstrates that the industry is prepared to cooperate with government and the public health authorities to discourage underage tobacco use.''
Felony charges of attempting to maim, disfigure or kill three police officers were reduced to misdemeanor assault against a 37-year old Buffalo Junction man on Friday in Halifax County General District Court. Reginald B. Arrington was sentenced to 12 months in jail for each offense with all suspended on conditions that he serve nine consecutive weekends in jail.
Additionally, he was ordered to perform 25 hours of community service and pay a fine of $500.
Arrington, represented by Halifax Attorney Bill Watson, pleaded guilty to the reduced charges along with a charge of reckless driving. Following sentencing, Arrington apologized to all three officers who were on special assignment with the TriCounty Drug Taskforce when the December 2 incident took place near the Halifax/Mecklenburg county border.
The three officers were R.S. Pulliam, Jim Binner and H.L. Powell.
No testimony was given before Judge Irvin D. Sugg but Commonwealth's Attorney John Greenbacker said that it was "very fortunate" someone wasn't killed during the events that lead to the arrest and charges.
Reports by deputies released after the arrest described how Arrington had given chase and attempted to run down with his pickup the vehicle all three officers were traveling in. The incident began in Mecklenburg County on Arrington's property and ended several miles from the eastern border.
In another case Friday, felony charges were certified to the grand jury against Russell Roberts, a Cluster Springs area man who was charged with possession of a firearm by a convicted felon and use of a firearm in attempted murder. Roberts is accused of having discharged a 25 caliber semi-automatic handgun in the direction of one his neighbors, Chris Bass, on October 27.
Bass told the court how the incident began after he captured and tied a horse he said was running loose on his property and belonged to Roberts. After the horse was captured, Bass said he notified the office of the animal warden.
E.J.Edmonds, Halifax County Animal Warden, testified that shortly after he arrived on the scene, a shot rang out from the direction where Roberts was believed to have been crouched down near an outbuilding. It was in that outbuilding where officers recovered the suspected weapon which had one spent shell partially jammed and two other rounds of live ammunition.
Roberts was arrested near the outbuilding which belonged to Bass and according to the animal warden, the defendant appeared to be intoxicated.
Judge Sugg found Roberts guilt on trespassing and sentenced him to six months in jail and order to pay half of a $1,000 fine. The suspension is conditioned on the defendant's good behavior and that he stay off the property belonging to Bass.
A police check of a parked car early Saturday morning resulted in the arrest of a South Boston man on two felony cocaine charges, according to the South Boston Police Department.
Donald Ray Boxley, 26, was charged with possession of cocaine and possession of a firearm while in the possession of cocaine, SBPD Lt. Rick Loftis said.
SBPD Officer Earl Hall spotted a vehicle parked in the lower parking lot of Tultex on Mineral Street at 1:05 a.m., police said.
During his investigation of the vehicle and Boxley, Hall recovered a white substance that is believed to be cocaine and a 9mm semi-automatic Ruger pistol, according to the investigation.
Boxley was released on bond pending his preliminary hearing in the Halifax County General District Court on March 23.
In other cases:
· LaDaniel Womack, 25, of News Ferry Road was charged early Sunday morning with two misdemeanor counts stemming from a disturbance at the Westside Village Apartments, Lt. Loftis said.
Womack was charged with the assault of Jacqueline Canada and the assault and battery of Linda Johnson after the 2 a.m. incident, police said.
He was released on bond pending his trial in the Halifax County General District Court on February 6. Womack was arrested by SBPD Officer Randy Redd. He was assisted by officers Brian Lovelace and Earl Hall.
· William Michael Burpo Jr., 19, of Nathalie was charged on January 13 with a misdemeanor count of carrying a concealed weapon. Lt. Loftis said.
Police were called to a disturbance at the Wal-Mart Store at about 7 p.m., according to the investigation.
When SBPD Officer Stuart Comer arrived, the apparent altercation had moved from inside the store to the parking lot, Lt. Loftis said.
Another subject involved in the incident had left the scene, but Burpo was arrested after reaching his truck. A .22-caliber magnum revolver was found inside his truck, according to the investigation.
Burpo was released on bond pending his trial in the Halifax County General District Court.
Committee assignments and commission appointments for the Halifax County Board of Supervisors were released last week by board chairman Joe Satterfield.
The appointed supervisors and their committees include:
Finance Committee: Garland Ricketts, Chairman; Dickie Abbott, Robbie Smart and Tom West.
Policy and Personnel: Smart, Chairman; Ricketts and Page Wilkerson.
Building and Grounds: Bill Abbott, Chairman; Dickie Abbott and Earl Watts.
Public Works and Environmental Services: West, Chairman; Dickie Abbott and Watts.
Car Committee: Bill Abbott, Chairman; Dickie Abbott and Watts.
Economic Development Committee: Smart and Wilkerson.
Legislative Committee: West, Chairman; Bill Abbott and Wilkerson.
Recreation Commission: Dickie Abbott, Chairman; Watts.
Fire Commission: West and Ricketts.
Airport Commission: Smart.
Agriculture Development Committee: West, Chairman; Dickie Abbott, Bill Abbott and Wilkerson.
Arthur Frazier Pool of 1050 Lowery Road, South Boston died Thursday, January 15, 1998 at Halifax Regional Hospital. He was 67 years of age at the time of his death.
Mr. Pool was born July 16, 1930 in Halifax County the son of Richard Arthur Pool and Ola Susan Hudson Pool and was married to Lottie Watts Pool. He was a retired tobacco buyer with Dibrell Brothers Inc. and a member of Shady Grove United Methodist Church, Masonic Lodge #91 AF&AM, a charter member of Cluster Springs Fire Dept., a charter member of the Cluster Springs Ruritan Club, and an honorary member of the Hyco Road Ruritan Club. He was an Army veteran of the Korean Conflict.
Funeral services were held Sunday, January 18 at 2 p.m. at Shady Grove United Methodist Church with Rev. Don Davidson officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery.
Surviving Mr. Pool are his wife; two daughters, Susan Pool of Greensboro, NC and Jane Carol P. Watts of Scottsburg; two sons, Ricky Pool and Darryl Pool, both of South Boston; one sister, Dorothy P. Watts of South Boston; four brothers, Wilton 'Flip' Pool of South Boston, John Pool of Clarksville, George Pool of Goldsboro, NC and Otis Pool of Great Falls; and four grandsons. He was preceded in death by one brother, Nathaniel Pool; and four sisters, Madeline P. Bishop, Evon P. Comer, Melvina P. Nelson and Virginia P. Lowery.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Shady Grove United
Methodist Church.
Edith Ann Overcash of Lilburn, GA died Thursday, January 15, 1998.
Mrs. Overcash was a native Virginian and a member of Mountain Park United Methodist Church.
She is survived by two daughters and sons-in-law, Wanda and Kevin Metzger Bailey of Jacksonville, FL and Lenda and Pete O'Malley Jr. of Eatonton, GA; one son and daughter-in-law, Michael and Julie Overcash of Lawrenceville, GA; her mother, Inez Mae Inge of South Boston; one sister, Elsie Lowery of South Boston; one brother, Douglas Inge of Nathalie; one half-brother, Ernest Inge of South Mills, NC; and nine grandchildren.
Funeral services for Mrs. Overcash were held Saturday, January 17 at 2 p.m. at Mountain Park United Methodist Church with Rev. Charles W. Barnes officiating. Burial was in Eternal Hills Memory Gardens.
Julian Anderson "Red" Adkins, 70, of 172 Burbank Drive, Cross, SC, a retired construction engineer and owner of Adkins Construction, died Friday morning in a Charleston hospital.
Funeral services were held Sunday afternoon in the Chapel of Dial-Murray Funeral Home, Moncks Corner. Burial was private.
Mr. Adkins was born October 26, 1927 in Mill Creek, VA, a son of Lloyd Thornton Adkins Back and Douglas Shelton Adkins. He was a member of the Olive Branch Methodist Church, Alton and attended Friendship United Methodist Church, Cross. He is the owner of Cross Gulf Station and was an avid fisherman and golfer.
Surviving are his wife, Doris Klingensmith Adkins; four daughters, Wendy K. Adkins of Ridgeville, Linda A. Harris of Vernon Hill, Judy A. Waddle of Halifax and Bonnie A. Bagbey of Turbeville; two sons, Douglas M. Jaworski and David A. Jaworski both of Cross; his first wife, Inez Adkins of South Boston; two brothers, Herman "Popeye" Adkins of South Boston and Carroll L. Adkins of Alton and eight grandchildren.