Jason Phelps, a 20-year-old former employee of the Movie Gallery
in Halifax Square Shopping Center, was arrested Friday and charged
with the felony embezzlement of more than $3,100 from the business,
according to Investigator T.M. VanArenem of the South Boston Police
Department.
The theft was originally being investigated as a breaking and
entering, the investigator said.
"As we understand it, as they arrived at work on the morning
in question, another employee deactivated the burglar alarm and
left the premises," VanArenem said yesterday.
He added that the other employee was the manager on duty, who
was uninvolved with the crime.
"Phelps didn't have a key to deactivate the alarm,"
the investigator said.
"The suspect then took the money and opened the rear door
of the business to make the crime look like a break-in,"
he added.
The investigator said that two days worth of bank deposits were
taken from the business during the incident.
VanArenem said that he received a call at 9:28 a.m. on the morning
of December 8 alerting him to the crime.
Due to evidence at the crime scene, investigators originally suspected
the crime was a break-in.
The incident is still under investigation, and more suspects are
expected to be arrested in connection with the theft, VanArenem
said yesterday.
Following his arrest, Phelps was released on an unsecured bond,
he added.
Anyone with information regarding this or any other crime is asked
to call Crimestoppers at 572-TIPS.
In other police business, two Halifax County girls, both 14, were
arrested yesterday and charged with the theft of an automobile,
according to Maj. R.S.B. Pulliam of the Halifax County Sheriff's
Office.
The incident began early Monday morning when the sheriff's department
received a call that two teens had stolen their grandmother's
vehicle and were missing.
Members of all area law enforcement were notified, and local media
outlets were contacted to assist in the location of the missing
girls, the major reported.
Pulliam said that the department received a call at approximately
2 a.m. Monday reporting that the teens had stolen their grandmother's
vehicle, a 2000 Mazda Protege.
"At approximately 6:30 p.m., we received a call reporting
that the vehicle the missing teenagers were last seen in was parked
on Shepherd Street in South Boston," the major said.
Shortly afterward, deputies from the sheriff's office arrived
on the scene and with the assistance of family members began searching
the neighborhood and interviewing residents.
"Approximately 30 minutes later, one of the deputies observed
one of the missing teens walking on Traver Avenue," Pulliam
said.
The other missing girl was quickly located in a nearby residence.
Shortly after locating the missing girls, petitions were obtained
for both juveniles for the theft of the vehicle, according to
the major.
Both teens have been transported to W.W. Moore Detention Center
in Danville to await their arraignment on the charges.
Pulliam, Sheriff D.J. Oakes and the family of the two girls would
like to thank all those who assisted in the search and location
of the missing teens.
"We're just thankful that they were located and are okay,"
Pulliam said yesterday.
With a grace born from years of service to her community and
a truly gentle spirit, Julia Moss accepted the accolades of her
peers yesterday evening.
"She's been the glue that's held this county's administration
together for 31 years," County Administrator Joe Morgan said
as the many well-wishers gathered.
Morgan was among the many guests that gathered to honor Julia
Moss on the eve of her retirement as assistant county administrator.
Her retirement will be effective on February 1.
Moss was hired in 1972 by Halifax County's first administrator,
the late Col. Walter Brady. She began her service to the county
as secretary to the Board of Supervisors.
In the ensuing 31 years, Julia would work with five administrators
and serve as acting county administrator and interim county administrator
during each of the vacancies between appointments.
Co-workers suggested that Moss will be missed not only by them,
but by the scores of county citizens who sought information or
help at her office.
For her part, Moss called the opportunity to work with people
"the best part" of her job.
"I love working with people and I have met so many people
in the county, regionally and at the state level," said the
assistant administrator.
"It's not always the big thing, sometimes it's giving guidance,"
she explained. "It's the feeling that you have helped someone,"
she added.
Her job attitude is reflected in one statement: "I love my
work."
In addition to serving as assistant county administrator and clerk
to the Board of Supervisors, she also served on the Southside
Services Disabilities Board, the Halifax County Community Action
Board, the Halifax County Community Federal Credit Union board,
as past president of the Central Virginia Health Planning Agency,
the Southeast Rural Community Assistance Project board and as
a member of the Comprehensive Policy Management Team.
She was also deputy coordinator of Emergency Services for the
County.
During her tenure, the county administrator's office has also
been an integral force in economic development efforts and civic
changes.
Julia Moss served with the following Halifax County Administrators:
Col. Walter Brady (Ret.), L. W. Wuensch, Joe N. Morgan, Robert
P. Lawler Jr., W. "Dan" Sleeper, Joe N. Morgan (returned
in 2000).
Although she said she would miss the day-to-day excitement of
her office, Moss said she was looking forward to retirement.
"I feel very blessed. The county has been good to me,"
she said.
"You have been good to the county and you have been good
for the county," retorted David Martin, chairman of the Halifax
County Board of Supervisors.
"One of the real joys of my work has been knowing folks like
Julia," said Morgan, who has worked side-by-side with Moss
for five years.
"Like preachers, administrators don't stay around but so
long," observed Morgan.
"Fortunately for Halifax County, there has been a Julia Moss
to provide continuity."
A proposed bill that would have increased the tax on a pack
of cigarettes by 50 cents, expanded the tax to include snuff,
chewing tobacco and cigars and impose a nine percent tax on alcohol,
for all practical purposes landed in the circular file of the
House Finance Committee yesterday.
While the bill is not technically defeated, it has certainly been
dealt a knock-out blow, being sent to the Joint Subcommittee to
Study Virginia's Tax Code for study, according to reports.
In an effort to alleviate the deficit the state budget, currently
in the red by about $2 billion, the bill was offered by Del. Phil
Hamilton, R-Newport News.
It would also have allowed all localities to impose additional
cigarette taxes of up to 25 cents per pack.
In exchange for the increased tobacco and alcohol taxes, Hamilton
had proposed eliminating the state's two percent statewide food
tax.
But many in the House complained that the tax unfairly targeted
smokers and drinkers.
And legislators in Southside have long asserted that any tax increase
would have an adverse effect on the region's economy.
Del. Clarke Hogan has maintained that he considered any cigarette
tax an attack on the tobacco region.
"I would view the tobacco tax as basically an assault on
the tobacco industry," he said during an earlier interview.
"One of the vital economic foundations in an area of the
state that's already taken a beating."
Sen. Charles Hawkins, long the advocate for Virginia's tobacco-growing
region, said the suggestion that taxes on cigarettes be raised
could have an unexpected negative effect on Virginia's economy.
"If you look at the Master Settlement Agreement, that 48
states are benefiting from, it's based on the domestic sale of
cigarettes," the senator said.
"I'm not sure this isn't a no-win situation."
"I guess from my standpoint, I have a fundamental concern
about raising taxes when we are in the throes of trying to make
an economic recovery in Southside Virginia," Del. Robert
Hurt, R-Pittsylvania County, said earlier.
"I think in bad economic times, the last thing we should
be doing is raising taxes," Hurt added.
Recardo Antwan Ford, aka "Fuzzy,"
formerly of South Boston, was sentenced Tuesday to 70 months in
a federal penitentiary for conspiracy to distribute cocaine and
distribution of cocaine, according to the Halifax/South Boston
Regional Narcotic Enforcement Task Force.
Sentencing for the 24-year-old Ford, currently a Searcy Street,
Danville, resident took place in U.S. District Court in Danville.
The court additionally ordered Ford to be placed on supervised
probation for three years upon his release, the Task Force said.
Ford was arrested May 10 of last year, after a two-year investigation,
according to Major R.S.B. Pulliam of the Drug Task Force.
Pulliam said police converged on a Ridge St. residence in South
Boston at approximately 1 p.m. that day and arrested Ford on a
federal indictment for conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine
and distribution of crack cocaine.
The charges stemmed from undercover purchases of crack cocaine,
surveillance and information from citizens, according to Pulliam.
According to the Drug Task Force, Ford was responsible for cocaine
and crack cocaine coming into Halifax County.
Ford's convictions were the result of an investigation involving
the Drug Enforcement Administration, Danville Police Department,
United States Attorney's Office in Roanoke, and the Drug Task
Force.
The South Boston Police Department, Halifax County Sheriff's Office,
Virginia Department of ABC, and Virginia State Police also assisted
in the investigation.
· A 22-year-old woman entered Alford pleas Tuesday to five
amended indictments charging her with petty larceny and one amended
indictment charging her with misdemeanor credit card theft during
a trial in Halifax County Circuit Court.
Under terms of the Alford plea, Rebecca Gail Barbour of Mt. Gilead,
Oh., did not admit guilt to the charges, but realized prosecution
evidence would make a guilty finding at trial almost a certainty.
The Commonwealth nol prossed 15 additional charges against Barbour,
including nine charges for uttering a forged check, four charges
for check forgery, and one each for credit card forgery and credit
card theft.
Judge Leslie M. Osborn sentenced Barbour to one year in jail for
each of the six convictions, to run concurrently for a total of
one year in jail.
Osborn suspended Barbour's entire sentence, conditioned on her
good behavior for one year, and ordered her to pay restitution
in the amount of $4,536.86 within six months.
· Seneca Lemond Wenstley, 23, of Alton, was sentenced Tuesday
to five years in prison for possessing a firearm after being convicted
of a felony.
Judge Osborn ordered that Wenstley receive credit for time served,
and that he be placed on post release supervision through the
Department of Corrections for one year.
· Robert Neal Stone, 43, of South Boston, was convicted
Tuesday of possession of cocaine and possession of marijuana.
Stone is free on bond pending a sentencing hearing which will
be scheduled for the March term of court.
· Stacey Lewis Glass, 24, of Virgilina, was convicted Tuesday
on an amended indictment charging her with petty larceny.
The court continued sentencing until later in the January term
to allow Glass time to pay restitution.
· Camila Chuntel Clements, 25, of Brookneal, entered an
Alford plea Tuesday to one count of the abuse and neglect of children.
The Commonwealth nol prossed four additional charges against Clements.
Judge Osborn sentenced Clements to two years in prison, suspending
all, conditioned on Clements' good behavior for two years.
The court additionally ordered Clements to be placed on unsupervised
probation for two years.
The Halifax County High School varsity boys basketball team
will kick off a lengthy road schedule tonight when it takes to
the road to face neighboring rival Person High.
Tonight's game marks a schedule change for the Comets who were
originally scheduled to face Person High last night.
The change in the schedule was made late last week to coincide
with a schedule change that will have the Person High varsity
and jayvee girls coming here tonight to face the Comets girls
teams.
Tonight's game against Person High in Roxboro, N.C. will launch
a busy three-game week for the Comets who are embarking on a key
portion of their schedule.
It will be the first game in a five-game stretch of road contests
that will keep the team on the road the rest of the month.
After tonight's game against Person High, the Comets will journey
to Danville Friday night to face archrival GW in a key Western
Valley District game.
A Saturday road trip to Lynchburg to face Group AA opponent Heritage
High School will conclude this week's busy three-game stretch.
Tonight's game is a big game for the Comets who are 6-4 overall
and 2-1 in Western Valley District play as it will be the final
opportunity they will have this season to knock off the Rockets.
The Comets played the Rockets close in their two earlier meetings
with the Rockets managing to pull the games out of the fire in
the final couple of minutes.
Person High, 11-1 overall, defeated the Comets 60-50 here on December
20 and downed the Comets 66-59 to win the championship game of
the BB&T Bank Holiday Classic Basketball Tournament.
Since that time, Halifax County has won four of its last five
games, its only loss being a one-point loss to Page High School
of Greensboro, N.C. in a thriller of a game that went down to
the final shot at the buzzer.
While tonight's game against Person High is a big game for area
fans, Halifax County's most important game of the week is Friday
night's contest against GW.
Friday's game will be the first meeting of the two archrivals
this season and the Comets will need a win over GW to maintain
their hold on second place in the district standings.
The action starts at 4 p.m. today in Roxboro, N.C. with the Comets'
ninth-grade team facing the Person High freshmen at 4 p.m.
A jayvee game will follow at 5:30 p.m. with the varsity contest
set for a 7 p.m. tipoff.
Mrs. Norva Tucker Barley of the Elkhorn Community died Thursday,
January 16, at the Potomac Hospital in Woodbridge.
Mrs. Barley, 85, was born in Halifax County on August 1, 1917.
She was a daughter of the late William Armstead Tucker and the
late Sally Bradley Tucker and was married to the late Mitchell
Barley.
Mrs. Barley was a member of the Elkhorn Baptist Church.
She is survived by her children, Clarence Barley of the Bronx,
New York, Pearlie (Nellie) Barley of South Boston, Arbie (Frances)
Barley of Irvington, New Jersey, James (Angela) Barley of Dumfries,
Geneva (Beaufort) Brown of the Bronx, New York, Carol (Cordie)
Turner of Teaneck, New Jersey, Barbara Barley of Norfolk, Marjorie
and Clara Barley of Woodbridge, 11 grandchildren, seven great-grandchildren
and one great-great-grandchild.
She is also survived by one brother, Hayward Tucker of Java, two
sisters, Rosetta Boyer of Willingboro, New Jersey, and Retha Marable
of South Boston, one sister-in-law, Mrs. Panthelia Tucker, and
a host of nieces, nephews, other relatives and friends.
Funeral services for Mrs. Barley will be held on Wednesday, January
22, at 1 p.m. at Elkhorn Baptist Church with burial in the Barley
Family Cemetery.
Dr. C. Lewis Motley will conduct the services.
The family will receive friends one hour prior to services and
at other times at the home, 2081 Logan Road, Java.
A memorial service for Tucker Watkins McLaughlin will be held
at 2 p.m. on Saturday, January 25 at Beth Car Baptist Church in
Halifax.
Mr. McLaughlin, 67, of Kilmarnock, died January 20. He is married
to Martha Chase McLaughlin.
His survivors include his wife; daughters: Ann L. McLaughlin of
Mt. View, CA, Sylvia M. Chambers of Seattle, WA; sons: Tucker
W. McLaughlin Jr. and William W. McLaughlin of Halifax and Thomas
B. McLaughlin of South Boston; children's mother: Sylvia O. McLaughlin
of Halifax; step-children: Frances Y. Gunter of Richmond, Karen
Y. Bryant of Austin, TX and Carrie K. Yeatman of Richmond; eight
grandchildren; brother: Henry W. McLaughlin III of Richmond. He
was preceded in death by a sister: Virginia T. McLaughlin.
A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday, January 23
at Grace Episcopal Church, Kilmarnock, with interment in the church
cemetery. Visitation will be held today, January 22, from 6-8
p.m. at Currie Funeral Home, Kilmarnock.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Foundation for
Cancer Research and Education, P.O. Box 50, Free Union, VA 22940-0050
or Virginia Tompkins McLaughlin Scholarship Fund, P.O. Box 667,
Halifax, VA 24558.
Eugene R. Motley, 68, of Westover Drive, Danville, died January
20 at Danville Regional Medical Center.
Mr. Motley was born February 23, 1934 in Pittsylvania County,
the son of the late Murry and Lucy Shelton Motley. He was married
to Nancye Jean Bigger Motley and was a member of Hillcrest Baptist
Church. He was a member of the Piedmont Mall Walker's Club.
His survivors include his wife; a son: Michael A. (Pam) Motley
of South Boston; a daughter: Terri Lynn Motley of Dry Fork; two
sisters: Vickie Gwaltney of Eden, NC and Effie Giles of Johnson
City, TN and a brother: Dale Motley of Chatham.
A funeral service will be held Thurs., January 23 at 2 p.m. at
Wrenn-Yeatts North Main Chapel with the Rev. Dr. Ross Range Sr.
officiating. Burial will be held in the Danville Memorial Gardens.
Visitation will be held Wed., January 22 from 7-8:30 p.m. in the
Wrenn-Yeatts North Main Chapel and at other times at the residence
of his mother-in-law, Maude Bigger, 206 Ruskin Street.
Memorials may be sent to the Danville Cancer Association, 2323
Riverside Dr., Suite J, Danville, VA 24520.
Rev. Collie Seymour, 84, of the Piedmont Center, Thomasville,
NC, died January 21 at his home.
Rev. Seymour was born in Madison County, GA on February 1, 1918,
the son of John T. and Evie Phelps Seymour. He was married to
Christine Watson Seymour. He pastored the United Church of Christ
and other churches in Alabama, Florida, Kentucky, North Carolina,
Tennessee and Virginia.
His survivors include his wife; two daughters and sons-in-law:
Janet Elizabeth and Bill Cooke of Wagram, NC, Susan Dell and Donnie
Amos of South Boston; three sons and daughters-in-law: Robert
Wayne and Lyn Seymour of Reidsville, NC, Rev. Dr. David Maurice
and Marilyn Seymour of Tulsa, OK, Benjamin Collie and Becky Seymour
of Tryon, NC; two sisters: Geraldine Harley of Ninetysix, SC and
Loretta Hamlin of North Augusta, SC; brother: Richard Seymour
of Hartwell, GA; four grandchildren: Greg Cooke of Charlotte,
NC, Christine Cook of Ashville, NC, Alex Seymour of Greensboro
and Jeff Seymour of Clyde, NC.
Funeral arrangements were incomplete.
Paul Eldred Smith Sr., 36, of 1021 Back Street, Halifax, died
Sunday, January 19 in Halifax.
Mr. Smith was born in Halifax County on January 20, 1966, the
son of the late Phillip and Nancy Adams Smith. He was married
to Juanita Dunkley Smith and was a member of the Millstone Baptist
Church. He was employed by Halifax County Public Schools.
His survivors include his wife; daughter: Lanita Smith of Halifax
and Paul E. Smith Jr. of Halifax; sister: Carolyn Smith of Nathalie;
four brothers: William Lovelace of Hillsboro, TX, Larry Lovelace
of Farmville, Phillip Smith Jr. of Fayetteville, NC and Stan Smith
of Lynchburg.
A funeral service will be held Friday, January 24 at 1:30 p.m.
at the Millstone Baptist Church with the Rev. Chester Spruill
officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.