Thousands of people ushered in the year 2000 in grand style Saturday night from South Boston's Constitution Square.
"It was great. We were all very pleased by the turnout," said Chris Jones, president of the Community Arts Center Foundation.
Several thousand people gathered in the square and exclaimed in wonder and delight at the profusion of fireworks that lit up the midnight sky.
"It was just amazing to see the fireworks right over your head and to watch the children; they were so excited," Jones said.
Students and teachers from all the schools throughout the county joined South Boston and Halifax County officials and committee chairs Mellisa Peacock and Kathy Walker in presenting the time capsule.
The capsule, which will be filled with essays and photos from the schools and memorabilia and documents from the town and county, and buried at the Constitution Square to be reopened 50 years from now.
People of all ages celebrated the approaching New Year throughout the evening with food, song and dance as Nick Long counted down the top songs.
In addition to a variety of games and activities for the younger revelers, prior to the fireworks and musical entertainment numerous members of the community came together to pray for new year.
Bathed in the soft glow of candlelight, approximately 300 marchers made their way from the First Presbyterian Church to Constitution Square, where they joined hundreds of other local residents for the Renewal Service.
During the service, noted opera diva and South Boston native Rebecca Whitlow sang the concert version of "Amazing Grace" and performed Schubert's "Ave Maria," and the Millennium Chorus led the crowd in a number favorite old hymns, including "Let There Be Peace On Earth."
Leading the service was the Rev. Russell Lee, who was joined by the Reverends Terry Blevins, James Crowder, John Ghee, Les Good and Rick Hudock as the crowd prayed for a unified community and world peace in the new century.
The splendid evening was capped off for about 140 people who attended the champagne breakfast in The Prizery.

Supervisors will welcome four new members and elect a chairman and vice-chairman during their board meeting tonight.
The organizational meeting, which will include board committee and commission assignments, will begin at 7 p.m. at the Mary Bethune Complex in Halifax.
Supervisors elected to the board in November and taking their seats for the first time tonight include: David Martin, Election District 4; James Edmunds, ED-5; Lottie Nunn, ED-7; and C.W. "Corky" Rorrer, ED-8.
County Administrator Dan Sleeper is scheduled to report to supervisors on the Mount Carmel Water, Inc., bankruptcy action.
A county offer to purchase two acres of land at $5,000 an acre adjacent to the Halifax County Animal Impoundment facility has been accepted by owners Kenneth C. and Mary Hodges, according to a December 14 communication with the board.
Supervisors will also discuss plans for their annual January retreat. The proposed date is January 27-28.

County Administrator Dan Sleeper has been accused of deliberately misleading tax-paying citizens trying to speak to an issue of public business during a Board of Supervisors' meeting Dec. 27.
In an open letter to the Board of Supervisors issued Sunday, the Southside Concerned Citizens board said that "every effort was made at the meeting to prevent" citizens from speaking.
Supervisors voted 5-2 during that meeting to hire the county's first Agricultural Development Agent.
Citizens who had asked Sleeper prior to the meeting for permission to speak were incensed when Joe Satterfield, chairman of the Board of Supervisors, called for a vote, without allowing anyone to speak.
"After the vote was taken, Mr. Satterfield said that Mr. Sleeper did not indicate to him that anyone wanted to speak," said the SCC letter.
Attempts by The Gazette-Virginian to reach Satterfield yesterday for comment were unsuccessful.
Protesting their treatment "in the strongest terms" and expressing hope that steps will be taken to prevent "such a travesty" in the future, the SCC board released the following letter:
We, the members of Southside Concerned Citizens, do protest in the strongest terms, the treatment of the citizens of this county at the last Board meeting on Monday, December 27, 1999. Every effort was made at that meeting to prevent the taxpaying citizens of this county from speaking to an issue regarding the public business. We sincerely hope that steps will be taken in the future to prevent such a travesty.
Before the meeting began, Mr. Sleeper purposefully tried to mislead us by saying that no one would be allowed to speak at the special called meeting because the agenda had already been set. When advised that we seriously doubted that here in Virginia, the cradle of democracy, free speech would be denied, he reluctantly agreed that we could speak with the Chairman's permission. We asked that he please take care of that like he's done many times in the past. He nodded in the affirmative and moved to hand out material and speak to the Board members. We took our seat in the audience assuming that he would do as he had indicated.
When the meeting began, Mr. Satterfield called for ~ vote on hiring someone to fill the position of agricultural adviser without allowing anyone to speak before the vote was taken. (The Board then voted 5 to 2 to hire the person.) After the vote was taken Mr. Satterfield said that Mr. Sleeper did not indicate to him that anyone wanted to speak.
Ironically, we did not come to the meeting to oppose the hiring but to question the fact that the old, lame-duck Board was making the decision when it should be properly left up to the new incoming Board members. We at SCC wholeheartedly support the family farmer. Many of us grew up on a farm and we know that it is an idyllic setting in which to raise a family. What we are very much opposed to is big corporate agribusiness that makes it impossible for the family farmer to survive.
The most disturbing thing about the whole affair is that it was very obvious from the beginning when talking with Mr. Sleeper that he did not want anyone to address the Board on this issue. We were deliberately misled by Mr. Sleeper when we asked to speak and if he did not communicate our wishes to Mr. Satterfield we were misled a second time.
This letter is not intended to be a personal attack on Mr. Sleeper. He has been a valuable resource for the county in the past and we trust he will be 50 in the future. We simply feel that Mr. Sleeper overstepped the bounds last Monday in zealously representing the minority view of a few board members. It is a sad day indeed when we allow our public officials to manipulate the democratic process to the exclusion of citizen input on public affairs. Again, we trust that the necessary changes will be made to prevent this from happening in the future.

The board members of SCC
Jack Dunavant, Chairman

RICHMOND, Va. (AP) - George Aguirre remembers struggling to make ends meet as he flew bombing missions over the Pacific during World War II.
''I started out as a private, so I know what it was like to get by on $50 a month,'' he said.
Aguirre was one of several dozen veterans joining Lt. Gov. John Hager and Republican legislators at the Virginia War Memorial Thursday to mark a tax credit for military pay that goes into effect Saturday.
The credit eliminates state income taxes on military incomes  under $15,000 and taxes income between $15,000 to $30,000 on a sliding scale. A person earning $25,000, for example, would see a tax break of $282.
Aguirre, who moved up to lieutenant colonel and commanded  hundreds of men before retiring in 1970, said service men and women will appreciate the money, as well as the gesture.
''I knew the problems they had being away from their families,'' he said.
The military tax credit is one of several tax initiatives passed by the General Assembly that will put more change in Virginians' pockets in the new year.
Other new measures include:
-The first of four planned reductions in the food tax. The 4.5 percent levy on groceries will decrease by one-half percentage point, which will save shoppers 50 cents on a $100 grocery bill.
- A further decrease in the car tax. The reduction, which was the hallmark of Gilmore's election campaign in 1997, will grow from 27.5 percent to 47.5 percent for most vehicles next year.
- Open space tax credit. Individuals and corporations donating land for preservation will be eligible for a credit of up to 50 percent of the land's value. The amount can't exceed $50,000 next year but rises to $100,000 by 2002. The credit could prove a valuable tool for those hoping to curb suburban sprawl.
- Political contribution tax credit. Individuals who give $25 and married couples who give $50 to state and local candidates will get a credit for half the amount. Proponents say by encouraging large numbers of small donations it will level the playing field of political influence.
''It would bring new players into campaign financing,'' said Steve Calos, executive director of Common Cause of Virginia, the watchdog group that pushed for enactment of the law. ''It would tend to dilute the influence that big players have.''
-Accessibility tax credit: Homeowners who add certain features to their homes to make them accessible to people with disabilities will be eligible for a credit up to $500.
-Corporate income tax revision: A small change in the way the state calculates corporate taxes will reduce taxes about $15 million per year. Business leaders, including the Virginia Chamber of Commerce, have been pulling for this revision as a way to make the state more attractive to industry.
-Estates law adjustment: Some people who were entitled only to income from estates could now receive money from increases in principal, allowing them to benefit from rising stock prices.

Several arrests stemming from assault and battery charges were made by sheriff's deputies over the weekend.
Howard Lee Payne, 48, of Rabat Road in Nathalie, was arrested Friday on the charge of assault and battery of Emma Jane Payne.
The offense was allegedly committed on the day of the arrest.
Payne is scheduled to appear in Halifax County General District Court on January 5.
· Eugene Logan, 59, of Meadville Road in Meadville, was arrested Saturday and charged with assault and battery of Pam Logan.
The offense was allegedly commited on the day of the arrest while the assaultant was not supposed to be on the victim's property and had an Emergency Protective Order placed against him.
· John Henry Venable, 52, of Love Shop Road, was arrested Saturday and charged with the assault and battery of Brenda Venable.
The offense allegedly took place on Friday.
Venable is scheduled to appear in Halifax County General District Court on January 5.

By Michael Page
The mark of a mentor is how compelling an influence one can have on others.
James Harris of Blairs, a member of the Mentor/Role Model Program in Halifax County, has the aptitude to impart good values to those who are unschooled in the ways of character, integrity and morals.
The calling developed during the 33 years Harris spent with the police force with the Town of Bronxville in New York.
Raised in Sutherlin, Harris returned to Virginia with his wife to live among the sculpturesque avant-garde art he has formed from automobile parts that surround his Malmasion Road home.
After retirement and with their two daughters grown and living in New York and Tampa, Harris decided to offer his time in helping young people overcome social problems.
As a member of the White Oak Grove Baptist Church in Sutherlin, Harris inquired about community youth programs and a member of the congregation introduced him to the Mentor Role-Model Program.
The connection allowed Harris to enter the life of a young student at South of Dan Elementary, a child with limited knowledge of his father.
"I had time on my hands and so I was available to be someone he could come to," said Harris.
"As a mentor, I wanted to be a part of his life, to better him and lead him to become a productive person in society," Harris added.
The student had problems staying in school because his aggressive behavior led to fighting and suspensions, and his hyperactive tendencies required medication, such as Prozac.
"Being his mentor, I could never replace his father, but I was able to be an adult friend who could offer good values and wise advice," said Harris.
The student was brought into the Harris home and treated like a member of the family, sharing dinners and video games. Quality time was shared by visits to the school, sitting outside to talk or read, playing basketball, riding bicycles, swimming or going to museums.
The youth is now 11 years old and attending Cluster Springs Elementary. He has improved 150 percent by making good grades and being selected as the "student of the month."
After three years as a mentor, Harris has seen the youth improve also in self-esteem. At the beginning of their relationship, the youth never thought he could be an achiever. However, his first report card this school year revealed As and Bs.
And the youth has been off medication since Harris began as his mentor.
As a police officer, Harris had made an effort to help young teenagers find a life beyond crime.
"So many young 16- and 17-year-olds have a criminal record. For some, the misdemeanors are overlooked, but once they commit a felony, it's a hard road from then on," said Harris.
Harris tried to recruit older teenagers to become part of the police force, but found that most stayed away from the occupation.
"One bad experience leads to a negative outlook toward the police. But there's more to it, there's a compassionate side that's more compelling," said Harris.
That compelling side has followed Harris and enables him to instill a pattern for helping someone have a normal, productive life.

The One Valley Bank Holiday Classic basketball tournament title has again eluded the Halifax County Blue Comets and coach Garrett Dillard.
The Comets, for the second straight year, suffered a heartbreaking one point loss in the championship game, this time at the hands of the Person High School Rockets.
The Rockets upset the Comets 56-55 Thursday night to win the sixth annual version of the local holiday hoops tournament and claim their first One Valley Bank tournament title.
"I'll be heartbroken until next Christmas," a disappointed Dillard said after his team's loss.
"But, I'm an optimist. Something good has to come out of it."
Actually, Dillard and the Comets were disappointed on two fronts.
First, Dillard and the Comets did not get their wished-for rematch against Laurel Park in the tournament title game and a chance to avenge last year's one point loss to the Lancers.
And, they had to shoulder the disappointment of losing to the Rockets, a team that the Comets had beaten twice earlier this season.
Person High, on the other hand, had been mired in a tough early season.
They snapped a seven game losing streak with a win over Laurel Park in the opening round and improved to 3-7 on the season with the victory over the Comets.
"This is real big for us," remarked Person head coach Ronnie Russell.
"We were in a situation where we've been struggling for a long time."
Dillard acknowledged that Person did the right things at the right times to get the win.
"I give Person County credit," Dillard said.
"They did what they had to do to win the game."
The Comets didn't.
Halifax County's early season free throw shooting woes continued. They hit only 50 percent of their foul shots, going 8-16 in the contest.
Five of the misses came at critical junctures in the fourth period when the Comets could have either taken the lead or extended a narrow lead.
Person didn't do a lot better at the charity stripe, hitting 11 of 21 attempts.
The Rockets missed seven straight free throws in the fourth quarter before Chris Huff sank what turned out to be the winning point with 25 seconds to play in the game.
"We made some key ones that kept us in the game," Dillard pointed out.
"But, we didn't make the ones that would have put us over the top."
And, in the face of a zone defense unveiled by the Rockets, the Comets couldn't hit the open eight to 12 foot jump shots available to them.
"We got some pretty decent shots," Dillard pointed out.
"We just couldn't make a jump shot. If we'd made the open shots we'd have won the ball game.
"I guarantee you we missed 10 shots where there was nobody within five feet of us," added Dillard.
"And, we had several layups we missed."
Still, the Comets had some pretty good offensive firepower.
Three players hit double figures with Fred Price leading the way with 17 points. Tyrone Dunkley canned 13 points and reserve Jameen Jackson came off of the bench to score 11 points, seven of which came in the first period.
Halifax County was also hit with foul trouble.
Tyrone Dunkley, one of the spark plugs of the Comets' defense, was hit with his fourth foul before the third period was half over.
And Dashawn Baird, another Comet starter, was also hit with his fourth foul with just under two minutes left in the third period.
Both sat down for several minutes but came back later in the game to help initiate a couple of late Comet rallies.
Twice it appeared that the Comets were right on the verge of a knockout punch.
One occasion came in the first half when Baird sank a 10-foot jumper to give the Comets an eight point edge with just over six and a half minutes remaining in the first half.
But, Person went on an 8-0 run over a two minute span to tie the game.
The second time came just prior to the halfway mark of the third period when the Comets were up by seven points.
But, three fouls, one a technical foul that followed the initial call and another on Person High's ensuing possession, turned out to be a key turning point that allowed Person to get back into contention again.
With the Comets leading by seven points at 34-27, Dunkley fouled Person's Keith Liles as Liles went up for a shot deep in the paint with 5:44 left in the third period.
Dunkley disputed the call and was tagged with a technical foul.
Liles made both of his free throws resulting from the initial foul. Then, Huff made the two free throws on the technical foul.
Person was then awarded possession of the ball. The Rockets missed the initial shot on the possession but got a key break when Dunkley was called for his fourth foul as he battled a Person defender for the rebound.
With Person High retaining possession, Liles scored a basket seconds later from deep inside the paint that cut the Comets' lead from seven points down to one point in a short 30 second span.
"That was the turning point of the game," Dillard pointed out.
"That whole possession was big. I thought at that point (with the Comets holding a seven point lead) we could knock them out. Instead, they get a cheap foul and a basket and cut (the lead) to one."
Price countered with a layup to put the Comets up 36-33.
But Person's Sedrick Allen canned back-to-back three-pointers, the second coming with 3:36 to play in the period, to give Person the lead for the first time in the game at 39-36 and cap a 12-2 Person High scoring run.
Halifax County had opportunities to win down the stretch but couldn't capitalize on them.
The last of those opportunities occurred in a sequence that began with Dunkley hitting one of two free throws with 41 seconds to play to tie the game at 55-55.
Dunkley followed that by coming up with a big steal for the Comets on Person's ensuing possession. But the Rockets stole the ball right back.
Person High took the lead 56-55 when Huff hit one of two foul shots with 25 seconds to play.
Jennings tried to put the Comets on top by driving in for a layup with 19 seconds to play. The ball rimmed out but the Comets managed to snare the rebound and called a time-out.
Price took the inbounds pass and was trying to run some time off the clock when he dribbled the ball off of his foot near midcourt with 10 seconds to play.
He recovered the ball and fired an off balance pass to Terez Garland who was tucked into the right corner.
Despite being at a poor angle for a shot, Garland had to fire as the clock ran down and missed badly, giving Person the ball with a second to play and the win.
Earlier, near the end of the third period, Halifax had two good opportunities to cut a four point Person lead down to two points.
In the first instance, the Comets missed three shots at the bucket before Person got the rebound. And, in the second instance, a foul erased what would have been a big momentum building basket.
With the Comets trailing by four points, Price hit a driving layup with seven seconds left in the period.
However, the officials called Price for an offensive foul and took away the basket, leaving the Comets trailing 45-41 at the end of the period.
Then, in the fourth period, the Comets got an early basket from Jackson and Price completed a three point play to pull the Comets to within one point at 47-46 with 5:37 left.
Halifax had an opportunity to take the lead after snaring a Rocket pass only to see that opportunity, too, be erased as the result of a foul.
Price raced down the floor with the ball, drove the middle, dished the ball to Jennings and Jennings dunked the ball home for what would have been a go-ahead basket.
But, the officials waved off the bucket and tagged Price with a charging foul, leaving Person with the lead.
Price got the lead back for the Comets twice, once by converting a one and one opportunity at the free throw line and again by hitting a big 10-foot jumper that put the Comets up 50-49.
Person then hit two unanswered field goals to take the lead again and set the stage for the dramatic ending.
A large highly partisan Comet crowd was on hand to support the Comets in the title game.
"I thought the fans were super," Dillard said.
"They were beating the bleachers and screaming and yelling. I thought they kept us going and gave us the inspiration to try to win.
"We hope we have good support like that the rest of the season," concluded Dillard.

Kathryn Oakley Franklin, age 81, of 1248 Old Cluster Springs Road, South Boston died January 1, 2000, at Westminister-Canterbury in Lynchburg.
Mrs. Franklin was born February 14, 1918, in North Carolina the daughter of Johnnie Samuel Oakley and Lizzie Conner Oakley and was married to Archer Franklin Jr. She was a member of Black Walnut Baptist Church and a retiree of Sale Knitting.
The funeral will be held today, January 3 at 2 p.m. at Brooks Funeral Home Chapel with Rev. Grover Stevens officiating. Burial will take place in Halifax Memorial Gardens.
Survivors of Mrs. Franklin include one daughter, Janet F. McCormick of South Boston; three sisters, Lottie O. Lowery of South Boston, Esther O. Loftis of Wilmington, De. and Ara O. Duncan of Fairfax; two brothers Henry and Walter Oakley, both of South Boston; two granddaughters, Tabitha Maddox of Forest and Shelley Blane of Lynchburg; and two great-grandchildren, Blane and Allison Maddox.

Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Black Walnut Baptist Church.

David Lee Davenport, 63, of Mt. Vernon, New York, formerly of Scottsburg, died December 29, 1999, in New York.
Mr. Davenport was born in Halifax County on August 24, 1936, the son of Jacob Davenport and Florence Buckner Davenport.
Survivors include eight sisters, Margaret Jackson Mary D. Dixon, Dorothy Pyler, Edith Sturgis and Alice Davenport, all of Philadelphia, Pa., Anna D. Carter and Ida J. Roberts, both of Scottsburg and Rosetta Johnson of Manassas; three brothers, Roy Davenport and Edward L. Davenport, both Scottsburg and John W. Davenport of Philadelphia; and a devoted great nice, Katrina R. Roberts of Peekskill, N.Y.
Funeral services for Mr. Davenport will be held January 4 at 2 p.m. at the Chapel of Jeffress Funeral Home with Rev. William McCoy officiating. Burial will follow in the Davenport Family Cemetery in Scottsburg.
The family will receive friends at the home of Ida J. Roberts, 1175 Lee-Syd-Moore Road, Scottsburg.

Michelle Lee Puryear, 17, of Virgilina died December 30, 1999, in an automobile accident.
She attended Halifax County High School, where she was a senior. She worked part time at Hardee's in South Boston and was an active member at Nelson Baptist Church.
Survivors of Miss Puryear include her mother and stepfather, Henry and Patricia White Gayle of Virgilina; her father, Roger A. Puryear of Nelson; one sister, Crystal Gayle Puryear of Danville; maternal grandmother, Bertie Ruth Hite of Clarksville; paternal grandfather, John Burnell Puryear Sr. of Nelson; one stepsister, Emily Ann Gayle and one stepbrother, Brandon Thomas Gayle, both of Virgilina; and a close, dear friend, Brian Morris of Virgilina.
Funeral services will beheld at 2 p.m. January 4 at Nelson Baptist Church with Rev. Jim McAlister officiating.
The family will receive friends tonight, January 3 at Watkins Cooper Lyon Funeral Home in Clarksville between 7:00 and 9:00.

Gregory Bernard (Pete) Hazelwood Jr., age 41, of 11235 L. P. Bailey Memorial Highway, Nathalie died Thursday, December 30, 1999, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Hazelwood was born in Halifax County, on June 2, 1958, the son of Gregory B. Hazelwood Sr. and Christine Mattie Scott Hazelwood.
Survivors include his mother and father of Nathalie; one sister and brother-in-law, Norma Jean and Cliff Bryant of Martinsville; two brothers, Michael Hazelwood and Sydnor (Ben) Hazelwood, both of Nathalie.

Graveside services for Mr. Hazelwood Jr. were held Saturday, January 1, 2000, at 2:00 p.m. at the Hazelwood Family Cemetery at his home, with the Rev. Lee Roy Davis conducting the service.

Etta Conner Lowery, age 89, of 4021 Old Cluster Springs Road, South Boston died December 30, 1999, at her home.
Mrs. Lowery was born October 20, 1910, in Halifax County the daughter of Bruce Conner and Alice L. Ragans Conner and was married to Lewis Thomas Lowery. She was a member of Black Walnut Baptist Church.
Funeral services were held at Black Walnut Baptist Church January 2 at 2 p.m. with Revs. Jack Stewart and Grover Stevens officiating. Burial took place in the church cemetery.
Survivors of Mrs. Lowery include two daughters, Beulah Lowery Owen of Alton and Betty Faye Lowery Conner of Nathalie; four sons, Dewey Lowery, Ernest "Hook's" Lowery, Bernice "Bun" Lowery and Fred Lowery, all of South Boston; two sisters, Lennie C. Smith of Petersburg and Betty C. Lowery of South Boston; 14 grandchildren; 17 great-grandchildren and one great-great-grandchild.

Phillip Henry Bray, age 61, of 621 Berry Hill Road, South Boston died January 1, 2000, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Bray was born February 20, 1938 in Halifax County the son of Younger Adams Bray and Maude Roark Bray. He was a member of Liberty United Church of Christ and a Army Veteran.
Graveside services will be held January 4 at 2 p.m. at Liberty United Church of Christ Cemetery with Rev. Jack Stewart officiating.
Survivors of Mr. Bray include two daughters, Stacy B. Snead of South Boston and Kelly Lynn Bray of Virgilina; one son, Phillip Craig Bray of Halifax; one sister, Ida B. Tuck of Nathalie; and two grandchildren. He was preceded in death by two sisters, Grace B. McCraw and Avis B. Snow.