"The fight that we are going to have will be with the
legislature, not with the governor," Del. Clarke Hogan said
yesterday.
Both Hogan and Del. Frank Ruff said that the state budget deficit
and proposed cuts to Medicaid funding are expected to top the
legislative agenda when the session convenes next Wednesday in
Richmond.
"(The governor) comes from an affluent part of the state
that has transportation problems, we come from a poor part of
the state that is experiencing health problems," Hogan said.
"There is only one big battle we're expecting- the budget,"
Hogan emphasized.
Hogan and Ruff both said that the proposed cut to Medicaid reimbursements
was the one item that concerned them.
"That was the one big surprise in the governor's budget that
really bothers me," Hogan said. "Because Medicaid is
such a huge mechanism for funding in Southside Virginia."
Governor Warner proposed a freeze in Medicaid reimbursement to
hospitals, nursing homes and HMOs, according to Ellen Qualls,
the governor's press secretary.
She said the proposed freeze will cap the levels of reimbursement
at the 2003 levels.
"The only way we could save money on Medicaid is if we made
fewer people eligible for services," Qualls suggested. "The
governor said that to do that would not be protecting the social
safety net."
But Hogan said that the freeze could cost patients in the long
run by putting an extra burden on caregivers.
"I'm very disappointed in that part (of the budget plan),"
the delegate said. "That puts a huge burden on hospitals.
"That is the piece of the budget proposal that I would take
exception with," Hogan added.
He said that in order to balance the budget without affecting
core services, he expected the legislature to focus their attention
on streamlining the effectiveness of state agencies and focusing
on prioritizing the needs of the state.
"I perceive that we will be trying to eliminate some things
that aren't doing the jobs they were designed to do," he
suggested.
He said he expected the legislature to eliminate approximately
25 different commissions that aren't performing effectively.
"I think we'll be focusing on consolidating and prioritizing
our needs instead of just spending money across the board,"
the delegate surmised.
The United Way of Halifax has allocated $134,000 to 12 member
agencies, including one new agency, Doves, which assists in domestic
violence cases.
Although the UW fell $16,000 short of its $150,000 goal, there
are still some envelopes out, according to Beth Hochstein, UW
executive director.
Three agencies took the lion's share of the 2003 allocations.
They are the American Red Cross, $18,000; the YMCA, $12,100;
the Mental Health Association of Halifax, $11,000.
Others receiving allocations are: Mentor Role Model, $8,000; Blue
Ridge Council Boy Scouts, $7,900; Halifax County 4-H, $7,400;
Halifax Community Action, $7,100; Virginia Skyline Girl Scouts,
$5,500; Halifax/South Boston Literacy, $5,000.
Other member agencies receiving allocations include: The Salvation
Army, $3,000; Doves, $2,000; the Association of Retarded Citizens,
$500.
Two former agencies, the Halifax County Rescue Squad and the Halifax
County Cancer Association, withdrew from the United Way as agency
members last year following funding cuts.
"Last year because of a $40,000 shortfall, allocations were
trimmed," said Hochstein.
The UW decided at that time to designate available funding to
those agencies that did not think they could survive without funding,
she explained.
The Rescue Squad and Halifax County Cancer Association ultimately
received only funding designated to them by donors.
The United Way Board will hold its annual meeting January 13.
During that session the board is expected to revise some of its
bylaws.
Some proposed bylaw changes are expected to include: a better
definition of the United Way Board of Directors and what is expected;
to allow more people to help with distribution decision making;
to change the bylaw which only allows bylaw changes at the annual
meeting.
The 12-member UW Board will also add to its membership.
Four of its members' terms are ending, and four vacancies currently
exist.
"So we are actually seeking eight new members to make a
16-member Board," Hochstein said.
Halifax County's unemployment rate, in double digits for most
of 2002, dropped to 9.6 percent in November, according to the
Virginia Employment Commission (VEC).
November's rate was more than a percentage point lower than both
the November 2001 rate of 11.3 percent and the October 2002 rate
of 11 percent.
The VEC reported that 1,957 Halifax County residents were looking
for work in November, out of a total work force of 20,329.
Halifax County's decline in its unemployment rate reflected that
recorded in most of the Dan River region, including Danville and
Pittsylvania County.
The City of Danville recorded an unemployment rate of 6.2 percent
in November, down from 8.2 percent in November 2001, while Pittsylvania
County's unemployment rate dropped to 5.9 percent from 11.4 percent
in November 2001.
Unemployment rates in Danville and Pittsylvania County in October
were 6.5 and 6.3 percent, respectively.
Charlotte County's unemployment rate dipped to 6 percent in November,
compared to 6.6 percent in October.
However, the unemployment rate in Mecklenburg County rose to 10.5
percent, up from the 10.2 percent rate recorded in October, according
to the VEC.
Henry County and Martinsville continued to suffer from high unemployment
rates in November.
Henry County's unemployment rate was 11.7 percent in November,
while the City of Martinsville recorded a 11.6 percent unemployment
rate, both among the highest in the state.
The state's unemployment rate fell to 3.6 percent in November,
down from the 3.8 percent rate recorded in October, the VEC reported.
That rate is the lowest recorded since May 2001.
The Gazette-Virginian's publishers and staff
look forward to celebrating the paper's 100th anniversary this
year.
An in-the-making special edition, an anniversary banner flag
- already in place - a new web site and a few other projects
are on our radar screen for the year.
In conjunction with the anniversary, the newspaper will sponsor
the U.S. Army's 19-member Jazz Ambassadors in concert this spring.
The free concert will be held in the Halifax County High School
auditorium on March 31.
Other events will be announced during the year.
100 Years
Allow us to retrace the time line that actually began in 1889.
One of the newspaper's predecessors was The South Boston Times.
Early publishers included Alexander Bruce, Wiley Ward, W.D. Hill
and John E. Wood. Wood purchased the newspaper in 1903 and changed
its name to The Halifax Gazette.
Ward was taken in as a partner and was succeeded as editor in
1913 by C.B. Lacy, by Berryman Green in 1927, and in 1946 Ward
sold the newspaper to two young Danville newspapermen, Charles
W. Crowder and O. Lynn Shelton.
Crowder was editor and Shelton was business manager. When Crowder
left due to poor health, his half interest was bought by another
Danville man, Richard M. Fox. Shelton then became editor and Fox
business manager.
In 1958, Fox sold his interest to Shelton. Keith Shelton succeeded
his father and the newspaper has remained in the Shelton family
since.
In March of 1963, the newspaper began publishing twice a week
with its new offset presses, and changed its name to The Gazette-Virginian.
At the time, fewer than 300 newspapers in the United States were
printed on offset presses.
On May 14, 1974, the modern newspaper publishing plant was opened
to the public for the first time when The Gazette-Virginian observed
an open house and dedication of its new facility in Centerville.
The 11,250 square feet provided offices and manufacturing space
and housed, then, Virginia's largest non-daily newspaper press,
a 32-page, eight unit News King.
Increasingly, the newspaper is "going digital," with
the photographer's darkroom already a piece of history.
Individual computers link reporters to production, and composition
comes through pagination, a process that allows stories, photos
and advertisements to be transferred to selected pages via computer.
New technology triggers constant change.
Visit the newspaper at www.gazettevirginian.com
"As we begin our anniversary year, we look forward to celebrating
with you, our readers, 11,500 strong," said publisher Keith
Shelton.
"Most of all, we thank you for your loyalty, all 100 years
worth."
Shirley Moses Clay, 63, of 1032 Piney Creek Road, Clover, died
December 28 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Clay was born in Person County, NC on April 24, 1939, the
son of Noel Duncan Clay and Virginia Clay. He was a member of
Ephesus Baptist Church, Semora, NC.
Survivors include two daughters, Bonnie Balmer of Henderson, NC
and Farrah Clay of Raleigh, NC; two sons, Victor L. Clay of Oxford,
NC and Eric Clay of Clover; six sisters, Barbara Whitt of Roxboro,
Christine Virginia Comer of Vernon Hill, Frances Clay of South
Boston, Nancy Duque of Cluster Springs and Rose Currie of Halifax;
four brothers, Noel Clay of Kileen, Texas, Overton Clay of Turbeville,
Carl Clay of South Boston and Larry Clay of Vernon Hill; three
grandchildren and one great-grandchild.
Services for Mr. Clay were held December 30 at 2 p.m. at Powell
Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Leonard Watlington officiating.
Burial was in North Fork Baptist Church Cemetery, Virgilina.
John Massey 'Johnny' Francis Jr., 67, of 1039 Hundley Road, Scottsburg,
died December 30 at his home.
Mr. Francis was born in Halifax County on February 1, 1935, the
son of John Massey Francis Sr. and Minnie Owen Francis and was
married to Joyce Priest Francis. He was a member of Scottsburg
United Methodist Church and was president of the Scottsburg VFD.
Survivors include his wife; two sons, John Massey Francis III
of Bend, OR, and Gary Lee Francis of Scottsburg; one stepson,
C. David Throckmorton of Midlothian; two stepdaughters, Kimberly
T. Jansen of Tampa, FL, and Janet T. Owen of Dothan, AL; three
sisters, Agnes F. Grundman of Jacksonville, FL, Lucille F. Thompson
of Virgilina and Madeline F. Moorefield of Scottsburg; two brothers,
Owen Francis of Scottsburg, and Thomas A. Francis of Dinwiddie;
and seven step-grandchildren.
Services for Mr. Francis will be held today, January 3 at 11 a.m.
at Powell Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Don Pizzeck officiating.
Burial will take place in Oakland Cemetery, Scottsburg.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the Halifax
County Cancer Association, PO Box 875, South Boston, or the Scottsburg
VFD.
Mealie May Jones McCormick, 84, of Altavista died December 31
at her home.
Mrs. McCormick was born May 8, 1918, in Halifax County, the daughter
of the late Archer Jones and Iolar Trammell Jones and was married
to James Luther McCormick. She was a member of the Church of God
of Prophecy, Altavista, and a homemaker.
Survivors include her husband; two sons, Emmett McCormick and
wife, Vester, of Altavista, Winston McCormick and wife, JoAnn,
of Hurt; two daughters, Betty Short and husband, Clyde, of Hurt
and Louise Brumfield and her friend, Lionel Reynolds, of Hurt;
three brothers, James Jones of Petersburg, Henry Jones of Springfield,
Ohio and Bobby Jones of South Boston; four sisters, Mildred Barksdale
of South Boston, Mary Griffith of Wake Forest, NC, Maggie Adams
of Halifax, and Maxine Rice of Wake Forest; eight grandchildren;
and nine great-grandchildren.
Funeral services for Mrs. McCormick will be held today, January
3, at 2 p.m. at the church of God of Prophecy, Altavista, by the
Rev. Wayne L. Murphy. Burial will follow in Altavista Memorial
Park.
Melville Lawless Ratliff Sr., 72, of Burlington, NC died December
31 at Alamance Regional Medical Center.
Mr. Ratliff was a native of South Boston, the son of William Walter
Ratliff and Zelda Roach Ratliff and was married to Betty Farris
Ratliff. He was a graduate of Elon University, retired from AT&T,
was a US Marine Veteran, serving in WWII, Korean Conflict and
served two tours of duty.
Survivors include a daughter and son-in-law, Melba Ratliff Hughes
and husband, Walter, of Burlington; one son, Melville Lawless
'Chip' Ratliff Jr., and his companion, Sarah Harpe, of Burlington;
three sisters, Melinda Piland and husband, Ben, of Mebane, NC,
Mildred Curtis and Stella Crabtree, both of Graham, NC; one brother,
William Douglas Ratliff and wife, Doris, of Mayodan, NC; three
grandchildren, Michael Carroll, Joshua Carroll, and Jennifer Harpe;
and two brother-in-laws, Wheeler Hoyle of Graham and Lou Jarman
of CO.
Other than his parents and wife, he was also preceded in death
by two sisters, Dorothy R. Hoyle and Ruth R. Jarman.
Funeral services for Mr. Ratliff will be held January 4 at 11
a.m. at McClure Funeral Home Chapel in Graham, with the Rev. Tommy
Evans officiating. Burial will follow in Alamance Memorial Park.
The family will receive friends this evening at McClure Funeral
Home from 6 until 8, and other times at the home.
Ida Mae Kirby Thomas, 73, of Lewis Ferrell Road, South Boston,
died January 1 at her home.
Mrs. Thomas was born in Halifax County on October 19, 1929, the
daughter of the late Tom Kirby and the late Hallie Worsham Kirby
and was married to the late Richard B. Thomas.
Survivors include her children, Permelia Addison of Upper Marlboro,
MD, Shirley Hogue of Las Vegas, NV, Ralph Teeters Jr., Larry Teeters
and Albert Thomas, all of South Boston; 10 grandchildren; and
one sister-in-law, Edith Davis of Lusby, MD.
Graveside services for Mrs. Thomas will be held January 4 at 11
a.m. at Kirby Family Cemetery, 14128 River Road, South Boston.
Flossie Chappell Younger, 96, of Ball Park Loop, Halifax, died
December 31 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mrs. Younger was born in Halifax County on June 3, 1906, the daughter
of Lee Chappell and the late Cora Lee Chappell and was married
to the late Albert Younger Jr. She was a member of New Zion Baptist
Church.
Survivors include four daughters, Orlean Younger of Bronx, NY,
Vanessa Anderson and Virginia Edmunds, both of South Boston, and
Hallie Stovall of Halifax; four sons, Ralph Younger of Manhattan,
NY, Brenard, David and Charlie Younger, all of Bridgeport, CT;
51 grandchildren, 78 great-grandchildren, 51 great-great-grandchildren,
28 great-great-great-grandchildren; and one sister-in-law, Irene
Chappell.
Funeral services for Mrs. Younger will be held January 4 at 2
p.m. at New Zion Baptist Church with the Rev. Willie N. Yancey
officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.