Schools in Halifax County are closed again today as residents
in the northern part of the county try to free themselves from
the grasp of another onslaught of wintry weather.
A mixture of snow, sleet and freezing rain hit the area early
Thursday morning, smacking the northern and northwest sections
of the county with the worst of the frozen precipitation.
Snow and ice accumulated on roads in the northern section with
VDOT crews called in to push the roads.
"We'll have guys out overnight working on the roads,"
confirmed Donnie Bowman, a maintenance manager with the Halifax
VDOT office.
"The weather reports are calling for pretty much what it's
doing now, with temperatures in the low 30s," Bowman said
late yesterday afternoon.
"If the temperature drops much more than it is now, the bridges
are going to be icy."
Bowman said late yesterday afternoon that all roads in Halifax
County were clear except for Route 501 and adjacent secondary
roads in the northern part of the county.
No problems were being reported on Routes 58 and 360 yesterday
at press time.
With no school in session today, Halifax County has four days
to be make up in addition to the make-up days that had been specified
in the school calendar.
All of the remaining days on the county school calendar that had
been designated as school make-up days, March 21, Memorial Day
on Monday, May 26, and Monday, April 14, have been taken, and
teachers and students will be in school on those days.
Halifax County School Superintendent Dennis Witt said yesterday
there are three possibilities for making up the remaining days.
Those options include using Spring Break, adding days to the end
of the school year or using what is known as "bank time."
Witt said the decision on these four make-up days and any future
days will rest with the Halifax County School Board.
Witt said no recommendations have been made with regard to the
make-up days at this time.
"I think the School Board wants to preserve Spring Break,"
Witt said.
"Board members have said in the past they felt it (Spring
Break) is important."
Bank time is a measure the school system uses to make up missed
days.
"We go to school longer than the state requires," Witt
explained.
"The state school day is five and a half hours of instruction
and we go well beyond that for our instructional day."
Witt pointed out that if everything operated on schedule and no
time was missed from school during the course of an entire school
year, Halifax County would have in excess of 15 days of "bank
time" in its school calendar.
In cases where a school system has to miss an unusually large
number of days from school, state officials allow the school system
to use that "bank time" as make-up time.
"They (state officials) let you use it (bank time) against
inclement weather days if you find that you have made up all of
the time that you can reasonably make up," Witt said.
The decision on how to make up the lost school days will not be
an easy one because there are multiple issues to consider.
"You can't go but so far into June without interfering with
Summer School and other activities that people are involved in
at that time of the year," Witt said.
Witt said there is also concern about being able to provide students
the maximum amount of classroom instruction possible in order
to prepare them for the upcoming SOL tests.
"It is going to be a balance between preserving Spring Break
and having enough time on task to prepare (students) for the SOL
tests," Witt pointed out.
The state sets the dates on which the SOL tests are to be administered.
If the school year is extended by any significant number of days,
it will have an impact on when the SOL tests are administered.
And, if the SOL tests are administered later than what has been
designated, the SOL test scores will, in turn be later in being
returned, a factor that will impact any students who may be dependent
upon SOL test scores in terms of passing or failing a course.
Witt pointed out, however, that with the length of the school
day being what it is, Halifax County's students should have adequate
time to prepare for the round of SOL tests this spring.
Make-up days will be discussed with the School Board at its February
meeting, which is Tuesday night, February 11.
Halifax County recorded its third consecutive decline in its
unemployment rate in December, according to Virginia Employment
(VEC) statistics released Wednesday.
December's unemployment rate was 9.1 percent, compared to 9.7
percent in November, with 1,833 eligible workers looking for jobs,
compared to 1,967 in November.
October's unemployment rate was 11 percent, while September saw
a 11.8 percent unemployment rate in Halifax County.
The VEC reported 18,349 Halifax County residents employed in December,
compared to 18,376 a month earlier.
The unemployment rate in Halifax County has not been this low
since July 2001, when it was 6.8 percent.
Danville, Pittsylvania and Henry counties all saw declines in
unemployment for December, but the City of Martinsville saw its
unemployment rate rise.
Danville's unemployment rate dropped in December to 6.1 percent,
compared to 6.2 percent in November.
Pittsylvania County's unemployment rate droped to 5.3 percent
in December, after posting a rate of 5.9 percent the month before.
In contrast, the City of Martinsville saw its unemployment rate
rise from the 11.7 rate posted in November to 10.8 percent in
December.
Both Mecklenburg and Charlotte counties saw slight increases in
their unemployment rates in December.
The VEC reported a 10.6 percent unemployment rate in Mecklenburg
County, compared to 10.5 percent in November, while Charlotte
County saw its unemployment rate rise from the 6.1 percent rate
recorded in November to 6.2 percent last month.
Virginia's unemployment rate continued to decline to 3.6 percent
in December, the fourth straight mlnth the rate has gone down,
according to the VEC.
The revised November rate was 3.7 percent, the October rate was
3.8 percent and the September rate was 4.1 percent.
The December rate was the lowest in 19 months, the VEC reported,
since a 3.2 percent unemployment rate in May 2001.
Nationally, the month of December saw a 5.7 unemployment rate.
A proposed amendment to freeze Medicaid reimbursements at the
2003 level could have a "disastrous" effect on Halifax
Regional Hospital, according to Chris Lumsden, chief executive
officer of the health care provider.
Lumsden worries that a freeze in Medicaid, a joint federal and
state program administered at the state level, could place undue
financial strain on medical institutions.
"The estimated impact on the hospital would be over $500,000
in the next fiscal year and on the nursing home side it would
cost us another $500,000," he said. "It would cost about
$1 million per year between the two."
But Lumsden was quick to point out that while no definitive plan
was in place, he was sure that no facility would be closed.
"That will not happen," he said. "But at this point,
I'm just not sure how we would deal with it."
The CEO pointed out that due to the aging population in Halifax
County, Medicaid was an important source of revenue for the health
care provider.
"We tend to be an area of the state that has a higher percentage
of Medicaid recipients," Lumsden said. "So these freezes
tend to have more impact on our region than on other regions in
the state."
Even with Medicaid funding, the hospital is losing money on certain
services, according to Lumsden.
"Medicaid in the hospital setting pays poorly," he said.
"Often less than the cost of services. But to consider having
Medicaid payments not increase when the cost of services continue
to rise is simply not good."
In the recent past, Lumsden said he had been in contact with Del.
Clarke Hogan and Sen. Frank Ruff concerning the amendment.
"The legislators have been very supportive of our position
on this," the hospital administrator said yesterday. "Their
help has been invaluable."
Both Hogan and Ruff said that it was too early to gauge the position
of the other legislators, but they would support the needs of
Southside.
"It's still in sub-committee right now," Hogan said.
"We could know more about it early next week."
Gov. Mark R. Warner proposed the amendment, which would freeze
Medicaid reimbursement to hospitals, nursing homes and HMOs, during
the State of the Commonwealth address.
But Hogan, along with other legislators, have 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."
The Halifax County Recreation Committee
voted Tuesday night to ask the Town of South Boston to extend
water and sewer service to Paul C. Edmunds Jr. Memorial Park as
its contribution to funding of the second phase of the park's
construction.
County Administrator Joe Morgan said the Committee's request to
South Boston to extend water and sewer service to the park makes
sense.
"The park is in an area of the town where there is a commitment
to provide utilities," Morgan said.
Committee chairman James E. Edmunds II said having access to town
water and sewer service at the park will be a big key in the enhancement
and development of the park.
"Although there are wells and the soil is good, having access
to town water and sewer will make it much more user friendly,"
Edmunds said.
"It could also open the door to water recreation if that
is wanted."
On September 23 of last year, the Committee voted to ask the Board
of Supervisors for a $200,000 allocation in its 2003-2004 budget
for development of Phase II of the park, which will include a
visitor's center.
Along with that, the Committee requested a $25,000 increase in
the 2003-2004 budget for additional recreation supervision staffing.
Both requests are under consideration by the Board of Supervisors'
Finance Committee.
The Committee affirmed its stance on the two requests Tuesday
night, urging its members to lobby the supervisor in their respective
districts for approval of those requests.
In other matters relating to the park, the Committee agreed Tuesday
night to allow the development and construction of a cross country
running trail at the park. (See Separate Story In Sports Section).
The cross country track will be used by the Halifax County High
School cross country team for training as well as for meets.
Halifax County High School cross country coach Allen Lawter and
Halifax County School Board Chairman Patricia Nelson made the
request.
Morgan made a brief presentation to the Committee on the status
of the park's development.
The county administrator pointed out that two grants have been
obtained that will allow construction to begin this year.
One of the grants is a $144,500 grant from the Virginia Department
of Transportation Access Road Funding.
That money will be used to develop an access road into the park.
The other is a $125,000 grant from the Virginia Outdoors Fund.
Those grants will be matched by funds allocated by the Board of
Supervisors and use of county staff to do the necessary work that
will allow the first phase of the park to be opened late this
summer or early fall.
A grant application for a $150,000 grant from the Virginia Recreational
Trails Fund will be submitted by county officials by January 31.
Monies from that grant would allow for additional funding for
the first phase of the park's construction.
A request has been received from John M. Janson, who has an interest
in developing the property adjacent to the park site, to reconsider
the park entrance road location.
The potential developer is seeking to coordinate plans with county
officials for road access to the adjacent property.
In a letter to Town of South Boston officials dated January 20,
Janson said that in his opinion the location of Edmunds Park Trail
does not support future development of the area and necessitates
the construction of two identical roads just feet apart from each
other to service contiguous properties.
The Committee agreed on a motion by committee member Frank Perkins
that the potential developer submit an alternative road access
to the park prior to the March 25 Recreation Committee meeting.
That recommendation, the Committee noted, should include a proposal
for assistance with improving temporary access to the park site
in 2003 to allow for any revision in permanent road construction
approval.
With that issue in mind, the Committee decided to request VDOT
to delay construction of the park access road until April.
In Other Matters
Carol Coker, a planner with the Southside Planning District, appeared
before the Committee Tuesday night to gauge the body's interest
in creating and designating bicycle trails and routes in the county.
The Committee agreed with Coker's proposal to have the Committee
serve as the core of a Bicycle Plan Advisory Board.
That body will include staff from the Lynchburg District Office
of the Virginia Department of Highways and Transportation, the
Halifax VDOT office and some local individuals who participate
in and have a good knowledge of cycling such as Roger Eudy, whose
name was offered by one of the Committee members.
The organizational meeting of the Bicycle Plan Advisory Board
will be held March 25 as part of the Recreation Committee meeting.
In another matter, the Recreation Committee will offer the county's
youth sports leagues background checks on adults participating
in coaching youth sports.
The background checks will be conducted through the Halifax County
Sheriff's Department.
The Committee asked Halifax County Recreation Director Brad Ballou
to send a letter to all youth sports leagues to advise them of
the offer and to offer assistance for those leagues wishing to
obtaining background checks.
"As much as I hate to say we need it, we do need it now,"
said Perkins, who is a state official in Dixie Softball.
Thomas Millous Crowder Sr., 77, of 1089 Beard's Trail, South Boston,
died January 28 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Crowder was born in Halifax County on September 23, 1925,
the son of the late Millous Thomas Crowder and Mary Sue Harris
Crowder, and was married to the late Martha Claiborne Crowder.
He was a member of St. Mark baptist Church and was a WWII Navy
Veteran.
Survivors include two daughters, Irene Beard of South Boston and
Shirley Barksdale of Cluster Springs; four sons, Thomas Crowder
Jr., Felix Crowder, George Crowder and Chevelle Crowder, all of
South Boston; 20 grandchildren; 20 great-grandchildren; three
sisters, Deliah Newman and Ollie Walton, both of South Boston
and Mary Elizabeth Royal of Detroit, MI.
Funeral services for Mr. Crowder will be held tomorrow, February
1 at 1 p.m. at St. Mark Baptist Church with the Rev. Herbert Pettiford
officiating. Burial will follow in the Crowder Family Cemetery
in Cluster Springs.
The family will receive friends at the home of Mr. and Mrs. John
H. Beard, 1089 Beard's Trail, South Boston.
Michael Allen Covington, 40, of Atlanta, GA, died January 29 at
his home.
He was born in Halifax County on September 7, 1962, the son of
Grey Chaffin Covington and the late Luther Joel Covington Jr.
He was a member of Crystal Hill Southern Baptist Church.
Survivors include his mother of Halifax; one sister, Shelley Wray
and husband, Billy, of Fayetteville, NC; one brother, Luther Joel
Covington III of Halifax; one nephew, Luther Joel 'Luke' Covington
IV of Halifax; and two nieces, Valerie York and husband, Jeff,
of Harker Heights, Texas, and Sara Foster of Mesa, AZ.
Graveside services for Mr. Covington will be held Sunday, February
2 at Crystal Hill Southern Baptist Church Cemetery at 2 p.m. with
the Rev. Dr. Melvin Bradshaw officiating.
The family will receive friends at Powell Funeral Home Saturday
evening from 7:00 until 8:30, and other times at the home of his
mother, 4226 Howard P. Anderson Road, Halifax.
Virginia Geraldine Woods Curtis, 73, of New York, formerly of
Halifax County, died January 24 in New York.
Mrs. Curtis was born in Halifax County on December 26, 1930, the
daughter of William A. Woods and Annie B. Woods, and was married
to George J. Curtis. She was a member of Rising Star Baptist Church
in New York, and a former member of New Bethel Baptist Church
in Halifax County.
Survivors include one daughter, Jacqueline F. Daise of Brooklyn,
NY; one son, Michael Farmer of Brooklyn; four grandchildren; seven
great-grandchildren; one sister, Florene N. Cash of GA; and one
brother, Sterling Woods of Schenectady, NY.
Funeral services for Mrs. Curtis will be held today, January 30
at 1 p.m. at New Bethel Baptist Church with the Rev. Ronald Clark
officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the church immediately following
the service.
Mary Dian Claiborne Gosier, 53, of 2204 Sinai Road, South Boston,
died January 28 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
She was born in Halifax County on August 8, 1949, the daughter
of the late S. Jackson Claiborne and Beatrice Duncan Claiborne.
Mrs. Gosier was a member of Berry Hill Baptist Church and was
a former employee of Tultex, Inc.
Survivors include one daughter, Yolander Carr of South Boston;
one son, Kevin Gosier of South Boston; her mother; two grandchildren,
Jeremy Gosier and Jacquetta Gosier; two sisters, June Claiborne
of South Boston and Regina Johnson of Denver, CO; one brother,
John Claiborne Sr. of South Boston; and one daughter-in-law, Ollie
Gosier of South Boston.
Funeral services for Mrs. Gosier will be held Sunday, February
2 at 2 p.m. at Berry Hill Baptist Church with the Rev. Tommy F.
Crews Sr. officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the home.
Julia Hughes Satterfield, 71, of 200 Hamilton Blvd., South Boston,
died January 28 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mrs. Satterfield was born in Halifax County on March 20, 1931,
the daughter of the late Charlie Gaston Hughes and Elsie Watts
Hughes, and was married to the late Paul I. Satterfield.
Survivors include two daughters, Brenda D. Beachy of Clover and
Rose Curry of South Boston; one son, Danny I. Satterfield of South
Boston; two sisters, Ruth H. Roark of Richmond and Ruby L. Yancey
of Halifax; three grandsons, S. Paul Kipps, Richard and Jason
Beachy; three step-grandchildren, Lynn and Jody Beachy, and Suzanne
Waltrip; six step-great-grandchildren, Cierra Renee Kipps, Brandon,
Brooke and Trenton Beachy, and Tyler and Wade Waltrip. She was
also preceded in death by one grandchild, James Allen Beachy.
A memorial service for Mrs. Satterfield will be held at Mt. Laurel
United Methodist Church today, January 31 at 11:30 a.m. with the
Rev. Vance Midget officiating.
Alvin Odell Strickland, 82, of Java died January 29 in Autumn
Care of Altavista.
Mr. Strickland was born May 8, 1920, in Halifax County, the son
of Arthur Strickland and Lillian Crews Strickland, and was married
to the late Susie McGregor Strickland. He was a retired employee
of Pannill Knitting.
Survivors include one son, Alvin Hubert Strickland of Java; two
daughters, Betty George and Linda Wilmoth, both of Java; two brothers,
Lee Strickland of Alamogordo, NM and Thomas Strickland of Cluster
Springs; five sisters, Linwood Guthrie and Spotswood Davis, both
of Nathalie, Elizabeth Saunders of Halifax, Jean Oakes of Turbeville,
and Alice Strickland of Oklahoma City, OK; six grandchildren and
six great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by a brother,
Edward Strickland.
Funeral services for Mr. Strickland will be held today, January
31 at 11 a.m. at Colbert-Moran Funeral Home Chapel in Gretna with
the Rev. Shelton Miles officiating. Burial will follow in Highland
Burial Park.