Several major services provided by the town of South Boston to its residents were extended Friday to those who were incorporated into the town the day before.
A spokesman at the Public Works Department said the services would have been started on Thursday, January 1, except that January 1 was a legal holiday. There are no fees charged for any of the residential services, the town stressed.
Services included were garbage and refuse collection, leaf collection--and the collection and disposal of all discarded Christmas trees.
Also, South Boston Finance Officer Vandie Saunders issued a statement informing new town property owners who are over-65 as of January 1, 1998, that some of them may qualify for tax relief.
To qualify, property owners must have had a gross combined income of less than $12,000 for 1997, must have resided in South Boston or its newly expanded town limits since January 1, 1996, and must have a combined net worth not to exceed $20,000 (excluding the value of their sole dwelling), Saunders said.
An application for this tax relief must be filed annually prior to March 1 with the town's Finance Office.
To obtain an application and for additional information, those property owners who think they might qualify should contact the town Finance Office at 575-4210.
As for the other services available to all new residents, this information was issued by the town:
Christmas trees:
Town crews will begin picking up the trees today, Monday. All trees must be placed at the curb or roadside and must be clear of all decorations and stands.
The town will cover all streets and roads only one time and no return trips will be made.
If anyone has questions or is interested in getting these trees for erosion control or for compost, please call the Street Department at 575-4260.
Leaf collection:
The town informed its new residents that they may have their raked leaves picked up and discarded from October 1 through January 31 of each year.
To take advantage of this municipal service, residents are asked to pile their leaves close to and accessible to open public streets so that collection crews will be able to get to them.
Residents also were reminded that from February 1 to September 30 of each year that leaves must be placed in disposable bags or boxes and set out near but separate from the weekly refuse.
For more information, those interested may call the Street Department at 575-4260 Monday through Friday 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.Residential refuse collection:
The town, as a municipal service to residential areas, provides for the weekly collection and disposal of all refuse generated or produced in those areas, and this includes household garbage.
The owner, tenant or occupant of each residence with the town upon which garbage or rubbish is "produced, generated or accumulated" needs to provide and keep available enough watertight containers to hold his garbage and rubbish, a Public Works Department official said.
These containers must have a capacity of not more than 32 gallons, and be equipped with handles and a tightfitting lid.
The town also advised that condominiums or apartment complexes may provide bulk containers instead. More information on bulk containers may be obtained from the Public Works Department at 575-4260.
Residential garbage and trash must be placed for collection at the curbline or roadside, but not on the street, no sooner than the evening prior to the scheduled collection. Any containers not intended to be carried away as garbage must be returned to the resident from which they came no later than 8 a.m. the morning following collection.
These are the residential curbside garbage collection days and routes:
Monday--Areas north of former town boundaries, east of Norfolk Southern to include the Centerville area, Green's Folly, Forest Hills and including Highway 129 from Highway 501 to and including Lowes; also, the Riverdale areas.
Tuesday--Areas west of Norfolk Southern to include Westside, Woodlawn Park, Highway 659 and along Berry Hill Road.
Thursday--Areas along Route 129 east of Lowes, areas south of Highway 716 to intersection of U. S. 360 including areas north of U. S. 360.
Commercial refuse collection:
Commercial front loader refuse collection and disposal service by the town is available to commercial premises, a town spokesman pointed out. For more information regarding this service, please call 575-4260.
Rear loader curbside refuse collection and disposal is provided to commercial premises which produce or generate a quantity of refuse not to exceed nine 32-gallon containers per week.
Some of the "green box service" is the only one of those listed in this story for which a fee is charged.
A citizens group opposed to boundary changes but committed to consolidation of services will continue as a watchdog organization following South Boston's acquisition of over 4,000 acres and 2,509 new residents last week.
Circuit Court Judge William Wellons approved the South Boston-Halifax County boundary adjustment New Year's Eve day.
In the wake of the boundary adjustment, the Association for Better Government issued a letter Friday dated Dec. 31, 1997 to town council members, supervisors and the media.
"While we had rather have seen no boundary changes, we are committed to consolidating services," wrote Mike Armstrong, co-chairman of the Association for Better Government.
Anticipating consolidation talks, the organization asked that governing bodies consider the following suggestions:
---Begin immediately to schedule joint meetings with all parties concerned and establish a time line with identifiable milestones for each task.
---Based on recommendations from South Boston's 20-year comprehensive plan, we would like to see the regular monthly meetings of both jurisdictions scheduled at different times (rather than 1st Monday of each month). This would allow both the public and representatives of both governments to have the opportunity to attend both meetings.
---Immediately change the membership make up of the Halifax County Public Service Authority from soley Board of Supervisors to private citizens and business leaders from throughout the county. This should include representatives from the towns of South Boston, Halifax, Clover, Scottsburg and Virgilina. The local governments should mutually agree upon these new members.
---Use a qualified 'technical facilitator' who is experienced in water and sewer issues to help in reaching a consolidation agreement for water and sewer.
---Do not spend our tax dollars for additional consultants and studies to prolong these consolidation talks. We believe that all parties currently have the necessary information to make an informed decision.
---Negotiate these consolidation agreements in public sessions, not executive sessions, and keep the public informed of the progress of the proceedings on a regular basis.
"The Association for Better Government sees our role as a citizen based watchdog group to insure that consolidation of services actually materializes and does so in a timely manner. We believe that the citizens have spoken and the time has come for this to happen. We sincerely hope that our representatives share our view and negotiate in good faith for this to become a reality," wrote Armstrong.
Responding to the letter on Friday, South Boston Town Manager Ken McLawhon said: "We will look at each of their suggestions contained in the letter very closely, and we thank them for their time and effort in putting together this list."
A Halifax landmark is beginning the year with a facelift, but its hand hewn origins still carry the mark of the 19th century ax.
High above the newly refurbished Halifax Circuit Courtroom a web of thick pine beams secured by wood pegs - some an inch in diameter and a foot long - bear their own silent testimony to father-son builders Dabney Cosby and Dabney Minor Cosby's substantial art.
Described as a "Jeffersonian trained" workman by historians, the elder Cosby (1779-1862) was one of five known workman with Thomas Jefferson.
The Cosby name is also associated with the building of many of Virginia's old courthouses, buildings at Hampden-Sydney College, the University of Virginia and construction in Chapel Hill, N.C. as well as commercial and private buildings in Raleigh.
"Woodside" was Dabney Minor Cosby's home in Halifax, but again the Cosby name is associated with the construction of numerous county buildings, including Glennmary, St. John's Epsicopal Church and Magnolia Hill, among others.
The Halifax Courthouse is yet another tribute to the Cosby name.
Standing upright in the attic above the circuit courtroom as workmen went about their tasks in December, building supervisor Bill Wolfe examined the Cosby legacy.
"You won't find a tree that big any more," said Wolfe, tapping a 9X14 beam.
"See the way they laid one on top and notched through," he added, pointing to an added section.
"You can still see the chisel and ax marks on the beams," added the admiring Wolfe.
Surrounded by the ancient timbers, the Halifax workmen busily continued their own mission. On a tight schedule, workmen began the courtroom project about a week before Thanksgiving and plan to complete the work by the January term of court.
Circuit Court Judge Charles McCormick III, who is overseeing the transition, looks forward to the project's completion.
When the court term opens, the judge will hear lawyers argue the January docket of cases in a courtroom bearing its own testimony to modernization, including a new heating and cooling system, recessed lighting, freshly painted walls stripped of the 1960's prefabricated paneling and new carpeting.
Jail trustee Mickey Wheeler was hoping to be the first man before Judge McCormick in the updated courtroom, but timing played against him ...or perhaps for him.
A professional painter, Wheeler estimated he spent well over 2,000 hours painting the courthouse and county buildings in Halifax before appearing before the judge right before Christmas. The trustee hoped to spend Christmas a free man, having completed his term.
The judge's ruling was favorable.
Still, the first week of 1998 Wheeler was back at work in the courtroom.
"I must have done something right," said the painter with a smile. "They hired me."
The Florida native will leave behind a legacy of egg shell walls, gray borders and slightly darker wood paneling inside the courtroom.
Wheeler called the final project "a challenge" as he sprinted toward his personal holiday deadline mere days before Christmas. It was a challenge that at times had him working well into the evening, but Wheeler said he preferred working.
With county maintenance coordinator Harvey Payne's regular team, Wheeler and other trustees working together, county officials hope to complete the circuit court facelift within a $50,000 budget, or less, according to county administrator Dan Sleeper.
Although the cosmetic transition inside the courtroom is obvious, it was constant water leaks that prompted the work.
Halting water leaks throughout the courthouse is a cause Clerk of Court Robert Conner has championed since he assumed his duties.
"We needed to keep the water out because of the records," said Conner of earlier repairs. "There are more records lost from water than fire."
Highlighting tonight's regular monthly meeting of the Halifax County Board of Supervisors will be the annual process of electing the chairman and vice-chairman.
The meeting, which begins at 7 p.m., will be held in the second floor public meeting room of the Mary Bethune Office Complex in Halifax.
Currently, supervisor Joe Satterfield of Election District #3 serves as chairman, with supervisor Tom West of Election District #2 serving as vice-chairman.
Since the election of officers for 1997, there has been a change of membership with former supervisor William Coleman of Election District #6 losing his seat to Alton farmer Page Wilkerson.
Coleman was serving as chairman of the Finance Committee at the time of his defeat.
In addition to the election of chairman and vice-chairman, the appointment of committees and commission of assignments will take place.
Supervisors are also scheduled to approve a monthly date, time, and meeting place of the board, which is considered a routine "housekeeping" matter.
Among guests scheduled to be heard by the board is Tim Vest, Manager of the Staunton River State Park. He will give the annual report for the facility to board members.
Jennifer Mackintosh, on behalf of the Community Arts Center Foundation, will request the board to pass a resolution of support for their efforts to obtain a federal 1998 ISTEA (Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act) grant.
The grant, if approved, will be used to continue the renovation project of The Prizery. Last year, the foundation received a $75,000 ISTEA grant for the ongoing project.
A resolution to honor retiring county building inspector Rufus Owen is also scheduled to take place.
Other items scheduled for discussion during Monday night's meeting is an update of the Blue Ridge Regional Jail Authority; the proposed franchise ordinance for cable vision services; and the service agreement with the W.W. Moore Jr. Juvenile Detention Center in Danville.
Board members are also scheduled to discuss the county's boundary adjustment issues concerning the towns of South Boston and Halifax.
Jerry Clarence Thompson Jr., 21, of Sutherlin was charged with a felony count of filing a false report to police, according to the Halifax County Sheriff's Department. He was arrested on December 31.
Thompson allegedly filed a false report involving a case of shooting into the occupied dwelling of Jason Wilhite, according to the investigation.
The alleged incident occurred on March 23, 1997 and Thompson was arrested on December 31 by Cpl. S.T. Moser of the Halifax County Sheriff's Department.
Thompson was released on bond pending his preliminary hearing in the Halifax County General District Court.
· Willie Mae Jones, 25, of Halifax was charged with a felony count of breaking and entering the home of Johnny A. Ligon, police said.
She was also charged with a misdemeanor count of petit larceny and trespassing. Jones allegedly stole a bed, mattress, and boxsprings from the residence, according to the investigation.
The alleged incident occurred on December 30 and she was arrested the same day by Deputy S.A. Jennings.
Jones was released on bond pending her preliminary hearing in the Halifax County General District Court on January 30.
· Kathy Lynn Perkins, 35, of South Boston was charged with a felony count of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, police said.
Perkins was arrested Saturday by agents of the Tri-County Drug Task Force. The alleged incident occurred on July 11, 1996.
She was also arrested Saturday on a traffic citation in Riverdale for improperly stopping on the roadway. That traffic stop was made by Cpl. Moser.
She is currently being held in the Halifax County Jail pending her trial in the Halifax County General District Court on March 4.
· Eric Mandel Jennings, 27, of Nathalie was charged with a misdemeanor count of assault and battery of Maylene Gilbert, a household or family member, police said.
The alleged incident occurred Saturday and he was arrested the same day by Sgt. J.K. Henderson, according to the investigation.
Jennings was released on bond pending his trial in the Halifax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court on January 14.
· Leslie Cook, 49, of South Boston was charged with a misdemeanor count of assault and battery of Rhonda Cook, a household or family member, police said.
The alleged incident occurred Friday and he was arrested Saturday by Deputy Q.W. Clark.
Cook was released on bond pending his trial in the Halifax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court on January 14.
· Rhonda Hoskins, 31, of South Boston was charged with a misdemeanor count of assaulting Kenneth Lacks. She allegedly attempted to run him down with a vehicle on Christmas Day, according to the investigation.
Hoskins was released on bond pending her trial in the Halifax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court on January 16. She was arrested Thursday by Cpl. Moser.
· Jesse Ray Traynham, 33, of Nathalie was charged Friday with a misdemeanor count of assault by threats, police said.
Traynham allegedly threatened to kill Cindy Traynham, a household or family member, on December 14, according to the investigation.
He was released on bond pending his trial in the Halifax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court. Traynham was arrested by Deputy J.L. Lucia.
A $820,000 federal EDA grant has been approved for South Boston for construction and improvements to the town's water and wastewater facilities.
The town's share will be $273,990, Town Manager Ken McLawhon will inform Council at its regular monthly meeting Monday night.
This will be the Council's first meeting since the town's boundaries were extended on January 1.
The grant is to provide protective measures to ensure service during flood and storm conditions, it was said.
Also Monday night, Council is expected to "unencumber" $243,419 in UDAG funds for a contribution to the CEC improvement project.
Council also will authorize Finance Director Vandie Saunders to proceed with the sale of delinquent real estate from the year 1994.
The following resolutions are on the docket for approval Monday night also:
*A Community Arts Center Foundation application for 1998 grant funding.
*Memorial resolution honoring former Councilman James Irby.
*Memorial Resolution honoring Lawrence Smith.
*Retirement resolution honoring Dr. Jesse Bates.
Mrs. Frances West Hall of 2222 Loop Road, Vernon Hill died Thursday, January 1 at Halifax Regional Hospital at the age of 75.
Mrs. Hall was born in Halifax County, the daughter of Thomas Elam West and Mary Bradley West and was married to John Edward Hall, Jr. She was a member of the Mt. Vernon Baptist Church and worked for the Virginia Cooperative Extension Service and retired from the Halifax County School System.
Her survivors include her husband; two sons: John Edward III of Danville and Thomas Bradley of Vernon Hill; daughter-in-law, Leisa Smith Hall of Danville; one sister: Mary West Bray of Nathalie and three grandchildren: Leah, Jessica and Jennifer Hall of Danville.
She was preceded in death by one sister: Aileen West Owen; and four brothers: Charlie Thomas, Frank Merritt, Hugh Edward and Herman Allen West.
Funeral services were held Saturday, January 3 at 2 p.m. at Mount Vernon Baptist Church with the Rev. Dr. William Trimyer conducting the service. Burial followed in the church cemetery.
Mr. Louis Jackson Fisher of 4222 Cody Road, Nathalie died January 1 at his home at the age of 69.
Mr. Fisher was born in Halifax County, the son of Reginald Vernon (Jack) Fisher and Edith Jennings Fisher. He was married to Helen Crews Fisher and was a member of the First Baptist Church Republican Grove where he served as a past deacon. He was a retired store merchant of 47 years, postmaster of Republican Grove for 18 years and served a tour of duty with the U.S. Army.
His survivors include his wife; one daughter and son-in-law: Debra F. and Mark W. Dalton of Hurt; two granddaughters: Holly and Heidi Dalton; two brothers and sisters-in-law: Vernon (Buddy) and Evelyn Fisher and E. Douglas and Barbara Fisher of Nathalie; his step-mother: Dorothy Fisher of South Boston and one brother-in-law: Larry (Joe) Angel of Nathalie.
He was preceded in death by one son: Louis Thomas (Tommy) Fisher and one sister: Betty Fisher Angel.
Funeral services were held Sunday, January 4 at 2 p.m. at First Baptist Church Republican Grove with the Rev. Shelton Miles and the Rev. Charles Arnold conducting the service. Burial took place in the church cemetery.
Newbill Duncan Smith of Java died Saturday, January 3 at Halifax Regional Hospital. He was born in Halifax County July 18, 1920 and was 77 years of age.
He was the son of Doc Cooper Smith and Mollie B. Arendall Smith and was married to Frances Lee Busic Smith.
Mr. Smith was a member of the County Line Baptist Church, a World War II Army veteran, and a member of the American Legion Post 342.
Survivors include one daughter, Mrs. Beverly Ann S. Sullivan of Fredericksburg; two sons, Newbill Hunter Smith of Powhatan and Carlis C. Smith of Java; and eight grandchildren.
Funeral services will be held today at 2:00 p.m. at County Line Baptist Church with the Rev. Joseph Cantrell conducting. Burial will take place in the church cemetery with military rites.
The family will receive friends at the home of the deceased, 13050 Chatham Road.
James William Hall Jr. of Danville died Friday, January 2 at Danville Regional Medical Center at the age of 74.
Born October 28, 1923, he was the son of the late James William Hall and Willie Mae Hall and was married to Janie Pleasant Hall.
Mr. Hall was a member of Fairview United Methodist Church, and a veteran, serving in the U.S. Army during World War II.
Survivors include his wife, Janie Pleasant Hall of Danville; three daughters, Beverley Ann Hall of Salem, Susan Hall Tickle of Danville, and Connie Lynn H. Wooding of South Boston; one brother, Harold W. Hall of Charlotte, N.C., and three grandchildren.
Mr. Hall was preceded in death by a sister, Colleen Hall Thornton.
Funeral services will be held at Wrenn-Yeatts Westover Chapel in Danville today at 2:00 p.m. with the Rev. Larry Edmonds and the Rev. Dr. Thomas Evans officiating. Burial will take place in Danville Memorial Gardens.
The family will receive friends at the residence, 123 Stanley Drive, Danville.
For those considering memorials, the family suggests they be made to the Danville Life Saving Crew, 202 Christopher Lane, Danville, Va. 24541.
Ms. Martha Ann Bolden of Virgilina died Friday, January 2 at Halifax Regional Hospital at the age of 71.
She was born in Halifax County August 22, 1926 and was the daughter of the late Willie B. Young and Elizabeth Stokes Young. She was a member of the First Baptist Church of Virgilina.
Ms. Bolden is survived by one sister, Ms. Ida Christine Young and one brother, Willie McGuire Young, both of Virgilina.
Funeral services will be held tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. at First Baptist Church, Virgilina with the Rev. Lorenzo Love officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the home of her niece, Ms. Artensia Wilkerson, 1014 Charlie Lawson Road, Virgilina.
Otha Morgan Nelson Sr. of South Boston died Saturday, January 3 at his home. He was born in Halifax County May 31, 1930 and was 67 years of age.
He was the son of Otha Monroe Nelson and Mabel Lenora Carmichael Nelson.
Mr. Nelson was a member of the American Legion Post 8, and served as a tail gunner in the United States Air Force in the Korean Conflict.
He is survived by two sons, Otha Morgan Nelson Jr. and Christopher Patrick Nelson, both of South Boston; three daughters, Janet Faye Williamson of Clarksville, Virginia Ann Patterson of South Boston and Donna Lynn Fredric of Cary, N.C.; two sisters, Odelia Nelson Moore of South Boston and Cebil Nelson Dudley of Hurt; eleven grandchildren and one great grandchild.
Mr. Nelson was preceded in death by two brothers, Lorenzo (Circus) Nelson and Owen W. Nelson.
Funeral services will be held tomorrow at 2:00 p.m. at Powell Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Dr. Ed Melvin conducting. Burial will take place in Oak Ridge Cemetery with military rites.
The family will receive friends at Powell Funeral Home tonight from 7:00 until 8:30 p.m. and other times at the home of his son, Otha Nelson Jr., 4405 Brentwood Drive, South Boston.
For memorials please consider the Halifax County Cancer Association, P.O. Box 875, South Boston, Va. 24592.
Mrs. Thelma Hudson Coates of Halifax died Sunday, January 4 at her home. She was born in Halifax County on July 18, 1912 and was 85 years old. She was the daughter of Charlie Hudson and Anne Hudson and was married to Cabel Thomas Coates.
Mrs. Coates was a member of First Baptist Church of South Boston.
Survivors include one son, Thomas D. Coates of Halifax; one brother, Charlie Hudson of Halifax; and three grandchildren, Thomas D. Coates Jr. of Pennsylvania, Mary Rogers Coates of Raleigh, N.C. and Ann Coates of Halifax.
Graveside services will be held Thursday at 2:00 p.m. at Oak Ridge Cemetery with the Rev. Bob Fox conducting.
The family will receive friends at Powell Funeral Home Chapel Wednesday from 7:00 until 8:00 p.m.
Dorothy E. Lykes of Halifax died Friday, January 2 at Iredell memorial Hospital in Statesville, NC. she was 75 at the time of her death.
Graveside services will be held Tuesday, January 6 at noon at Rose Garden Cemetery.
Mrs. Lykes was born in South Boston and grew up in Halifax County. As a child she was a member of Mizpah United Persbyterian Church and in 1931 her family was one of the founders of what is now known as The Greater Mayfield Apostolic Church. She served for a time as a governess in New York and was a graduate of Lawrence School of Music in Manhattan, NY. She andher son Carl D. Lykes established Deliverance Tabernacle where she served as Church Mother and assisted in the establishment of seven churches.
She is survived by her son and his wife: Carl D. and Virginia Waddell Lykes, her husband: Jamie Irby, two grandchildren, one great-grandchild, an adopted grandson.
The body will lie-in-state at Deliverance Tabernacle beginning today at 11 a.m. and the Tuesday evening service at the church will be held in her memory. The service begins at 7 p.m.
The family will receive friends at the church and at the home of her son.
A memorial fund has been established in her name.