A tax increase looming?
South Boston's annexation, public school composite formula changes, and the exemption of designated pollution equipment at the Clover power plant are all helping to fuel a widening gap between the county's income and its obligations.
"There is no question that we are going to have to face some type of tax increase," Halifax County Administrator Dan Sleeper said yesterday.
Leading the immediate county budget assault is an estimated $3.6 million increase in local funding for public schools.
"The $3.6 million may vary because the school board is working desperately to narrow that gap," said Sleeper.
At 31 cents per $100, Halifax County taxpayers face the widening funding gap with one of the lowest real estate tax rates in the state.
Although there have been two county assessments (1992 and 1998) reflecting higher assessment values, the county's income has not changed that much because the tax rates have been decreased with each assessment, according to county officials.
That lower tax rate significantly impacts the county's income from the Clover Power Plant since it is paying 31 cents per $100 real estate tax and also enjoys an exemption on designated pollution equipment, an agreement made by supervisors.
For the year 1999, the county is losing an estimated $716,235.58 due to certified pollution equipment exemption at the Clover power plant, according to Commissioner of the Revenue Danny Jackson.
Add South Boston's reversion five years ago to the county's current income woes.
When South Boston became a town, the county fell into a locked-in formula for five years, explained Sleeper.
The lowest composite index of the merging governments is used and that was the county's, which was 23.3 percent at the time.
"And it pretty much stayed that way until now," said the administrator.
In 1996, the composite formula also changed. "Our costs would have been 30.4 percent, which was $1.5 million of local money. We didn't have to pay it," added the administrator. "So 1999, it changed again and we are facing it."
The formula number is now a little over 38 percent.
Supervisors are expected to meet with public school officials, the school board and county auditors, "brain storming what we can do to alleviate as much pressure as possible" during their annual retreat later this month, Sleeper said.
The county's 1999 adopted budget was $59,343,265 included over $18 million from general fund revenues, $4,189,336 from federal revenues and $33,986,367 from state revenues. Estimated bond proceeds were $1,050,000 with $214,337 from Enterprise-Fund activities and $1,389,811 from capital improvement funds carryover.
The county school budget was the largest expense item for the county at $42,186,435, which was 71 percent of the budget.

The South Boston Planning Commission unanimously voted in favor of granting a special use permit to Halifax County to expand the existing animal impoundment area near Camp 23 in the Sinai area.
Halifax County Administrator Dan Sleeper explained to commission members during the public hearing late Wednesday afternoon that the county is ready to proceed with the expansion and has plans to purchase two acres of land adjoining the current facility.
According to Sleeper, a 30-by-60 foot building has been taken down at the Tuck Airport and will be relocate for use at the animal impoundment area.
Monday, County Supervisors delayed taking action on expanding the facility at the current location until they could more fully examine the pros and cons of moving the animal impoundment area to the county's landfill area, Sleeper explained.
"I gave our new board the option of looking at an alternative move," Sleeper explained to the planners, adding that he expects the supervisors ultimately will go with the current plan to expand in the Sinai area.
The animal impoundment area was thrust into the public spotlight last August when local residents raised complaints about conditions there, and the supervisors subsequently outlined plans to improve the facility.
James Dillon, who lives directly across the road from the pound, was the only person to speak out against the proposed expansion.
While he has no complaint with the way the facility is currently operated, Dillon said he fears that expanding the facility will result in odor and noise problems.
He also voiced concern that the county might turn the animal impoundment facility over to an animal-rights activist group, as Sleeper mentioned during the Monday-night supervisors' meeting the possibility of allowing members of the local Humane Society to operate the pound.
Such a development could lead to an excessive number of animals at the facility and add to the potential of noise and odor.
Dillon also stated that he wanted to be assured that should a municipal sewer line be run across his property to reach the facility, that he would have the right to hook onto it.
Planning member Ted Daniel said he wanted to find a solution that would satisfy both the county's needs and Dillon's concerns, and moved that the special use permit be granted with conditions attached to protect Dillon and other area residents.
Under the proposed conditions, the new building could be located no closer that 125 feet from the front line of the property, and animal noise, odor or other problems could not be allowed to create a nuisance to aggravate neighbors.
The South Boston Town Council will make a final ruling on the matter when it meets on Monday, Jan. 10, at 7 p.m., for the regular monthly town meeting.
The Planning Commission also unanimously passed a motion to grant Tony Thomas a special use permit that would allow him to operate a vehicle repair shop in Riverdale.
The Planners recommended that Thomas be allowed to operate an auto and truck general-repair business in the general business district in Riverdale under the following conditions:
· Thomas must remove a storage trailer from the back of the facility.
· Inside storage or space toward the back of the property must be provided for vehicles that remain at the business for a length of time.
· An area in front of the business sufficient to handle eight parked vehicles must be paved within six months. Should weather or other extenuating circumstances prevent Thomas from completing the paving project, the grace period will be extended an additional six months.
South Boston Town Council members will also take final action on this matter when they meet on Monday.

A three-car crash involving a Virginia State trooper occurred Wednesday afternoon on Route 501 in the Town of Halifax while the trooper was responding to a call from the North Carolina Highway Patrol.
F/Sgt. R.K. Pearce, of the Virginia State Police in South Hill, said Trooper William Joseph Wilborn, 33, was responding with lights and siren in the wake of a high-speed chase involving the Highway Patrol and the sheriff's departments of Rockingham, Alamance and Person counties.
Wilborn was en route to the state line when a 1992 Ford, driven by Costello Lashaw Clark, 22, of Clover, attempted to exit the Post Office parking lot and made a left turn on Route 501 into the path of the trooper's vehicle.
Trooper Wilborn swerved his vehicle to the right to avoid hitting the Clark vehicle.
The trooper's vehicle collided with Clark's vehicle and then struck a curb, spun around and struck a parked 1990 Ford belonging to Newbill's Body Shop.
The impact with the parked vehicle was 50 feet north of Craddock Street (Route 1108) and approximately 224 feet from the impact with Clark's vehicle.
In North Carolina, the high-speed chase ended 23 miles west of Roxboro on Route 158 after a passenger, one of three suspects in a 1987 Chevrolet Camaro, committed suicide.
Sheriff Dennis Oakley of Person County said Michael Wayne Soots, 26, and Kathy Renee Tidwell, 27, each from Gibsonville, N.C. were taken into custody and charged with possession of firearms after being convicted of a felony, and both were charged with possession of stolen goods.
Tidwell was charged with unauthorized use of a conveyance.
Oakley said other charges are pending after the suspects were allegedly involved in a residential breakin in which several weapons were stolen.
Sergeant Phil Wadsworth, of the NCHP in Greenboro, said the chase began when the suspects' vehicle was spotted on Route 158 in Rockingham County.
The suspects attempted to elude sheriffs' deputies, according to Wadsworth, who added that a front-seat passenger, Sammy Ray Soots, 26, of Gibsonville, removed a T-top and began firing a high-powered rifle at the deputies and N.C. troopers.
Wadsworth said the suspects raced through five N.C. counties on rural roads, headed towards Roxboro.
A road block was set up outside of Roxboro, and Oakley said the vehicle approached within 300 yards when the armed passenger shot himself in the head.
"It had to be ended," said Oakley.
"He eventually was going to kill somebody so we had him in our scopes," Oakley added.
After the passenger had shot himself, the driver pulled over and both he and the girl were taken into custody.
Trooper Wilborn was taken to Halifax Regional Hospital where he was treated and released, according to a hospital spokesperson.
Pearce stated that the damage to the trooper's vehicle was estimated at $7,000; Clark's vehicle sustained $700 in estimated damage; and the parked vehicle was estimated at $1,000 in damage.
Pearce said that no charges have been filed.

A Halifax teen was sentenced to 20 years in prison for shooting an Alton man in the jaw during the 1998 Halifax County Fair.
According to court records, Marcus Kirby, who was 17 years old at the time, of Ball Park Loop Road, Halifax, was involved in a fight during the fair in South Boston on Oct. 10, and subsequently shot William J. Walton.
The small-caliber bullet went through Walton's left cheek, and he swallowed it.
Kirby, who was originally charged with malicious wounding, use of a firearm to commit a felony, reckless handling of a firearm to endanger, possession of a firearm after being convicted of a felony, and possession of a handgun under the age of 18, entered a plea agreement with the Commonwealth.
As part of the agreement, Kirby pleaded guilty and was convicted of malicious wounding, possession of a firearm after being convicted of a felony, and possession of a firearm under the age of 18.
Judge William L. Wellons sentenced Kirby to 15 years on the malicious wounding charge and four years and 12 months for the two firearm offenses. He then suspended the entire sentence on the condition of Kirby's good behavior for a 20-year period and placed him on two year's probation.
Kirby will also be required to remain drug free and must submit to random drug screenings.
In other court action on Thursday, a South Boston woman was remanded to jail after she was found guilty in Halifax County Circuit Court of stealing nearly $2,000 worth of jewelry, credit cards and other personal property.
Anita Gynet Roberts, a.k.a. Anita G.R. Terry, 23, of Carr's Mobile Home Park, South Boston, pleaded guilty on Thursday to breaking into the Virgilina home of Mark Lewis on September 14, 1998, and stealing a camera, numerous credit cards, car keys and other items in addition to nearly $2,000 worth of jewelry.
Wellons convicted Roberts on the charges of breaking and entering with the intent to commit larceny, grand larceny, and credit card fraud.
Wellons ordered a presentence report be prepared for the next term of court and remanded Roberts to the Blue Ridge Regional Jail in Halifax.
Elizabeth Faye Rodriguez, 29, of Leigh Street, South Boston, who was convicted last November of bigamy, was ordered to serve a 10-day jail sentence.
According to court records, Rodriguez married Juan Manuel Sanabia on April 12, and claimed on her marriage license that this was her first marriage.

However, at the time of this wedding, Rodriguez was already married to Bernardino Rodriguez. According to the wedding license and certificate, that marriage took place in Florida in January 1989.
Following her conviction in Halifax County Circuit Court last Nov. 12, Rodriguez was sentenced to five years in prison with all but 10 days in jail suspended.
She was ordered to report to jail by Nov. 15, but never arrived, according to court records.
In other cases heard on Thursday:
· Timothy R. Cassady, 29, who was convicted last year of possessing marijuana while being incarcerated at a state correctional facility, was sentenced to five years in prison.
Wellons suspended all but one year and nine months on the condition of Cassady's good behavior for a five-year period.
· Torrence Dunkley, 21, of Morton's Ferry Road, Clover, pleaded guilty to the charge of possession of cocaine.
On a motion of the Commonwealth, a second charge of possession of a firearm while possessing cocaine was dismissed.
Wellons found Dunkley guilty as charged and ordered a presentence report be prepared for the May term of circuit court.
· Johnny Johnson, 37, of L.P. Bailey Highway, Nathalie, pleaded guilty to and was convicted of breaking and entering with the intent to commit larceny and grand larceny.
According to court records, Johnson broke into the home of Geraldine Smith last April and stole a microwave oven, television, VCR, and a cordless phone.
Wellons ruled that Johnson could remain free on bond until his presentencing hearing next term.
· Jacob Scott King, 19, of Chase City, pleaded guilty and was convicted of grand larceny of a check and forgery and uttering.
Wellons ordered King to pay the victim $400 restitution and sentenced him to 10 years in prison with all time suspended on the condition of his good behavior for a 10-year period.
King was ordered to complete two year's probation.

WASHINGTON (AP) - The Agriculture Department is caught between squabbling hog farmers over whether to hold a referendum on payment of producer fees for the ''other white meat'' advertising campaign for pork.
Opponents of the ''checkoff fees'' demanded Tuesday that the USDA hold a referendum on the program by March. They submitted petitions to the department last May, but USDA officials have not validated the signatures.
''At best this is bureaucratic bungling. At worse, the USDA is trying to derail the democratic process,'' said Mark McDowell, a Hampton, Iowa, farmer.
Opponents of the $48 million program, which pays for research as well as advertising, say it has done little to stimulate pork consumption and mostly benefits meat processors and large, corporate farm operations. Defenders of the program say many of the signatures on the petitions may be invalid.
The Campaign for Family Farms, which led the petition drive, submitted 16,500 signatures, more than the 14,986 required under government rules. Kathleen Merrigan, administrator of USDA's Agricultural Marketing Service, said she hopes to finish reviewing the petitions this month.
Many of the signatures were illegible, and some petitions were missing addresses and other information, Merrigan said.
''It doesn't appear at this time that anyone is pleased with all that we've done. ... Sometimes that happens when you are in the middle and you are trying to run a fair and objective process,'' she said.
USDA used a telemarketing firm to contact a statistically valid sample of 1,400 people whose signatures appeared on the petitions. Some refused to cooperate with the callers, and others denied signing the petitions. The department sent followup letters last month to 428 petition signers pleading for cooperation.
The fee, or ''checkoff,'' requires pork producers to pay 45 cents for every $100 of animal value. The money goes to the quasigovernmental National Pork Board, which contracts promotional services through the National Pork Producers Council.
Opponents of the program say they get little for the fees. Pork consumption has been relatively flat despite the advertising, rising from 51.5 pounds per person in 1985 to 53.4 pounds last year.
The program's supporters, led by the National Pork Producers Council, contend it has benefited all farmers by improving pork's reputation with consumers and sponsoring research that has yielded leaner pigs.
If the fee is abolished, ''the only people who will benefit are the largest players in the industry, who have the capacity in their own integrated structures to do their own promotion and to maintain their own research and to keep it to themselves,'' said John McNutt, a West Branch, Iowa, farmer who is president of the producers council.
The Campaign for Family Farms got a judge last year to block USDA from releasing the petitioners' names to McNutt's group. The decision is now on appeal.
The pork program is among several that have come under criticism from producers. Last month, Agriculture Secretary Dan Glickman endorsed several steps to increase USDA's oversight of the research and promotion programs, including submitting them to mandatory votes by producers every five years.

NEVADA, Mo. (AP) - Attorney General Jay Nixon is seeking an injunction to stop Smithfield Foods Inc. from acquiring Murphy Family Farms in Vernon and Barton counties.
Nixon said the proposed acquisition would violate state law, which prohibits corporate farming. He filed a motion in Vernon County Circuit Court on Wednesday seeking a temporary restraining order and preliminary and permanent injunctions prohibiting the acquisition.
Under Missouri law, only a family farm corporation can engage in farming or hold title to agricultural land, Nixon said.
Although it is one of the nation's largest privately held companies, Murphy Family Farms is considered a family farm corporation under state law. Smithfield Foods, a publicly traded company based in Smithfield, Va., does not fit the state guidelines.
Michael Miller, Smithfield's director of investor relations, has said that the company was aware of objections to the merger.
''To the extent that the law doesn't allow it, we have to make some adjustments, including divestiture if necessary,'' Miller said.
Murphy Family Farms, based in Rose Hill, N.C., has a feed mill in Nevada and more than a dozen company-owned farms throughout Barton and Vernon counties. Murphy employs 300 people in the area and also has agreements with 50 contract growers in five area counties.
Smithfield, the nation's largest hog processor, announced its plans to acquire Murphy, the nation's second largest hog producer, in September in a stock and debt deal that then was valued at $460 million. Murphy had 1999 fiscal year sales of $3.77 billion.
Nixon gave Smithfield until the end of 1999 to explain why the proposed acquisition would not violate Missouri's corporate farming law. He said Tuesday he was discouraged by the pace of the discussion and wanted to request the injunction before the deal closed.
The only exception to Missouri's ban on corporate farming for swine production is for three counties in north-central Missouri.
Nixon said Smithfield has several options, including selling assets in order to comply with Missouri law.
The merger has attracted other critics, including several U.S. senators. The American Farm Bureau Federation, the U.S. secretary of agriculture and others have expressed concern and asked the U.S. Justice Department to investigate the deal.
Miller said his company is negotiating with federal officials.

BY SCOTT DEACLE
Danville Register and Bee
MARTINSVILLE, Va. - Dr. David O. Lewis has a list of 16 things he thinks would solve America's troubles with tobacco.
Number one on the health advocate's list is bankrupting the tobacco industry. Item 16 has the president sending an award to every person who works to control tobacco.
Lewis has 14 other proposals in between, ranging from a 100 percent tax on tobacco products to an effort to track down and tar and feather all tobacco industry executives, attorneys, public relations consultants, and lobbyists.
Those ideas would be considered radical anywhere in America, but they're especially surprising in Lewis' place of residence - Henry County, Virginia, where about one million pounds of tobacco were grown in 1998.
It's a region where people drive trucks with ''Tobacco Heritage'' license plates and bumper stickers that read ''Tobacco pays my bills.''
That's all the more reason to speak out about the dangers of the golden leaf, Lewis said in a recent interview.
''I think it's particularly important in communities economically involved with tobacco for people to tell the truth,'' Lewis said.
The truth, as Lewis and the Centers for Disease Control see it, is this:
Each year, 430,000 Americans die from tobacco use.
Each year, 9,000 Virginians die from tobacco use.
Each year, 3,000 people die from lung cancer caused by secondhand smoke.
The average smoker dies 12 to 15 years before the average nonsmoker.
Lewis has stacks of facts and figures he's glad to share with anyone whose asks. He also knows firsthand what happens to smokers' bodies. He's seen them wheezing in the emergency room at Memorial Hospital of Martinsville and Henry County, where he works.
So Lewis speaks out. He visits his elected officials. He writes letters to newspapers. He works to move smoking away from the emergency room at his hospital. He does these things in a place where people tend to look at tobacco not as a deadly product but as an economic necessity.
In response to the cries he hears in defense of the local economy and innocent tobacco farmers, Lewis has this to say:
''I treat people with heart disease, emphysema and lung cancer. To me, I'd be negligent if I weren't involved.''
Lewis lives in a neatly kept house outside Martinsville. He stands about 5 feet 11 inches tall, appears physically fit and wears plastic glasses.
There's little in Lewis' family history that destined him to become an anti-tobacco warrior. His grandfather, for instance, grew burley tobacco in Kentucky.
Lewis' grandfather was the last in his family to grow tobacco. His father was a teacher who raised a family in Fairfax County. Lewis graduated from Annandale High School, where he won the best citizen award, in 1964, Western Kentucky University in 1968 and the Medical College of Virginia in 1972.
He moved to Martinsville in 1978 and is now the senior doctor in the emergency room at Memorial Hospital.
Both of Lewis' children smoked at one time, although he says they both quit. Lewis has never habitually smoked, but he admits he occasionally smokes a cigarette, ''to remember what it's like.''
No one in Lewis' immediate family has died of lung cancer, but his father-in-law died from an aortic aneurysm caused by smoking. All of his wife Page's aunts and uncles died from lung cancer or emphysema caused by smoking.
Lewis said he first realized tobacco's health risks when he was a medical student. He waited until his children moved away from home before he became seriously involved in the crusade against tobacco.
As an emergency room doctor, Lewis works regular hours that allow him plenty of time for extracurricular crusades.
''I'm in the perfect situation,'' Lewis said.
Lewis started a group called the Health Advocacy Group of Southside Virginia. It lobbies elected officials to adopt its healthcare agenda, which includes not only reduced tobacco usage, but also government-funded dental care for impoverished children and government-funded prescription drugs for the elderly.
Lewis owns a single share of stock in several cigarette-making companies. He uses the stock to enter shareholder meetings.
He proudly tells the story of an R.J. Reynolds shareholders' meeting where he announced to Reynolds CEO Steven Goldstone, ''I had to tell one of your customers she had lung cancer.''
About 20 other healthcare advocates join Lewis at such meetings.
''We feel like we're a reality to check to the executives and shareholders,'' Lewis said.
Lewis regularly takes his arguments to his elected representatives in the Virginia General Assembly, Del. Ward Armstrong and Sen. Roscoe Reynolds. As representatives of tobacco farmers, Reynolds and Armstrong oppose much of Lewis' agenda.
He hasn't changed Reynolds' and Armstrong's views on the tobacco issue, but Armstrong said he still likes Lewis.
''David is not a confrontational person,'' Armstrong said. ''That has a great deal more credibility and more persuasive ability than someone who wants to accost me at my car and berate me for my position.''

The Halifax County High School swim teams had a big night Wednesday with the girls team defeating Liberty and Brookville and the boys team earning a split in the three team meet.
Halifax County's girls scored a 117-51 win over Brookville and a 119-50 win over Liberty.
The Comets boys team earned a 120-31 triumph over Liberty but fell to Brookville 111-59.
Liberty edged Brookville 84-75 in the girls meet while Brookville defeated Liberty 131-27 in the boys meet.
"I'm real pleased," remarked Comets coach Dewey Compton.
"Obviously, the girls swam real well to come in and win both meets. And, the boys split their two meets and did a good job."
Compton said even in the loss to Brookville, the boys team fared well.
"We won a couple of events," Compton pointed out.
"Brookville won the Heritage Invitational and beat E.C. Glass. Brookville has one of the top AA teams in the state. I was pleased with the overall effort of the boys."
Jessie Ramsey and Maggie Wilkins finished first and second in the 200 meter freestyle against Liberty and were second and third respectively against Brookville.
Liza Holmes and Krystle Johnson finished first and second respectively over Brookville and were second and third against Liberty.
Nora Lee won the 50 meter freestyle in both meets with Stephanie Bomar and Ashley Whitlow placing second and third respectively against Brookville. Bomar placed third against Liberty.
Amy Ward and Kathryn Ramsey placed first and second respectively against Liberty and were second and third against Brookville.
Lee finished first, Wilkins took third place, and Christina Manning finished fourth against Brookville in the 100 meter freestyle. Lee and Wilkins placed first and second respectively against Liberty.
Holmes finished first and Maggie Hunt took second in the 500 meter freestyle against Liberty and placed second and third respectively against Brookville.
Ward, Kathryn Bradley, and Manning finished in the top three spots against Liberty in the 100 meter backstroke. They were first, third, and fourth respectively against Brookville.
Hunt, Megan Jackson, and Mary Caldwell took the top three places in the 100 meter breaststroke against Liberty and finished second, third, and fourth respectively against Brookville.
The Comets "A" team composed of Ward, Lee, Hunt, and Stephanie Bomar won the Girls 200 meter medley relay in both meets.
Halifax County's "A" team composed of Ward, Johnson, Lee, and Bomar won against both Liberty and Brookville in the 200 freestyle relay.
The Comets "A" 400 meter freestyle relay team composed of Liza Bomar, Hunt and Ramsey defeated Brookville but placed second against Liberty.
In the boys meet, Jordan Clark and Casey Owen took the top two places over Liberty but were third and fourth against Brookville.
Andrew Leonard and Greg Ward took first and second place over Liberty but finished second and fifth respectively against Brookville.
Chad Compton won the 50 meter freestyle against both Liberty and Brookville with Alex Psihramis and Daniel Roller placing third and fourth against Liberty and fourth and fifth respectively against Brookville.
Jordan Clark and Smith took the top two spots against Liberty in the 100 meter fly but placed fourth and fifth respectively against Brookville.
In the 100 meter freestyle, Compton and Ron Overby swept the top two spots against Liberty and placed second and fourth respectively against Brookville.
Casey Owen, Smith, and Ward took the top three places in the 100 meter backstroke against Liberty but were fourth, fifth, and sixth respectively against Brookville.
Leonard and Husted placed first and second in the 100 meter breaststroke against Liberty but placed first and third respectively against Brookville.
In the relay events, Halifax County's "A" team composed of Owen, Clark, Leonard, and Compton defeated Liberty but placed second against Brookville in the 200 meter medley relay.
Halifax County's "A" team in the 200 meter freestyle relay composed of Clark, Owen, Leonard, and Compton defeated Liberty but placed second to Brookville.
And, in the 400 meter freestyle relay, the Comets' "A" team composed of Psihramis, Smith, Roller, and Husted, placed second to both Brookville and Liberty.

Halifax County High School unveiled a slowdown offense Wednesday night against Holy Cross.
And, it almost paid off.
Pulling a page out of former University of North Carolina coach Dean Smith's play book, Lawter pulled his team back into a slowdown game midway through the third period and gave Holy Cross quite a scare before losing 23-20.
Despite the loss, the game represented a great effort for the Comets who had lost to Holy Cross by 40 points in Lynchburg less than a full week ago.
"We felt like we had to shorten the game," Lawter said.
"We had to see if we could run it. We had to see if they could play man-to-man defense."
Lawter had nothing but praise for his team and its effort.
"I thought the girls did a great job tonight," he remarked.
"It made believers out of our girls the way we played. We had a chance to win. That's what we were looking for."
"No, we didn't win," continued Lawter whose team fell to 1-7 on the season.
"But, this was a positive. We won some personal battles and team battles we have been struggling with this season. I hope we can now build on what we did."
Wednesday's game was quite a turnaround from the first meeting between the two teams.
When they played a week ago, Holy Cross ran up a 21-0 lead in the first period and raced off to a 40 point victory.
This time, they fought Holy Cross all the way down to the wire.
The Comets trailed by four points, 15-11 at the half and cut the gap to two points with Shonda Welch's layup to start the third period.
Holy Cross countered almost immediately with a basket to run the lead back to four points at 17-13.
Then, came the hook.
Lawter pulled his team back and went into a true slowdown game.
For about three minutes, Welch, the Comets' point guard, stood near midcourt with the ball tucked at her hip while Holy Cross sat in a zone defense.
At a signal from Lawter, the Comets began moving into a methodical ball control offense. Unfortunately, the Comets missed the shot they took and Holy Cross snared the rebound.
Holy Cross made its shot on its possession and drove the lead to 19-13 with 2:04 left in the period.
Again, the Comets pulled back their offense for a lengthy period. And, again, when they got moving they failed to hit the shot.
Holy Cross got that rebound, too. And, the Comets fouled Holy Cross' Sarah McCarty when she went up for a shot.
McCarty made her two free throws with 14 seconds left in the period to give Holy Cross its biggest lead, an eight point 21-13 lead.
Then, just when it appeared Holy Cross was on the verge of putting the game away, Lateisha Chambers canned a three-pointer with three seconds left in the period to bring the Comets back to within five points at 21-16.
Chambers hit the first shot of the fourth period to bring the Comets to within three points at 21-18.
Lawter pulled his team back into the stall offense again. But, despite the fact that Holy Cross left the door of opportunity open, the Comets had a string of four possessions where they got off only one shot which missed.
Holy Cross tallied its only field goal of the period with 2:07 left in the game to drive its lead back to five points at 23-18.
Halifax cut the lead to three again when Chambers hit two free throws with 42 seconds to play after being fouled when she went up for a shot.
The Comets then had to foul in an effort to try to get the ball back. They gave up three fouls before Holy Cross went to the charity stripe for its first one and one opportunity with 29 seconds to play.
Four times Holy Cross missed the first shot on one and one opportunities at the charity stripe, the last coming with nine seconds left in the game.
And each time, the Comets failed in their attempt to hit the critical shots that could have brought the win and failed to get the rebound after the missed shot.
"We're not a great rebounding team," Lawter said.
"But, we're working on it and trying to get better.
"We got a little impatient and took some outside shots we didn't want to take," added Lawter.
"But, that improved as the game went on."
Yet, Lawter was still pleased.
"We haven't been in that situation before of being in a real close game and having a chance to win it in the end like that," he pointed out.
"It was a good experience for our kids to have the opportunity to play in that close a game and try to come from behind and win it."
The Comets led twice in the first period before ending the period trailing 10-8.
Halifax fell behind by as many as five points in the second period but had opportunities to tie or take the lead before the half ended.
However, the Comets missed five out of six free throw attempts in the final 1:05 of the half and ended up trailing 15-11 at the break.
Chambers was the top scorer for the Comets with 11 points. Ciji Moore scored six, Welch finished with two points and Bernita Logan scored one.
HALIFAX COUNTY
NAME FG FT F TP
Best 0 0-2 2 0
Townes 0 0-0 0 0
Epperson 0 0-2 1 0
Logan 0 1-2 2 1
Crews 0 0-0 1 0
Fitzgerald 0 0-0 1 0
Welch 1 0-2 1 2
Foster 0 0-0 0 0
Brooks 0 0-0 0 0
Greene 0 0-0 0 0
Chambers 4 2-2 4 11
Moore 3 0-0 1 6
Womack 0 0-0 1 0
Totals 8 3-12 14 20
HOLY CROSS
NAME FG FT F TP
Ashley 0 0-0 0 0
Sprouse 0 0-0 0 0
Buchanan 0 1-2 0 1
Krogel 1 0-1 1 2
Pannell 1 0-0 2 2
McDonald 2 0-0 2 4
McBride 1 1-2 0 3
McCarty 4 2-2 1 10
Farringer 0 0-1 2 0
Korkko 0 1-2 2 9
Gaulde 0 1-2 5 1
Goulde 0 0-0 0 0
Totals 9 6-12 15 23
Three Point Field Goals: Chambers (HC) 1.

Holy Cross 10 5 6 2-23
Halifax Co. 8 3 5 4-20

John Samuel Overby Sr., age 79, of 2053 Maid Marian Lane, South Boston, died January 3, 2000, at Danville Regional Hospital.
Mr. Overby was born in Charlotte County on December 28, 1920, the son of Dan Overby and Anna Thomas and was married to Beatrice Chandler Overby. He was a member of St. Paul CME Church.
Survivors include his wife; one daughter, Gloria O. Hill of South Boston; three sons, John S. Overby Jr. of Scottsburg, David Miles Overby of Halifax and Dwight Ellis Overby of South Boston; seven grandchildren; two sisters, Lucy Mae Ballou of Washington, DC and Van O. Terry of South Boston; one brother, Gilbert Overby of Washington, DC. He was preceded in death by one son, Raleigh Overby.

Funeral services for Mr. Overby will be held January 8 at 2 p.m. at St. Paul CME Church with Rev. George Brown officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the home.

Irene Gabe Nelson, age 57, of South Hill, died Wednesday, January 5, 2000.
Survivors include her husband, Irby G. Nelson, formerly of Nelson; one sister, Charlene Holshauser of Connelly Springs, NC; and one brother, Joe Gabe of Maiden, NC.
A funeral service will be held at 2 p.m. Sunday, January 9 at Ephesus Baptist Church near South Hill with burial in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends Saturday from 7:00 until 8:30 p.m. at Crowder-Hite-Crews Funeral Home in South Hill.

Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the Church Van Fund.

Frank Purcell Bailey, age 64, of Washington, DC, formerly of Halifax County, died Monday, January 4, 2000, in Washington.
Mr. Bailey was born in Halifax County on October 6, 1935, the son of Willie R. Bailey and Blanche H. Bailey. He was a member of Crystal Hill Baptist Church.
Survivors include two daughters, Valeria B. Osei and Renie B. Elliott; four grandchildren; two sisters, Janice B. Powell of Halifax and Sylvia B. Coates of Charlotte, N.C.; two brothers, Morrell Bailey and Clyde Bailey, both of Halifax; and a devoted friend, Beulah Davis.
Funeral services for Mr. Bailey will be held Saturday, January 8 at 11 a.m. at Crystal Hill Baptist Church with Rev. Louis Leigh officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the homes of Clyde Bailey, 1019 Carr Lane, Halifax and Morrell Bailey on Winns Creek Road, Halifax.

Therman Easley, age 53, of 1415 Williams Street, South Boston, died Tuesday, January 4, 2000, at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Easley was born in Halifax County on January 10, 1946.
Survivors include his wife, Eunice Easley of South Boston; six sisters, Nannie Edmondson and Betty Palmer, both of Halifax, Mary Easley, Linda Pitts, Dorothy Easley and Brenda Easley, all of Clinton, Md.; three brothers, Isaac Easley Jr., Willie Easley and Larry Easley, all of Halifax.
Funeral services for Mr. Easley will be held Saturday, January 8 at 2 p.m. at New Zion Baptist Church in Nathalie. Burial will follow in the church cemetery with Rev. Willie Yancey officiating.

The family will receive friends at the home.