The Town of Halifax and the county agreed to a proposed boundary settlement last night that added about 3,000 acres to the town but excluded Salishan subdivision and Burlington Industries.
Halifax Town Council was unanimous in voting for the public hearing for the proposed boundary, but two supervisors reported a 5-3 vote in favor of the hearing among the board.
Town and county officials set a joint public hearing on the proposed agreement for Wednesday, Dec. 10, at 7 p.m. at Mary Bethune complex in Halifax.
The two governing bodies must then vote on the agreement and it will be sent to circuit court for final hearing and approval.
"We are working toward an effective of midnight, Dec. 31, 1997," said town manager Robert Greene following the meeting.
"We have a lot of detail work to do to put the package together for approval by Dec. 31," added Greene. "But we are trying to make that date."
Greene described the new boundary thusly:
Beginning at a point at the intersection of Highway 360 and the Banister
River just north of the current Town of Halifax limits; thence in a southeasterly
direction along the center line of the Banister River approximately 600
feet to the northwest corner of Burlington Industries property line; thence
follow the property line in a southern direction to Cowford Road; thence
approximately 1300 feet in a southeasterly direction along Cowford Road
to Toots Creek; thence in an eastern direction along Toots Creek to the
Town of Halifax Wastewater Treatment Plant property line; thence around
this line to the Banister River; thence from this point back along Toots
Creek in a southern direction 5900 feet to a tributary; thence along this
tributary in a western direction 2700 feet to the intersection of the southern
corner of Salishan; thence S 17° 24' 826 feet to a 14 inch Pine; thence
S 19° 13' west 409 feet to fence post; thence S 2° 4' west 245 feet;
thence S 63° 13' east 1550 feet; thence S 73° 36' west 1511 feet
to Highway 501; thence in southern direction along Highway 501 to the intersection
of Moore Avenue, down Moore Avenue to intersection with Avondale Drive along
Avondale Drive to the gas pipeline thence down the gas pipe line to the
N&W Railroad tracks; thence in a northern direction .19 mile along the
N&W to the intersection of the last fork of Toot's Creek; thence in
a westerly direction 1500 feet along the creek to the start of the western
fork of Toot's Creek; thence in a western direction along this branch approximately
5800 feet to the intersection of Highway 360 (Mountain Road); thence in
a westerly direction along Highway 360 for approximately .28 miles to the
intersection of Highway 360 with a high voltage Power Line; thence in a
north, northeasterly direction along the Power Line 5800 feet to Kent's
Creek; thence in an north northeasterly direction along Kent's Creek to
the Banister River; thence in an easterly direction along the Banister River
for approximately 2.90 miles to the place and point of beginning. Reference
is hereby made to a map of the proposed annexation for the Town of Halifax,
prepared by Maxey-Hines & Associates, P. C., dated June 16, 1995.
The sights and sounds of the Yule season will fill the air in downtown South Boston this weekend with the annual South Boston Christmas Parade and the 11th Annual Christmas Open House.
Kicking off the weekend is the annual South Boston Christmas Parade which is staged by the Retail Merchants Association. Featuring the official arrival of Santa Claus along with 44 units including three high school marching bands, the Christmas Parade will begin at 2 p.m. Saturday and follow its usual route through the heart of the downtown South Boston business district.
In the event of rain, the parade will be held Sunday at 6:30 p.m.
Sunday will feature the 11th Annual Christmas Open House. Dubbed as "A Holiday Tradition In Downtown South Boston," Sunday's Christmas Open House will feature downtown stores being open from 1 p.m. until 5 p.m.
A variety of activities will surround Sunday's Christmas Open House including a performance by the Children's Community Chorus at Constitution Square from 12:50 p.m. until 1:30 p.m., a magical appearance by Santa Claus at 1:30 p.m., and the Cookie Cottage, featuring a variety of activities for youngsters, which will be open from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. in the old Dollar General building.
This year marks the earliest date that the South Boston Christmas Parade has been held in recent years. And, with three marching bands including the Halifax County High School, the Bluestone High School, and Dan River High School bands set to participate, this year's parade will be one of the biggest and best in recent years.
Non-profit groups entering floats in the parade will be competing for prize money. A $300 prize will go to the first place float, a $150 prize will be awarded to the second place float, and a $50 prize will be given to the third place float.
Among the organizations that have entered floats in the parade are the Community Chorus, Cub Scout Pack No. 318, Southside Rehab, the Miss Virginia State Pageant Court, and Clays Mill Scout Pack No. 589.
Halifax County High School's 1997 Homecoming Queen, Jennifer Conner, will be among participants as will the Halifax County High School JROTC and Color Guard.
Several marching groups, motorcycles, antique cars, the Halifax County High School varsity and junior varsity cheerleaders, clowns from Dan River Baptist Church, boy scout, girl scout, and cub scout groups, and cheerleaders representing several of the area's Pop Warner Football teams will also be participating.
The committee responsible for organizing Saturday's South Boston Christmas Parade stated that it wishes to thank its Silver Sponsors that include Belk, Community National Bank, Fuller-Roberts Clinic, Virginia Power, First Federal, Crestar Bank, True Value Hardware, and Oval Engineering for their support of the Christmas parade.
Tom Stevens unleashes a staccato of karate punches.
A kick slices through the air in quick response.
It is a black belt face-off.
Backed by hundreds of years of martial arts tradition, Simon Stevens, 17, and his father execute the old masters' teachings.
"They knew how and where to attack the energy flow in the body," explained Tom. "The ancient Chinese artists knew more about certain aspects of physiology than many doctors do today."
Knowing how and where to strike in self-defense is, he explained, at the core of bringing a hostile attack to a rapid close.
"No one knows for sure just when karate was developed, but we do know that when the Chinese invaded Okinawa in the 1100's, they brought with them a martial arts system known as Kempo," explained Tom.
The Chinese system became integrated with the indigenous Okinawan system of "empty hand fighting to produce essentially what we know today as Okinawan Kempo," added Stevens, which is one the styles the men study at the South Boston United Martial Arts studio.
"An important part of these ancient cultures was their concept of medicine which dealt with energy flows through various meridians in the body.
"Part of this approach to medicine is what we know today as acupuncture and acupressure," continued the black belt.
"The Chinese found that stimulating certain points of certain meridians in a 'constructive sequence' could induce healing in an ill body. Similarly, stimulating these points in a 'destructive sequence' would induce pain and injury."
Since karate offered an edge to those who knew the art, Stevens said Okinawans "practiced and perfected their fighting style in deep secret" to escape reprisals from overlords.
"It was not until the early 1900's that karate was taught openly in Okinawa and Japan, and not until the 1950's that karate began to be popular outside the Orient," added Tom.
Since the masters did not want to reveal all of their secrets, the black belt said they "doled them out to select students and family members as they saw fit" through the years.
" It has only been in the last 10-15 years that much of the information came to the general population of marital artists.
Tom Stevens sees the South Boston studio as " very fortunate" since owners Wayne and Kris Adams have as their instructor Grandmaster Rick Moneymaker, "who has in turn been a student under Sensei Oyata, the highest ranking living Okinawan master," added Tom.
Simon also appreciates the self-defense aspect of the martial arts but particularly enjoys the demanding physical aspect essential in perfecting the art.
It is an art the two black belts have spent at least three one-hour classes per week studying for four years.
It is now a passion Tom Stevens is convinced he will spend the rest of his life pursuing.
Simon's expertise in the martial arts is also backed by "a knack for languages," with a current interest in Japanese. He hopes to add computer programming skills to this eclectic intellectual mix in college.
Although theirs is a martial arts tradition that teaches students how to disarm and disable opponents quickly in self-defense, Tom notes it is also one that teaches students to avoid a confrontation if possible.
Tom and Simon view self-defense, self-discipline and self-esteem as the heart of the program, but for them the program is also about challenge and family.
At age 47, Tom had "always wanted to study the martial arts but had never had the time or opportunity" to pursue his interest.
"At 47 or 48 I figured it was time to get started if I was ever going to," added the smiling black belt.
"I was looking for something my son and I could do together that would give positive direction, and I thought karate was it."
The day he agreed to go along with his father to the studio, Simon recalled his was "a movie image" of karate.
Not so today.
Simon and Tom both talk about the importance of "family issues" they found at the South Boston studio, self-discipline, school, good values.
Tom remembers the commitment to Okinawan Kempo as immediate.
"We knew we would stick it out for the black belt and beyond," recalled Tom.
That was four years and seven belts ago.
BY JOE CHANDLER
E. David Hudson and his son, Michael Hudson have been named 1997 Outstanding Cooperators of the Year by the Halifax Soil and Water Conservation District.
The award is presented each year by the Halifax Soil and Water Conservation District to an individual who has, over the years, proven to be a good steward to the land and natural resources that surround him.
"I was really surprised by this," said E. David Hudson.
"I thought there were people more deserving of this than we are."
Receiving the award was just as big a surprise for David Hudson.
"This really makes you feel good," the 33-year-old county resident remarked.
"It makes you feel like some of the hard work, time, and money that you spend on it pays off. When you're a farmer, there are not many people that pat you on the back."
This year, the award was presented to the Hudsons who, according to conservationists, have done an outstanding job nurturing land and water resources on their farms which run through the heart of the Carolina Slate Belt.
For those that are not familiar with it, the Carolina Slate Belt is a narrow region with underlying slate rock and a thin layer of topsoil. In Halifax County, the slate belt extends from Virgilina on the southern end of the county through Dryburg on the northern end.
Bruce Pearce, a resource conservationist with the Halifax Soil and Water Conservation District said that for anyone to be successful in farming in the slate belt region it is imperative that they save the precious few inches of slate rock laden topsoil that covers the rolling terrain.
According to NRCS guidelines for soil erodibility, anything having an E.I. or Erodibility Index of 1-8 is not highly erodible with anything over 8 being considered highly erodible. On the farms that the Hudsons work, the E.I. was 28.5.
"With soils like this, if you snooze, you lose," Pearce said.
"The main farm is in the middle of the Carolina Slate Belt and the Hudsons have done an outstanding job of increasing the productivity level of their farm."
The Hudsons work two tracts of land with E. David Hudson working an approximate 80 acre tract located about two miles east of South Boston on Route 58 and Michael Hudson farming a 117 acre tract of land located in the Red Bank District.
While raising tobacco, wheat, hay, and pumpkins on the farmland, the Hudsons employ multiple land and waterway management practices to curb erosion. They have created acres of waterways, implemented terracing practices, and have performed critical area seeding as well as permanent seeding.
The cropland is set up in a contour strip cropping system using a crop rotation of row crops, small grain, and grass. Soil sampling is practiced and the results and recommendations for the soil are adhered to stringently. A nutrient management plan was completed in October, 1992 and is still being adhered to today.
As a result of all of this, the Hudsons have an economically productive and environmentally sound farming enterprise.
BY JOE CHANDLER
James A. Solomon, Jr. of Turbeville has been awarded the 1997 Virginia Clean Water Farm Award by the Halifax Soil and Water Conservation District.
The award, one of the top awards presented by the Halifax Soil and Water Conservation District, is presented annually to an individual in recognition of efforts to improving water quality.
Solomon has long been recognized in the county for his soil and water conservation efforts. In 1987, he received the Outstanding Cooperator Award from the Halifax Soil and Water Conservation District.
Eventhough he retired from actively growing flue-cured tobacco two years ago, Solomon rides tight reins on his new tenants to make sure that they continue using sound conservation plans.
Recently, Solomon seeded 40 acres of river bottom land to switchgrass, a warm season grass which is excellent for forage as well as being conducive to wildlife.
In addition, Solomon has installed a a watering system for his brood cow herd which provides the cattle with clean, fresh drinking water as well as preventing them from polluting the stream and existing pond and cutting down on scour cases in young calves.
The unique feature of Solomon's watering system is its source of energy - a windmill - which pumps water from a 100 foot plus deep well.
Solomon's efforts go even further. Pastures and hayland are well managed and are fertilized and limed according to soil test results.
Reduction of soil loss and improved water quality are two priorities that Solomon eyes with his farming operations.
The presentation of the 1997 Virginia Clean Water Farm Award was one of the highlights of Wednesday night's annual Halifax Soil and Water Conservation District Awards Dinner.
Three individuals were presented 1997 Outstanding Wildlife Conservationist Awards. They included James K. Farley, Jr. in Category I for farms up to 100 acres, Steve Hoskins in Category II for farms ranging from 100 acres to 500 acres and James E. (Jimmy) Edmonds, Jr. in Category III which is for farms of 500 acres and up.
Also Wednesday night, the Board of Directors of the Halifax Soil and Water Conservation District honored Don Marston and Lucy Conner, both of whom are going off of the Board, with service awards. Marston was recognized for 10 years of service as a member of the Board of Directors and Conner was honored for eight years of service on the Board.
Several local young people were recognized as 1997 Wildlife Game Food Patch winners. Megan Cole of Virgilina was the first place winner in the Junior Division for youngsters ages 8-12 and Justin Bomar of Nathalie was the winner in the Senior Division for youth ages 13-18.
Second through fifth place winners in the Junior Division were Addison Solomon of Turbeville, Adam Layman of Clays Mill, Joey Slagle of Halifax, and Nathan Clements of the Asbury Community.
Taking second through fifth place respectively in the Senior Division were Troy Gravitt and Adam Gravitt, both from the Wolftrap Community, Duane Traynham of Scottsburg, and Ben Tuck of Virgilina.
Objectives of the contest were to stimulate the interest of young people in the problems facing wildlife populations, reward youngsters for accepting responsibility to complete a task relating to our natural resources, and for doing a good job.
The Halifax Soil and Water Conservation District with help from the South Central Chapter of Quail Unlimited and other agencies has sponsored a Wildlife Game Food Patch Contest each year since 1994. Over 130 young people have participated in the contest since its inception.
Sponsors for this year's contest were the South Central Chapter of Quail Unlimited and the Ward Burton Wildlife Foundation which was founded a couple of years ago by NASCAR Winston Cup Series driver Ward Burton of South Boston who, himself, is an active outdoorsman and conservationist.
Judging for the Wildlife Game Food Patch Contest was conducted by Jason Fisher of the Halifax Cooperative Extension Service Office and Marc Puckett of the Virginia Division of Game and Inland Fisheries.
The annual South Boston joint community Thanksgiving Service will be held Wednesday, November 26, at Main Street United Methodist Church, 701 North Main Street, beginning at 7:30 p.m.
The traditional service will feature music, public praise, Scripture readings and a message.
Participating churches include Ash Avenue Baptist, First Baptist on Main Street, First Presbyterian, Main Street United Methodist, Mt. Olive Baptist, New Harvest Assembly of God and St. Paschal Roman Catholic.
But one does not have to be a member of any of these churches to attend; all are invited.
"It will be a time for our community to publicly thank God for His care and love," said the Rev. Rick Hudock, pastor of New Harvest Assembly of God.
The Rev. Dean Miller, associate pastor of First Baptist, will bring the message, and special music will be supplied by a community choir directed by the Rev. Janet Given of Main Street United Methodist.
Refreshments will be available after the service.
More information about the service may be obtained by contacting any of the participating churches.
Eugene Graham Gupton Jr., 79, husband of Estelle Cole Gupton of Virgilina, died Wednesday, November 19, 1997 at Halifax Regional Hospital.
Mr. Gupton was born in Norfolk and was reared in Virgilina. He retired from Burlington Industries after 30 years of service in Halifax. Mr. Gupton was a member of Aarons Creek Baptist Church where he served as a deacon and a Sunday school teacher. He also served on the Executive Committee of Dan River Association, was a board member of the Good Samaritan Ministry and served in the Gideon ministry.
Funeral services will be held at 2 p.m. today, November 21 at Aarons Creek Baptist Church. Revs. Richard Cooke and Dan Harris will be officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
Surviving are his wife; son and daughter-in-law, Frank and Jo Ann Gupton of Buffalo Junction; daughter and son-in-law, Betty and Marvin Wells of Virgilina; grandchildren, Kim Inscore of Buffalo Junction and Connie Gupton of Farmville; great-grandchildren, Brent and Anna Inscore; sisters, Virginia Wilson of Virgilina, Gladys Thompson of Crewe, and Helen Bomar of South Boston; brothers, Prentice Gupton of South Boston, Edward Gupton of California, and Bobby Gupton of Clarksville.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider The Gideons International Memorial Bible Fund, c/o Halifax Camp, 906 John Randolph Building, South Boston, VA 24592.
Hattie Lamberth Hackney of 1138 Wolf Trap Road, South Boston died Wednesday, November 19, 1997 at her home. She was 85 years of age at the time of her death.
Mrs. Hackney was born August 20, 1912 in Halifax County the daughter of Robert Lamberth and Madge Jones Lamberth and was married to Phillip H. Hackney. She was a member of Dan River Baptist Church.
Funeral services will be held at Brooks Funeral Home Chapel today, November 21 at 2 p.m. with Dr. Dennis Knight officiating. Burial will be in Halifax Memorial Gardens.
Surviving Mrs. Hackney are her husband; one son, Clyde Hackney of Madison; three granddaughters, Vicky Rice, Sherrie Wise and Tina Weaver; and four great-grandchildren. She was preceded in death by a son, Carroll Hackney.
John James 'Jim' Newcomb of 3023 Mill Road, Clover died Tuesday, November 18, 1997 at Halifax Regional Hospital. He was 79 years of age.
Mr. Newcomb was born June 26, 1918 in Halifax County the son of John Newcomb and Della Wade Newcomb and was married to Sarah Martin Newcomb. He was a member of the Church of God of Prophecy.
Survivors include three sons, Ronnie J. Newcomb and Dave Newcomb, both of South Boston, and Allen J. Newcomb of Clover; two daughters, Joyce N. Martin of Halifax and Donna N. Martin of Clover; one brother, John P. Newcomb of Clover; 14 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by his wife; one son, John Wayne Newcomb; four brothers and four sisters.
Funeral services were held Thursday, November 20 at 2 p.m. at the Church of God of Prophecy with Revs. Courtney W. Coffer, Garnett Byrd and Thomas Warren officiating. Burial was in the Clover Cemetery.