Public hearings on the proposed boundary agreement between South Boston and the county will begin at 7 o'clock tonight in the Halifax County High School auditorium.
The county hearing opens first at 7 p.m. with the South Boston hearing slated for 7:30 p.m. However, the South Boston hearing could be delayed by the first hearing.
If the boundary agreement is approved, county officials estimate an annual revenue loss of $384,000, county administrator Dan Sleeper said yesterday, with an estimated South Boston gain of $1.9 million.
"Our numbers are very close," agreed South Boston Town Manager Ken McLawhon yesterday.
However, if the boundary proposal is approved by both governments tonight, submitted to the circuit court and approved with a midnight Dec. 31, 1997 effective date, Sleeper said the estimated county revenue loss would be $246,000 from Dec.-June for the year.
Two supervisors, R.E. Abbott and Earl Watts Sr., whose district includes Riverdale businesses affected by the boundary adjustment, opposed the South Boston/Halifax County boundary proposal last month.
Yesterday, R.E. Abbott estimated the county could lose "right at $1 million counting everything."
"You can take a pencil and make it say anything," said Abbott.
If the proposal is approved by the two governments tonight, South Boston will increase by approximately 4,071 acres, incorporating much of the Centerville business community as well as some territory in Riverdale.
However, the proposed South Boston boundary does not include the Route 58 industrial parks or industrial sites in Sinai park as well as several manufacturing sites to the east and south of the current town limits.
If approved, support documents negotiated by the two governments will carry a 12 moratorium on future town annexation, but there are provisions for adjacent areas to petition for inclusion.
There are also resolutions addressing town water and sewer capacity access for the county.
A general description of the boundary proposal follows:
In Riverdale the town seeks about 82 acres lying to the south of the existing town boundaries. This area generally includes property adjacent to U.S. Route 501 from the Dan River to U.S. Route 58; property on the north side of U.S. Route 58 approximately 1000' east then continuing east along U.S. Route 58 approximately 1,200' then south to unmaintained right-of-way; west of U.S. Route 501 approximately 2,200'; north along Route 501 to U.S. Route 58; west along U.S. Route 58 to Norfolk Southern Railway then north along the railway to the existing town boundaries of South Boston.
In the Centerville area the town seeks approximately 3,989 acres located to the northwest north and northeast of the existing town boundaries.
The Centerville area would generally include the area west of the existing town along the Dan River to Pond Branch; then north along Pond Branch to River Road; then north along River Road to the Woodlawn Park and Westside Village subdivisions that would be included in the Centerville area; then along state Route 654 (Sinai Road) in a southwesterly direction to its Intersection with U.S. Route 501 but excluding the industrial area; then east to include commercial areas on the northern side of U.S. Route 501 and State Route 129 to a point on State Route 129 about 400 feet west of its intersection with Dan River Church Road, then east along State Route 129 to Dan River Church Road and east along Dan River Church Road to U.S. Route 360; and then west along U.S. Route 360 to the existing town boundaries.
Included in the proposed draft documents is a town resolution to enter into a cooperative agreement with the county to make available to the county, on a wholesale basis, public water and sewer service to help attract industrial and commercial businesses and to serve residential areas lying outside of the town's corporate limits.
The following principles would guide the development of a water and sewer agreement between the two entities, according to the draft.
---The county will receive 130,000 gallons of sewer capacity per day from South Boston. The sewerage will be delivered to town owned lines through existing meters and/or through five new meters at points on the west boundary of 58, Shepphard's Gate, Old Halifax Road near Oak Hill and the northern boundary of the town west of 501.
The county will locate and eliminate where feasible and practical all inflow and infiltration into the sewer lines leading to the meters. The meters may be owned by either the town or the county according to the agreement between the two parties. The approximate locations of the meters will be established at the time the agreement is executed and prior to boundary adjustment.
---The county will receive 250,000 gallons of water capacity per day from South Boston (not including any capacity being provided at the time of execution of the new agreement). The water will be delivered to county owned lines through five meters at points on the west boundary of 58, the east boundary of 58, Sheppards Gate, Old Halifax Road near Oak Hill, and the northern boundary of the town west of 501. The meters may be owned by either the town or the county according to agreement between the two parties. The approximate locations of the meters will be established at the time the agreement is executed and prior to boundary adjustment.
---The rate for water and sewer charges will be based upon 80 percent of the average of all rates used to compute in-town rates. The county will be responsible for not exceeding its allocated capacity. In the event the capacity is exceeded the county will pay an additional surcharge for exceeding the daily allotment computed on a quarterly basis for average daily usage. The rate will be one and one half times (1.5) the existing monthly charge. Representatives of both jurisdictions will be responsible for reading the meters monthly.
---New lines outside the town limits would be owned and maintained by the county according to established state standards.
---The county will pay all construction costs for lines outside the town limits.
---In case of future boundary adjustments the town will pay the county for all lines incorporated into the new boundaries. The rates would be based on accepted accounting standards for public capital assets including debt service and depreciation. The county would own no new lines within the town.
---In the event new lines are required within the town to serve the county, the county would pay for the cost of constructing the lines if they are for the exclusive use to serve county needs or would share the cost of the lines serve in-town needs. In the event the town desires to use water or sewer lines constructed by the county, the town would compensate the county for use of the lines according to the same standards referenced in item seven. The cost basis for sharing the cost for line construction would be based upon the ration of the gallons used between county and in-town customers along the new line.
---In the event of the expansion of water and/or sewer facilities the county would have the right to purchase additional capacity by paying for the cost of the additional capacity including the costs associated with: (a) construction; (b) engineering (shared %); (c) feasibility study (shared %); (d) legal fees for associated costs such as bonding, contracts, etc. (shared%); (e) administrative costs such as grant, permit and application fees (shared %); (f) debt service; (g) other costs that may be clearly established.
It is anticipated that this agreement will remain in effect until modified by the parties, and would include periodic review, according to the draft.
The Association for Better Government is urging town and county residents "to attend and speak" during the 7 p.m. South Boston/Halifax County proposed boundary adjustment public hearings tonight at Halifax County High School.
"It is very important for South Boston Town Council and supervisors to hear what the public has on their mind," said Association member and Centerville businessman F.W. "Biggy" Hunt. "That is the purpose of a public hearing."
Hunt also invited town and county residents to attend the Association for Better Government meeting Tuesday at 7:30 p.m. at the 220 Seafood Restaurant in Centerville to discuss the Town of Halifax and South Boston public hearings.
No decision has been made on whether a woman will face charges in the shooting death of her estranged husband on November 28, according to Halifax County Commonwealth's Attorney John Greenbacker Jr.
Gloria Cole Bauer, 32, is suspected of shooting her husband, Andy Voyle Bauer, 39, after she was allegedly beaten by him at their home in Vernon Hill, police said.
The husband was living at the residence at the time of the shooting, while she was living elsewhere, according to the investigation.
Mrs. Bauer was questioned for several hours Thursday by Investigators C.A. Bates and J.R. Hicks of the Halifax County Sheriff's Department. She is being represented by South Boston attorney Chandler Nelson.
"We are still waiting on the results of the post-mortem (autopsy), as well as forensic evidence on items which police recovered from the scene," Greenbacker pointed out. "No decision will be made until the state lab finishes its work and we have time to study it in detail."
That forensic evidence, as well as a statement given by the dying subject to Virginia State Trooper M.S. Roark Jr. shortly after the incident, will be the key elements on which any decision will be based, according to Greenbacker.
Any such decision, or even whether the results will be passed on to a grand jury, will probably occur during the month of January, he added.
Charges of misdemeanor assault were filed last week in several cases investigated by the Halifax County Sheriff's Department.
Michael Brian Desmond, 34, of Nathalie was arrested Friday on a misdemeanor count of assault and battery of Candance Desmond, a family member, police said.
The alleged incident occurred on September 20. He is currently being held in the Halifax County Jail pending his trial in the Halifax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court on December 17.
Desmond was arrested by Deputy David Gibson.
In other cases:
· Scottie Edwin Mayo, 30, of South Boston was arrested Saturday on a misdemeanor count of assault and battery of Carolyn Mayo, a family member, police said.
The alleged incident occurred Saturday and he was arrested by Investigator J.R. Hicks.
Mayo was released on bond pending his trial in the Halifax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court on January 6.
· Darryl Raymond Dawson, 27, of Nathalie was arrested on a misdemeanor count of assault by verbal threats of Mary E. Seay, a household or family member, police said.
The alleged incident occurred on December 3 and he was arrested by Deputy S.A. Moore.
Dawson was released on bond pending his trial in the Halifax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court on December 17.
· Kenneth Andrew Satterfield, 38, of South Boston was arrested Friday on a misdemeanor count of stalking on more than one occasion Deborah F. Wilborn, police said.
Satterfield was released on bond pending his trial in the Halifax County General District Court on January 16. He was arrested by Deputy J.L. Lucia.
· Gerald Layne McKinney, 47, of Halifax was charged with a misdemeanor count of operating an all-terrain vehicle while hunting beyond a recognizable barrier without permission of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, police said.
The alleged incident occurred on November 17. He was released on bond pending his trial in the Halifax County General District Court on January 21.
McKinney was arrested by Deputy Lucia.
· Marian Enorma Clayton, 33,of Alton was arrested Friday on seven misdemeanor counts of writing bad checks. The charges stem from incidents which took place during the month of October, according to the investigation.
She was released on bond pending her trial in the Halifax County General District Court. Clayton was arrested by Deputy D.W. Martin.
Charges of reckless driving were filed after two single-vehicle wrecks which were reported early Sunday morning, according to the Virginia State Police.
Danny Wade Lloyd, 39, of Crystal Hill was driving a 1983 Ford Thunderbird when he lost control and ran off the right side of Rt. 603, six-tenths of a mile east of Rt. 626, police said.
Lloyd was not injured, but his vehicle was listed as a total loss after the 6:30 a.m. incident. He was charged by Virginia State Trooper M.S. Roark Jr. with reckless driving.
In a separate wreck, Mark L. Padgett, 33, of Fort Thomas, Kentucky lost control of a 1990 Lincoln and crashed off Rt. 652, nine-tenths of a mile west of Rt. 659, police said.
The wreck actually occurred at about 1 a.m., but the wreck was not discovered until 6:40 a.m., according to the investigation.
The Lincoln, which overturned, was listed as a total loss. Padgett, who was not injured, was charged by Virginia State Trooper S.M. Krantz with reckless driving.
In the same building where he graduated with honors from high school, William E. Coleman was honored Friday night for his 12 years of service as a member of the Halifax County Board of Supervisors.
Coleman was defeated for the Election District #6 seat last month in a tight race won by Alton farmer Page Wilkerson. The final vote count was 696-631.
Despite the loss, Coleman was honored and warmly remembered for his years on the board, as well as for his years of volunteer work for numerous civic groups.
During the ceremony, supervisor Joe Satterfield, Chairman of the Halifax County Board of Supervisors, presented Coleman with a framed board resolution in his honor on behalf of the county.
Among those who spoke highly of Coleman at the event were Satterfield; former board members Huell Matthews and Fulton Conner; Dillard "Mac" McDowell, Chairman of the Halifax County Public School Board; Stanley Jeffress of the Halifax County Business and Professional Men's Association; Dr. Carlyle B. Ramsey, President of the Danville Community College; and Del. W.W. "Ted" Bennett.
As a member of the board of supervisors, Coleman served as chairman of the Finance, Legislative, and Economic Development committees. He was also chairman of the Halifax County Public Service Authority.
Coleman is the Executive Director of the Halifax County Community Action Agency and is the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Halifax County Community Federal Credit Union.
He graduated from Mary Bethune High School and went on to graduate with a degree in accounting from the William Penn Business College in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Coleman is married to his wife, Margaret, and they have two grown children, LaMont and Shernita Letrice, and two grandchildren. He is a member of the New Bethel Baptist Church in Alton.
After praising Coleman for his service to the county, board chairman Satterfield capsuled a well-known hallmark of Coleman to the approximately 50 people in attendance.
"He is a true gentleman," Satterfield said.
Paul David Barksdale of 2480 Crown Road, Gretna died Friday, December 12, 1997 in Veterans Hospital, Salem. He was 69 years of age at the time of his death.
Mr. Barksdale was born August 30, 1928 in Pittsylvania County the son of Edward Norman Barksdale and Carrie Bullington Barksdale. He was a member of Greenfield Baptist Church, a member of George's Creek Hunting Club, a retired farmer, and was an Army veteran of the Korean Conflict.
Survivors include one brother, Clarence Barksdale of Leesburg; two sisters, Mary Gunter of South Boston and Alice Stephens of Gretna; and a number of nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by two brothers and a sister, Harry Barksdale, Fred Barksdale and Hazel Warden.
Graveside services for Mr. Barksdale were held at 2 p.m. Sunday, December 14 at Greenfield Baptist Church Cemetery by Revs. R.G. Rowland and David Turbyfill.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Gretna Rescue Squad,
PO Box 14, Gretna, or Greenfield Baptist Church Cemetery Fund, PO Box 875,
Gretna, VA 24557.
Lowell Hopkins Fallen, Sr. of 10032 J. D. Hagood Highway, Clover, died December 12, 1997 at Halifax Regional Hospital. He was born in Halifax County, on March 21, 1929 and was 68 years old.
He was the son of George Thomas Fallen and Annie Mae Newbill. He was a member of the American Legion Post #8, of South Boston and served in the Army 196 Infantry 200 Engr. CCO 147FA.
Mr. Fallen is survived by two daughters, Barbara Fallen Mabe, of Alton; Patricia Fallen Cullop, of Cluster Springs; three sons, James Edward Fallen, of Clover; Lowell H. Fallen Sr., of Crystal Hill; Phillip Ray Fallen Jr., of Cluster Springs; one sister, Ilva F. Lee, of Clover; fifteen grandchildren; two great grandchildren; and also the mother of his children, Lorene East.
Funeral services for Mr. Fallen were held Sunday, December 14 at 3:00 p.m. with services at Powell Funeral Home Chapel with the Rev. Lee Roy Davis conducting the service. Burial took place in Hunting Creek Baptist Church Cemetery.
Mrs. Pearl Owen Compton of 1629 Wilborn Avenue, South Boston, died Sunday, December 14, 1997 at The Woodview. She was born in Halifax County, on July 1, 1919 was 78 years old.
She was the daughter of Mr. Joseph Henry Owen and Mrs. Emma Jane Compton Owen and was married to Alexander (Alex) W. Compton, Sr. She was a member of the Main Street United Methodist Church.
Mrs. Compton is survived by one son, Alex W. Compton, Jr. of Chester; one daughter, Peggy Anne Ratliff, of South Boston; four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
Graveside services for Mrs. Compton will be held Tuesday, December 16 at 11:00 a.m. at Oak Ridge Cemetery with the Rev. Dr. Clyde DeLoach conducting the service.
The family will receive friends at Powell Funeral Home Monday from 7:00 until 8:00 p.m. and other times at her daughter, Peggy Ratliff's home, 1025 Hunter's Lane.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider the Patrick Henry Boys Home at Cluster Springs.
Mrs. Marguerite Johnson Brame of Lee-Syd-Moore Road, Scottsburg, died December 13 at The Woodview Nursing Home at the age of 83.
Mrs. Brame was born in Halifax County on august 24, 1994 and was the daughter of he late Clem Johnson and Mrs. Addie Howerton Johnson. She was married to the late John Brame and was a member of the St. James Baptist Church.
Mrs. Brame is survived by six daughters: Mrs. Mary France, of New York; Mrs. Kiziah Carden and Ms. Clementine Brame, both of New Jersey; Mrs. Yvonne Crawley, of Hopewell; Mrs. Gracie Meadows, of South Boston; and Ms. Viola Brame, of Scottsburg; two sons: John T. Brame of Leesburg; and Bernard C. Brame, or Richmond; two foster children: Herman Sydnor, of Scottsburg; and Mrs. Virginia Staten, of Clover; one brother: Thomas Johnson, of New York; 28 grandchildren and 14 great grandchildren.
Funeral services for Mrs. Brame will be held Wednesday, December 17 at 1:00 P. M. with services at the St. James Baptist Church with the rev. Byrd B. Blackwell officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the home of Ms. Viola Brame, 221 Sydnor Trail, Scottsburg and at the home of Mrs. Gracie Meadows, 1030 Comer Lane, South Boston.