Association for Better Government members will seek legal advice on the process to abolish a town's charter.
The action came Tuesday night in the wake of South Boston's decision to initiate annexation proceedings against the county.
The action was described by members as "a citizen initiative."
The coalition of town and county residents and businessmen and women voted to seek legal counsel in an area of Virginia that has successfully consolidated services and governments.
Advocates often point to Rustburg as an example of an unincorporated area that retains its identity.
"We know this is going on around the state, consolidation of government," said businessman John Cannon.
The consolidation advocates describe separate taxing districts with residents paying for services they receive.
"We are going to be open about it and welcome the public at all meetings. We want to put this up for public referendum in November and let the citizens decide," said Cannon.
The organization's members also plan to study the cost to town residents receiving services at their current level if town and county services were consolidated.
Also on the coalition's agenda is an effort to seek and support South Boston Town Council candidates favoring consolidation in the May election. Association leaders named three council members, H.W. Starke, Josephine Marshall and Buddy Wilborn, as up for election.
"Buddy Wilborn is the only one who listens," said Centerville businessman F.W. "Biggy" Hunt. Wilborn was the only town council member opposing the annexation decision at the Monday night joint town/county meeting.
"I am proud you stood up and did the right thing," said Centerville businesswoman Pat Wingler of supervisors' decision Monday night to reject boundary adjustment without a consolidation of services timetable.
J.R. Griffin, who had announced his resignation as chair of the Chamber of Commerce Executive Roundtable earlier that day, told Association members the Roundtable had been working since March on the town/county issues.
He said with his resignation he could be more vocal in representing his company and his personal views.
Association co-chairman Jeff Arnold and the organization's members discussed the gathering and distribution of information concerning consolidation to citizens in its referendum effort.
A called meeting of the Halifax County Board of Supervisors has been set Monday at 3 p.m. in the Conference Room of the Mary Bethune Office Complex in Halifax.
The special session follows a breakdown in boundary adjustment negotiations with South Boston Town Council on Monday night which ended in town council's vote to institute annexation proceedings.
Supervisors' Monday meeting is advertised in executive session to give the Board the option to move into executive session if they need to discuss legal issues, explained Halifax County Administrator Dan Sleeper yesterday. "Any action the Board takes would have to be in an open session," said the administrator.
The special session was called by supervisors R.L. "Robbie" Smart Jr. and W.E. Coleman.
"My hopes are that we could find some terminology and a committal toward consolidation of services that would appease South Boston," said Smart.
"I want to be sure there is no stone left unturned in trying to forge an agreement on consolidation of services to accompany any boundary adjustment agreement," added the supervisor.
"I would like to emphasize, town council says proponents of boundary adjustment did not show because they thought it was a done deal," continued Smart. "I urge both those who approve boundary adjustment and those who oppose it to contact supervisors and town council members."
"I just feel as long as there is a slim window of opportunity available to work out a local negotiated plan we owe it to the taxpaying citizen to make every deliberate effort to do so," said Supervisor William Coleman yesterday. "A protracted legal battle involving the two jurisdictions is definitely not in the best interest of our community."
It was Coleman who first urged renegotiation when boundary talks between South Boston and the county exploded Monday night. "I think we can do better. We must do better," said Coleman as the proposed boundary adjustment derailed. "We are at each other's mercy whether we like it or not, and we need to work it out," he urged.
While supervisors gather at 3 p.m. on Monday, South Boston Town Council is slated to meet Monday at 5:30 p.m. in the Conference Room in the Administration Building for their regular monthly committee meeting.
Council members could call a set meeting Monday night for later in the week.
Heading into Christmas week, both county and town governing bodies continued to leave the door open this week.
Also, Halifax Town Council is scheduled to meet Friday morning for the first time since supervisors rejected a boundary proposal with them last week. The 8:30 a.m. breakfast meeting is billed as an executive session to discuss legal matters.
By Doug Loftis
Up on White Top, it's already snowed six of seven times this year. Such is the life in Grayson County where Michael Blevins, his wife and four kids call home. Not long after Christmas, the Blevins will have five children at the table and bringing home the bacon will take a bit more than his living as a carpenter can hammer out.
It is said that necessity is the mother of invention...(entrepreneurship fashionable speaking). Either way, Blevins knew he had to make some extra bucks until the ground thaws and he can get back to work around his mountain abode. That's what drove him to purchase a hillside that had several acres of Frazier fir trees just ready for harvest.
But selling a Christmas tree in White Top might be harder than selling an igloo to an Eskimo. What's in White Top? "Two pool halls, tree farms, bears, deer, Bob cats and three chickens.
Why just three chickens? "Bob cats ate the rest!" Nathaniel Selby responded without even cracking a grin. Selby's only been in White Top since last June. He moved there from New Jersey to be with his kinfolks and there's still some Yankee left in his already developing drawl.
Blevins, on the other hand, is a true blue Appalachian except for his red hair and beard.
And it was kinfolk that brought Blevins to Halifax County a couple of weeks ago. His brother Donald, who lives here and works at O'Sullivan Industries, convinced him that South Boston was the place to sell lots of Christmas trees.
"He told me about all the nice homes, especially the big older ones," Michael said.
Blevins made his first haul from the mountains with 150 trees and set up camp on lower Main Street near the railroad tracks across from Constitution Square. Incidentally, he gave the town the Christmas tree that illuminates the pavilion.
He proved quickly that the three most important things in business (aside from having fresh cut trees) are location, location, location! Within a few days of start, Blevins headed back to the tree farm to resupply his dwindling inventory.
Sales go on 12 hours a day from nine in the morning until nine at night. The lot is lit for selection after dark.
Blevins says he can't believe how nice folks in Halifax County have been to him. "They thank ME for coming here." "They've been bringing us hot chocolate, coffee, even apple pie."
Unlike another sales lot he has in Northern Virginia which must be attended day and night, he unplugs the lights here and goes home without concern. "We don't have to worry about nothing here!"
His trees sell for up to $45 depending on size and your ability to pay. Blevins admits he's a pushover and when told by one family that they had just $20 to spend, he loaded the tree onto their pickup and wished them Merry Christmas.
"And if you know anybody who ain't got any money and needs a tree, I'll be more than happy to give 'em one," he added humbly.
By yesterday, fewer than 40 trees remained unsold and come Sunday the two will pack up and head back their mountain homes for the holidays.
It was a case of flying high and then falling hard, as a former Comet basketball standout pleaded guilty Wednesday to four felony cocaine distribution charges.
Walter David Griffin, 35, of South Boston, who was a star on the Halifax County High School's basketball team during the 1979-82 seasons, pleaded guilty to three felony counts of crack cocaine distribution and one felony count of conspiracy to distribute crack cocaine.
His arrest stemmed from undercover cocaine purchases made by operatives of the Southside Regional Drug Task Force on September 24 and October 14, 1996, according to court records.
Griffin was returned to jail pending a presentence report ordered for the next term of court by Halifax County Circuit Court Judge Charles L. McCormick III.
During Griffin's brief trial, an epic of self-destructive personal behavior was revealed.
Following his stellar basketball career in which he is the 31st all time scorer of the Comets, Griffin went into military service. However, his career ended after only four-and-a-half years when he became involved with illegal drugs, according to his defense attorney, Charles Crowder of South Hill.
After being kicked out of the military, Griffin lost his family, and eventually became a homeless person, Crowder told Judge McCormick.
By the time of his arrest, Griffin was abusing crack cocaine and had become what is termed as a "runner," according to Crowder.
A "runner" is essentially a middleman between buyers and dealers at drug hot spots, according to undercover officers. A runner is usually a crack addict or "crackhead" who is approached by buyers and given money to buy crack.
He then walks over to a car, residence, or virtually any other location where an actual dealer is standing by and makes the buy for the person, agents explained.
Street-wise dealers are wary about selling face-to-face to people they don't know or trust, so a runner is used as a buffer, agents added.
While Griffin had indeed handled money and drugs, his role as a runner was mainly to gain crack cocaine and food for his own personal use, Crowder pointed out.
On October 14, 1996 at 7:54 p.m., task force agents supervised a controlled buy in which $200 was given to Griffin by an undercover operative to purchase crack cocaine.
Minutes later, Griffin returned and gave the operative 10 rocks of crack cocaine, according to court records. In the September incident, the same basic scenario occurred.
The fall from grace which ended in the Halifax County Jail had its graceful beginnings on the hardwood of basketball courts in the Western District region.
Griffin scored 511 career points in three season with the Comets. In his senior year, he scored 226 points for a 10.3 average. Griffin pulled down a season total of 176 rebounds for a average of eight rebounds per game.
Even as a young sophomore, Griffin sparkled, as he did in a memorable late-season loss against George Washington of Danville on February 12, 1980.
With the game appearing to have the possibility of a GW blowout, Griffin took charge of his team's efforts, according to reports in the Gazette-Virginian.
"David Griffin was a pleasant surprise for Halifax in the second period as his nine point effort kept the Eagles from blowing it wide open," according to the article.
During Tuesday's trial, Griffin's ability at making a comeback will be tested once again. An evaluation was ordered by Judge McCormick to see if Griffin is eligible for the detention and diversion program of the Virginia Department of Corrections.
He could be sentenced to prison terms or be sent to the detention and diversion program which is designed primarily to turn around the lives of former substance abuse subjects.
"We hope he can turn his life around and once again be a good citizen of Halifax County," commented attorney Crowder.
No injuries occurred in two collisions which were investigated this week by the Virginia State Police.
A two-vehicle collision occurred Monday afternoon on U.S. 58, eight-tenths of a mile west of U.S. 501, police said.
Gerald Wayne Foy, 44, of South Boston was driving a 1983 GMC truck when he pulled into the path of a 1990 Pontiac driven by Travis Carter Comer, 19, of South Boston, police said.
Foy's vehicle was not struck, but it caused Comer's vehicle to run off the right side of the road and strike a shrub and rock, according to the investigation.
Damages to the Pontiac were estimated at $800 after the 1:44 p.m. incident, police said.
Foy was charged by Virginia State Trooper S.M. Krantz with failure to yield right-of-way.
In a Tuesday morning wreck, a 1984 Ford driven by Christopher Jason Chappell, 17, of Halifax attempted to make a left hand turn and struck a 1990 Jeep driven by Bradford Lee Poole, 19, of Halifax, police said.
The 8:15 a.m. incident occurred on U.S. 360, five-tenths of a mile west of Rt. 676, according to the investigation.
Damages to the Ford were estimated at $3,000 and damages to the Jeep were estimated at $2,000, police said.
Charges are pending and the incident was investigated by Virginia State Trooper C.M. Fleming.
A faulty chimney caused a fire Tuesday night in the home of Henry Edmonds of 817 Easley Street, according to the South Boston Fire Department.
Firefighters were called to the scene at 9:15 p.m. where they extinguished a blaze in the wall of a bedroom near the chimney, officials said.
No injuries occurred, but the fire caused an estimated $4,000 in damages to the dwelling, according to the investigation.
Twenty-five firefighters and three department vehicles responded to the call. They returned to the station house at 10:26 p.m.
Charges of misdemeanor assault and battery were filed against complaining parties during a disturbance on Sunday afternoon in Nathalie, according to the Halifax County Sheriff's Department.
Joann Dunkley, 25, of Nathalie was charged with misdemeanor counts of assault and battery of Janice Marie Adams; destruction of property of Walter Dunkley's; and destruction of property of Janice Adams, police said.
Dunkley was released on bond pending her trial in the Halifax County General District Court on January 7. She was arrested Wednesday by Lt. L.W. Fears.
Walter Dunkley, 27, of Nathalie was arrested Sunday and charged with a misdemeanor count of assault and battery of Joann Dunkley, police said.
He was released on bond pending his trial on January 7 in the Halifax County General District Court. He was arrested by Cpl. S.T. Moser.
Also arrested for a misdemeanor count of assault and battery of Joann Dunkley was Janice Marie Adams, 36, of Gladys, police said.
She was released on bond pending her trial in the Halifax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court on January 2. Adams was arrested by Deputy David Gibson.
In another case, Henry Clyde Owen, 26, of Scottsburg was arrested Monday on a misdemeanor count of reckless use of a firearm endangering David Hudson, police said.
Owen was released on bond pending his trial in the Halifax County General District Court on January 16. He was arrested by Deputy T.K. Redd.
Rebecca 'Kitten' Stephens, 72, of 721 Peytonsburg Road, Vernon Hill died Tuesday, December 16, 1997 in Danville Regional Medical Center.
Mrs. Stephens was born November 11, 1925 in Pittsylvania County the daughter of Inman and Madella Henry, and was married to Carter Stephens. She was a member of Ebenezer Baptist Church.
Survivors include two sons, Sammy Stephens of Halifax and Harry Stephens of Forrestville, MD; five daughters, Juanita Johnson of Halifax, Madella Luck of Java, Gladys Stephens of Vernon Hill, Brenda Stephens of Washington, DC and Karen Stephens of Greensboro, NC; one brother, Herman Henry of Java; two sisters, Leonia Thompson of Newark, NJ and Arsia Barksdale of Chester, PA; 10 grandchildren; two great-grandchildren; two sons-in-law; two daughters-in-law; two brothers-in-law and seven sisters-in-law.
Funeral services for Mrs. Stephens will be held Saturday, December 20 at 1 p.m. at Ebenezer Baptist Church with Rev. John Clark officiating. Burial will take place in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at the home.
Ronald Howard Gregory of Crewe died Wednesday, December 17 at the age of 68.
Mr. Gregory was retired from the Norfolk & Southern Railroad as an assistant train master and a member of Pryor Memorial Presbyterian Church.
His survivors include his wife, Jerry Gregory; two sons: Michael Gregory of Bracey, Scott Gregory of Prince George; three daughters: Debbie Harvey of Crewe, Rose Wootton of Burkeville, Amy Gregory of Durham, NC; mother: Hattie Gregory of South Boston; sister: Collene Woody of Nathalie; three brothers: Jimmy Gregory of South Boston, Bobby Gregory of Atlanta, GA; David Gregory of Roxboro, NC; five grandchildren, one great-grandson.
Funeral services will be held Friday, December 19 at 3 p.m. at Jennings-McMillian Funeral Home with interment in Crewe Cemetery. Memorial contributions may be made to the American Heart Association, 4217 Park Place Court, Glen Allen, VA 23060.
Harry Poindexter Edmonds of Halifax died in Baltimore, MD on December 15 at the age of 93.
Mr. Edmonds was born in Halifax County on August 31, 1904, the son of Mary Owens Edmonds and Paul Carrington Edmonds. He was married to the late Anna Britice Barksdale and was a member of the Banister Hill Baptist Church.
His survivors include three daughters: Justean Lee Coles and Annette Lacy of Baltimore, Eve Edmonds Goode of Sutherlin; three sons: Robert Poindexter and James Irving of Albany, NY, and Holland Mitchell of Alexandria.He was preceded in death by one son, Percy Udolph.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, December 20 at 11 a.m. at Banister Hill Baptist Church. Burial will take place in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at Daniel Funeral Home and at other times at 1103 Brooklyn Road, Sutherlin. The family requests that food items be taken to the Banister Hill Baptist Church.
Nannie Carr of Nathalie died Sunday, December 14 in Newark, NJ at the age of 88.
Mrs. Carr was born in Halifax County on December 3, 1909, the daughter of James Clark and Mary Emma Boxley. She was married to the late Willie Mack Carr and was a member of the Sunflower Baptist Church.
Her survivors include two daughters: Nannie Atily of East Orange, NJ, Effice Nowell of Charlottesville; five sons: George of Nathalie, Willie of Newark, Joe and Robert of East Orange and Thomas of Charlottesville and a sister: Bertha Roberts of Bronx, NY.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, December 20 at 2 p.m. at Sunflower Baptist Church with the Rev. Langston Logan officiating. Burial will take place in the church cemetery.
The family will receive friends at Daniel Funeral Home on Friday, December
19 and at other times at 4141 Stonyridge Road, Nathalie.
Mary Loftis Talley of 4373 Highway 58 Buffalo Junction died Thursday, December 18, 1997 at The Woodview. She was 80 years of age.
Mrs. Talley was born January 16, 1917 in Halifax County the daughter of Joseph Lee Loftis and Sarah Loftis Loftis and was married to Walter Harrell Talley. She was a member of Buffalo Baptist Church.
Funeral services will be held at Brooks Funeral Home Chapel Saturday, December 20 at 1 p.m. with Rev. Rodney Baker officiating. Burial will take place in Gravel Hill Baptist Church Cemetery.
Survivors of Mrs. Talley include one son, Walter Lee Talley of Buffalo Junction; one daughter, Linda T. Vaughan of Roxboro, NC; two grandsons, Nathan Lee Talley and Jason David Griffin; three granddaughters, Heather Nicole Talley, Leslie Marie Griffin and Cynthia Lynn Vaughan; and one great-grandchild, Bailee Kenton Griffin.
The family will receive friends at Brooks Funeral Home tonight, December 19 from 6:30 until 8:30 and other times at the home.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Mecklenburg County Rescue Squad, PO Box 1539, Clarksville, VA 23927.
Willie Howard Johnson of Route 1, Nathalie died Tuesday, December 16, 1997 at Halifax Regional Hospital at the age of 51.
Mr. Johnson was born in Halifax County on October 5, 1946 the son of Jannie Johnson Boyd and was married to Mary Tucker Johnson. He was a member of Shiloh Baptist Church.
Funeral services will be held Saturday, December 20 at 1 p.m. at the chapel of Jeffress Funeral Home in South Boston with Rev. James E. Traynham officiating. Burial will follow in Shiloh Baptist Church cemetery.
Mr. Johnson is survived by his wife; one daughter, Linda Johnson of Halifax; two sons, Howard E. Johnson of South Boston and Cecil Lewis Johnson of Nathalie; one step-son, Willie Earl Tucker of Nathalie; three grandchildren; one step-grandson; one sister, Nettie Sydnor of Halifax; one daughter-in-law, Karen Johnson of South Boston, and other relatives and friends including the devoted Mary E. Byrd, Roosevelt Robinson and Leroy Hailey.
The family will receive friends at the home of his father-in-law, Alex Tucker, Highway 643, Nathalie.