South Boston's new boundary is settled, if the circuit court judge approves.
The settlement came following a 5-3 vote Monday afternoon by supervisors and town council's approval - with councilman William "Buddy Wilborn opposing and Debbie Morris absent - early Tuesday morning.
An effective date of midnight Dec. 31, 1997 was entered, but an amendment also offering a Jan. 31 and Feb. 28, 1998 date, whichever date shall first occur following the entry of the order, were offered by the governments. However, the judge may act at his discretion.
Earlier this month South Boston Town Council had voted to institute annexation proceedings against the county after a boundary settlement breakdown on Dec. 15 following public hearings.
However, county supervisors - with R.E. Abbott, William "Bill" Abbott and Earl Watts Sr. opposing - approved a boundary agreement Monday contingent on two previously approved resolutions and a new consolidation of services resolution.
The approved South Boston boundary is the same one advertised for public hearing in mid-December and includes much of the Centerville business community and a portion of Riverdale, but not the industrial parks along Route 58 or industries in the Sinai park area.
Through the agreement South Boston would gain approximately $1.4 million in annual revenue with a loss to the county of about $384,000, Halifax County Administrator Dan Sleeper estimated yesterday.
South Boston Town Manager Ken McLawlon agreed on Tuesday, "Our numbers are very close."
The South Boston population would grow approximately 2,509 to a total 9,506 population, and would include the addition of about 4000 acres, town officials reported Tuesday
Of the three resolutions approved by both governments this week, two, the water/sewer capacity agreement and the 12-year annexation moratorium with provisions for citizens to vote for inclusion, had been formerly approved. A new resolution concerning consolidation of services was added to the package this week.
The new consolidation resolution resolves that the Board of Supervisors requests South Boston Town Council "to agree to study, evaluate, and if feasible, prudent, and economically justified to better serve the citizens, consolidate services in the following activities:
---E-911 consolidation within one year
---Industrial Development authority consolidation within two years
---Building Inspection consolidation within two years
---Animal Control consolidation within three years
---Parks and Recreation consolidation within three years
---Water and Sewer Services consolidation within five years
---Include any governmental function that may be identified by the Study."
It was another consolidation resolution, one proposed by Riverdale businessman John Cannon during last week's South Boston and Halifax County public hearings on boundary adjustment, that derailed a settlement.
Why did South Boston accept the county's latest consolidation resolution and oppose the Dec. 15th proposal?
"The one before demanded implementation at a specified date even if it cost $500,000," explained South Boston Mayor Glen Abernathy following the town/county boundary approval reached Tuesday.
The new agreement states if feasible and economically justified, noted the mayor.
"It might sound wonderful, but it might cost tons of money," he added. Abernathy emphasized acting in a "financially responsible" way.
And, the mayor added, if the boundary adjustment proposal had passed following the Dec. 15th public hearing, South Boston Council had planned to call for the re-establishment of the Intergovernmental Affairs Committee to study consolidation issues.
Nonetheless, as news of the agreement spread on Tuesday, some questions remained among citizens.
"The language (in the consolidation resolution) still seems sort of watered down," said Association for Better Government Co-chairman Mike Armstrong.
"I can understand town council not wanting to commit, not knowing exactly what they were committing too," said Armstrong of the Dec. 15th consolidation resolution.
"But my reaction (to the new resolution) is ...who is to determine what is feasible and what isn't? I am not sure I trust the town's definition of feasible given their track record of spending," said Armstrong.
Reaction to the overall agreement was varied.
The South Boston mayor was "obviously glad it is over. Glad it ended with agreement.
The mayor "looked forward to putting this behind us ...and that we begin to work together in a mutually cooperative effort we have never seen before."
It is a good Christmas present "in that it is resolved," said the mayor. "I hope that we as a council in South Boston are going to try to prove ourselves worthy of the challenge."
The South Boston town manager said the agreement offered "a chance to begin to work together in new efforts with the county."
McLawhon said "where we can save and share economies of scale, we will in all earnestness work with the county to do so. Some such consolidation occurred after reversion, he added.
The town manager said he was "absolutely delighted we can start 1998 off looking at ways to work together."
Halifax County Administrator Dan Sleeper observed: "I think it is a positive move which will promulgate a positive, cooperative atmosphere in the coming year as opposed to a court case, which would have resulted in a lot of anger and discontent and lack of cooperation for some time. I think the Board made the most reasonable decision, though there was no good decision to be made."
The decision did not come easily at the Halifax County Board of Supervisors' session Monday afternoon.
Supervisors held an open session as they considered a new consolidation of services agreement offered by Supervisor Garland Ricketts.
The new resolution was amended by the Board during the Monday session to extend from six months to within one year the proposed E-911 consolidation, and from four to within five years on the proposed water and sewer services consolidation. Supervisors also added "to better serve the citizens" to the resolution.
Technical aspects with 911 as well as the number of people involved in trying to merge the town and county systems were cited by Assistant County Administrator for Planning and Zoning Jerry Lovelace. "I don't think six months will give time to do this," said Lovelace, who recommended the one-year schedule.
During boundary adjustment discussions, Supervisor Bill Abbott called for trimming down the boundary adjustment "to have less impact on some businesses in the annexed areas."
Supervisor R.E. Abbott also opposed the boundary agreement. "As long as you are living you will never consolidate water and sewer," predicted Abbott.
Supervisor R.L. "Robbie" Smart said he thought with the momentum, "If we can get commitment concerning consolidation of services, we should go forward."
An agreement, emphasized Smart, would keep the county and town out of court and allow economic development to go forward. The supervisor also said he thought if annexation action continued, the town would gain more territory.
"We have to look at it today. I don't think that is an option, to restudy," said Supervisor T.E. West, although he added he did not like the situation.
Emphatically opposing the agreement, Supervisor Watts said he "would like to see it in court. You are taking too much money from the people and they get nothing." Watts said one businessman told him the agreement would cost him $16,000.
Supervisor Smart introduced the motion for the boundary adjustment contingent on all three resolutions, consolidation of services, water/sewer capacity and future boundary adjustments, which carried 5-3.
While many parents frantically search for that Sing and Snore Ernie or sit through countless commercials for the brilliant new Scrub Buster, there are much more important things to dwell on in life, an Alton man well knows.
Edward Owen Long, 79, is thankful just to be alive.
Over a half century ago, Long was in his late-twenties, on the opposite side of the world from his home, and fighting the Japanese across the Pacific.
During the crucial battle of the Leyte Gulf in the Philippines, and just three weeks after Christmas, Long was hit by a shellburst. Though he survived the hit, he lost his right leg.
"I was one of the lucky ones," he reflected. "I had a lot of good friends who never made it back."
The heavily-fought Leyte campaign cost the lives of nearly 2,900 Americans, while the Japanese lost over 56,000 killed in action, or approximately the number of Americans lost in the entire Viet Nam War.
Long won a Bronze Star for combat September 23, 1944 and was awarded the Purple Heart for his wounding on January 13, 1945 during the Leyte campaign.
But surviving such a battle, as anyone who knows Owen Long can attest, he did not lose his spirit. After being evacuated to Hawaii for treatment and then two more years in Veterans' Hospitals on the East Coast, Long was discharged back to Alton.
Upon his return, he married his childhood sweetheart and the couple celebrated their 50th anniversary last year. He also went to work, owning and operating the "Esso" service station just west of the U.S. Post Office at Alton.
Outlasting even the brand name "Esso" as it evolved into "Exxon," Long ran the store, sent his kids through college, and finally retired in 1988.
Despite his lost leg, Long performed virtually any deed that needed to be done at his store. With the use of a prosthetic, he changed tires, got underneath vehicles for oil changes and pumped gas as if World War II never occurred.
The past several years have been rather painful, since the remaining section of his severed leg had to be gradually cut off at the VA hospital near Roanoke.
That prevents his using a prosthetic any longer, which hinders his mobility. But again, despite the daily physical pain caused by his leg, Long's spirit continues to thrive.
Presents adorn underneath the couple's Christmas Tree, which is perched in the midst of framed family portraits from numerous generations. Good family, good neighborhood, and the world is no longer in the clutches of massive global warfare.
Now that's a "Merry Christmas," veterans of both war and life like Mr. Long know.
South Boston Town Council, heeding the advice of an advisory panel, has approved a new 5-year contract for Town Manager Ken McLawhorn.
The contract, which goes into effect when the document is signed, starts at $61,640. The contract is firm for the first three years, with options on two more years on an annual basis.
After the first year, the contract calls for increases at the same percentage rate as all other town employees.
The new figure is an increase from McLawhorn's present salary of $54,288.
Council approved the pact Monday night after several talks in executive session, with only Councilman Buddy Wilborn dissenting.
The new salary level matches the exact average of all manager salaries for communities nearest the size of South Boston.
The advisors noted that those other salaries ranged from a low of $52,597 to a high of $76,710, forming the average of $61,640 that was accepted by both Council and the Manager.
Also Monday night, the Council's Current Issues Committee asked the full governing body to unencumber the remaining $243,420 of UDAG grant money for the CEC expansion project.
Previously, ODAC had made a contribution of $250,000 to the same cause.
Also at the meeting, the committee heard a request by Dr. Linda McConahey, chairman of the Community Arts Center Foundation, for a letter of endorsement for the Arts Center 1998 grant application for ISTEA funding.
Other matters to be forwarded to Council for action include a request from "The Good Samaritan" to waive the installation fee for a new water tap, estimated to cost $2,113.
Also, the Finance Director will be requesting authorization to proceed with the sale of 1994 delinquent real estate.
Several cases of assault and battery were investigated this week by the Halifax County Sheriff's Department.
Willis Dudley Conner, 58, of Scottsburg was charged Monday with a misdemeanor count of assault and battery of Nellie G. Conner, a family member, police said.
Conner was released on bond pending his trial in the Halifax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court on January 7. He was arrested by Deputy J.L. Lucia.
James Edward Owens, 33, of North Main Street in South Boston was charged Monday with a misdemeanor count of assault and battery of Jonas Walker, police said. The alleged incident occurred on December 19.
He was released on bond pending his trial in the Halifax County General District Court on January 16. Owens was arrested by Deputy Q.W. Clark.
Derrick Lee Davis, 25, of Scottsburg was arrested Monday on a misdemeanor count of assault and battery of Latress Ramos, police said.
He was released on bond pending his trial in the Halifax County General District Court on January 16. Davis was arrested by Deputy Q.W. Clark.
Shannon Carter Harlow, 19, of South Boston was charged with a misdemeanor count of using obscene language in a threatening manner over the telephone to Heather Houghton, police said.
The alleged incident occurred Monday and he was arrested Tuesday. Harlow was released on bond pending his trial in the Halifax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court.
Harlow was arrested by Deputy D.W. Martin.
No injuries occurred in a two-vehicle collision which occurred Saturday afternoon on U.S. 501, one half mile north of Rt. 360, according to the Virginia State Police.
A 1978 Ford pickup driven by Bradford Edmonds, 54, of Halifax collided with a 1997 Toyota driven by Vicentia R. Jennings, 49, of Nathalie at 3:10 p.m., police said.
The collision occurred when Edmonds was attempting to make a left turn and was struck in the rear by Jennings, who was attempting to pass, according to the investigation.
Damages to the pickup were estimated at $100, while damages to the Toyota were estimated at $3,000, police said.
No charges were filed and the incident was investigated by Virginia State Trooper D.J. Cline.
Another collision occurred Monday afternoon at the intersection of Rt. 614 and Rt. 651, police said.
A 1988 Pontiac driven by Cheryl Lee Vicks, 18, of South Boston pulled into the path of a 1989 GMC pickup truck driven by Alpheus S. Crutchfield, 76, of South Boston, according to the investigation.
No one was injured in the 12:15 p.m. wreck. Damages to the GMC pickup were estimated at $1,200 and damages to the Pontiac were estimated at $2,000, police said.
Vicks was charged by Virginia State Trooper D.T. Conner with failure to yield right-of-way.
William Ray Thomas died Sunday, December 21, 1997 in Talbott, TN.
Mr. Thomas is survived by his wife, Hilda Reaves Talbott, formerly of Cluster Springs.
Funeral services for Mr. Thomas were held Wednesday, December 24 in Lancaster, KY.
Rufus Harding Francis of 509 Lakeside Drive, Danville died Sunday, December 21, 1997 at his home. He was 76 years of age.
Mr. Francis was born July 17, 1921 in Halifax County the son of Robert Francis and Beulah Hancock Francis and was married to Elsie Black Francis. He was a member of Faith Memorial Baptist Church and a World War II, Navy veteran.
Survivors include his wife; one son, Dennis Francis of Danville; three daughters, Pat Spencer of Crystal Hill, Debra Dockery of Ringgold and Donna Goolsby of Blairs; three brothers, John Francis, Claude Francis and Matthew Francis, all of Danville; and nine grandchildren. He was preceded in death by one sister, Lucy Will Rowland, and one brother, Melvin Francis.
Funeral services for Mr. Francis were held Tuesday, December 23 at 11 a.m. from Wrenn-Yeatts Westover Chapel in Danville with Rev. Daniel G. Lackey officiating. Burial was in Danville Memorial Gardens.