By The Associated Press
Virginia got its first widespread dose of winter weather Saturday as light snow coated the ground in northern and southwest Virginia, and sleet made roads slick in the central part of the state.
Forecasters expect more of the same on Monday.
Locally less than two inches of snow fell, with much of that melted by midafternoon yesterday.
The National Weather Service said one inch of snow had fallen in eastern Loudoun County and Strasburg by early Saturday night. Roughly three inches was reported in Blue Mountain in Warren County.
''We've had snow continuing to fall, but it will taper off within a few hours,'' Ben Scott with the National Weather Service said.
Temperatures were above freezing in most areas and few icy patches were reported, Scott said. He said ice could be a problem in colder areas on Sunday morning.
A winter weather advisory was posted for the northern and western Virginia through 7 p.m. Saturday. In Floyd and Bedford counties, slick roads were blamed for numerous fender-benders. In Carroll County, one man died when his car was hit head-on by another that failed to make a curve because of icy road conditions, according to the state police.
The snow cut visibility and an inch of accumulation on grassy areas in the north and west. Up to four inches was expected in the higher elevations in southwest and western Virginia.
The forecast for Sunday is mostly sunny with highs in the upper 30s to lower 40s. Temperatures will drop Sunday night with lows dipping to the upper teens west.
An apparent argument that occurred on Christmas Eve has resulted in malicious wounding charges against an Alton man, according to the Halifax County Sheriff's Department.
Seneca Lamond Wenstley, 18, was arrested Friday on felony counts of malicious wounding and using a firearm while in the commission of a felony, police said.
Wenstley allegedly shot Tracey L. Pleasant during the altercation, according to the investigation.
He was released on bond his preliminary hearing in the Halifax County General District Court. Wenstley was arrested by Deputy David Gibson.
In other cases:
· Jerry Andre Boyd, 37, of Clover was charged with a felony count of breaking and entering Bobcats #2 in Clover. He allegedly broke into the store on Christmas morning and was arrested a short time later, according to the investigation.
About $435 in stolen merchandise was recovered. Boyd was also charged with a misdemeanor count of destruction of property, since he allegedly broke a plate glass window of the store to gain entry, police said.
Boyd is currently being held in the Halifax County Jail pending his preliminary hearing in the Halifax County General District Court on March 20. He was arrested by Deputy J.K. Henderson.
· Francis May Morton, 32, of Nathalie was charged with two misdemeanor counts of assault and battery of Lalita Williams and Nicollate Williams on December 20, police said.
Lalita and Nicollate Williams had earlier been charged with the misdemeanor assault and battery of Morton.
Morton was arrested by Deputy C.S. Yeatts on December 23. She was released on bond pending her trial in the Halifax County General District Court on February 20, according to the investigation.
· Glenn Morrison Spell, 39, of Halifax was charged with a misdemeanor count of assault and battery of Kelly Lowery, a family or household member, police said.
The alleged incident occurred on Saturday and he was arrested the same day, according to the investigation.
He was released on bond pending his trial in the Halifax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court on January 6. Spell was arrested by Deputy Keith Tribble.
· Thurman Eugene Hankins, 37, of Nathalie was charged with a misdemeanor count of assault and battery of Dolly Mae Jones, a family or household member, police said.
The alleged incident occurred on Christmas Day and he was arrested the same day by Deputy H.L. Farmer.
Hankins was released on bond pending his trial in the Halifax County Juvenile and Domestic Relations Court on January 7.
The early hours of Christmas morning was punctuated by a disturbance which occurred at Younger's Adult Home in South Boston, according to the South Boston Police Department.
Melvin D. Stephens, 40, of South Boston was arrested on a felony count of breaking and entering with the intent to commit assault, according to Lt. Rick Loftis.
Stephens was also charged with a misdemeanor count of assault and battery of Edwina Irby, following the 4:34 a.m. incident, police said.
Irby is an employee at the 1907 North Main Street facility, while Stephens is believed to have been an ex-boyfriend, according to Lt. Loftis.
Irby was treated and released from the Halifax Regional Hospital after the assault, police said.
Stephens is currently being held in the Halifax County Jail pending his trial in the Halifax County General District Court. The incident was investigated by SBPD Officer B.K. Lovelace.
In another case, police arrested a Turbeville man after a short foot chase following a traffic stop on Christmas Eve, Lt. Loftis said.
Anthony W. Estes, 38, was driving a vehicle westbound on U.S. 360 when SBPD Officer D.W. Barker attempted to stop him for suspicion of driving under the influence, according to the investigation.
Estes pulled over off U.S. 58 at 5:50 p.m., just west of the intersection with U.S. 360 in Riverdale. He fled from his car towards the "lowgrounds" but was tackled by Barker, Lt. Loftis said.
Estes was charged with five misdemeanor counts, including driving under the influence; refusing to take a breath/blood test; resisting arrest; having a concealed weapon (a shot gun under the seat); and attempting to elude police, Lt. Loftis said.
He was released on bond pending his trial next month in the Halifax County General District Court.
By TARA MEYER
Associated Press Writer
ATLANTA (AP) - The government has conceded the nation will not meet its goal to cut adult smoking to 15 percent by the year 2000, declaring that one of every four adults smoked in 1995. But most want to quit.
A survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said an estimated 24.7 percent of the nation's adults, or 47 million people, were smokers in 1995, only slightly fewer than the 24.8 percent in 1994. The numbers haven't changed much since 1990.
Among the smokers, 24.5 million were men and 22.4 million were women. Smoking levels were higher among people who had not graduated from high school and among those living below the poverty level, the CDC said Wednesday.
Yet, 70 percent of those adult smokers said they wanted to kick the habit and almost half tried for at least one day.
''While we are stuck at 25 percent, we continue to have the vast majority of smokers wanting to quit,'' said Michael Eriksen, director of the CDC's Office of Smoking and Health. ''If we could make that wish a reality, we could have the single greatest effect on human health.''
One thing that would help is if health plans offered counseling and nicotine treatment programs by the year 2000, the CDC said.
About two-thirds of 105 health maintenance organizations surveyed in 1995 offered some coverage of programs or products that help smokers quit. But each plan had restrictions.
As of March, only five state Medicaid programs provided reimbursement for counseling or classes to help people quit smoking.
''Even though doctors and health providers all know how harmful smoking is, progressive medicine and health plans still fall short in providing these services or reimbursing for them,'' Eriksen said.
Richard Koorsh of the Health Care Association of America said managed care plans are offering more and more such services, but what's included in each plan is primarily up to employers that offer them.
Smokers who quit halve their risk of heart disease after a year, the CDC said. After a decade, their risk of lung cancer is half that of continuing smokers and after five to 15 years, their risk of stroke is the same as a non-smoker.
The Comet boys basketball team is halfway to a second straight First Federal Savings Bank Holiday Classic championship, but the Comets and their followers will have to wait until Friday to see if that possibility materializes.
This is because the late day snow forced postponement of the tournament's second session Saturday after Halifax County and Person had won Friday openers.
Laurel Park and Northern High of Durham County, N. C., who were to have played the Saturday opener as a consolation game, will make a decision this morning on whether or not to come back Friday to play the consolation game.
Halifax County and Person definitely will play the championship game--weather permitting--on Friday night.
Don Thompson, wearing the three hats of Comet head coach, Halifax County High Athletic Director and First Federal Savings Bank tournament director, gave this playing scenario for Friday:
If all four teams play, the starting game times will be the same as previously announced--
Consolation 6:30 p.m.;
Championship 8 p.m.
If there is only the title game between Halifax and Person, that contest will open at 8 p.m.
In one semifinal game played last Friday, Person opened with a Hollywood thriller-type victory, 44-43, over Laurel Park, the outcome always in doubt and the issue going undecided until the final horn.
As for the Comets' 70-55 victory over Northern, there was no standard description to the contest justice.
But one thing was clear: the Comets' largest audience of the year loved every bounce and shot of it. And there were a lot of bounces, shots and other aspects of the game, most of which the Comets performed very well.
What was different about this game was the ebbs and flows in scoring by both teams.
As examples, Northern stomped on the Comets pretty good there at the start, nailing down a 16-7 cushion in the first quarter.
Your arithmetic will tell you straight out that if that pace had been continued throughout, Halifax County would have been clobbered, 64-28. That wouldn't have been much fun.
That did not happen, of course, and the turnaround engineered by the Comets was even more spectaculor than the beginning work by Northern.With Robert Perkins heading the recovery with 14 points, the Comets outscored Northern by a whopping 46-19 in the middle two quarters, and that produced a "safe" lead of 18 points for the home boys.
There was some fight left in the Knights, though, and they struck momentary apprehension in the hearts of the Halifax faithful when they proceeded to start hitting three-pointers and in practically no time at all racked up 11 straight points and knocked the Comet lead down to a shaky seven points.
To their credit, however, the Comets had a reservoir of strength held in abeyance also, and they pulled it out for use in the final five minutes to get the score back up to its final of 70-55.
Perkins, who didn't start, contributed nine more points in the waning moments, including five straight at the free throw line, to finish with a game high of 23 points.
He was joined in double figures by Ben Rand with 13 points and Jasper Pounds with 11. Mikal Townsend got eight, Kerry Clark six and Dominic four in support roles.
The Comets helped themselves by making 18-for-26 in three throws. It also appeared that the Comets did the impossible--play defense against the free throw, inasmuch as the Knights went zero-for-7 at the line.
"After that slow start we played well," said Coach Thompson. "Once we solved Northern's zone, we got good shots and got to the foul line.
"Defensively, we had problems rebounding but defended very well inside. I was pleaded with our ability to finish shots down inside; we had 17 baskets down inside."
That helped with the percentages, too, as the Comets hit a season high 58 percent from the floor, 18-for-26 This was considerably better than Northern's 43 percent.
Rebounds and turnovers were nearly the same, rebounds standing 18-16 in favor of the Comets, and the Comets having 16 turnovers to 15 for the Knights.,
The victory ended a two-game losing streak for the Comets and boosted their record on the season to 4-2.
After finishing the First Federal tournament Friday, they will look ahead to a second tournament Monday and Tuesday at Northern Vance of Henderson, N. C.
Mary Viola Puckett Loftis of 2232 N. Terry's Bridge Road, Halifax died Tuesday, December 23, 1997 at Friendship Manor in Roanoke. She was 83 years of age at the time of her death.
Mrs. Loftis was born October 3, 1914 in NC the daughter of Alfred Allen Puckett and Sue Moorefield Puckett and was married to William Henry Loftis. She was a member of Bethel Baptist Church.
Funeral services were held at Bethel Baptist on Friday, December 26 at 2 p.m. with Rev. Tony Brooks officiating. Burial was in Halifax Memorial Gardens.
Mrs. Loftis is survived by two daughters, Mary Sue Rose of Halifax and Sarah Plymale of Lynchburg; three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren.
Fowler Thornton Hunt of 311 Merritt Street, South Boston died Tuesday, December 23, 1997 at The Woodview. He was 75 years of age.
Mr. Hunt was born in South Boston on December 2, 1922 the son of Fowler Trall Hunt and Patsy Garner Hunt and was married to Mary Frances Gorntho Hunt. He was a member of Main Street United Methodist Church.
Graveside services were held Friday, December 26 at 2 p.m. at Oak Ridge Cemetery with Rev. George Gravitt conducting the service.
Mr. Hunt is survived by his wife; one sister, Thelma Hunt Bagwell of Danville; one brother, Rev. Marvin Dana Hunt of Danville; and six nephews.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Main Street United Methodist Church Building Fund.
George Thomas Cole of 1013 Cole Trail, South Boston died Wednesday, December 24, 1997 at Halifax Regional Hospital at the age of 70.
Mr. Cole was born in Halifax County on February 5, 1927 the son of George Washington Cole and Lou Fannie Bowman Cole and was married to Rosabelle White Cole. He was a member of Berry Hill Baptist Church where he served on the Board of Deacons and was a retired employee of Crowell Motor Company.
Survivors include his wife; five daughters, Frances Ragsdale, Yvonne Wood, Mary Sims, Rosa Jefferson and Wilma Edmondson, all of South Boston; one son, John D. Cole Sr. of Baltimore, MD; his step-mother, Arbella Cole of South Boston; six sisters, Gladys Hartridge, Dorothy Whitlock, Clarice Hubbard, Lena Edmunds, Bessie Cole and Ruby Pannell, all of South Boston; four brothers, Johnnie Cole of Queens, NY, William Henry Cole of Alexandria, Arthur Cole of Long Island, NY and Frank Cole of South Boston; one step-sister, Lillie Moore of South Boston; six grandchildren; one daughter-in-law; three sons-in-law; and other relatives and friends.
Funeral services for Mr. Cole were held Sunday, December 28 at Berry Hill Baptist Church with burial in the church cemetery.
Rev. Dr. Edward Leroy Bruce of Temperanceville died Thursday, December 18, 1997 at Shore Memorial Hospital in Nassawadox at the age of 53.
Rev. Bruce was born in Halifax County the son of Estelle Dodson and Edward Bruce and was married to Peggy Bruce. His pastoral experiences include First Baptist Church, News Ferry, South Boston, and Jerusalem Baptist Church of Temperanceville.
Survivors include his wife; one daughter, Yolanda Bruce of Lynchburg; two sons, Richard and James of Temperanceville; and other relatives and friends.
Funeral services for Rev. Bruce were held Sunday, December 21 at 2 p.m. at Jerusalem Baptist Church with burial in the church cemetery. Rev. James Boyd conducted the service.
Opha Doris Teague Hall of 15050 Philpott Road, Alton died Saturday, December 27, 1997 at her home. She was 75 years of age.
Mrs. Hall was born March 30, 1922 in Yatkin County NC the daughter of Andrew Jackson Teague and Rebecca Lewis Teague and was married to Robert William Hall. She was a member of Second Baptist Church, and a retired Nurses Aide at Twin Oaks Convalescent Home.
Funeral services will be held today, December 29 at 11 a.m. at Brooks Funeral Home chapel with Rev. Horace Murray officiating. Burial will be in Oak Ridge Cemetery.
Mrs. Hall is survived by two sons, Robert Joe Hall of Sanford, NC and Lee Roy Hall of Alton; seven grandchildren and five great-grandchildren.
John David Edmondson of 1131 Rev. Coleman Road, Clover died Friday, December 26, 1997 at his home at the age of 86.
Mr. Edmondson was born in Halifax County on May 9, 1911 the son of Willie B. Edmondson and Daisy Hundley Edmondson and was married to Estelle Dabbs Edmondson. He was a member of Bethlehem Baptist Church.
Survivors include his wife; three daughters, Margaret Carrington of Clover, Lola Clark of South Boston and Daisy Edmondson-Cabler of Richmond; three sons, James David Edmondson of Richmond, John David Edmondson Jr. and Clarence Howard Edmondson, both of South Boston; one brother, Charles S. Edmondson of Clover; 13 grandchildren; 13 great-grandchildren; and other relatives and friends.
The family will receive friends at the chapel of Jeffress Funeral Home this evening, December 29 from 6 until 8 o'clock and other times at the home.
Funeral services for Mr. Edmondson will be held Tuesday, December 30 at 2 p.m. at Bethlehem Baptist Church with Rev. Vaughan Brayboy officiating. Burial will follow in the church cemetery.
Peter Borders of South Boston died Wednesday, December 24, 1997 at Halifax Regional Hospital at the age of 84.
He was born on May 26, 1913 in Buffalo, NY the son of Henry and Elizabeth Borders and was married to Edith Pounds Borders. He was a member of the Lutheran faith.
Mr. Borders is survived by his wife; one daughter, Phyllis Davis; one son-in-law, Barg Davis; two grandchildren; his stepmother, Helen Borders; one sister, Elaine Borders; one brother, Sonny Borders; and other relatives and friends.
Funeral services were held Sunday, December 28 at 4 p.m. at the chapel of Daniel Funeral Home in Halifax with Pastor John D. Poole officiating.
Alexander Hugh Loftis Jr. of Route 3, Crystal Hill died Tuesday, December 23, 1997 at The Woodview. He was 84 years of age at the time of his death.
Mr. Loftis was born in Halifax County on June 8, 1913 the son of Alexander Hugh Loftis Sr. and Cleve Irby Loftis and was married to Alice Christine Loftis. He was a member of Crystal Hill Southern Baptist Church.
Survivors include one daughter, Judy Loftis Yeatts Yarbrough of Nathalie; three sons, Hugh Gray Loftis and Ronald Dean Loftis, both of Halifax and Vincent Hines Loftis of Nathalie; 10 grandchildren; and seven great-grandchildren.
Graveside services for Mr. Loftis were held Friday, December 26 at 1 p.m. at Crystal Hill Southern Baptist Church Cemetery with Rev. Richard Welch conducting the service.
Robert Spencer 'Bob' Hudson of 2131 Ramble Road, Virgilina died Wednesday, December 24, 1997 at his home. He was 83 years of age.
Mr. Hudson was born November 2, 1914 in Halifax County the son of Eli F. Hudson and Susan Elizabeth Lloyd Hudson and was married to Marie Stevens Hudson. He was a member of Grace Baptist Church.
Funeral services were held at Grace Baptist on December 27 at 11 a.m. with Rev. Jack Stewart officiating. Burial was in the church cemetery.
Mr. Hudson is survived by his wife; two sons, Donald L. Hudson of Appomattox and R. Eric Hudson of South Boston; two daughters, Joan Reynolds of Danville and Alison Robinette of Taylorsville, NC; and seven grandchildren.
Those wishing to give memorials are asked to consider Halifax County Rescue Squad or your favorite charity.